The Mad Fish Dive Centre at Matava resort operates 3 dive boats, they are 7m (23 ft) long and have been custom designed and outfitted for guests and staff. With a top speed of 35 knots, they cruise at 25 knots fully loaded. They are fast and ideal for manoeuvring through the complex reef system that runs along the coast. All boats are in full Fiji Islands Maritime Safety Authority Survey and carry life jackets, safety pyrotechnics, communications equipment and Oxygen medical Kit.
Mad Fish Dive Centre's new boat, "DIVE ME", arrived at Matava's dock in December 09. This dive boat accommodates a maximum of 12 divers on a 2-tank dive, as well as 2 PADI dive masters and a skipper. It has everything on board that a diver needs like rinse buckets, a camera table, a shaded area, and easy entry twin platforms for both going in and out of the water.
With this new boat Mad Fish Dive Centre is the first and so far only resort on Kadavu that is able to dive the entire length of the Great Astrolabe Reef. This opens up never before dived areas and dive sites.
The dive center at Matava is fully equipped with all the latest in diving equipment including Mares BCDs, regulators and wetsuits as well as masks, fins and dive computers are all available for hire. PADI instructors are qualified to teach courses from PADI open water to PADI dive master.
Dive area
The Great Astrolabe Reef is the world's fourth largest barrier reef and is Fiji's largest living organism. It extends along the entire southern side of Kadavu and stretches for over 120 km. Astrolabe is rated as one of the world's premier diving locations offering great diversity in coral structures and marine life.
The reef got its name in 1827, when the French explorer Dumont d'Urville's had a rather unfortunate encounter with the reef, which greatly damaged his vessel "The Astrolabe".
Spectacular and still pristine dive sites await those who dive at Matava, with over 20 world-class sites suitable for all levels of experience within a 5-minute to half hour boat ride. Combined with simple access to The Manta Dive, Fiji's only year round manta dive site, Mad Fish Dive Centre truly offers divers easy and comfortable access to some of the best diving Fiji can offer.
