BAD Publicity!

BAD has just completed some major overhauling and is coming out of the traditional "low" season brighter and shinier than ever!

We've replaced Predators 3-year old engines, we've purchased brand new dive gear for our staff and guests, we've added one more mooring to Shark Reef and overwhelming client demand is pushing us to finally put online Hunter, Predator's posh sister vessel. And we haven't finished quite yet, watch this space for some more cool innovations!
Hunter will be utilized primarily for our ever popular 3-tank wreck and coral dives in Beqa Lagoon, for teaching and also for patrolling the newly established Fiji Shark Corridor (see previous post).
To complement it all, we've re-vamped our local marketing with a brand new brochure and a cool poster featuring some of the fantastic artwork by our friends Michael Aw, Doug Perrine and Michael Patrick O'Neill. We like the poster so much that we've added it to our boutique inventory. If you would like a copy, contact the dive shop or download a lower-res version by clicking on the picture above.
The increased teaching activity and the marketing push are the brainchild of our newest BAD boy, Petero Niurou, a veteran diver, PADI instructor, dive shop manager, television presenter and accomplished entertainer and storyteller. Welcome aboard Pedro!
So, what are you waiting for - drop us a line and join us for the experience of a lifetime!

Bravo!

Our friend Michael Patrick O'Neill has just won the Science/Natural History section of the 65th Pictures of the Year International contest.

The stunning winning picture depicts a Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara).
Formerly known as Jewfish , it is recognized as a critically endangered species by the World Conservation Union owing to its relentless pursuit by fishermen and trophy hunters. After the USA and the Carribean began protecting it in the 90s, it is staging a tenuous comeback, however with the fish's slow growth rate it will take some time for those populations to return to their previous levels.
After our Giant, or Queensland Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus), this is one of the largest Bony Fish found in Coral Reefs (the largest Bony Fish being the Ocean Sunfish and the largest Fish being the Whale Shark). Of interest, both Groupers are believed to be protogynous hermaphrodites, with all young starting out as females and only a few large individuals becoming males.

Congratulations Michael!

MPO - THAT's how you do it!

The winner - so far!

Fabulous picture - click for detail!
We're currently hosting Michael Patrick O'Neill and this is one of a series of shots (another one here) he has managed to bag today, and this on his first Shark dive! Yes he's been here before and knows what to look for, yes he is a full pro and was thus positioned in my very own choice spot and yes, this is of course highly subjective - but my personal verdict is that this is the clear winner of the 2011 wallpaper contest!

So far that is.
Michael is here for several more Shark dives and (!) I'm yet to receive the submissions by the saffron pimpernel!
No pressure! :)

Anyway, great dive!
Excellent viz, nice crisp current, heaps of Sharks, and the video could have been simply stellar - were it not for somebody blowing in bubbles from my very own choice spot just a couple of meters up-current!

Busy- click for detail!

Thank you!

2007 has been Beqa Adventure Divers' most amazing year yet.

Despite the political upheavals and the discouraging -and unneccessary- travel advisory warnings and after a frightening dip in dive bookings in early January, the year started with a bang as we were named Fiji's Best Dive Operator, a wonderful surprise and a great honor. Like last year's glowing report by the Lonely Planet, the AON Awards are not based on often questionable self-promotion but are instead a true peer review by other local Tourism Operators.

On the Conservation front, we were finally able to expand the protected area of Shark Reef Marine Reserve by signing on yet another local community, the huge village of Deuba with their enormous fishing grounds. We've named the resulting 30-mile protected coastline the Fiji Shark Corridor and are very confident that it comprises most of the territories of our smaller Reef Sharks and Bull Sharks, but probably also those of our resident Tiger Sharks.

And, to my utter surprise and delight, we're likely to post our first ever small profit!
This despite having decided to secure our uncompromising quality standards by replacing our 3-year old engines and most of our dive gear, hiring a high-profile Dive Instructor and paying out a whopping 15 grand in bonuses to our loyal, incomparable BAD boys and girls.
Also, Village payments are likely to top $ 35,000.-, more than double last year's.

That all was only possible thanks to you, our loyal customers!
Along with scores of diving VIPs, more than 3,000 intrepid sharkaholics braved the doomsday scenarios and their very own personal Angst to pay a vist to our toothy friends and thus make a valuable contribution to Shark Conservation.
Thank you so much for that!

Many of you then took the time to post your experience on the web, often a funny and exhilarating read, let alone fabulous footage and photos.
Did I find a single complaint? Of course not!
Here's a small selection of what's out there, well worth having a peek at:

- Personal reports:
. Kevin Baldacchino
. Sam and Andy
. "Blue Legend"
. Tom Huck (......!)
. Darren Frost and Kerry Stephens
. "adiver69"
. Greg Davis
. Minna and Justin
. Michael Patrick O'Neill
. "Home or Away"
. Aidan and Danni
. Emma + Mark

- Group Reports:
. Shark Diving International
. Academic Treks

- Reviews:
. Dive Site Directory
. Dive the World

- Articles:
. Underwater Australasia
. XRay Magazine
. The Independent
. NZ Herald

- Research
. Brunnschweiler, Earle

- Images (just one of many many many....)
. Pterantula

I wish you a prosperous and adventure-filled 2008!

Blacktips?

Stellar pic by Michael Patrick O'Neill - click to read caption.

Hardly!
Those I believe are Jacks - but great video!
Nice post about shoaling and schooling here - hat tip: Blogfish.

Enjoy!