Saudi company Captain Fili Marine Adventures offers unique and sustainable marine tourism
JEDDAH: A new Saudi company aims to become a premier destination for luxury marine adventures and cruise activities, offering getaways for both leisure and sport fishing.
Captain Fili Marine Adventures helps clients plan sustainable and customizable voyages around the Red Sea coast of the Kingdom.
“We’re trying to focus on luxury, so we’re going above and beyond to provide that hospitality experience… you’re going to have a unique experience where you get to know the area, the history, the feeling that no stone is left. unturned,” Abdullah Kurashi, co-founder of CFMA, told Arab News.
The company was founded by Abdulrahman Al-Felali, known as Captain Fili, and co-founded by Kurashi after the duo discovered their passion for life on the water.
They hope to make something unique from the company by elevating the customer experience on deck.
Al-Felali has loved the sea and fishing since he was very young. His interest developed into an extensive 15 year experience in sport fishing and marine tourism.
The company’s 42-foot vessels, fully equipped with two Mercury 400 engines, seat 12 on the teak-trimmed deck, allowing for an intimate onboard experience.
Captain Fili Marine Adventures’ main offerings include a sport fishing package, a modern way of fishing using the latest top-of-the-line technologies and techniques, on an eight to ten hour trip.
“Captain Fili Adventures brings a new dimension to sport fishing in Jeddah, a comfortable boat run by guys who know the fish and the waters and go out of their way to make sure you have a great day on the water,” said Mohammad Sahhaf, who joined the crew on a sport fishing trip.
Captain Fili uses local fishing knowledge to explore unique locations and promote sustainable methods.
“The old ways of fishing, people used to use hand line and bait, that’s all. What we do in sport fishing is that we use modern equipment like the reel and rods, and we use special lines. There are a lot of technical details involved in sport fishing and a lot of factors that you have to take into account in order to land a successful hit (or fish),” the captain told Arab News.
The company promotes the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, by incorporating biodegradable and reusable materials throughout its journeys, minimizing the use of plastic, targeting specific species of fish and practicing catch and release.
With sustainability at the heart of the Kingdom Vision 2030, from policy development to infrastructure, CFMA takes the lead from the ground up.
One of the most threatening factors to marine environments is commercial fishing techniques, which often involve bottom trawling, where a large net is dragged across the ocean floor, disturbing the seabed below.
This also threatens specific species of fish through bycatch, discarded catch that is unwanted, unnecessary, or unfit for sale.
A Greenpeace report found that 640,000 tons of ghost gear (waste from fishing gear) litters the ocean every year.
“We are very conscious of the species we are targeting (when fishing) and we are very conscious of the health of marine ecosystems,” said the captain.
“At the end of the day, there are many tools that sailors have to use and we are no exception, but we reuse anything that is harmful to the environment or we don’t use it at all,” added Kurashi.
CFMA also creates opportunities for people to learn to fish for themselves, educating them on proper gear and teaching them how-to techniques in an attempt to discourage commercial fishing.
“If there are many people who source their own food sustainably, they start to appreciate nature even more. That turns into love and respect for nature,” Kurashi said.
The company also offers customizable half-day leisure trips and 24-hour island-hopping adventures along the Red Sea coast, exposing locals and tourists alike to the hidden gems that Saudi Arabia has to offer.
“We regard this program as the best Saudi beach experience. The guests will depart on our ship and go to visit virgin islands in the middle of the sea.
“Guests can enjoy fun in the sun, stargazing at night, nature, wildlife and many more activities – campfires at night. This program is something we are proud of. It is what makes us unique from other companies”, said the captain.
Other activities on and off the ship include tanning, water beds, snorkeling, swimming, water games, scuba diving, in collaboration with a licensed dive center, and music.
CFMA also collaborates with local talent to bring lively and luxurious experiences from land to sea. One of his trips featured a Jeddah-based DJ, VoidKid, who sets the stage with melodic house music.
The real attraction of these trips is the full and stimulating experience for the body and soul.
“When our clients travel with us, we make sure to indulge all five of their senses; they would see beautiful places, they would smell the fresh sea air, they would feel the water when they are swimming, they would taste the freshest catch in the world, they would listen to the sounds of the waves and the birds; that’s what we’re focused on,” said Captain Fili.
Saudi actor Aziz Garbawi told Arab News about his experience: “The boat trip was incredibly beautiful, especially when we went to that little island, it was crazy. Abdullah did a great job managing, organizing, cooking, fishing, swimming…everything was organized in a unique way. I recommend this trip to everyone because it is worth it.”
Ultimately, the two founders hope to grow the industry within the region and pursue their goal of discovering the region’s hidden treasures and introducing them to international visitors.
The company is also scheduled to operate activities during the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar.
“We want the market to grow because we want more people to come from all over the world. The better the market does, the better we will do. We are very proud that we are spearheading great progress in marine tourism, but we are more than happy to see it grow everywhere,” said Kurashi.
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