Organic Garden and Farm at Matava — Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort

Doused almost nightly with fresh tropical island rain showers, Matava’s extensive organic vegetable garden and orchards offer the resort kitchen a host of fresh vegetables and fruits to use daily in every meal and provide nothing but the freshest fare.

The organic gardens abundantly offer such fruits as coconuts, pineapple, pawpaw, guava, banana, mangos, lemons, avocados and cumquats.

With the hard work of our local community farmers, the garden supplies delicious organic vegetables such as eggplant, tomatoes, lettuces, cucumber, zucchini, carrots, cabbages, pumpkin, capsicum, radishes, and cassava.

Organic Garden and Farm at Matava — Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort:

Matava Manta Magic, Kadavu Island, Fiji

Matava Manta Magic, Kadavu Island, Fiji

Matava sponsors the Making Waves with Colorado Ocean Coalition — Fiji Scuba Diving

We were happy and proud to sponsor the recent Making Waves in Colorado event run by the  Colorado Scuba Retailers Association and Colorado Ocean Coalition in Boulder, CO on October 20-21, 2012.

With over 500 people attending the various activities during the two day weekend, the message was loud and clear, we need to protect our oceans, even from a Mile High!

The thank you was great!

Dear Richard,
On behalf of all the members of the Colorado Scuba Retailers Association and Colorado Ocean Coalition, we would like to extend a huge thank you for donating a vacation to Matava Resort to the Making Waves in Colorado event. With your support, the CSRA was able to raise over $10,000 to support the Colorado Ocean Coalition and the Ocean Foundation in their efforts to educate the public on ocean conservation and policy change for protection of our fragile oceans. 

With over 500 people attending the various activities during the two day weekend, the message was loud and clear, we need to protect our oceans, even from a Mile High! From Jean-Michel Cousteau encouraging attendees to get out and dive, to our training representatives answering questions on the basics of scuba certification, the industry showed a great presence. In addition, our speaker representatives were able to educate attendees on safe diving practices and environmental protection efforts that are being made throughout our industry. 

We would not have been able to make this event such a success without your help, so we thank you for contribution and support of this event. It is vital that the scuba industry continue to support environmental movements in ocean conservation and we look forward to a successful event next year as well. We want to create a lasting impression on all Colorado ocean lovers, showing the scuba industry cares about our oceans and is willing to do anything to protect the marine environment for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Alexandra Miller
President, CSRA

Matava sponsors the Making Waves with Colorado Ocean Coalition

Manta Rays at Risk, Extinction is Forever

Project AWARE

Manta rays, a species close to the heart of every diver and every individual who cares about the future of our ocean, are increasingly threatened with extinction. They have roamed the ocean for 150 million years and yet we are witnessing their ecocide before our eyes.

Demand for manta ray gill rakers – or the internal feathery structures that strain plankton – has risen drastically, driving untold numbers of deaths for the Asian medicine market. The gruesome and cruel destruction of these gentle creatures is needless, tragic and extremely alarming.

As the environmental voice of the global dive community, Project AWARE is working at every turn to ensure that mantas will not disappear on our watch. Help us ensure maximum protection for these animals before it’s too late. The time is now. Make an urgent donation today to support critical conservation efforts to protect mantas globally.

FACT: Manta ray catch has nearly quadrupled in seven years according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

FACT: Project AWARE has a track record of success on this critical issue. In 2011, in coordination with our partners and with your support, we succeeded in safeguarding this wide-ranging, globally threatened species and its key habitats under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Project AWARE has the global reach and seasoned expertise needed to try to stop this slaughter - but we need your financial support.

FACT: Worldwide value of manta-based tourism and filming is estimated at $100 million USD per year. Manta rays top divers’ must-see list time and again. Divers around the world have of a truly special relationship with marine creatures and this means we must play a pivotal role in their protection.

Project AWARE is now targeting protection for mantas and their close relatives the devil rays under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – the world’s largest, most effective wildlife conservation agreement. CITES protections offer the best hope for controlling the manta trade globally and ensuring species recovery.

The battle ahead is going to be difficult. But our opposition is underestimating us. Dive supporters span the globe as guardians of the sea from surface to depth. We will not let manta rays die silently and needlessly. Exercise this power, make waves and join together with us in protecting mantas and devil rays today.

Visit the Manta Rays at Risk section of our website for more information on the manta gill raker trade. Thank you for your urgent support!

So Many "Not To Be Missed" Parts to this Adventure for Group of 16! - TripAdvisor

My husband and I are managers of Aquatic World Dive Shop and we lead group dive trips to destinations world wide. We feel we have high standards and look for destinations that have great diving, accommodations, food, and service. We visit each destination before deciding if we will return with a group.  

We were very pleased with our first check out visit here, and even more pleased with the experience we shared with our return, bringing a group of 16 to Matava 5/31 - 6/7/12.
We found the diving to be pristine with beautiful hard corals, very good visibility, tons of fish life, and the manta dive is not to be missed. Joe, the dive shop manager runs a tight operation and he managed to make us laugh at his Fijian imitation of a New Yorker every time we saw him. 

The bures are lovely, many with breathtaking views, but you do need to be aware this is an Eco Resort and hot water is not endless with a driving force, so nor is there air conditioning.
The food is delicious and fresh.The soups and salads are not to be missed. Ingredients are picked from the garden each day. We were very impressed with the chef's ability to give us tasty dishes for every meal during our one week stay. 

The service was the icing on the cake for our group. We were each given special attention and laughter was constant throughout our stay. Maggie coordinates the social atmosphere, the dining experience, the kava parties, and everyone's sense of humor. And he does this like no one else can! George is the perfect compliment to Maggie. He lead us on early morning bird walks, shared his knowledge of customs and nature with us in a way that felt like we had been given a gift because he is so proud of who he is and what he has. He seems to contain a secret joy that bubbles out when he dances with the village children.  

All the staff took great care of us while seeming to exude no effort to do so. The owners Richard and Adrian took great care and we always felt they were very pleased to have us as their guests. Our diverse group included a family of three with a 19 year old daughter, couples ranging from 30 years old to 60 years old, and a single. 

The waterfall and village visit is not to be missed! 

If you are bringing a group to this destination be sure to book your flight from Nadi to Kadavu through a private charter flight. Do not use Pacific Sun! This was our biggest mistake. This airline can not handle large dive groups and your baggage will not make it the same day. If booking a group, work with Matava to use a charter airline. 

Sharon Corcoran

Room Tip: If you do not mind climbing stairs the rooms high on the hill have spectacular views.

So Many "Not To Be Missed" Parts to this Adventure for Group of 16! - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor:

A Healthy Shark Population Means a Healthy Marine Environment

"MAGIC AT MATAVA" - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

Having worked through one of the hardest years of my life with considerable business and personal challenges myself and my beautiful wife Tamara decided that is was time to treat ourselves to an extra special experience. We were craving not just rest and relaxation though also looking for adventure in a pristine untainted environ. After having traveled to many other areas of the pacific we had strangely never been to Fiji. To many tourists thier knowledge of Fiji and it's islands does not extend beyond the heavily touristed areas of Nadi, Pacific Harbour or other typical manufactured experiences that seems to be the preffered option for many guests visiting this South Pacific Paradise. After learning dive in High school many years ago and developing a passion for Marine Ecology and awareness I have always sought to remove ourselves from the typical holiday experience and give us something that makes us feel how lucky we are to live on this earth and interact with it's beauty and Matava was exactly that. Our Kadavu Island experience at the lovely Matava started long before we actually reached the resort with our friendly escorts Yasawa and Wise waiting at Vunisea airport to begin our short trip to the resort. The transfer is by boat which is just fantastic and all part of the adventure. This boat ride only wets your appetite for some of what you will experience over the time of your stay giving you a unique look at the location , size and beauty of the island of which you are now a part of. 

We reached Matava in the early evening just as the sun had set. The magnifIcent main Bure lay before us lit up by the soft glow of the resorts lighting and a dozen beautiful smiles which were just as warm and inviting. I will never forget the feeling I experienced when I first arrived here. Before I even stepped of the boat onto Matava's jetty we knew we had chosen wisely.

You are them ushered my Maggie through to have a meet and greet with the staff while being treated to whatever refreshing beverage your heart desires to start to settle in. The first thing you notice is how attentive the staff are knowing everybody's names, likes dislikes and meal preferences. Any one who had special requests was well catered for and nothing was ever a problem. 

Not only are the staff here very special so are the other guests. You notice this as soon as you arrive here it's like you have arrived in "Eutopia" the whole mood is vastly different and interactions you will have here remind me of a theme a fiction author would set in a book about perfect human realtions in a perfect world (You will know what I meen when you experience it for yourself) We spent the first half of our holiday in "Lomalagi" Bure down by the water and then the second half high on the hill in the Honeymoon Bure with sweeping views of the reefs. They were both comfortable, appealing and clean. The beds were lovely and better than what you get in just about very hotel anywhere which is nice when you want to sleep as well as you can so you can take full advantage of the activities on offer.

Whatever you come here for they will make sure you don't go home dissapointed whatever your into. My wife is now a fully qualified diver thanks to the expertise of Matava Director Richard Akhtar. Richard gave her the confidence and skills necessary to become a safe a relaxed diver. We enjoyed getting to know Richard and appreciate the time he took out of his busy schedule to make sure we were satisfied. Many thanks go to my wonderful dive master Cherie and her husband Glen who made sure our dive experiences were A1 and that we were comfortable every other part of the trip and were just generally great company. Marine operations were all conducted by Big Joe who ran the Mad Fish Dive centre Matava's own dive centre and has exceptional knowledge as a coxswain, fisherman, diver and is a true Master Mariner who gives you the freedom and scope you want as an experienced diver. Joe is combination with his deckhand Lea took us to the best spots at the best times and worked hard to make sure we were always kept comfotable and given the best possible diving experiences. All dives were amazing though swimming with a dozen feeding Manta's doing Barrell rolls is hard to top especially when one decides to lift you with it's enormous wings. 

Thanks also go to George - George served us with humour and courtesy and is a typical proud Fijian man that values his heritage and shows a spectacular exhibition during his powerful tribal dance moves. Vinaka George. Our private romantic Dinner on our Bure Balcony high in the hills was made extra special by Seta she is attentive though subtle and is a credit to her Father who lives behind the resort with his magnificent Garden. General resort life meals and escursions were all expertly executed by Ta an her team and she always had everyone doing what they needed to to make sure everything was running smoothly. Ta organised a beach picnic on a deserted island with Military precision and turned a beach full of coconuts and driftwood into a beach banquet in half an hour for three boats of divers!

We did heaps of dives, walks to the village, waterfalls and kayaking, traditional cooking, kava and ran out of time to do everthing else - That trophy Wahoo will have to wait till next time. The dive operations looked after my gear beautifully it was always washed and stored and waiting for me just where I expected it to be ready for another day. Everything carried on and of the boats for you which i'm not used to though very appreciative of. We were very lucky to have found such a special place in this world and were very disappointed to go. All our expectations of a tropical holday were met by this establishement and we would go back in heartbeat.

Thank you to all that made an individual contribution to our satisfaction while at Matava it did not go unnoticed.

"MAGIC AT MATAVA" - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor