Thursday 30 September 2010

Shark Savers: Racing to Save Sharks - Mustang Driver John "Chip" Scarlet...



John "Chip" Scarlett is racing to save sharks with his Shark Car. This season Chip has been promoting Shark Savers while driving in the Mustang Challenge racing series.

Chip has taken this novel approach to promote awareness about the oceans dire need for sharks. To learn more about the plight of our sharks watch this short feature about Chip and his mission to save them.

To see Chip's underwater photography visit http://www.johnscarlett.com.

Fiji and Tuvalu Dive Reviews: Dive Resorts & Liveaboards

Undercurrent Home
Home | Members' Home

Dive Review of
Mad Fish Dive Center/Matava Resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/Matava, Kadavu Island

in 2009/11
an Instant Reader Report
by
Debbie Pasich, CA, usa
Report Number 5271

N/A means "Not Applicable" or "No Answer" given

Reporter
Dive Experience
501-1000 dives
Where else diving
 Caymans (all 3), Cozumel, Roatan, Dominica, Belize, Bonaire, San Diego 

Dive Conditions

Weather
sunny, windy, cloudy
Seas
choppy
Water Temp
75 to 77 ° Fahrenheit
Wetsuit Thickness
3
Water Visibility
60 to 150 Feet

Dive Policy
Dive own profile?
yes
Enforced diving restrictions
Were desire given depth and time for dives but permitted to dive computer
with buddy.
Liveaboard?
no
Nitrox Available?
no
What I saw
Sharks
Lots
Mantas
1 or 2
Dolphins
1 or 2
Whale Sharks
None
Turtles
> 2
Whales
None
Ratings 1 (worst)- 5 (best):
Corals
5 stars
Tropical Fish
4 stars
Small Critters
4 stars
Large Fish
3 stars
Large Pelagics
5 stars


Underwater Photography 1 (worst)- 5 (best):
Subject Matter
5 stars
Boat Facilities
1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's
4 stars
Shore Facilities
2 stars
Comments
[None]  
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst)- 5 (best):
Accommodations
5 stars
Food
3 stars
Service and Attitude
5 stars
Environmental Sensitivity
5 stars
Dive Operation
5 stars
Shore Diving
4 stars
Snorkeling
4 stars


Overall Rating

Value for $$
5 stars
Beginners
4 stars
Advanced
5 stars
Comments
The Diving:
Matava’s newest dive boat delivered just the week prior to our arrival, is
capable of accommodating approximately 14 divers. We were pretty
comfortable with 10 divers plus the dive master, crew and boat captain.
Dive sites were anywhere from a 10 minute to 30 minute ride and surface
intervals were done either in the calmer waters inside the reef or on
shore. (The new boat has overhead canvas bins for dry storage but none of
their dive boats have marine heads nor provisions for large camera
equipment.) Outside the reef there was always an ocean swell (between 2-3
ft). Inside the reef was calm but because the weather was unseasonably
windy we usually had some surface chop. The Astrolabe Reef provides an
incredible display of healthy, colorful hard corals and the diving was
excellent. During our 1 week visit we dove “Manta Reef” twice and as the
name implies – it delivered. We dove with no less than 10 Manta’s total.
“Eagle’s Rock” was a great shark dive: 20 to 30+ white tip, black tip and
gray reef sharks of various sizes schooling together in the reef inlet.
“Japanese Gardens” had a beautiful assortment of soft corals and “Cabbage
Patch” should not be missed. During the week in addition to the manta rays
and sharks (and probably the largest variety of butterfly fish we’ve ever
seen) of note we saw a dolphin, a napoleon wrasse, a sea snake, several
lion fish, octopus, turtles, giant clams, eels, clown fish and stunning
nudibranchs. The dive staff did a great job of understanding the needs of
the guests and DM’s Masau and Ta were informative and fun to dive with.
During briefings we were given dive profiles but for the most part we were
able to dive our computers. Every day the dive staff took care of setting
up our gear as well as rinsing and hanging our suits at the end of the day.
In a nutshell, great diving and an excellent dive staff made for some
terrific memories.

The resort:
With traditional thatched bure’s tucked into the mountain side of Kadavu
Island, the resort is a beautiful place to get away from it all. The
newest (honeymoon) bure at the top of the hill (94 stairs of various sizes
to climb) has an absolutely spectacular view! It’s an eco-resort and a
majority of the power is supplied by solar so leave your hair dryer at
home. The hot water is solar but for cloudy days they have back up
propane tanks for hot showers. The bure’s are cleaned daily and the sheets
and towels are changed every 2-3 days (all laundry is done by hand). To
keep the pests at bay they provide mosquito nets over the beds and mosquito
coils for the bures. The combination seems to work pretty well. Maggie,
the resort host/hostess has a unique style of hospitality that is
entertaining and he makes sure that you feel welcome and have need of
nothing. The staff is Fijian and they were always ready with a big smile.
They have a small area in the main bure for charging batteries from 9am –
5pm daily. My one recommendation would be that you bring your own water
bottle (for use in your bure and on the boat).
Kayaks are available for use at no charge and if you’re up to a 50-60
minute (one-way) hike there is a Fijian Village, School and beautiful
waterfall that is well worth the effort.

The food:
3 meals per day, breakfast was comprised of fresh fruit, toast and eggs.
In addition to these some days they had homemade breakfast rolls, French
toast or banana pancakes. All of their homemade breads were terrific.
Lunches were varied and dinners ranged from satisfactory to quite good with
excellent flavors. Soups were extraordinary! (I believe one of the more
disappointing meals was simply the result of a late supply ship to the
island.) When you arrive you are asked about dietary
restrictions/requirements. This close to New Zealand you will likely be
served lamb for at least one dinner – let them know in advance if you would
prefer something else. They seemed to accommodate the vegetarian’s quite
well. Instant coffee, tea and cocoa are available from 6am – 11pm daily.


Fiji and Tuvalu Dive Reviews: Dive Resorts & Liveaboards

Monday 13 September 2010

Party at Matava for Thanksgiving with ScubaRadio Crew!

ScubaRadio at Matava 2010Scuba Radio Mermaid Special 2010

Come and join us and the Scuba Radio presenters and Mermaids at Thanksgiving for a week of fun and diving and Turkey Gobbling in November 2010.

November 20th to November 27th 2010

A week of diving, chaos and fun for only - USD 1199.00


ScubaRadio recording in FijiThe Scuba Radio crew with Greg the Divemaster and the Mermaids are coming back to Fiji, and this time it's going to be mostly for fun!

The week will begin on Saturday 20th, however DO feel free to drop in for half the week, or even just the last few days! Drop us an email or call us on Skype and we'll work it out! Heck, it's going to be chaos anyway!

Greg et al will arrive at Matava in Fiji on Monday 22nd November, fresh from a week in Las Vegas at the DEMA Show. If you are planning on going to this Dive Show, cahnces are that you'll bump into the crew there, and you can fly with them all the way to Fiji.

Greg and the crew were here in May (listen to that show here!), and they loved it SO much that they're coming back. This time they're coming to Matava in Kadavu to dive the Great Astrolabe Reef with the mantas, and they are inviting us all along for the week!


Listen to Scuba Radio now!

ScubaRadio is radio talk show with a diving theme. Pictures are painted of the underwater world as listeners and guests share their diving adventures. Every diver has a story about the perfect dive, destination, or encounter with some amazing sea creature. ScubaRadio provides the forum. It’s like hanging out at a Tiki hut and sharing fish tales with friends.

Never heard of Scuba Radio (where HAVE you been?), find the podcasts/archives of ScubaRadio here, available worldwide online! Just click here or paste the following link into your podcasting software: http://www.scubaradio.com/srpodcast.xml. You’ll find at least a couple years of past shows!

ItunesIf you’re using Itunes, just click here and subscribe!


The latest edition of ScubaRadio will now automatically download to your computer/MP3 listening device!


Scuba Radio Mermaid Special 2010

So here's the deal:
  • • 7 nights at Matava in an Oceanview Bure
  • • All meals and airport transfers included
  • • 5 days of 2 tank diving - 10 dives
  • • Free unlimited shore diving
  • • Free 3rd tank on 1 afternoon
  • • Free use of kayaks, snorkelling around the resort
  • • Traditional Lovo Feast and Kava Ceremony
  • Scuba Radio T-shirt and baseball cap
  • • Free fun times with the Matava / Scuba Radio team and of course the ScubaRadio Mermaids
Chance to star on the Scuba Radio broadcasts recorded throughout the week!
 
Diver - USD 1199.00
Non Diver - USD 899.00
(only valid for double / twin share, Group 5 pay - 1 FOC)
ScubaRadio

Additions

  • • Upgrade to 5 days of 3 tank dives (15 dives) – USD 199.00
  • • Extra night – USD 125.00(based on 2 sharing)
  • • Extra days diving (2 tanks) – USD 100.00
  • • Single supplement – USD 500.00
Dates:- November 20th to November 27th 2010


Book your ScubaRadio MERMAID Package Now!