Thursday, April 29, 2010

Duck Dive Photographic Competition

Congratulations to Lisa Collins!



This beautiful image of Kevin the Duck cage diving with great white sharks in Isla Guadalope, Mexico has won Lisa (and Kevin) the star prize, a holiday to Riding Rock Resort & Marina in the Bahamas. We wish you both a safe and fantastic holiday!

The Duck Dive Photographic Competition has given a number of ducks a new home and at the same time has helped raise money for Bite Back, the Shark and Marine Conservation Group in the UK. The adopted ducks have been photographed throughout the world from Hawaii to the Great Barrier Reef, some of which you can see here.

The prize, in association with the Bahamas Tourist Office UK and Dive Worldwide gives Lisa the opportunity to visit the Out Island of San Salvador, which is just twelve miles long by five miles wide and home to approximately 950 residents. Quiet, friendly and unspoiled it offers miles of deserted beaches and lush underwater reefs that were "discovered" by scuba divers as early as the 1960's.

Shark lovers will be pleased to hear that San Salvador is home to many shark species, the Scalloped Hammerheads being a favourite with visiting divers. With shallow reefs rich with tame and friendly marine life, stunning water clarity and more than 20 miles of dramatic vertical walls beginning in as little as 40 feet, San Salvador offers a wealth of attractions to the visiting diver. A full service SSI and PADI dive centre is located in the marina complex, complete with air compressors, guest gear storage, training facilities and conference room.


What are you waiting for?!
Call our specialist dive sales team on 0845 130 6980
to also experience the Bahamas.




Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Fiji - Matava and Mad Fish Clean Up Day

A very successful "rubbish filled" day was had by all on Vesi Beach in aid of Project AWARE's Dive For Earth Day 2010.

The 40th Anniversary of Earth Day is being celebrated worldwide throughout April 2010. Project AWARE divers have been taking action to improve their local environment on Dive for Earth Day which celebrates its 10th Anniversary of being on the Earth Day map.

Globally the oceans cover seventy per cent of the planet's surface and contain ninety per cent of the mass of life on earth. Underwater environments are under numerous threats including pollution, debris, climate change, overfishing, and coral bleaching. Project AWARE supported over 300 grassroots events throughout April, to take action and help address these distressing underwater issues. Thousands of dive volunteers in more than 115 countries have helped protect underwater environments and educate local communities for Project AWARE's Dive for Earth Day.

10 school children from local Vacalea Primary School joined together with all 13 members of our dive group from Poland joined with all the staff from the resort and dive centre at Matava to clean up the beautiful Vesi Beach on Saturday 21st April 2010.

Over 10 sacks of marine debris were collected including shoes, fishing nets, plastic bags and even a plastic chair!

Then the sun shone for us as everyone enjoyed a BBQ, lolling around in the sea and plenty of rugby.

"At Matava, and Mad Fish Dive Centre we are of course both happy and proud to be involved in this global event and in the South Pacific and indeed the World" said Matava Director, Richard Akhtar.

"The educational value to the local scholl children should not be underestimated and they thoroughly enjoyed their day!"



Mr Akhtar finished by saying "We would like to thank all friends and clients of Matava especially the dive group of Poles who were in-house and participated. They have all contributed to the success of our ecotourism principles and the resort and we look forward to exciting times ahead."

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, is an eco adventure getaway offering you a fun and unique blend of cultural experiences and adventure activities in the environmentally pristine and remote island of Kadavu in the Fiji Islands.

With more than 14 years experience in the Fiji Islands, Matava is recognized as a leading educational dive centre. Matava offers accommodation for up to 22 guests in lush tropical surroundings in traditional thatched Fijian 'bures' with hardwood polished floors, louvre windows and private decks offering privacy, comfort and superb ocean views.

Mad Fish Dive Centre is Matava's on site PADI 5 Star Dive Centre. We dive the The Great Astrolabe Reef extensively and cater for all levels of diver from beginner to experienced. Mad Fish Dive Centre will take you to sites varying in depths, currents and visibility ranging from 20 - 50m where you can expect a kaleidoscope of colourful corals and wonderful marine life - we can assure you that you won't be disappointed.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

UK - Dive Fest 2010

After a successful turn out in 2009, Dive Fest returns to Pentewan Sands from Friday 30th April until Monday 3rd May 2010. That's your Bank Holiday plans sorted! Tickets start from £15 for a day pass.

Indonesia - Wall diving in Bunaken

Something to consider when visiting Manado...the walls around Bunaken are large!

Bahamas - Tigers on Tap

As featured in our latest Newsletter there are limited spaces on the Tiger Shark liveaboard trips in November 2010.

Here's a preview, call us on 0845 130 6980 to sign up!