Fiji Islands - Kadavu Island

The striking Astrolabe Reef and the Kadavu group of islands have both been created by past volcanic activity and tectonic movements.

The Matava Resort is right on the doorstep of this magnificent living organism, home to an abundance of marine life unequalled in Fiji.

Divers and snorkelers can expect a diversity of fish life and corals of every conceivable color and hue.

Dive Manta Reef - A very special dive and one of the few places in the world where manta rays can be seen regularly.

You'll be taken by the size and graze of these beautiful creatures as they circle inquisitively. Though almost within touching distance all you'll do is stand back in awe. Even without these magnificent creatures, the reef itself is outstanding in its quality and diversity of fish life.

Matava has one dive site where divers see mantas on 75% + of the dives there all year round. They have just found a new site with a great hit rate as well - Mantas are one of Matava's big diving draws.

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 120km.

It is rated as one of the world's premier diving locations offering a great diversity and spectacle in coral structures and marine life.

Matava's Mad Fish Dive Center dive the reef extensively and escort you through the wonders of this hidden paradise.

Matava caters to all levels of diver from beginner to experienced and will take you to sites varying in depths, currents and visibility ranging from 20 - 50 m!

You can expect a kaleidoscope of colorful corals and wonderful marine life.

Spectacular dive sites and exclusive diving on virgin reefs awaits those who dive at Matava - The Astrolabe Hideaway.

There are over 20 world-class sites offering enormous variety for divers of all levels within a 5-minute to half hour boat ride.

This Fiji dive center is a certified PADI resort with instructors on permanent staff. Courses offered range from Discover Scuba to PADI Divemaster. The resort prefers courses to be pre-arranged, however they can be arrange on island.

You'll hardly ever see another dive boat whilst you explore all of the diverse passages and outer reef sites the Great Astrolabe Reef has to offer. 

The hard and soft corals are stunning, the fish diversity is enormous and encounters with pelagics and sharks are the norm rather than the exception.

The Manta Dive (with Mantas all year round) is a must of course! You can even shore dive and critter hunt right in front of the resort.

Matava Resort's PADI dive professionals will look after you and your gear from the moment you arrive to ensure that you have a fun and and truly memorable diving holiday.

Matava Resort / Mad Fish Dive Centre Diving Facts

About the Dive Operation:

• Matava Resort owns its dive operation, Mad Fish Dive Centre
• PADI Dive Resort certified, Matava - The Astrolabe Hideaway, PADI #S-6781
• All divemasters and dive Guides are PADI certified DiveMasters or higher

Areas Dived:

• Great Astrolabe Reef, Kadavu, Fiji

About the Diving:

• two (2) morning dives
• optional afternoon dive
• optional night dive
• no minimum number of divers required for any type of dive
• shore diving available, free with dive package and for groups
• shore diving is guided
• maximum 6 divers per dive guide
• 5-35 min. to dive sites

About the Dive Boats:

• 3 dive boats the Ika Lialia, Ika Lade & Ika Bula
• boats are 23ft / 7m with 90hp Mercury Outboard, Top Speed 35 knots, Cruise Speed 25 knots, Range 40 n.m. Built 2005-2007
• each boat accommodates 6 divers, 2 dive guides and 14 tanks.
• full safety equipment and oxygen each boat
• shade on Ika Lialia, ½ cabin on Ika Lade

Dive Groups, Dive Clubs- Group Dive Trips:

• 8 divers minimum for Group Booking
• 16 maximum divers
• contact us for details on dive group offers

Dive Instruction

• Dive Instruction Available
• Dive Instructors are on permanent staff
• Mad Fish Dive prefers diving courses to be arranged in advance, but not a requirement

Diving Courses Offered:

• PADI Discover Scuba Course
• PADI Open Water Diver
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course
• PADI Rescue Diver
• PADI Divemaster
• PADI Specialty Courses

Dive Equipment:

• Nitrox is not available
• Mares rental gear available, included in some pre-paid dive packages

Special Facilities for Underwater Photographers & Videographers

• Rinse tank
• Camera table
• Charging station
• DVD burning
• Special dive guides by arrangement

Favorite Dive Sites:

• White Wall, Yellow Wall, Noel’s Wall

A Selection of Dive Sites:

Road Rage - Road Rage was named by one of our regular divers who said that the ripping currents and overwhelming numbers of fish traffic here just weren't well enough described by a "wall dive".  Drop in at the end the Naiqoro Marine Reserve passage and descend to the bottom to be swept into the mouth of the channel to get caught up in the traffic!

Connie's Reef -A critter lover's heaven, Connie's Reef is excellent for those looking for elusive seahorses, Rufus Ghost Pipefish and nudibranchs by the thousands.

Coral Wonderland - Coral Wonderland combines the best of wall, drift and relaxed coral watching.The dive starts deep with some very large fan corals on the edge of a very deep drop off.At the end of the wall, large schools of barracuda often hang out along with a gray reef shark or two.

Shark Alley - What can we say about this electric dive site. Ride the currents down the middle of Naiqoro Passage into circling Gray Reef Sharks and dart around the bottom between White Tip Reef Sharks.

Wonder Wall - Located along the passage right in front of Matava, don't be subdued by how easy this site is to get to! Cruising packs of Silvertip sharks reside along the channel next to Wonder Wall making this a high energy dive with plenty of action. High currents can sweep in and out of the channel bringing nutrients to fish, corals and sharks alike.

The Golden Chimney - is a large coral structure completely covered in golden soft corals, which when blooming light up the entire area. Gorgonian fans, moray eels, reef sharks, garden eels are other highlights of this dive.

Eagle Rock -  is named after a school of eagle rays, which fly around the bommie at the mouth of this passage. The dive offers reef sharks, barracuda and turtles. This enormous dive site can be dived 3 or 4 times in different ways, so don't be surprised if your divemaster wants to go back here a couple of times in ones week!

Cabbage Patch - is home to one of the biggest cabbage coral patches a diver is ever likely to see. Reef sharks, hump head wrasse and colorful schools of reef fish are commonly seen on this relaxing dive. The passage is a marine reserve.

Close Encounters - Our newest dive site only discovered in early 2008, this site has turned out to be another Kadavu site where manta rays can be seen regularly.

Japanese Gardens - One of the highlights of the Naiqoro Marine Reserve, the Japanese Gardens are found outside the reef on the outer edge of the channel. The water flow and currents here are ideal to have the soft and hard corals flourish.

Special Dives:

• Manta Reef - A very special dive and one of the few places in the world where manta rays can be seen regularly.

  You'll be taken by the size and graze of these beautiful creatures as they circle inquisitively. Though almost within touching distance all you'll do is stand back in awe. Even without these magnificent creatures, the reef itself is outstanding in its quality and diversity of fish life.