Justin Burch asked:


Unlike any other destination in the world, the island of Aruba offers nearly every watersport imaginable - with recreation options for every age and skill level. The crystal-clear waters surrounding this Caribbean paradise are full of shipwrecks waiting to be explored, exotic fish ready to be photographed and rolling waves ideal for windsurfing and a host of other activities. Whether you are a scuba devotee, a deep sea fisherman or just someone in search of the most unique fun under the sun - Aruba is the place to be for all watersport enthusiasts.

Known for great weather and excellent conditions, Aruba has long been one of the most popular destinations in the world for windsurfing and kitesurfing. In fact, one of the biggest events on the island is the annual Aruba Hi-Winds windsurfing competition. Scheduled for June 27 through July 2 this summer, the competition has brought together the world’s most accomplished windsurfers for 21 years. Located at the famous Hadicurari Beach, the event allows professionals and amateurs alike to take advantage of the consistent 15-knot trade winds of the northern and eastern coasts.

On Aruba’s southern shore, novice windsurfers and kitesurfers can enjoy calmer winds and gentler surf. There are also plenty of instructors and tour guides available for tourists looking to get into the water. Regardless of your skill level, you will find perfect conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing throughout the island. Furthermore, as you can rent windsurfing or kitesurfing equipment and arrange lessons directly through your resort, there is nothing holding you back from a day on the waves.

In the pristine waters surrounding Aruba, deep sea fishers consistently reel in exciting catches. While all the different types of Atlantic game fish found year-round are too numerous to name, here are some of exciting species you might find at the end of your line: sailfish, white and blue marlin, wahoo, barracuda, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, kingfish, bonito, amberjack and a variety of shark. After returning to shore, you can visit a number of local restaurants that will happily cook and serve your catch. You can easily schedule a boat for a half-day or full-day tour directly through your resort.

Aruba is also known as the wreck dive capital of the Caribbean. With several ships submerged off the coast of the island, scuba divers and snorkelers can admire the diversity of the Caribbean’s aquatic life while exploring sunken vessels. The Antilla - a 400 foot-long German freighter known as the “ghost ship” - is not only the most popular dive in Aruba, but also the largest wreck in the Caribbean. Having been 60 feet below the surface since the end of World War II, the hull of the Antilla is now coated with tube sponges and ornate coral formations.

The 100 year-old wreck of the California is located off the windward coast of the island. Resting at depths ranging from 30 to 45 feet, the California is a great site for underwater photography. However, because of strong currents, this dive is recommended for experienced divers only. On the other hand, the famous Tugboat and Pedernales are superb wreck dives for all skill levels. The Tugboat wreck, with depths ranging from 40 to 90 feet, is one of the best locations in the Caribbean to photograph coral formations. For a little military history, rummage through the interior of the Pedernales - an oil tanker torpedoed by a German submarine over 60 years ago.

Besides wreck dives, there are plenty of gorgeous reefs to explore in the waters surrounding Aruba. Novices will find plenty of excellent coral formations and tropical fish along the sheltered southern and western coasts. Dives like Arashi and Harbour Reef offer plenty of scenery and depths ranging from 20 to 40 feet. Experienced divers will definitely want to explore the Natural Bridge - a series of enormous boulders that give way to sprawling coral formations at depths approaching 100 feet - and the Lago Reef - one of the deepest dives in Aruba. Regardless of your skill level, you can easily find equipment rentals and tour guides through your resort.

Whether you are a watersports enthusiast - or just want to give scuba diving or windsurfing a try - Aruba is the paradise you have been looking for.

Taylor asked:


I’m getting overwhlemed looking for a nice resort for myself, 2 adult kids (boys), brother and his wife for over Christmas. Want a place that’s mid-size, safe, 2-4 storey, good entertainment at night, great food, things to do during the day, nice white sandy beach good for swimming and snorkeling. Would like a nice quality place - not cheap. I just got back from the Mayan Riviera and loved the area. Don’t want to be near large cities like Cancun or at a place that’s got lots of resorts side by side (too busy). It’s so confusing looking on the internet and at vacation books. Thanks for any help. I think personal recommendations may help.

Chris Chew asked:


The islands of Fiji are well known for its spectacular scenery and world class attraction for sea sports such as big game fishing, snorkeling, sailing and scuba diving.

Fiji is a favorite scuba diving location for many 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 scattered around the Fijian islands.

The water temperature is just perfect for scuba diving with at its coldest at only 25C. On warmer days, it is about 30C. Water visibility in Fiji is excellent with superb visibility of up to 40m or 120ft is a norm rather than exception.

Mamanuca dive sites in Fiji is easily be accessible by boat from the Nadi Airport area on the main island of Viti Levu. Several resorts in the Nadi offer full diving facilities and there are numerous day packages for snorkeling and scuba diving. The diving landscape in Mamanucas consist of shallow lagoons with hollows and bommies and excellent marine life. There are some interesting caves to explore, especially in Sawa-i-Lau in the Yasawa Group.

If you are in Fiji for a scuba diving vacation, you must dive in the world famous Astrolabe Reef on Kadavu in the Southern Islands. This dive spot has excellent hard and soft corals and abundance marine life. There are more soft corals along the north and south coast with some interesting caves to explore. Majestic drop-off can be found on the western tip of Kadavu.

Another excellent dive spot is the Beqa Lagoon to the north of Kadavu boasts of beautiful soft corals, reef bommies and passages. This dive location is famous shark feeding activities with many species of sharks including hammerhead sharks.

The Rainbow Reef in Northern Islands is another world famous scuba diving destination. If you are diving in the Rainbow reef, you will enjoy diving the Great White Wall and advanced drift diving through channels.

These are just some of the many fabulous scuba diving sites in Fiji.

Jeff asked:


Gozo is a very peculiar and attractive island that is part of the South European country of Malta which is also an island.  Compared to Malta Gozo has a much smaller surface area and its aspect is more rural; because of that fact tourists are very attracted to it.  A key characteristic of the island of Gozo are its scenic hills which are also featured in the Maltese flag and coat of arms.
The total population in Gozo is approximately 31,000 and it has been inhabited ever since 5000 B.C. when Sicilian tribes arrived to the island for the first time, the constructions that were left behind are also a huge attraction because they are classified amongst the world’s oldest religious structures that still stand today.
Accommodations and Lodgings
Since Gozo is a Mediterranean island it provides a unique environment for tourists who are looking to spend some quality time at a one-of-a-kind location.  Accommodations and hotels in Malta have thrived because of the rich natural resources afforded to it.  Since Gozo is mostly rural the main lodgings and hotels can be found in Malta which offer different packages relevant to the tourist’s needs.
According to the visitor’s interest there are several types of accommodations that can be booked such as hotels, apartments and even Villas.  Malta hotels range from two stars all the way to five stars, some of them are:- Hide quoted text -
– The British hotel in Valleta (two stars)– The Alexandra Place Hotel (three stars)– The Fortina Hotel - Sliema (four stars)– The Fortina Hotel spa and resort - Sliema (five stars)
Almost all the hotels of accommodations count with a breath-taking view of the natural environment which surrounds these Mediterranean islands.
SCUBA Diving
The underwater environment is perfect for scuba divers, which is one of the reasons why many hotels and travel agencies offer packages that include not only accommodations and transportation within the islands but also “underwater tours” for those who want to explore the crystal-clear waters of the Isle of Calypso.
Scuba divers and underwater photographers will definitely appreciate the beauty of the caves, tunnels and vegetation which surround both islands.  Some of the locations that are a “must” for every scuba diver and tourists are:
– The Inland Sea: it is a very attractive natural lagoon formed by a narrow natural arc within the island of Gozo, some tourists to refer to this lagoon as a natural tunnel that may be the result of a geological fault in the limestone.  The inland Sea was one of the top 10 dives up Jacques Cousteau.
– The Fungus Rock: this is a massive islet of limestone which rises 60 m above sea level and is placed at the entrance of an almost circular black lagoon.
– The Azure Window: this is considered one of the most spectacular natural landmarks in the Maltese archipelago.
 

Ladetra S asked:


f. increased pressure underwater causes more nitrogen gas than normal to be dissolved in body tissues.
g. decreased pressure underwater causes less nitrogen gas than normal to be dissolved in body tissues.
h. the solubility of gases decreases with increasing pressure.
j. there is less dissolved oxygen in cold water.

Justin Burch asked:


Though Cancun is best known for its sparkling resorts and pristine beaches, this stretch of the Maya Riviera is also one of the world’s best destinations for family-friendly recreation. As conditions vary from open Caribbean waters to calm lagoons within close reach of the Hotel Zone, nearly every water sport imaginable is offered somewhere in Cancun. Families can dive and snorkel in the Laguna Nichupte, a calm body of water connecting the mainland and the Hotel Zone. Experienced divers can explore coral reefs and shipwrecks in the Caribbean Sea or plunge into the world’s longest underground river. Throw in sailing, fishing, jet skiing, windsurfing and kayaking and you can see why Cancun is one of the Caribbean’s best destinations for water sports.

Considering that Cancun is a favorite destination for families, it seems almost too good to be true that the city is also one of the world’s premier locations for beginning scuba divers. In fact, the waters surrounding Cancun rest atop the Great Mesoamerican Reef - the largest coral reef system in the Western Hemisphere. Offshore from the small village of Puerto Morelos south of Cancun, the reef can be viewed at depths below 9 feet. Supporting an incredible variety of submarine life, the reef can be enjoyed by families thanks to such shallow depths and great visibility.

In addition to the sprawling coral reef system, there are several more underwater oddities for families to explore. Like many other places in the Caribbean, Cancun has its share of sunken vessels. At each site, you will find plenty to explore - from the corals that sprout from the ships’ hulls to the families of fish that call these boats home. As Cancun is also home to the world’s largest underground river, the inland caves and sinkholes are also popular destinations for more adventurous divers. Lastly, whether you plan to scuba dive or not, all visitors to Cancun should visit the pristine coral reefs and exotic surroundings of El Garrafon National Park.

Like scuba diving, snorkeling is a great way to see the underwater sights of Cancun. However, snorkeling doesn’t require as much equipment or training as scuba diving. If your time in Cancun is limited, your family might want to consider snorkeling as it is easy for all ages and skill levels to get involved. Snorkeling tours visit many of the sites popular with scuba divers as the reefs are shallow enough to be viewed from the surface.

If you want to dive or snorkel while in Cancun, you won’t have any trouble finding equipment or dive operators. Rental equipment is available at most resorts, while several dive tours operate daily and visit all the most popular sites. If you have never experienced scuba diving, it is also possible to receive training and certification while in Cancun. Affordable courses are available for all ages and range from brief classes to acquaint divers with the sport’s basics to full certification seminars that can last several days.

As the Caribbean Sea is generally calm off the coast of Cancun, jet skiing and kayaking have also become popular activities. Jet skis and other water toys can be rented from a number of shops at Cancun’s marina or directly through your resort. Kayaking can be enjoyed by simply paddling in the calm Caribbean water or by combining the sport with snorkeling for a complete Cancun experience. Where the waves begin to pick up along the northern end of Bahia de Mujeres, windsurfing is the sport of choice.

For those in search of a more relaxing way to enjoy the Caribbean, charter boats are available for deep sea fishing or simple cruises. Big game fishing is popular with locals as well as tourists, supported by annual fishing tournaments throughout the region. In the spring and summer months, fishers can reel in marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi and Spanish mackerel. Much like the other water sport activities mentioned here, it is easy to find boat rentals in Cancun and many are available with full staffs. For the ultimate in relaxation, take a ride with one of Cancun’s sailing catamarans - you won’t have to do anything but enjoy the sun and sea.

Justin Burch writes articles about travel in Cancun and Mexico tourism for the Marriott Resorts.

Rr R asked:


………by the equation 0.8^d X 1000% where d is the depth of the diver, in metres

a) At what depth does 64% of sunlight reach the diver?
b) What percent of sunlight reaches the diver at a depth of 10 m, to the nearrest percent?

andrecan2002 asked:


Great Locations in Florida for scuba diving.
And good places for purchasing equipment.
I am in Jupiter, Florida !!!
I was looking for some nice and relax dive that is not too deep. It could be anywhere from 40 to 60 feet.

wildmike1993 asked:

Ice fishing in SD.

algonquin789 asked:


can sum1 explain y buoyancy is useful in scuba diving? nd other benefits of buoyancy as well as density and viscosity. thank you