Skuba diving points at Similan (north to south)Underwater rocks out of Koh Tachai, located to the west from Koh Tachai, they look like a stone peak drowned in the sea and surrounded by schools of fish such as Barracudas and "Hu Chang" fish. Moreover, it's said that plenty of rays and whale sharks are found in the area as well.Koh Bon is a tiny island located to the north of Similan Island. The div
Author: ScubaworldFull of natural wonders, and offering an almost unparalleled levels of marine biodiversity, North Sulawesi has become one of the worlds premier destinations for ecotourism and adventure travel in recent years. Today, large numbers of scuba divers travel to this distant part of Indonesia, to sample some of the finest dive sites to be found anywhere throughout South East Asia.The d
By: Chris ChewThe tropical Indonesian island of Bali is still attracts millions of tourists every year. Tourists on vacations to Bali are attracted by the mystique, charms and allure of the predominantly traditional Hindu culture, spectacular tropical jungles, mountains and beautiful beaches. Many tourists especially from nearby Australia and Singapore travel to Bali for scuba Diving. The islands
Thailand has one of the world's most diverse marine habitats, with more than 300 major reef groups covering an area of over 4,500 square miles. From pinnacles and submerged rocks, through to stunning coral gardens and sheer walls, the scuba diving in Thailand has something to offer scuba divers of all levels of experience. It is this diversity in marine habitats and diving environments which
Located on the western coast of the Thailand Peninsula, with its shores on the warm waters of the Andaman Sea lies the beautiful island of Phuket. The largest island off the coast of Thailand, the island of Phuket covers an area of just over 300 square miles, and is connected to mainland Thailand via a bridge at the north of the island.For the past 25 years, the island of Phuket has catered for a
by ChrisChewDespite a series of terrorist bomb attacks in 2002 and 2005 killing hundreds of tourists and locals hitting the tourism industry hard for short periods, the tropical Indonesian island of Bali is still attracting many vacationing tourists.Tourists are attracted by the island 's rustic charms, mystical culture and tradition, spectacular tropical sceneries and beautiful white sandy beach
by ChrisChewWhat can be a more adventurous and fulfilling scuba diving vacation experience than liveaboard luxury yacht cruising and scuba diving in the tropical islands of Bali?Contrary to what many scuba divers think, liveaboard scuba diving may not be as expensive as you think. In fact if planned properly, live on board diving vacations may even save you money and inconveniences. Firstly, you w
Scuba Diving Vacations - Where to Vacation and Scuba Dive"Top Places to Scuba Dive while on VacationScuba diving vacation spots aren't hard to find. So, you've thought about taking a dive vacation, and you're having a hard time picking a scuba diving vacation spot. It isn't easy, with all the wonderful places to scuba dive and vacation at the same time. To make your decision a little easier, consi
"Brilliant soft corals may be Fiji's signature dive attraction, but there's much more to the underwater story here. With more than 320 islands to choose from, divers never run out of options. The largest island of Viti Levu offers easy access to the widest range of sites (including the world-famous Beqa Lagoon and the shark encounters off Pacific Harbour) and has the most extensive diving infrastr
One of the first things you learn when first take up scuba diving is how to equalize your ears. Being able to equalize the pressure in this sensitive area of your body is highly important. But what exactly does equalizing the pressure mean, why should you do it and how do you do it?What Does Equalizing Pressure Mean and Why Should You Equalize?As you descend in water, the pressure of water against
For those who like to go scuba diving, you probably realize by now that there are certain risks of the water that you will be able to avoid, however, you will find that most of it is common sense.
There are a lot of dangers from the animals that lurk in the seas [...]
Stingray City, Grand Cayman, the Cayman IslandsStingrays naturally find their food skimming the bottom of shallow waters, and Grand Cayman North Sound, where Stingray City is located, is the perfect spot to get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures. "Fishermen once cleaned their catch [in the Sound], and now stingrays at these sites are habituated to feeding by divers and snorkele
Many people would like to seek a scuba diving certification because they enjoy being in the water and would like to make some real money doing the things that they love to do. If you are really into scuba diving, you will want to go ahead and take your chance.
There are many [...]
Keeping yourself safe is very important no matter what type of adventure you are on. You need to make sure that you are doing all that you can to make the most of your trip.
Think about the things that you know about scuba diving and apply them to the fun that you [...]
Mondex, a 5-year-old Chihuahua, poses as hewalks the aisle dressed as a scuba diver duringa dog show at a mall in suburban Manila onSunday April 27, 2008. Photo: AP/Aaron FavilaI have explained previously in Why Dogs Bite their owners and this falls into that category. Why do owners humiliate their pets so? Chihuahuas are perhaps the dumbest dogs on...
Costa Rica Scuba Diving Paradise Holidaysby Peter de VizardCosta Rica is a country that is popular for its lush rainforest, its beautiful beaches, and its colorful and lively wildlife. It is also one of the world's popular scuba diving locations. It has the Caribbean Sea on its east boarder and on the west, the Pacific Ocean. It has some excellent areas for scuba diving.Great Scuba Diving at Costa Rica's Beaches Costa Rica's beaches are the type that they are possible to scuba dive from. The Three most popular are:Playas del CocoPlaya Hermosa, andPlaya OcotalMany scuba divers claim to see giant Manta Rays, sharks, and many different tropical fish. These three beaches are great places to start your scuba diving trip is costa rica.Scuba Diving Tours in Costa RicaA great way to enjoy your Cos
Scuba Diving In the Bahamasby Peter de VizardThe Bahamas are a group of tropical islands in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida. There are many islands and they are very popular tourist destinations. Every year, many thousands of people from all over the worlds travel to go scuba diving in some of the best and most beautiful reefs in the world.Tropical Experience of a LifetimeThe Bahamas is a beautiful place to visit. Not only is it known for its friendly local people, great weather and interesting sites. It has fantastic scuba diving locations, which are spread, around the many islands. Scuba diving in the Bahamas is very enjoyable, due to its warm tropical water and long hours of sunshine. There are twenty-five dive areas that have some of the most fantastic and most beautiful scuba di
This article describes some of the better dive sites in South East Asia. As a scuba diver, you will probably know that scuba diving in South East Asia has always been very popular because of its vast species of marine life and rich diversity of colorful corals. As a matter of fact, there are many world class dive sites in this region and with its excellent underwater visibility, South East Asia is indeed a scuba diver's haven. So, here are some of the top dive sites in South East Asia many of which I have dived in several times. We shall start with Indonesia and of course, the island of Bali cannot be left out. Perhaps the most dived site in Bali is the Liberty wreck. The wreck was a US army logistic ship sunk by Japanese submarine torpedoes during the last world war. Liberty wreck lies in
You will find that there are a lot of things that make this sport very complex. You must understand what it is going to take for you to become a good scuba diver. Almost anyone can become a diver.
You will want to get into scuba diving and when you do finally get [...]
People of all ages sing the praises of South Beach Diver
South Beach offers hotels, restaurants and tourists hot spots anddiving centers South Beach also extends diver training and equipment sales. Whether you are an experienced diver or brand new to the hobby, you will find everything you need at your fingertips.
You’ll will learn the ropes [...]
If there is a saying that would speak the loudest for Cambodia diving it would be More Fish & Less Divers. If you look at a map of South East Asia, Cambodia is surrounded by great scuba diving. You have Vietnam known for its Nudibranch and soft corals, and Thailand known for diving in two different bodies of water, the Adman Sea, famous for its leopard sharks and lion fish, and the Gulf of Thailand with its warm water where whale sharks can be seen, as well as a large assortment of reef fish like wrasses, parrots and angel fish. In Cambodia you have 2 PADI Dive Centers and a few smaller dive shops with instructors from SSI, CMAS, and NAUI. Go to Koh Toa in Thailand and you have on just one small island 35 dive shops. Koh Chiang has over 20 dive shops and is less than 100 miles away as
When it comes to vacationing, nothing equals the ability to customize a trip to your very personal ideas of fun and relaxation. For scuba enthusiasts, visiting a scuba diving resort can be the epitome of a vacation, where they can relax, enjoy themselves, and participate in as many scuba related activities as they want. A scuba diving resort offers a chance for divers to focus exclusively on what they love to do and there’s no greater vacation than that. Scuba diving is popular worldwide; the experiences differ depending on the region you visit. Choosing a scuba diving resort begins with your regional preference. If it’s winter where you live and you’re craving the warmth of the sun, then head to any of the multitude of places that are conducive to scuba year round; the Florida Keys,
There are people who are closer to the mountains and then there are people who feel closer to the ocean or the sea. For those who love the mountains there is rock climbing and for those who love the oceans, there is scuba diving. Most of the beach towns in the world have scuba diving on their menu and offer some of the most exotic views of the ocean world. If you are traveling to Australia, you will get to see the almost stunning eco system under the ocean, which is more famous as the Great Barrier Reef. It supports thousands of marine life and scuba diving is the only way to reach there. Scuba diving allows you to see a completely different world separate from the one you live in. Just because there is an ocean doesn’t mean that scuba diving is easy. You need to gather as much informati
Many people consider Florida a divers dream come true. This is because Florida is composed of over 1,700 islands and the Keys that stretch over 150 miles there are many different places to go diving. The waters are calm, clear, and full with beautiful and unique sea life and colorful coral. You can visit some of the over 5,000 ship wrecks in these waters, or the only barrier reef in the continent. In addition to sea diving, Florida also offers some of the finest spring diving sites you will encounter. One of the places that should be on the top of your list to dive is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the nation's first underwater preserve. Located near Key Largo, the visibility here is almost perfect, making it a favorite dive destination for be
Someone once said that scuba diving is like going back to Mother Nature’s womb albeit temporarily because every scuba diver would like to rise above deep waters no matter how cool the scene down there may be. Scuba diving is a complicated sport that requires training and endurance. Scuba diving is not for the faint of heart, or for those who would shrink at the though of being submerged in water for a long time. This is not to say that scuba diving chooses its players because almost everyone can be a scuba diver, provided they do not have the age and health limitations. Children as young as fifteen years old and in good health can train on scuba diving to prepare themselves for certification. However, all those interested to undergo training should fill up a health questionnaire and unde
In a day and age where vacations are frequently built around sporting hobbies of every kind, it stands to reason that there would be the opportunity to design a scuba diving trip. For scuba enthusiasts, the chance to dive in exotic locations can not be missed. It’s no wonder that the scuba diving trip is one of the most popular themed vacations of recent years. Building the perfect scuba diving trip begins with your level of experience. If you are a beginner it is essential that you first receive comprehensive scuba instruction so that you can become certified for diving. While you can complete this training before you leave home, you also have the opportunity to participate in instruction during your vacation. However, keep in mind that instruction and certification can be a lengthy pro
Since the early 20th century, SCUBA diving has gone from an incredibly risky undertaking well out of reach for all but the fabulously wealthy to a relatively safe sport with a rapidly growing participant community. SCUBA stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, so named for the tanks and other gear which divers carry on their backs allowing them to breathe underwater. Although this gear termed “life-support equipment” and a commitment of real training is necessary in order to become safe and proficient enough with it to dive even in a small lake or quarry, technological advancements and improvements in science and engineering have enabled longer times underwater, deeper dives, and reduced danger in this exhilarating activity enjoyed by athletes and nature lovers. Havin
Some of the most enjoyable diving you may ever do is wreck scuba diving. Because travel by ship was the main way of going from continent to continent prior to development of air travel, and because the technology used on ships and in weather forecasting was not advanced at all, many ships sank in waters around the world providing dives that are interesting and fun. There are so many wrecks that only the Florida wreck diving will be covered in this article. In fact, there are so many Florida wreck scuba diving spots available, you'll have plenty of difficulty choosing which ones to dive. Hurricanes, coral reefs, shoals and pirates all help sink the ships that are often quite near the shores. During the Spanish colonial period, the Florida Straits were the most frequently used passage for sh
Costa Rica is an eco-tourism paradise with rain forests, exotic wildlife, volcanoes and much more. This little Central American country is also an interesting place to scuba dive. Most of the diving in Costa Rica is done on the west coast Pacific Ocean side with an area up in the Guanacaste region located in the northwestern part of the country and another south of the capital city of San Jose near the middle of its west coast. If flying into San Jose, one would have to do some internal traveling to get to either of these two locations. The Guanacaste area is a bit easier to get to especially if one could arrange a flight right to the town of Liberia in northern Costa Rica. There are some seasonal charter flights from North America directly to Liberia. The town of Playas del Coco which is
Nitrogen narcosis is a dangerous condition that can affect scuba divers, especially when diving deeper than 30 meters. The exact mechanisms behind nitrogen narcosis are still to be explored, but it has to do with nitrogen gas affecting the nerve transmissions in the body during high pressure. Nitrogen is not the only gas capable of affecting the nerve transmissions when the body experience high pressure; the same state of intoxication can for instance be caused by hydrogen and argon. Since the air inhaled by scuba divers contains a large amount of nitrogen (just like the air that we breathe above the surface every day), nitrogen narcosis was the first type of gas narcosis experienced by scuba divers, hence the name. Today, the condition is also referred to as Inert Gas Narcosis. The effect
The Orkney Islands, location of Scapa Flow a natural harbour since the days of the Norse invaders, more recently a base for the Royal Navy, The final resting place for the remains of the German High Seas Fleet and the destination for this years Selby Aquanauts diving expedition. The story starts at the beginning of the twentieth century when Germany envious of the colonies of her European neighbours and the wealth they are bringing decided to build a navy to match that of the British Royal Navy, at the time the most powerful in the world and protector of the biggest empire the world has known. With the Royal Navy as her target Germany started the first arms race of the 20th century. The Royal Navy's policy at this time was to be able to outfight and outgun the 2nd and 3rd navies in the wor
Before taking up scuba diving as a recreational sport, it is important that you get yourself the necessary scuba equipment and gear. There are many options available but if you’re a beginner, it’s best to start from the basics such as the mask, fins, snorkel, and weight belt, then move on to advanced sets later. The Basics: The diving mask allows you to see underwater through the glass plate in front. Most diving masks are constructed in such a way that a user can breathe out into the mask. This prevents the “squeeze” during the descent caused by pressure. Choose a mask that properly fits your face and forms a seal. Most scuba diving masks come with a rubber or silicone "skirt" that creates a watertight seal with the diver's face. There are several types of diving masks such as ful
Despite a series of terrorist bomb attacks in 2002 and 2005 killing hundreds of tourists and locals hitting the tourism industry hard for short periods, the tropical Indonesian island of Bali is still attracting many vacationing tourists. Tourists are attracted by the island's rustic charms, mystical culture and tradition, spectacular tropical sceneries and beautiful white sandy beaches. Many of these tourists are also scuba divers and are in Bali for scuba diving. After all, Bali was voted by several scuba diving magazines as one of the top ten dive location in the world. Bali have many scuba diving locations where awesome underwater landscape and marine creatures abound. Let's take a tour of some of Bali's diving destinations. Sanur and Nusa Dua - These 2 dive spots are located just 5 m
Scuba diving is the activity adored by innumerable men and women across the globe. Scuba diving lands you deep in the world of water where you confront the flora and flora kingdom that lies much beneath the land on which we live. For the beginners The obsession for the sport of scuba diving has encouraged almost all the tourist destinations to play, practice and teach it. However, those who are naïve to scuba diving should make a judicious start by trying it in resorts. These scuba diving resorts have special instructors that guide you to develop the some basic skills of the sport. It is the best way to learn without casting your life to danger. Many good resorts offer a certification program on completion of which you are awarded by the certificate. This certificate is deemed to be legal
In today’s world, where ordinary citizens and adrenalin-junkies alike are equally capable of chasing adventure, we turn to lessons to make sure we have the appropriate skills. We have lessons for golf, tennis, dance, and any other activity or hobby that can summoned to mind. But for those activities that come with risk, lessons become even more important. Subsequently, those who are interested in scuba diving should always begin with comprehensive scuba diving lessons. If you are in good health, you can scuba dive. And with proper scuba diving lessons you can do so safely to ensure you get the most enjoyment out of your experience as possible. Finding scuba diving lessons is relatively easy, as scuba diving continues to rise in popularity. Luckily, the availability of lessons does not i
One of the world's most famous scuba diving dive sites is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Australia is the only living organic collective on earth visible from outer space. The other is a man made structure, The Great Wall of China. This reef is regarded as one of the wonders of the world and was declared as a World Heritage in 1981. It is the world's largest coral reef ecosystem. Being so huge, magnificent dive spots and beautiful marine life and sceneries abound. The Great Barrier is more than 300,000 sq km in size and consists of more than 3000 reefs. Deciding where to dive in this huge diving destination can be a gigantic headache. Then again, that is a happy problem because of the many wonderful choices you have. One of the greatest d
I was doing some research to find out what is new on the market of scuba diving masks and I found some interesting offerings:
HydroOptix LLC a company based in Culver City, California developed an innovative product line, the HydroOptix Diving Masks. According to their web site their masks offer panoramic views allowing the scuba diver 350% more “visual space” than using conventional flat scuba
Now there's a phrase that's probably not gonna be googled a lot. Something few people know is that several species of fish are actually hermaphroditic. In the case of these fish, Psychedelic Wrasses (Anampses chrysocephalus), they all start as females that form a harem under a dominant male. If the male ever disappears, then the dominant female will change sex and become a male. Protogynous hermaphrodites go from female to male. The reverse is true in protandrous hermaphrodites. I suspect there are some Hawaiian fish that might do that, but you'd have to ask a marine biologist... but there are some recognizeable fish elsewhere that do just that. The most common ones I can think of are several of the clownfish (everyone seems to know them as "Nemo" these days) species. They start as
What constitutes the minimum equipment that recreational divers should have and use on every dive? To some degree, this will be a factor of the environment and the purpose of the dive. Divers in cold water require more thermal protection than divers in warm water. Divers engaged in activities, such as underwater photography or night, deep, wreck, ice or cavern diving, require additional specialized diving equipment that sight-seeing divers in shallow, open water may not need. There is, however, certain equipment items that most experts believe recreational divers should have and use on every dive. The following is a brief overview of each of these items. Mask, Snorkel and Fins These are the most basic of all diving equipment. Masks allow divers to see underwater without distortion. Snork
The history of scuba diving is full of military prowess, inventor ingenuity, drowning, exploration and tourism. This unquenchable fascination with the depths of the ocean has been fueled by novels like 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and even Homer's Odyssey. Anyone that has seen a special on the Discovery Channel has probably felt a pull toward taking his or her own dive. Since the YMCA offered the first diving courses in 1959, one needn't be an expert or Navy Seal to take the plunge. The military has long been fascinated with stealth methods of maneuvering around one's enemy, so naturally scuba diving took off. During the Trojan Wars, divers sabotaged enemy vessels by boring holes in the ships' hulls. The Greeks also tried constructing elaborate underwater defensive shields to keep their a
The islands of the Turks and Caicos are absolutely beautiful with powder soft beaches and aqua blue water. That water also holds some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean. Scuba diving in the Turks and Caicos will delight you with pristine dive sites, great visibility and abundant marine life. Here's a guide to help you plan your first (or next) Turks and Caicos scuba diving trip. Lay of the Land: Turks and Caicos consists of 40 different islands and cayes, 8 of which are inhabited. There are two group of islands. On the West side are the Caicos group and on the east are the Turks group. The two groups are separated by the 22 mile Columbus Passage. Unlike some other Caribbean islands, the Turks and Caicos are fairly flat with marshes and mangrove swamps. We have only stayed on Provid
Getting decompression sickness while scuba diving is not an enjoyable experience. Decompression sickness was encountered when Brooklyn Bridge was being built. DCS affected the workers on the Brooklyn Bridge site who had to spend many hours near the bridge supports in compressed-air filled chambers (caissons) underwater. Upon surfacing, they suffered from abdominal cramps, joint pain, and in some cases death. Let's try and understand what causes decompression sickness while scuba diving. As the diver descends, he breathes in the nitrogen in the air through the tank. This nitrogen dissolves in the blood. While the diver is ascending, the lowered pressure causes the nitrogen to come out of the blood, forming small bubbles. To prevent these bubbles from becoming bigger, they need to be either
Choosing a fin for scuba diving is not as easy as you may imagine. What appears such a simple device is actually a fair bit of complicated engineering. The following tips will help new scuba divers choose the right fins for their dive. Fins are like shoes; they have to fit you well so you can be comfortable in them and they can function optimally. But shoe fit can be adjusted using socks and also shoes are so readily available. If you are uncomfortable in one pair, you can always change into another. In the case of fins, it's likely to be your only pair so make sure you get the right one. Before trying on fins, make sure you wash your feet so that there is no dirt or sand sticking to your feet. Try on several pairs so you can compare them for fit and comfort. Once you slip on the fins, mov
Your visual acuity is important while scuba diving. You need to keep your mask clear in order to see well underwater. The very purpose of a scuba diver is to enjoy the amazing sights of the various colorful fish and plants which make the underwater world so interesting and refreshing. You must see clearly in order to have a safe dive. Even is you have a well-fitting mask, it may take in water, or fog over or even fall off during the dive. Here are some tips on how to keep your mask in tip-top condition. The faceplate glass of the mask can get obscured by small droplets of water condensing on it because of sweat from the forehead or cheek of the diver. If there is even a tiny leak through the mask, the droplets may get bounced onto the interior of the glass. But most commonly, the fogging o
A scuba diving mask is an essential part of our scuba gear. Without it, we wouldn't be diving. It's simple to take care of with some basic maintenance tips. Once you are underwater, though, there's not much more annoying than a mask that constantly fogs up. Follow these simple steps for mask care and defogging so your mask will last you for many more dives. Scuba Dive Mask Maintenance Many times, new dive masks have an oily film over the surface. What works best to remove this? Good 'ol toothpaste! Put a small drop on the lens and rub it over the areas that have this residue on them. This would also include the strap. Thoroughly rinse the mask in fresh water and reinspect to make sure it is clean. Repeat if necessary. Just make sure it is not a gel toothpaste. I have always used plain Cres
Scuba diving is a wonderful sport. Underwater you experience an amazing variety of plant and animal life, physical and sensory effects, and an overall environment that simply isn't possible topside. But scuba diving has serious and real risks. With proper guidance and training, those risks can be minimized easily in order to enjoy all the positive aspects. One of the most serious potential risks comes from nitrogen narcosis. This is a condition that can result from diving too deep, bringing on disorientation, euphoria, errors in judgment and even hallucinations or unconsciousness. This can be fatal. Though the exact cause isn't known with certainty, scientists hypothesize that the way pressurized nitrogen enters the nerve cells leading to the brain is the likely culprit. As a scuba diver d
Breathing underwater while scuba diving is not just about inhaling and exhaling. This is true of breathing on ground but when you get underwater, even if you have an air tank on you, you will need to know a lot more about breathing than simply how to inhale or exhale. Over a hundred and fifty years of studying scuba diving experience has shown that healthy and safe dive takes more than just giving the diver enough air to breathe. Let us try and use some elementary physics to understand why this is true. Okay, here’s a visualization exercise. Try and imagine someone standing in front of you and trying to push you. What happens to you? You will tip and fall backward. Now what if there were two people ��" one pushing you from the front and one from the back. You will probably remain sta
Buying a wetsuit can be somewhat confusing. There are many different styles, thicknesses, qualities and price ranges to choose from. Trying on a wetsuit isn't the most fun thing to do in the world either. However, it is a necessary evil if you want to keep warm on your dive. So with that in mind, here are the items you should look for when buying a wetsuit: Style - The first thing you will have to decide is what style of wetsuit do you want. Do you want a full wet suit or a shortie (has short arms (usually) and legs that end just above the knee)? Do you want a farmer john or jane (a two piece suit - one piece has long legs with a sleeveless top; it is usually worn with a covering jacket)? Do you need a hood? A shortie is for warm water diving and is what I wear when I need more than a ski
Boracay is a beautiful tropical island located at 200 miles (315km) south of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. This island resort is one of Philippines' most popular tourist destinations because it is consistently voted by popular scuba diving and travel magazines as one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. There are many dive centers and operators in Boracay offering diving trips to top rated but hard to reach dive sites such as those in the Sibuyan Sea, Tablas, Romblon and Semirara. Close to Boracay are also excellent dive sites catering to divers of varying diving skills. Non diver will find snorkeling in Boracay an enriching experience because of its rich and diverse marine life near the beaches. Friday's Rock is a nearby rocky outcrop in Boracay's western shore. E
This article describes some of the better dive sites in South East Asia. As a scuba diver, you will probably know that scuba diving in South East Asia has always been very popular because of its vast species of marine life and rich diversity of colorful corals. As a matter of fact, there are many world class dive sites in this region and with its excellent underwater visibility, South East Asia is indeed a scuba diver's haven. So, here are some of the top dive sites in South East Asia many of which I have dived in several times. We shall start with Indonesia and of course, the island of Bali cannot be left out. Perhaps the most dived site in Bali is the Liberty wreck. The wreck was a US army logistic ship sunk by Japanese submarine torpedoes during the last world war. Liberty wreck lies in
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is regarded as one of the world's most popular scuba diving holiday destination. The Great Barrier Reef is situated off the east coast of Australia and it is the only living organic collective on earth, said to be visible from outer space. This Australian reef is also regarded as one of the wonders of the world and was declared as a World Heritage since 1981. It is the world's largest coral reef ecosystem and being so huge, scuba divers are offered a large array of magnificent dive sites and bountiful marine life to enjoy. The Great Barrier is more than 300,000 sq km (115, 831 sq miles) in size and is the home to more than 3000 smaller reefs. Deciding where to scuba dive in this huge diving destination can certainly be a happy problem because of the many asto
The earth is unique. it is the only planet in our solar system that can support carbon-based life, or life as we know it. The water covers more than two thirds of this planet, and is home to a huge part of its life. Unfortunately we know more about what happens on the surface of Mars, than in the depths of our oceans. In fact the earth has so much water on it that we might as well refer to it as the water planet. However, vast tracts of this underwater world look much as the surface of Mars does. Barren and lifeless. While there are abyssal and pelagic forms of life in the oceans, the distances are so vast, and the oceans so deep that one does not often run across them. Luckily, the earth has oases of life in the shallower depths - coral reefs. These tropical reefs are an explosion of life
The Indian Ocean is well known for its awesome dive sites, with particular favourites being found on the North East coast of South Africa, the Maldives and the stunning islands of the Seychelles. Diving holidays to Mauritius are often overlooked, yet Mauritius is a diver's paradise and has a number of dive sites which are well worth a dip for both beginners and advanced divers alike.All of the Beachcomber Hotels either have dive centres on site, or if staying at the Dinarobin, at the Paradis right next door! Therefore all you have to do is wander down after breakfast in one of the stunning restaurants, to collect your kit ready for your mornings dive. Why not relax on the beach or perhaps try your hand at sailing or water skiing, before venturing out on your afternoons dive! The conditions
Hawaii is a top vacation destination for more reasons than the fashionable grass skirts and leis. People from all over the world travel to the Hawaiian Islands year after year to experience the adventure vacation of a lifetime. No matter whether it is surfing, mountain climbing, or scuba diving, adventure of every variety imaginable can be found in Hawaii. It is this variety of adventure that attracts thrill seekers and the mildly adventurous alike to Hawaii.One of the most popular activities that can be enjoyed in Hawaii is scuba diving. The azure waters of the Pacific Ocean combined with the unique underwater terrain created through a combination of lava formations and coral make scuba diving in Hawaii an unforgettable experience that can be rivaled by no other.All of the main islands of
While you are scuba diving, you are no doubt amazed by the beauty and grace of the underwater world and wish to share it with your family and friends who you have not been able to convince to go with you as of yet. Or maybe you just want to capture photos of your experiences so that you can keep them for your own enjoyment. No matter the reason, most people have a great desire to begin learning underwater photography fairly early on in their scuba diving career.If this sounds like you, you have likely already begun browsing your local scuba dive shops for equipment and started reading up on articles and information published by underwater photography professionals. While you can find a lot of information in this way, a lot of it is technical and hard to follow. For this reason, the best wa
0plugsplug itWhile scuba diving in a remote part of the ocean southeast of India, there lies a beautiful chain of islands formed out of the coral tips of an underwater volcanic mountain range. The chain of more than 7,000 islands stretches onward for 1,200 miles and is only sparsely inhabited. This magical place is called the Maldives, and it is here that divers from all over the world converge to experience scuba diving the way that the gods intended it.Most of the land masses of the Maldives are below sea level. What looks like open ocean interspersed by tiny islands is actually lagoons, deep channels, and atolls broken only by the occasional tip of coral that breaks the surface to form an island. This means that most of the magic to be found in the Maldives is underwater and can only be
Scuba diving is adventurous, magical, and fear-inspiring all at the same time. Even advanced divers report that they feel some form of mild trepidation or anxiety each time that they set out for a dive. If this is true of advanced divers, first-time divers need all of the encouragement and help that they can get to ensure that their first scuba diving experience is more adventurous and magical than it is a time for white-knuckled grasps and knee clapping.One of the best places for beginner scuba divers is the islands of Tahiti and the waters of French Polynesia. This is because numerous shallow scuba diving sites perfect for novice divers abound in Tahiti. Added to this is the amazing experience that can be found on the dry lands of Tahiti. And since novice divers are likely to tire of the
Many people with children put off the idea of taking a scuba diving vacation because they feel that it will be too challenging or dangerous for their young children. While junior divers cannot be certified until the age of 12, there are plenty of diving opportunities for young children out there if you know where to look. Just one of these scuba diving adventures can be found on the shores of the Red Sea.On the Israeli Coast of the Red Sea, there is an exciting open sea facility made just for families with small children who wish to go scuba diving or wish to get acquainted with it. Of course, the amount of scuba diving activity that your children can take part in will depend on their age, water skills, and desire to learn.Before you even begin planning your family scuba diving vacation to
Diving is a fun and popular sport. However, there are some steps every diver should follow to ensure he has a safe dive.Scuba Diving Safety Rules * Get proper training - Being comfortable underwater will go a long way towards having a safe dive. Proper training is one key to being comfortable underwater. The beginning of proper training is to get your open water certification. If you go diving in caves, caverns, wrecks, etc., you should also have the proper training for this type of dive. Don't dive beyond your ability. * Never dive alone - Always dive with a buddy no matter where you are. This is key. When you do dive with a buddy, keep an eye on him/her to make sure everything is OK (and hopefully they are doing the same). If something happens, that buddy can be the difference betwee
Scuba diving may seem to have a long history and it does from one perspective. As far as modern styles of diving go, however, World War II was the impetus to what we now know as scuba diving.There is evidence that man has been diving into the water, most often to seek food, for as long as there is recorded history. Most likely, his underwater quest began even further back in time. However, the history of scuba diving actually should date from the time that man first began to use some sort of artificial means of supplying air to the diver. The very first true diving bell was built in 1535 by Guglielmo de Loreno. It used the simple principle of trapped air inside the bell itself. There was no way to replenish the air supply so diving time was limited.It the meantime air pumps were being perf
Hi again, The last post was sorta commercial, but hopefully informative for some, so I thought I'd bump it down a post. I really don't post many pics of divers doing their thing. Part of it is I don't want to infringe on anyone's privacy and lots of times I take pictures with divers in them I'm close enough to really tell who they are, and more often than not, when I take a shot from a distance it comes out crummy to where I can't photoshop it well. Typically they get tons of red in them after the fixes, these I took out as much red as I could. I'm hoping with the RAW function on the Canon G9 (which I really didn't use on my Olympus sp-350) I'll be able to get a relatively accurate color of the deeper scenes. Diving in Kona is different from many places in that nearly all of our dive
Fiji In Living Color - Scuba Diving MagazineJune 2007 Text by Buck ButlerAt two passages in the soft-coral capital of the world, strong currents make for eye-popping reefs.In still waters, normally brilliant colonies of Dendronephthya soft coral retract into protective, knobby fists, and a reef that's a Jolly-Rancher-colored spectacle in normal conditions becomes a mundane rockscape. But when currents push fast-moving water over a soft-coral reef, these assemblages of tiny animals unfurl their jewel-toned branches to feed on the nutrients that ride those currents. Put your mask close to a soft coral tree to find each colony of Dendronephthya plumping itself up, taking on water to filter for food until its translucent membrane practically glows. Then, for a more expansive view, move two fi
Fiji - Scuba Diving Magazine:vBrilliant soft corals may be Fiji's signature dive attraction, but there's much more to the underwater story here. With more than 320 islands to choose from, divers never run out of options.The largest island of Viti Levu offers easy access to the widest range of sites (including the world-famous Beqa Lagoon and the shark encounters off Pacific Harbour) and has the most extensive diving infrastructure.Vanua Levu and Taveuni, to the north, feature otherworldly walls of snowy soft coral. And the smaller islands of the Yasawas, the Lau Group, the Mamanucas, the Lomaivitis and Kadavu each have a distinct underwater appeal.Acres of plate and staghorn corals have colonized the Yasawas and Mamanucas, considered to have some of the best vis in all Fiji. The bommies of
Photo by nattu
The Maldives, made of a group of atolls, are situated in the Indian Ocean and consist of over one thousand islets. In Maldive’s waters you can find an abundance of marine life, which makes this place the perfect place for scuba diving. The most beautiful things to be done in Maldives are the night dives when the reefs get very active. As mentioned above, the marine life is extraordinary and the reefs form exciting labyrinths for you to visit when scuba diving in Maldives; however you will not find too many shipwrecks there. There are some wrecks to be found here, but most aren’t very very interesting, not the most common anyway, sorry if this messed up your plans
Photo by Ze Eduardo
The best period for scuba diving in the Maldives Islands is between December and March because the visibility is the best and the humidity is very low. Between May and August the visibility is reduced but on May you can meet whale sharks, it’s all about cycles, eve
The competition is open to photographers anywhere in the world. Only original photos taken by the entrant will be considered.
All entries must be digital files on CD-ROM accompanied by an official entry form or facsimile and entry fees. You may enter work in any and all categories; there is no limit to the number of images you may submit.
Grand Prize
$1,000 cash and a dive trip for one on the Komodo Dancer, Indonesia courtesy of Reef & Rainforest.
Prize includes:
Round trip regular economy class airfare for one person from Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York (JFK).
One berth in a twin share state room category cabin on board Komodo Dancer.
Airfare from Bali to meet the vessel or return to Bali.
One night accommodation at the Puri Santrian in Bali.
Round trip transfers in Bali.
Valid until December 15 2009. Black out (13 - 31 December 2008) No cash value and non-transferable.
Value approximately: $4,800.00
First Place - Wide Angle
Dive trip for 2 to Captain Don&r
On November 6, 2007 people from City of Mesa, Arizona by vast majority vote to approve Proposition 300, which basically is green light for the city's expenditure of public funds, tax concessions and grant of city-owned land to aid in the construction of the Waveyard Project. The Waveyard will be a huge water park that will offer surf-sized waves, snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking.
The focus
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — In former lives, the Texas Clipper was a WWII
attack ship, a soldier transport, a cruise ship across the Atlantic
Ocean, and most recently as a training vessel for Texas A&M at
Galveston. Known as the USS Queens when launched as an attack ship in
1944, it carried troops to Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, to Japan at the end
of the war, and troops home. With it's sinking as an artificial reef on
Friday, November 17th, there are only 4 other attack ships that still
remain. The Texas Clipper was sunk at a depth of 134 feet, 17 miles from
shore. As an artificial reef, it will attract lots of sea life and be a
boon for scuba divers to explore, with estimates of $30 million in new
tourism to the South Padre Island area.
Aloha!I've just realized the blog's over two years old and has over 300 posts. I'm about flat out of pictures that are decent. This is a shot of a Leaf Scorpionfish I took a couple of years back, there's another angle of it very early in the blog. Feel free to go back through the archives to see lots of underwater photos, as well as an excess of verbiage.Been busy the last little bit... some charters off my friend's boat.... some chasing around for my boat and trailer.... and a whole lot of worrying.... but the boat is back, and so far it seems better than ever. We've had it out the last few days breaking in the new engines and getting used to the differences in the handling. It's been pretty choppy on the water and I've only had it up to three quarter's throttle so far, but it moves pretty good. I've got enough time on the engines I can run it at full throttle for a couple minutes if I want, it's been a little too choppy on the water to do that so far, the reality is
Reef Ball Foundation Featured in Wall Street Journal by Stephan Whelan on DeeperBlue.net "Todd Barber, Chairman of the Reef Ball Foundation, a charity dedicated to the rehabilitation of Coral Reefs around the world, has told us that the foundation is being featured in the Wall Street Journal on Friday 26th October 2007. This follows on from a major redesign of the Reef Ball website to include more details on how volunteers can setup their own rehabilitation projects. For more information head to the Reef Ball website. Site Photos Are Linked To Related Points of Interest
My mates cousin has been on holiday in Australia for a week and a half when him, his missus and their 15 year old son decided to go scoober diving. The guy is in the navy and has had some scoober experience…….
His son wanted a pic of his mum and dad in all their gear so got the under water camera on the go. When it came to taking the pic the dad realized that the son look like he was panicking as he took it and gave the “OK” hand sign to see if he was alright.
The son took the pic and swam to the surface and back to the boat as quick as he could so the mum and dad followed to see if he was OK. When they got back to him he was scrambling onto the boat and absolutely shocked.
When the parents asked why he said “there was a shark behind you” and the dad thought he was joking but the skipper of the boat said it was true and that they wouldn’t believe him if he told them what it was. As soon as they got back to the hotel they put the pic onto the
Cool review and letter from a happy Fiji Diver!Stuart=================================================Diveaway Fiji - Scuba diving on the Coral Coast: Thank you!Bula, Alex & Alice!I just wanted to send you a quick 'hello' from Chicago. We had a great time in Fiji, and really enjoyed our stay at the Hideaway.One of the absolute, unexpected highlights of our vacation was scuba diving with Diveaway Fiji. As you know, we (myself, Ashley and Kyra) had never before been scuba diving in our lives, and we never even imagined that we would be able to scuba dive while we were in Fiji in March 2007.Thanks to your positive encouragement and comprehensive instructions, we found ourselves about 30 feet deep in the Pacific Ocean before we knew it. The entire experience was truly amazing. I'll always remember the absolute calm and beauty of being immersed in the fascinating under water world for the very first time!We can't wait to get back into the water. I'm sure we will plan many of our future
Not very known yet in Andalucia, but becoming more popular is scuba diving. Although you will find diving centers along the whole coast, some places are better for diving than others.
Starting in the east, in the province of Almería, Cabo de Gata (a Natural Park) is a very pretty place to dive. While diving in the Mediterranean Sea, underwater you can expect coral, invertebrates, conger eels, moray eels, sunfishes, barracudas, seahorses and lobsters. In summer the water temperature is quite pleasant, about 22 ºC. There are a few diving centers in this area, for example Diving Center Branquias, located in the village of Carboneras. This Center offers guided boat dives in the northern area of The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata and in the San Andres Island (a Natural Monument). One dive with own equipment costs 20 €, 2 dives 40€. Extra costs for full rental equipment are 13 €. They also offer courses, from beginners to Divemaster. More information: www.branquias.com.
A bit more to t
SCUBASUPERPOWER.COM - Let's Go Scuba Diving in Fiji:"Fiji - Ready for an exotic diving trip? Begin the day in a swimsuit, grab a quick cup of coffee, then slip on a wetsuit (usually still damp from the previous day's activity). Air tank on, mask in place, you take a giant stride off the stern platform of the dive boat. It's a relief to be in the water again.Fiji's reefs are some of the most diverse and untouched in the world, with hundreds of species of coral and fish clamoring for space on every reef and sheer wall drop-off.Floating effortlessly along the reef wall you examine soft corals in a rainbow of colors protruding from hard coral outcroppings, their waving fingers reach out for the plankton-rich current. Clouds of orange, blue, and purple anthias engulf the coralheads as you swim by."SCUBASUPERPOWER.COM - Let's Go Scuba Diving in Fiji:
Fiji - Naigani Island - scuba diving trip, dive in Fiji.Pilot WhalesIt was about 20 nautical miles from Naigani Island on a heading of 42 degrees to reach the Vatu Wall, but the trip was worth it. About halfway to this outer reef, we encountered a school of pilot whales heading in the same direction as us. “Captain Rambo” stopped well ahead of them and we waited quietly to see what they would do. Unexpectedly, they came directly towards the boat and then hung around. Neil went straight in with the video camera, wearing his “Nitrox Serious Diver” T-shirt and no fins! The others went in with the first mask and snorkel they could grab then came back for their fins. Everyone raved about their close encounter with these intelligent, inquisitive mammals.I was sure that the pilot whales would not come in close enough to see underwater, so I decided to take pictures from the boat instead. Well, they came right under us a few times, clicked at the snorkelors, and my old Nikonos
By Matthias ZeitlerOnce you start practicing scuba diving it will be hard for you to give up this sport. You will certainly choose to get better and better and you will start searching for beautiful places for scuba diving. The existing variety of destinations for scuba diving is practically endless and you will have a hard time taking a decision. You will find that many places provide you with clear water, great visibility and interesting things for you to see. One of the most beautiful destinations when it comes to scuba diving is the Red Sea in Egypt.The Red Sea in Egypt presents a wonderful variety of creatures to the ones that choose to practice scuba diving there. After you see the unique life that lies beneath these waters you will surely want to do scuba diving again. An exciting and dangerous creature that can be found in the Red Sea in Egypt is the tiger shark. This species of sharks is very harmful to humans. When scuba diving in Egypt you have to be careful with this shark,
Scuba diving is a topic, or an avocation as they like to put it, that has insurance companies all over the map as far as how it is underwritten. If you are an avid scuba diver, you defintely want to enlist an independent agent to help you find the best life insurance rates.
There are three primary areas that underwriters look at when they break down insurability of scuba diving. The first one is easy and most everyone who dives has taken this step. You have to be certified by an organization such as PADI or NAUI.
Once you are certified, the next underwriting hurdle comes into play. Life insurance underwriters want to know how deep you dive. There are a lot of companies that are pretty comfortable with recreational diving of not more than 75 feet down. Generally recreational divers will be in the company of a divemaster and divemasters are generally very conscientious about not going beyond a diver’s certified limits. The truth is that most recreational diving takes place in 30 to
Contrary to what many scuba divers may think, a liveaboard scuba diving in Bali may not necessarily be more expensive relative to conventional scuba diving vacations. As a matter of fact, liveaboard scuba diving, if well planned may even save you money and hassles.
In the bay of Conca dei Marini, part of the Amalfi Coast, you will find one of the best scuba diving spots in the area: Capo di Conca. This is the ‘gate’ to a spectacular cliff for scuba diving or underwater photography; you can dive into a cave located at 35 meters deep where you will find thousands of red shrimps and sponges. Also, it is very common to see octopuses, moray eels and seahorses
Howdy,I thought I'd post something that's almost informative for once. One of the complaints you hear about lots in this business is of ill fitting masks. It's a pretty common thing.When I first started diving, I was taught that a mask fit if you could put in on your face, inhale through your nose, and if it stuck, it fit. Well you know what, that works - sometimes. As often as not, you could make a non-fitting mask, that'll leak badly when you are in the water, stick to your face just by inhaling hard. I dove with a badly fitting mask for years, I'm pretty much used to having an inch or so of water in my mask.When I got to Kona, I was hired on at a now defunct (it wasn't me, really, I think it was an ownership squabble) dive and snorkel gear shop downtown. They sold probably 3-8 masks a day, and had people try on umpty-ump more during the course of a day. Every shop I'd ever been to did the old snort and stick method, so that's how I sold masks. Over the course of two weeks or
Scuba Diving In FijiBy: Chris ChewThe islands of Fiji are famous for its spectacular scenery and a world class attraction for sea sports such as big game fishing, snorkeling, sailing and scuba diving. Fiji is a favorite scuba diving location for scuba divers from all over the world and its highlights include a fantastic variety of colorful soft corals, more than 1200 species of fish, 12 species of whales and dolphins.There are also many scuba diving resorts in Fiji which cater to all kinds of budgets and divers. Alternatively divers can choose live aboard dive boats or if you are a tourist on vacation in Fiji do not know how to scuba dive, you can take up lessons there or simply go snorkeling off the pristine beaches.The Fijian archipelago is encircled by a huge reef and therefore there are many shallow lagoons to swim, snorkel or frolick in. There are also thousands of scuba dive sites to choose from. Most dive locations are easy to get to with plenty of resorts offering scuba diving
I did both, Scuba Diving and Snorkeling, many years ago and I can tell you that were awesome experiences! The younger sea lions are friendly and playful animals, while the older are not that friendly, they are not dangerous but a hit could hurt you if they decide to ‘play’ with you, considering the size of this animals, length 8’ 6” and weight 1000 lbs.As scuba divers, sometimes we look for
Fiji and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Dive by Abigail Smigel on DeeperBlue.netFanatical About FreeDiving, Scuba Diving, Spearfishing & Technical Diving2 November 2006 By Abigail SmigelWhen determining your next scuba trip destination, there are several factors to keep in mind. One, does the location provide ample underwater scenery and critters to be worth countless hours of travel to your destination of choice? Two, is the destination affordable enough not to refinance the home for the fourth time? Three, are there activities above water that can be enjoyed while off-gasing? And four, does any of this really matter as long as you're getting out of the hustle and bustle of the nine-to-five and entering the hustle and bustle of a coral reef? If the answer to all of these questions is 'No,' and for that matter, if the answer to any of them is 'No,' then stop reading right now. Find yourself an online Sudoku magazine to entertain yourself. If the answer is 'Yes,' then you are
Diveaway Fiji - Scuba diving on the Coral Coast: Diving in your later years……Today I had a great experience! I took Helen and her daughter on a PADI Discover Scuba Dive! Helen is a 72 year old lady who suffers from post viral fatigue syndrome. We had to make a few adjustments of our dive plan, rather than doing a backwards roll entry into the water we made a slow shore start, and then during the dive we would swim a few meters then stop kneel down and look at the fish and coral."
Vatu-i-ra - Bird Island - dive in Bligh Water, Fiji - scuba diving on deep walls and reefs.:"Vatu-i-ra is a small, uninhabited island about 20km off the north east coast of Viti Levu in Fiji. It is also known as 'Bird Island' because of the huge population of seabirds on the island. There is a rocky hill and thick vegetation making it an interesting shore excursion.There are also many dive sites near the island and along the Vatu-i-ra Channel including the following:Bligh RidgePacific GardenSee & SeaGreg's PointNikonosE-6High 8North and South Lighthouses"Vatu-i-ra - Bird Island - dive in Bligh Water, Fiji - scuba diving on deep walls and reefs.:
