The Drop Zone Fiji - Sportdiver.com

The Drop Zone is the ultimate dive and surf film which follows professional surfers on the adventure of a lifetime. Alex Gray, Cheyne Magnusson and Holly Beck headed to Tahiti in 2008 for an epic adventure – The Drop Zone Tahiti. Now the three young surfers are back and will be joined by two more - Maria Gonzalez and Bede Durbidge. The five of them will explore Fiji on a unique journey both above and below the surface.

Follow Holly, Alex, Cheyne, Maria and Bede – check out the Drop Zone Fiji blog and photos live from Fiji!

	Holly Beck Palos Verdes, California, USA Holly is a former National Scholastic Surfing Association champ and is known for appearances on television shows such as North Shore Boardinghouse and The Best Damn Sports Show. She spends a lot of time down at her house in Nicaragua and is epic on keeping the world up to date on her travels. Holly Beck is not only one of the best female surfers on the planet but she is also a world traveler, actress, and a person who can definitely capture the world in film, photos and in print. Holly's Drop Zone Fiji Blog
Alex Gray Rancho Palos Verdes, California, USA Alex Gray is one of the most unique people on the planet. He is a pro surfer, world traveler, comedian, ladies man, yoga god, paddler, and inspiration to many. He grew up in the South Bay of Los Angeles and still loves to come home and spend time with his family after long trips around the world. This is his second appearance in Drop Zone. Alex's Drop Zone Fiji Blog
	Cheyne Magnusson Lahaina, Maui but currently in Oceanside, California, USA Cheyne is not your typical pro surfer from Maui. He looks a little different and also lives a little different. He may rip like the rest of the upcoming crew that dominate Honolua Bay but he also tears it up on any skate ramp, had a big role in the Lords of Dogtown movie, free dives like a fish, enjoys a good party and was a high profile member of a MTV reality show. Cheyne's Drop Zone Fiji Blog
Maria Gonzalez Puerto Rico Body Glove's newest Team Member. More about Maria coming soon. Maria's Drop Zone Fiji Blog
	Bede Durbidge Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Bede grew up on North Stradbroke Island, a small island off the coast of Queensland, Australia and moved to the Gold Coast when he was 20. He is in his sixth year on the Men's Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour and is currently ranked number three in the world. To date, Bede has won a total of three ASP events and the Vans Triple Crown and he is still striving to achieve his dream of winning a World Title! Bede's Drop Zone Fiji Blog

Photo credit [top to bottom] (Holly, Alex, Cheyne) Courtesy of PADI Americas and Body Glove; Photographer Justin Lewis, (Maria) Courtesy of Body Glove; Photographer: Mark Kawakami, (Bede) Courtesy of Bede Durbidge; Photographer Adam Weathered.

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Underwater Festival : Fiji's First Official Fringe Event

Matava is the first Fiji Official Underwater Festival Fringe Event!

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Underwater Photography Workshop with Underwater Festival regular Mathieu Meur at MATAVA - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort on Kadavu Island.

Underwater Festival | Official Fringe Events

Fiji Takes Lead in Shark Free Marina Initiative

Marina's and resorts across Fiji are taking the lead in shark conservation. The International Shark-Free Marina Initiative works with marinas, boaters and fishermen to develop policy designed to protect a vital component of the oceans health, our sharks. Thanks to funding from Project AWARE Foundation and under the leadership of Stuart Gow from Matava- Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, 13 marinas and fishing charters on Fiji's tropical islands have already signed their commitment.

The Shark Free Marinas program encourages shark conservation at sport fishing and resort marinas by prohibiting the landing of any shark at the participating facility. Fishermen are not allowed to bring caught sharks into the participating marina for any purpose.

Stuart Gow, Matava - Fiji said, "By asking vessels not to arrive at marinas with sharks we hope to encourage responsible sport fishing and ensure the future of healthy reefs and our islands. We look forward to signing up more marinas and charters in the coming months."

Joanne Marston, Asia Pacific Manager for Project AWARE added, "It's great to see so many marinas and fishing charters practice responsible fishing practices and pledge their commitment to shark conservation."

Project AWARE Foundation: In the Spotlight

Pacific Sun flights priorotised to Kadavu and Taveuni - Fiji Times Online

Even better news for Taveuni and Kadavu local domestic flights:

"With the Mamanuca Group serviced through ferry service as well as boat and air charter operations, Pacific Sun will be able to prioritise its flying on other key tourism destinations including Kadavu, Savusavu and Taveuni," Mr Samson said. "Pacific Sun will focus its operations on more distant points that link thousands of international tourists each year."

Charter flights replace routes - Fiji Times Online

Help Give Sharks a Fighting Chance

This World Ocean Day, 8th June, you can spend two minutes and join AWARE Divers worldwide demanding that sharks be given a fighting chance.

Sign the petition.

Why add your signature to help sharks on the brink?

Governments ignored scientific evidence and advice in favor of short-term economic interests at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), March 2010. They failed to give eight threatened shark species the trade protections they deserve.

Each year, tens of millions of sharks are killed by Earth’s most dangerous predators – humans. Too many of them fall victim to the cruel and wasteful practice of shark finning – the act of removing shark fins and discarding the often still alive shark overboard.

Despite set-backs, thanks to advocates like you, sharks have received recent, historical national protections in Europe, Maldives and Palau. Together, we will make a difference for these critical species.

Sign the petition, express your outrage at the recent CITES failures. Your signature, together with thousands of divers and advocates worldwide, will demand government parties to CITES heed science and protect fragile ocean ecosystems.

Thanks to your support, together we’re giving sharks a fighting chance.

Sincerely,

Jenny Miller Garmendia
Director Project AWARE Foundation

Astralabe Manta at Manta Reef

Ball for Turtle - Fiji Times Online

TRUE as a homing beacon, Lady Nakalou has returned to her breeding grounds at Nakalou in Macuata, completing several months of sea travel.

The third turtle to be satellite tagged in the country, Lady Nakalou left Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi where she was tagged around March.

World Wide Fund for Nature Marine Species Co-ordinator Penina Solomona said the revelation that Lady Nakalou had returned home was exciting.

"We are quite excited because we've only seen this happen in other parts of the world," he said.

Considered an environmental icon in Macuata, Ms Solomon said Lady Nakalou was guided by the clues from the environment like temperature, lighting, chemicals to return to where she was born.

The green turtle is also the toast of a cocktail function that has been named after her.

The Lady Nakalou cocktail will be the pre-function proper at the Turtle Benefit ball to be hosted by WWF on June 4.

"The fundraiser is in its third year," Ms Solomona said.

"We missed out last year because of the floods.

"The main purpose of charging about $100 a head is to raise funds that are used for the daunivonu or turtle monitors project." The ball raised $10,000 in 2007 and $20,000 in 2008.

Ball for Turtle - Fiji Times Online