Diveme Magazine

It is a very proud time for the Pacific when we can bring you a magazinethat represents Fiji Tourism and all that our spectacular Diving Escapes hasto offer. Unique in more ways than one and more in common than the ocean that we share amongst ourselves and with the World.

Thomas Valentine: Dive Me Fiji

DiveMe Fiji www.fijitime.com/dive

from The Editor

myspace.com

DIVE ME.FIJI

It is a very proud time for the Pacific when we can bring you a magazinethat represents Fiji Tourism and all that our spectacular Diving Escapes hasto offer. Unique in more ways than one and more in common than the ocean that we share amongst ourselves and with the World.It is a very proud time for the Pacific when we can bring you a magazinethat represents Fiji Tourism and all that our spectacular Diving Escapes hasto offer. Unique in more ways than one and more in common than the ocean that we share amongst ourselves and with the World.



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3 94 Choose Between Liveboard

Versus Shore-based OptionsDistance to premium Dive Locations.Types of DivesThe sheer number of DivesThe Cost FactorThe Yachting Experience

7

The Shark Conservation Program

Fiji Scuba DivingFiji Shark Diving

Additional FeaturesEditors LetterNewsLetter to the EditorWeb Site and Social Links

11

Nai’a Fiji. Liveboard DiveAdventures

Fiji is world renowned as “The Soft Coral Capital ofthe World” but that’s only

a small part of our stor y.

5 Conservation through Education

2

DiveMe Fiji www.fijitime.com/dive

Q The distance to some premium dive loca�ons for Fiji’s shore based divers?

A Fiji liveaboards will traversesome truly impressive levels of nau�cal miles to bring you tosome of the finest(and occasionally secret) dive locales in the world.









3

Letters to the Editor

DistanceThe distance to some premium dive loca-�ons zones can obviously be prohibi�ve for Fiji shore-based divers. What one makes up for in evening and ‘day off’ comfort and ameni�es, one loses in access to some truly rare and spectaculardive loca�ons. Fiji live aboards willtraverse some truly impressive levels of nau�cal miles to bring you to some of thefinest (and occasionally secret) dive locales in the world.

Types of DivesPinnacle Dives, Wall Dives, Big Blue (Fish) dives, Shark Dives, So� CoralDives and Passage Dives… they’re all here in Fiji in mul�ple places. Fiji liveaboards will escort you to a frontand center seat on every one. shore-based will have a difficult �me finding each and every type of dive. If you decide to go on the road and arewilling to stay at mul�ple accomm-odators, it is possible to more closely recreate a liveaboard level of diversity.

The Sheer Number of DivesEven the most hardcore of shore-based divers will find it difficult to average more than 2 dives per day. The travel �me, the type of oxygen provided and the usual lack of enough crew will make it a ‘tough go’ to get out more than a couple of �mes per day. For those looking to eat, breathe and sleep diving, liveaboards o�en provide up to 5

By Steve Reid for DiveMe Fiji www.fijitime.com/dive

Choose Between LiveboardVersus Shore-based Options

Diving in Fiji

and the can’t loose proposal

Diving in Fiji is a lot like dining at a 5star restaurant… even if for some crazyreason, it doesn’t quite measure up toexpecta�ons, it s�ll a million �mes better than ea�ng at the local fast food joint around the corner. That being said, for thereal diving enthusiast, there are decisions to be made that can significantly alter the experience you may have. The good people at Tourism Fiji and their team atDiveMe Fiji provided us recently with access to some of Fiji’s top dive masters tooffer their opinions on the great debate tohelp us draw our own conclusions. Solet’s take a look at some factors that mayhelp you decide what kind of diving adventure you wish to embark on.

desire to get back in and see more of that incredible stuff!

4


I do say, old chum… it’s certainly a pretty cool feeling to cruise the spectacular Fiji Islands for a weekor two in a really big, luxurious boat. Fiji liveaboards generally provide 4 star comfort; with 5 starscenery and 7 star diving. That’s a lot of stars. Fiji shore-based diving also has its advantages… theycan be seen in the pampering, the exploring, the awesome activities and the world famous Fiji smiles.

The Yachting Experience

5

The Cost FactorFor the cost conscious diving enthusiast, liveaboard diving may provide some fiscal advantages. Generally Fiji live-aboards are ‘all expenses paid’ and forthose who like to have �ght controls on their budget, they will have a very goodidea of their outlay. Fiji sore based divers do have an ability to select froma wide range of accommodators, manywho can provide great service at budget rates.

The Sheer Number of DivesEven the most hardcore of shore-based divers will find it difficult to average more than 2 dives per day. The travel �me, the type of oxygen provided and the usual lack of enough crew will make it a ‘tough go’ to get out more than a couple of �mes per day. For those looking to eat, breathe and sleep diving, liveaboards o�en provide up to 5 opportuni�es per day (and evening) toexplore the deep blue. Liveaboards also o�en use a nitrox mix of oxygen and nitrogen which allows for speedy reco-very and leaves one with a general

When one calculates the cost of thefull trip, Fiji liveaboards may or may not work out to be more mo-ney in the end, but you can be sure that with up to 5 dives per ay, theylive-aboards will certainly win in thecost per dive ra�o.

ConclusionThere are many reasons why som-eone visi�ng the Fiji Islands maychoose to stay on an island or tostay on a liveaboard while partak-ing of their diving pleasures.

the ul�mate diving adventure, while the more cosmopolitan div-er may choose to add land based adventures and fun in the sun op�ons to their travel i�nerary.Either way, when diving in Fiji, youwill be sure to see some of themost spectacular so� coral, the most incredible passage and pinn-acle diving and some of the mostthrilling shark dives anywhere, and that makes either choice a winner.

Hardcore diving enthusiasts will swear by the liveaboard op�on as

Steve Reid has written for manypublica�ons, website and South Pacific Island Topics.He Lived in Fiji forthe last 13 yearsand currently the Execu�ve Director of Web media Fiji a crea�ve E-Based web marke�ng and designing firm in the Fiji Islands.

“For the real divingenthusiast, there are decisions to be made that can significantly alter the experience

you man have!’’

About Steve


I do say, old chum… it’s certainly a pretty cool feeling to cruise the spectacular Fiji Islands for a weekor two in a really big, luxurious boat. Fiji liveaboards generally provide 4 star comfort; with 5 starscenery and 7 star diving. That’s a lot of stars. Fiji shore-based diving also has its advantages… theycan be seen in the pampering, the exploring, the awesome activities and the world famous Fiji smiles.

The Yachting Experience

5

The Cost FactorFor the cost conscious diving enthusiast, liveaboard diving may provide some fiscal advantages. Generally Fiji live-aboards are ‘all expenses paid’ and forthose who like to have �ght controls on their budget, they will have a very goodidea of their outlay. Fiji sore based divers do have an ability to select froma wide range of accommodators, manywho can provide great service at budget rates.

The Sheer Number of DivesEven the most hardcore of shore-based divers will find it difficult to average more than 2 dives per day. The travel �me, the type of oxygen provided and the usual lack of enough crew will make it a ‘tough go’ to get out more than a couple of �mes per day. For those looking to eat, breathe and sleep diving, liveaboards o�en provide up to 5 opportuni�es per day (and evening) toexplore the deep blue. Liveaboards also o�en use a nitrox mix of oxygen and nitrogen which allows for speedy reco-very and leaves one with a general

When one calculates the cost of thefull trip, Fiji liveaboards may or may not work out to be more mo-ney in the end, but you can be sure that with up to 5 dives per ay, theylive-aboards will certainly win in thecost per dive ra�o.

ConclusionThere are many reasons why som-eone visi�ng the Fiji Islands maychoose to stay on an island or tostay on a liveaboard while partak-ing of their diving pleasures.

the ul�mate diving adventure, while the more cosmopolitan div-er may choose to add land based adventures and fun in the sun op�ons to their travel i�nerary.Either way, when diving in Fiji, youwill be sure to see some of themost spectacular so� coral, the most incredible passage and pinn-acle diving and some of the mostthrilling shark dives anywhere, and that makes either choice a winner.

Hardcore diving enthusiasts will swear by the liveaboard op�on as

Steve Reid has written for manypublica�ons, website and South Pacific Island Topics.He Lived in Fiji forthe last 13 yearsand currently the Execu�ve Director of Web media Fiji a crea�ve E-Based web marke�ng and designing firm in the Fiji Islands.

“For the real divingenthusiast, there are decisions to be made that can significantly alter the experience

you man have!’’

About Steve

It’s a week abroad a floa�ng resort. From the keel up, every dive yacht is designed with the diver’sSafety and comfort in mind. Your relaxing week-long vaca�on includes personal touches like deliciousbetween-dive snacks, warm fresh water showers on the dive deck and pampered service from the crew.Live-aboard adventures are an incredible value. Everything is included: Diving, onboard deluxeaccomada�ons, meals, snacks and beverages.

What is the Live-Aboard Lifestyle?

6

After an initial "checkout" dive on the afternoonof boarding, NAI'A heads north and east aroundthe flank of the main island of Viti Levu to reachBligh Water. Several different divesites in BlighWater are available including Vatu-i-ra, E6, Mt.Mutiny, and Cat's Meow, depending on localizedweather conditions. From there we choose oursites according to weather, tides, and ourpassengers' inclinations. But generally we visit theislands and barrier reefs of Namena, Wakaya, andGau. On ten-day charters we have more timeavailable to dive the various reefs in the Koro Sea,some of them near Namena and others near nowhere!

Fiji Scuba DivingWhere is Fiji's Finest Scuba Diving?

Central Fiji has the best diving, no doubt about it. This "NAI'A Triangle" of Lomaiviti, Bligh Wate r and Namena is the focus of our regular itineraries, covering about 500 nautical miles. NAI'A has journeyed throughout Fiji, in all directions and to every corner of the country's boundaries and beyond. We'vefound beautiful sites and dramatic attractions in every region and we still explore new places. But the central region has proved the most consistent in the quality and health of terrains, animals and conditions. Lomaiviti's coral reefs and islands are Fiji's most dynamic and varied: voracious sharks to vibrant soft corals. Fiji's coral reef system is a complex web of barrier reefs surrounding large lagoons and islands. Coral growth and fish action are most robust on those outer barrier reefs. Marine life is especially concentrated within the reef passages and channels that link the lagoons with the deep ocean. But the arrier reefs are remote and vast - a long way from shore bases - so only the best-equipped live-aboard diving vessels can access these locations. Much of the area remains uncharted and the dive sites untouched..All this makes NAI'A dive sites in the NAI'A Triangle of Lomaiviti, Namena and Bligh Water largely exclusive. You are extremely unlikely to encounter another dive boat during a NAI'A trip it will feel like your own private pristine Fiji.Our normal itinerary for both seven and ten-day charters starts and ends in Lautoka, just north of Nadi, where the international airport is located.

“NAI’A offers

the Best of

World Class of

Scuba Diving at

any unrevealed

Sites, NAI’A

has found Fiji’s

Finest Diving”

We have dived Fiji's finest reefs since 1993, underevery imaginable set of circumstances. Importantly, we've kept good records. Many sites are current depen-dent and detailed local knowledge is critical in order to maximize the number of good dives in the best spotsFor that reason we don't offer a fixed itinerary -- "if it's Tuesday, it must be Wakaya". Instead we tailor eachvoyage to the tides and weather that week.

7

A common misconception is that the further you travel the better the diving. We also desire to explore remote locales and "get away from it all". But ecologically and globally speaking, coral reefs don't always share our goals for isolation and solitude. It is true, however, that offshore diving (away from the populated towns and cities)is generally better more prolific pristine life, clearer water, and a higher chance of exciting pelagic fish encounters.Look at the Fiji Islands as a whole; you will see that the area in the center of the country between the two main landmasses is still a long way from developed or populated areas. So why are the reefs here so significant? Well,there are five key ingredients in the perfect coral reef - recipe all of them found in central Fiji region:

Why is Central Fiji

the Best for Diving?

Temperature & ClimateCoral reefs require warm tropical water and sunlight

Salinity, Nutrients & FoodCentral Fiji's reefs benefit from the combined effectof nutrient rich run- off and deep-ocean upwelling. Encouraged by prevailing southeast trade winds, the clean food-ladenocean water is funneled into and along the deepchannel between Fiji's two main islands, VitiLevu and Vanua Levu. And a balancing nutrient load comes down from those two high islands out onto thebarrier reefs and into the same central channel. Most NAI'A dive areas lie along that channel line.

CirculationTidal and wind-driven currents are intensified throughFiji's center. They play a crucially important role in circulating cleansing water flow, removing sediment and moving food back and forth throughout the reef system. These same currents aid In the daily mixing ofbroadcast spawn from fish and invertebrates.

ProtectionCoral reefs need shelter to truly thrive. Open ocean atolls are usually not so luxuriant and abundant as theymust develop amid the constant pounding of ocean swells and storm surf. Central Fiji's maze of barrier reefs provides ideal protection without compromising the important water movement.

New RecruitsCentral Fiji is a nexus for spawn from coral reef animals that have traveled thousands of miles lookingfor a place to mingle and colonize. This spawn, carried over the open sea surface from all over the Tropical Pacific, finds in Fiji a perfect stop-off point at which to stop, settle and grow. Fiji is the first majorbarrier for spawn that has traveled across the Pacific with the southeast trades. Like other food and nutrients, this spawn is concentrated in Central Fiji waters, by the topography of the barrier reefs, the deep Bligh Water channel and the life-breathing currents.

8

Fiji Shark DivingSharks have had a rough go of it for the last several decades, with governments reluctant to afford them the protection theydeserve and most top siders indifferent, if not hostile, toward them. Divers are at the vanguardof shark protection because we understand better than those whodon’t dive that the ocean is a complex ecosystem that absolutely

requires healthy top predatorsto thrive.Fiji is fortunate thatsharks here are less preyed upon than in most other cou-ntries. True, longliners cont-inue to catch sharks and selltheir fins at considerableprofit, but luckily Fiji’s my-riad reefs keep the fishing boats well offshore. So the reefs that NAI’A dives havegood populations of white-tip, hammerhead and grey reef sharks. Black-tip, tiger, bull, nurse, and silver-tip sharks are not uncommon,but you have to be lucky to see one. They’re shy. White-tips and gray reef sharks are pretty much everywhere and

our most reliable sites for hammerheads arethe offshoreseamounts of Mt. Mutiny andE-6, as well as the Nam-ena Marine Reserve and Wakaya. When Howard Halland his crew were diving deep to make the IMAX filmCoral Reef Adventure, they often encountered giant sch-ools of scalloped hammer-heads, but they were below275ft! We see the singletonsor small schools that come up to have a look at the funny things blowing bubblesup shallow.

hammer head shark

white tip shark

9

Coral reefs need shelter to truly thrive. Open ocean atolls are usually not so luxuriant and abundant as they must develop amid the constant pounding of ocean swells and storm surf.Central Fiji's maze of barrier reefs provides ideal protection without compromising the important water movement.

Marine Paradise

NAI’A Liveboard Dive AdventuresF I J I

10

Shark Conservation ProgrammeAqua-Trek is committed to preserving sharks in Fijianwaters and to presenting a model for conservation andsustainable tourism that can be applied around the world.Aqua-Trek's Fiji Shark Conservation and Sustainable Tourism Program has evolved over the last 18 years, andit encompasses several interlinked aspects that have beeninstrumental in the conservation of sharks both on a local and global level. We have recently won the following awards for our Shark Conservation and Sustainable Tou-rism Program:

Aqua-Trek Beqa pioneered the shark feeding dive inBeqa Lagoon in order to be able to study these magni-ficent creatures up close. Sharks often evoke fear, but our11 years in feeding them without a single incident shows that this fear is not justified. The feeding program hasmade the sharks accustomed to human presence which inturn has offered divers unparallel opportunities to observe,photograph and videotape sharks in their natural environ-ment. The fish we feed to the sharks comes from Fiji Fish,a factory specializing in highest quality of seafood. Anadded benefit to the feeding program is that it keeps the factory fish scraps away from the refuse site and brings them back to the food chain. Our Ultimate Shark Encou-nter is only a part of the superb diving in the area; feedingalso brings in a large number of other fish in the area. Theregular feedings have created one of the healthiest fish stocks in the lagoon.

Now visitors come to Fiji to dive with sharks and learn about them in their natural environment. Disp-elling myths that sharks are mindless and dangerousis an important part of our effort. Our mission is to educate people that sharks, the ocean's apex predat-ors, are a vital part of the ecosystem.

It is estimated that the world's shark population willdiminish by 90% in the next decades if nothing isdone to stop shark fishing. This would cause a cata-strophic demise in reef ecosystems. In 2006 Aqua-Trek began a campaign to ban shark finning in Fiji.By on-going research we are poised to have the datato convince Fijian authorities that outlawing sharkfishing benefits everyone. Education, research andpreservation of sharks are imperative for the balanceof nature and to change attitudes about sharks. It isour goal to make sharks worth more alive than dead while we still have the chance.

“The regular feedings have

created one of the healthiest

fish stocks in the lagoon”

AQUA-TREK

conservation thru education...11

DIVINGExplore the hidden World Beneath the Waves


13

AQUA-TREKFiji

DIVE WITH...

The Yachting ExperienceLive-Aboard your dive adventure

Marine Paradise

12

DIVINGExplore the hidden World Beneath the Waves


13

AQUA-TREKFiji

DIVE WITH...

The Yachting ExperienceLive-Aboard your dive adventure

Marine Paradise

The Perfect Destination for your next Diving Escape DIVING?

Discover 1500 species of fish with dozens of rare or endemic species

think about diving in fijiand what our tropical paradise has to offer

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