Apr 27, 2010

RE-OPENING OF PACIFIC SUN FLIGHTS 14 MAY – 18 JUNE 2010



        
         26th April 2010 

RE-OPENING OF PACIFIC SUN FLIGHTS 14 MAY – 18 JUNE 2010

Pacific Sun advises as of today, Monday 26th April, all flights for the period 14th May – 18th June is now opened for sale.

All Pacific Sun passengers already holding Confirmed bookings on withdrawn flights FJ 105/106/111/112 during this period will be uplifted at no additional cost to and from Labasa.

Please note that Pacific Sun will be happy to assist those passengers already holding confirmed bookings on the above re-scheduled services with ground transfers between Labasa Airport and Savusavu only. Details on the Ground Transfer will be forthcoming.

All passengers holding International connections with Air Pacific that may be affected by this adjusted schedule are asked to please contact Air Pacific who will assist with changes at no additional cost to minimise inconvenience.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and assure you that we intend to keep all disruptions to an absolute minimum. Please see attached for notable changes to the schedule.

Schedule Changes Effective 14 May 2010 – 18 June 2010

WITHDRAWN SERVICES

*FJ 105 Ex Nadi 1000 Arrive Savusavu 1100
*FJ 106 Ex Savusavu 1400 Arrive Nadi 1500
All pax holding confirmed bookings on FJ 105 transfer to FJ 81 ex Nadi 1120
All pax holding confirmed bookings on FJ 106 transfer to FJ 80 ex Labasa 1230

*FJ112 Ex Savusavu 1130 Arrive Suva 1215
*FJ111 Ex Suva 1245 Arrive Savusavu 1330
All pax holding confirmed bookings on FJ 112 transfer to FJ 32
All pax holding confirmed bookings on FJ 106 transfer to FJ 31



TIME CHANGE / RE-SCHEDULED  SERVICES

*FJ121 Ex Nadi to Taveuni Rescheduled departure to 1000 from 0700
*FJ120 Ex Taveuni to Nadi Rescheduled departure to 1150 from 0900
*FJ191 Ex Suva to Levuka Rescheduled departure to 0700 from 0830
*FJ190 Ex Levuka to Suva Rescheduled departure to 0730 from 0900
*FJ193 Ex Suva to Levuka Rescheduled departure to 1130 from 0930
*FJ192 Ex Levuka to Suva Rescheduled departure to 1200 from 0900


For further clarification on existing or future reservations please contact your nearest Air Pacific Reservations Centre or your IATA Travel Agent. Pacific Sun reserves the right to adjust schedules as necessary to facilitate passenger demand.


PO BOX 9270 NADI AIRPORT, FIJI Reservations:(679) 6720888/ (679) 3304388

Apr 26, 2010

The Matava Foundation Supports Local Primary School through Fundrainsing Efforts at Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort

The Matava Foundation Supports Local Primary School through Fundrainsing Efforts at Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort

Kadavu, Fiji, 26 April 2010:
Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort has helped a local primary school fund the year ahead through events organised by its Matava Foundation.

George, Barman at Matava, gets down dancing!


Matava Guests enjoy a dance at Meke

Ratu Varani Memorial School (The Kadavu Primary School) in Kadavu has been fundraising over the last couple of weeks to make up the shortfall between budgets and government funding. This is normal at this time of year when parents and freinds of the school join together to support education in the islands.

There are 2 houses in the school.  The Blue House went fishing and the Yellow House invited Matava to help.  

Through The Matava Foundation, 2 evenings were organised over 2 weeks to run fundrasing events at the resort. Over the course of these events the Matava Foundation and resort guests contributed F$2,000 dollars to the School Fund. 

As a thank you by the parents, a thank you meke was held in celebration. This cultural, fun evening for us held at the resort was warmly greeted by staff and guests alike. 

Matava Guests enjoy a dance at Meke
In keeping with the resort's community and environmental policies, Matava Foundation supports educational and conservation efforts by the local communities and villages.

Matava Director Mr Richard Akhtar said "This latest event was one of the most successful to date, and we hope to repeat it in years to come".

We are now members of muchbetteradventures.com!

We are delighted to have been accepted as one of the early members of muchbetteradventures.com, a carefully selected community of fantastic adventure providers who have a strong ongoing commitment to sustainability.

You can see us featured as part of their local travel directory which puts you in direct contact (no commission) with handpicked active holidays, tours, courses and accommodation. The site also provides travellers reviews, the resources you need to book a low carbon journey, and have started a collection of community built guides to each adventure sport, where users are invited to share their favourite spots, useful info, ideas and inspiration.

Since going live a few months ago the site has grown quickly. Muchbetteradventures.com aim to build the widest and fairest selection of responsible adventure travel and equipment choices that outdoor lovers have ever seen, and bring support to many important conservation and community development projects around the world.

Check out our company profile here http://www.muchbetteradventures.com/profile/MatavaFiji. Please help us to benefit from this site by leaving a review of us, and by spreading the word to your friends.

Apr 22, 2010

Fiji Export restrictions

Certain goods have export restrictions like shells, tabua, coral , birds, Fijian artifacts etc.

Contact the Customs office or email at customshelp@frca.org.fj for more information .

CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
CITES Reference Species Common Trade Permit Requirements
Appendix 1 Turtle shell and all products made from turtle shell Import / Export Permit under CITES
Appendix 1 Live Bats, Blood of Bats CITES Permit.
Appendix 1 Live Lizards, Blood of Lizards, Lizard eggs CITES Permit
Appendix 1 Tabua and all teeth of sperm whales Exit letter from Ministry of Fijian Affairs.
CITES Permit.
Appendix 1 Live bird blood, Eggs of falcon CITES Permit
Appendix 1  
Whole plant, Cut flowers, Seedlings, Seed CITES Permit.
Appendix 11 Live coral, dead coral. Fisheries Export License, CITES permit.
Appendix 11 Live clams, Clam meat, Clam shell. Fisheries Export license, CITES permit.
Appendix 11 Live fish, Dead fish, Frozen or chilled fish. Fisheries Export License, CITES Permit.
Appendix 11
 
 
 
 
Live animals,
Parrot feathers
 
 
 
CITES Permit
 
 
 
 
 
 
EPS Schedule 11 Live Bird Dept. of Environment Permit.
EPS Schedule 1 Pink Billed Parrot finch Dept. of Environment Permit.
Appendix 11 Whole or carved balabala CITES Permit.
Appendix 11 Cycad
Whole plant
CITES Permit
Appendix 11 Big Leaf Mahogany
Timber, Timber Products
Forestry Export Department.
Fisheries Act CPIER
(Customs)
Shell in any form
<90mm at whorl
Ministry of commerce Permit Fisheries, CITES Permit.
Fisheries Act CPIER
(Customs)
Triton Shell Totally Prohibited
Fisheries Act CPIER
(Customs)
Shell Totally Prohibited
Fisheries Act CPIER
(Custom)
Dri
< 7.6cm
Fisheries' Export License
 

Apr 16, 2010

Matava is the First Resort to achieve Shark Safe Certification

Shark Safe  ProgramMatava is the First Resort to achieve Shark Safe Certification

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort and The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education take a leading role in the world with a major shark conservation initiative in the resort and tourism community.

KADAVU, FIJI ISLANDS - 14 April 2010 - Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco-Adventure Resort is proud to take a world wide leading role in the the international Shark Safe Certification program by becoming the first resort to be certified Shark Safe.
Shark Safe certification program

The mission of the Shark Safe certification program is to protect oceanic ecosystems by encouraging practices that do not negatively impact shark populations. By increasing public awareness of the need for shark conservation, we endeavor to change the way people think about sharks, thereby reducing the sale, use, and trade of shark products.

Shark Safe  ProgramThe Shark Safe certification program uses an easily recognizable logo to endorse restaurants and select businesses that distinguish themselves through their manifest dedication to shark conservation. Establishments earning Shark Safe status may proudly display the logo to attract customers. The logo also serves to engage dialogue from patrons, thereby further promoting awareness of shark and ocean conservation.

Matava Director Stuart Gow said "We have worked hard over the past few years to ensure that all the food, not just the fish, within our resturant 'The Terrace' here at Matava are sustainable and natural"

"Matava, and our on site fishing charters Bite Me Gamefishing Charters, are the first in Fiji to sign up and be awarded certification. We are now actively promoting, coordinating and distributing information about the Shark Safe certification program around Fiji." he continued.

Goals of the Shark Safe certification program:
  • Increase public awareness of the need for shark conservation.
  • Reduce the sale, use, and trade of shark products. Shark Safe certification is designed to give discerning customers confidence that their choices help protect sharks.
Restaurants and businesses recognized as Shark Safe have met scientific criteria and stringent guidelines, and they are awarded the authorization to display the Shark Safe logo. The logo and its associated recognition and prestige will help attract customers to the business.

Since sharks are universally recognizable and tend to attract attention, customers and passers-by not already familiar with the program will still be drawn to the displayed logo and will be inquisitive. Participating establishments can provide literature about the Shark Safe program, explain the basic premises, and direct people to the sharksafe.org website.

Christopher Chin, Executive Director and Founder of COARE and the Shark Safe Ceritifcation programsaid "We're thrilled to be working with Matava. For them, conservation and sustainability are not mere bylines, but a deeply held philosophy. The world would truly be a better place if more resorts were to follow Matava's lead."

Beginning with the city of San Francisco and neighboring towns and cities, COARE and WildAid are organizing a campaign to increase awareness of shark finning and the deleterious effects of sharkfin soup consumption.The   Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education (COARE)

The ultimate goal of this campaign is to encourage both communities and the city administrations to embrace a requirement that any shark fins used come from legal and sustainable fisheries.

As part of this project, COARE is proud to offer Shark Safe certification to businesses that distinguish themselves through their dedication to shark conservation.

Bite Me Gamefishing Chartersactively avoids fishing for any species of shark and encourages this practice to be followed by all. By encouraging non-lethal 'catch-and-release' shark fishing fishermen and those sharks inevitably caught accidentally can enjoy their sport while ensuring that shark populations are not further diminished. By promoting sustainable practices of ocean management we hope that sharks will be around to keep our oceans healthy for generations to come.

"At Matava, and Bite Me Gamefishing Charters we are of course both happy and proud to be spearheading this initiative in the South Pacific and indeed the World" said Matava Director and Bite Me Gamefishing Charter Captain, Captain Adrian Watt.

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco-Adventure Resort Captain Watt finished by saying "We would like to thank all friends and clients of Matava and Bite Me Gamefishing Charterspast and present who have contributed to the success of our ecotourism principles and the resort and we look forward to exciting times ahead."

The Shark Safe certification program is a featured project of COARE: The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education. COARE is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area whose purpose is to study our oceans and increase public awareness of the earth's marine environment through educational programs and outreach. To learn more about COARE and our other projects, visit www.coare.org.

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. Matava - Fiji Premier Eco Adventure Resort is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort as well as a Project AWARE GoEco Operator. 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.

Bite-Me Gamefishing Chartersis our on-site IGFA game fishing specialists offering the best of superb record breaking blue water game fishing for tuna, wahoo, sailfish and marlin. As an active member of IGFAand The Billfish Association we advocate tag and release of all billfish and Trevally not deemed to be a National or World Record.

Matava is the First Resort to achieve Shark Safe Certification - Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort

Apr 9, 2010

LOVE MATAVA - Can't wait to return! - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

LOVE MATAVA - Can't wait to return! - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

I was looking for a dive trip to the western Pacific and did a lot of internet searching, Tripadvisor searching and talking to people. After much research, I decided on Matava, both at the suggestion of South Seas Adventures (a travel agency I highly recommend) and from the internet info. I was not disappointed. I am a biologist with a keen interest in outdoor activities that have some learning component, such as diving, bird watching, bicycling, hiking, etc. I was traveling solo so I didn't want to end up in a typical tropical resort situation with lots of newly weds only, lots of folks mostly interested in sunning by a pool and sipping expensive drinks and so on. There are places for that, but that's not what I wanted. Matava EXCEEDED all of my expectations.

It does take some effort to get there; it took fully 26 hours from start to finish from California. The overseas flight is only 10 hours, but the various other transfers take time. Still, for some reason, I had no jet lag, either direction. The final leg of the trip is a marvelous boat ride from the airport at Vunisea, Kadavu to Matava. This offered me the first view of that incredible blue and blue-green water, wow.

Matava is a small eco-friendly resort on the eastern (SE) part of Kadavu, perfectly located for easy access to the world-renowned Astrolabe Reef. The grounds and bures are simple and clean and perfectly comfortable. They have everything I needed for a great stay including excellent beds with mosquito netting, great pillows and hot showers. There is some electricity, augmented with gas lanterns. There is however ample electricity to recharge your batteries, laptop, etc.. The staff are incredible at Matava. They really go the extra mile to make you feel welcome and relaxed; I can't say enough about everyone that works there. A particular thank you to Maggie, Lou, Jen, Drex, Tay and I know I'm forgetting people, so please forgive me if you read this! I also enjoyed talking to Richard, one of the owners, as he is an amateur fish taxonomist and helped me out with some of the various fish intricacies I ran across. The resort has a fairly extensive field guide collection too, so you may not need to bring your own.

I have an Advanced Open Water dive card, but hadn't dived in over 10 years; I did take a refresher course at a local dive shop 2 weeks before the trip. Still, I was rusty to say the least and our divemaster was extremely patient and accomodating to my needs; a big thank you to Lou for that! The dive shop carries equipment for rent which is all in very good condition. You might bring your own dive computer though as those are not for rent (at Matava nor in the local dive shops so far as I could tell).

It was March, Fiji summer, and I brought a 3mm wetsuit, booties and mask and snorkel. I rented the rest and that worked fine. I would bring additional neoprene such as a hooded vest to go under the wetsuit as I did get a little cold on the 2nd dive each day (water temp was about 81 deg F, a little cooler than normal possibly due to El Nino). The divemaster was kind enough to loan me her vest and I was comfortable in the water after that.

Now, the best part: the diving is spectacular! I have dived in the Cayman Islands, Hawaii, off California and in Baja and had always wanted to dive the western Pacific. I knew this ecosystem was the richest in the world but you really have to see this in person to know what that means. The coral diversity is amazing - hard corals galore, amazing leather corals and lots of softies as well. The Dendronepthya (carnation corals) are unbelievable in color and abundance. I was really stunned. Our divemaster knew the sites aboslutely cold as she has several years of experience diving this area, so she was able to show us big things, small things and all things in between. She found lots of great nudibranchs, flatworms, small fish, and so forth in addition to the sharks and mantas everyone hopes to see (me included, and we did too). I can't say enough about the quality of the diving and the leardership of the staff. It seemed like every dive was the "best I'd ever had."

The resort is very remote with no roads whatsoever - only boat access. There are no town lights to ruin the sky and the stars are as you'd expect, incredible. Are there other things to do aside from diving and star gazing? There are, but diving was my main goal. There is world-class fishing to be had and I was happy some fishermen were there while I was as it meant some great fresh fish on the table at night! One can snorkel right from the resort into a mix of seagrass beds and hard coral formations mixed with rubble fields further out. Lots of habitats to explore and creatures to view there. There are also a few hikes, both up the hill behind the resort and to local villages nearby, which are very interesting. There is a nice waterfall in the closest village from which many of the staff come as well. There are some endemic birds, though they can be alittle shy and hard to see. The Kadavu parrot, kingfisher and honeyeater were the easiest to see for me. My trip included a kava ceremony which was very low key and interesting. I hadn't had kava before and found it very relaxing and in the low dose I tried, not negative in any way. Very nice.

You may be wondering about the food: in a word, GREAT! Fresh fish, organic vegetables and fruits every day and home made bread. All that diving makes you hungry and the food is plentiful (they keep bringing plates of it until you say stop), varied and delicious. I may bring my own french press and coffee next time though as there is only instant coffee (personal thing, not a big deal).

In short, I cannot wait to go back to Matava. If you are seeking a small resort which caters to divers and fisherfolk and can live without the, imho, overbearing luxuries and attitude sometimes found in other resorts, Matava is for you.

LOVE MATAVA - Can't wait to return! - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

Apr 5, 2010

Tourism luminary dies - Fiji Times Online

JOAN Moody, co-founder of Moody's Namena Island Resort, a founding member of the Savusavu Tourism Association and a founder of the Namena Marine Reserve, has died in Labasa Hospital after a brief illness.

She was 73.

Mrs Moody and her husband Tom created the resort on remote Namena Island beginning in 1982.

Located 19 nautical miles off the coast of Savusavu, the island, then known as Namenalala to denote emptiness, had never been inhabited due in part to the lack of a water supply.

The Moodys developed the resort themselves including an elaborate water catchment system, solar and wind power generation, and with the steadfast aim of keeping the virgin feel of the 110-acre island intact.

As such, the couple became one the first to practice low-impact and environmentally sustainable development.

Mrs Moody was also instrumental in the creation of the marine reserve in order to protect the stunning barrier reef surrounding Namena Island from being over-fished.

Because of its uniqueness, the resort has been the subject of numerous magazine and newspaper articles around the world and will soon be featured by National Geographic Television.

The Moodys are legendary in the tourism world for remote resort operations.

Prior to coming to Fiji, they operated Pidertupo, a resort in the San Blas islands off the coast of Panama.

After many years of successful operations, their resort was burned to the ground and Mr Moody was seriously wounded in an attacked by alleged operatives of the Noriega regime.

Before this, they were associated with resorts in British Honduras (now known as Belize) and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Mrs Moody's burial will be in America.

The family has established the Joan Moody Memorial Fund for those who may wish to show their respect.

In keeping with Mrs Moody's strong belief in the value of education, the fund will go toward the education of children in the remote Kubulau area of Vanua Levu, where many of the resort employees live.

Some of the fund will also be used in repair efforts in Kubulau after the damage caused by Hurricane Tomas.

The family said deposits could be made direct to: Westpac, account name Namena Limited, account number 1168092700.

Deposits should contain the note "For Joan Moody Memorial Fund". Or donations can be mailed to Moody's Namena Resort, PMG, Savusavu.


Tourism luminary dies - Fiji Times Online