Guest photos now on Flickr

my first manta ray
Originally uploaded by digitalia.

Hey you can blog straight from within Flickr!

"my first manta ray

Astrid just sent me photos from my last dive in Fiji, soon after doing my open water course, when we saw manta rays, and she took me through my first cave.

(photo by Astrid, I was too busy gasping through a regulator)"

Uploaded by digitalia on 22 Jun '06, 5.23am FJT.

Matava Flickr Photo Group now LIVE

At long last after many requests from past guests we have managed to get a place where we can all share photos from Matava.

As many of you know we have very limited communications out in the resort in Kadavu. In fact if we even have phone lines that we can speak on we are grateful. The internet connection is a very ropey dial-up where we get an average of 9kbps if we're lucky.

Therefore when kind hearted guests send us photos by email, we unfortunately spend hours shouting and swearing (who us?) and trying to remove these 2MB attachments form our servers before picking up email, and/or the line dropping out.

SO... we have found a solution where we can see and share everyone's photos and still remain sane on our dial-up connection.

Cruise on over to www.Flickr.com, (join up and get your free Yahoo! name if you don't have one already) and then post pictures and join our group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/matava/

We hope to see your photos up there soon guys. (send us a small email to say you've joined and we'll surf over and have a look)

Matava Resort helps with Fiji Fish ID DVD

Fresh from their time as cruise directors aboard the Nai'a liveaboard Josh and Liz of www.undersaeasproductions.com headed to Matava to put the finishing touches to their soon to be published definitive fish ID DVD of the Fiji Islands. We'll let you know as soon as it is available and where to purchase a copy. Additions to the DVD filmed whilst diving the Great Astrolabe Reef from Matava are:-

Additional species:-
Painted anthias - Pseudanthias pictilis (male)
Painted anthias - Pseudanthias pictilis (female)
Flame angelfish - Centropyge loricula
Bulbnose unicornfish - Naso tonganus
Scott's wrasse - Cirrhilabrus scottorum (male)
Scott's wrasse - Cirrhilabrus scottorum (female)
Fourspot butterflyfish - Chaetodon quadrimaculatus
Fourstripe wrasse - Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia
Orangelined nudibranch - Gymnodoris striata
Spinner dolphin - Stenella longirostris

Addidtional juvenile/female/male
Peacock razorfish - Iniistius pavo (juvenile)
Palebarred coris - Coris dorsomacula (male)
Short-tail bristletooth - Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus (juvenile)
Gilded triggerfish - Xanthichthys auromarginatus (female)
Leopard coralgrouper - Plectropomus leopardus (juvenile)
Camouflage grouper - Epinephelus polyphekadion (juvenile)
Filament-finned parrotfish - Scarus altipinnis(juvenile)

Variations
Whitespot hawkfish - Paracirrhites hemistictus
Crown-of-thorns cardinalfish - Siphamia fuscolineata

Better shots replacing originals
Gilded triggerfish - Xanthichthys auromarginatus (male)
Whitespotted surgeonfish - Acanthurus guttatus
Pennant bannerfish - Heniochus chrysostomus (juvenile)

Describe a shark !

The current campaign form the 'Shark Trust' asks the following question:-

How would you describe a shark ?

Sexy ?

Graceful ?

Threatened ?

EXTINCT ?

It makes you think doesn't it? Find out more at www.sharktrust.org

Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Program

Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Indonesia : Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Program

Coral reefs of the Asia-Pacific region contain the most diverse concentrations of life on the planet. Indonesia and Papua New Guinea form two sides of the renowned diversity hotspot know as the “coral triangle,” while Fiji, diverse in its own right, is famous for its spectacularly colorful coral communities and array of endemic species. WCS operates a marine project in each of these countries, integrating ecological and socioeconomic research to provide novel approaches to conservation and management while meeting community needs.

The Human Aspect
The majority of coastal communities throughout Indonesia, PNG, and Fiji rely heavily upon marine resources for sustenance and income. With coastal populations rapidly expanding, and a move towards more modern, efficient and damaging fishing methods, many reefs in the Asia-Pacific region are facing threats of overexploitation and destruction. This in turn is affecting the livelihoods of the communities that are so heavily dependent upon the marine environment. Achieving marine conservation in the region requires finding a balance between conserving biological wealth and maintaining the livelihoods of the communities dependent upon the marine environments.

Threats
The most significant threats facing coral reefs in this region are overfishing, destructive fishing practices, and coral bleaching. The generally long life spans of targeted reef species, as well as the relatively low productivity of reef ecosystems, makes reef fishery stocks particularly susceptible to overfishing. Furthermore, a number of fishing methods commonly employed in the region, including dynamite and cyanide fishing and the use of monofilament nets, not only deplete fisheries stocks at an alarming rate, but also damage or destroy essential reef habitats. The bleaching of corals from elevated sea temperatures is also significantly changing reef habitats, and the long-term impacts of this phenomenon are still largely unknown.

WCS Activities
WCS uses an integrated natural and social science approach to identify which types of management are successful in maintaining or improving reef ecosystem condition and which socioeconomic factors are responsible for this success. So far, WCS has found that management systems that are most responsive to the needs and priorities of local communities achieve the best compliance with management regulations and subsequently achieve the greatest conservation success. WCS is now beginning to implement identified successful management strategies in receptive communities. In PNG and Fiji, existing systems of customary marine tenure (community ownership of reefs) will be used as an avenue to implement and enforce management strategies, while in Indonesia, alternative systems of management will be implemented and tested within the framework of national park zoning plans.

The long-term success of conservation strategies in the region will also rely heavily upon a strong local scientific staff to implement, monitor, and adapt management strategies. One of the major objectives of this program is to build the capacity of young local marine scientists to carry out research and monitoring within each country. WCS’ activities to achieve this objective include marine training courses, supervision of postgraduate projects, and one-on-one mentoring of interns working with the program. It is hoped that through these activities, WCS can build a strong local scientific contingent to continue conservation efforts in the Asia-Pacific region well into the future.

Important Next Steps

• Continue to identify the most effective management strategies.
• Develop optimal management strategies tailored to local social, cultural, and economic conditions.
• Implement optimal management strategies in receptive communities as part of a locally managed marine area network.
• Monitor, evaluate, and adapt management strategies to ensure their long-term effectiveness.
• Train young scientists, conservation practitioners, and managers to be able to implement and adapt management strategies and to train others in marine research and monitoring techniques.

Diving with Diabetes

Despite being considered incompatible with diving there are many seasoned divers who have learned to manage this condition and how it relates to their diving. Their doctors are also prepared to declare them medically fit for diving. Other physicians are reluctant to do so. Should diabetes stop someone diving or learning to dive?

We at Matava Resort have faced this question and dilemma a few times and when we have consulted have faced a diversity of opinion. Dr. Simon Mitchell has tacked this issue in a recent article in 'Sport Diving' magazine in his regular 'Diving Medicine' column. It is a well informed starting point for those wishing to explore the issues for themselves with valuable reference and follow up ideas.

Check it out at 'Sport Diving' magazine

Lawsuit Filed to Protect World's Most Endangered Whale

From: SCUBA Diving News

The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit to compel the Bush administration to protect the North Pacific Right Whale under the federal Endangered Species Act. The US Department of the Interior has proposed opening up areas in the Bering Sea frequented by the species to offshore oil development. Additionally, President Bush is considering lifting the presidential withdrawal that currently prohibits such development.

The North Pacific Right Whale (Eubalaena japonica), once ranging from Baja California to Alaska, is the most endangered large whale in the world, with perhaps as few as 100 individuals remaining. Devastated by commercial whaling, North Pacific Right Whales now face the threat of oil and gas development in their critical habitat.

Read more...