Matthias Zeitler asked:


Everybody agrees on the fact that scuba diving is a relaxing sport that makes you feel special. While scuba diving you get to see the wonderful life underwater and to learn how to appreciate and protect it. There are many places where you have the chance to scuba dive each one more special in its own way. Some of them may be special because of the rare species that are living there, others because of the clarity of the water or they may be famous because of the high density of sea organisms.

An extraordinary place for scuba diving is Tenerife, the most famous site from the Canary Islands as it is the largest and the most visited by tourists. This is where you will find the sympathized Los Giants, known as the calmest place in Tenerife. These cliffs are perfect for family scuba diving or for any other diving group. There are many restaurants that can satisfy everyone’s tastes and a carnival takes place in the area. You will surely be impressed by the well equipped diving centre from Tenerife that has utilities such as diving shops and diving classroom.

As spectacular as the amazing cliffs are the luxuriant and diverse organisms that live in Tenerife’s waters. Also the air and the water temperature are more than perfect for scuba diving. No matter what season you would choose, you will be able to dive in the best conditions. Another thing that can determine you to go to Tenerife is the fact that you will be pleased by both aspects: the underwater world and the exotic beaches. Another great thing in Tenerife’s center is the peak of a popular volcano that is not active since 1909, named Mount Teide.

As mentioned above, Tenerife is full of amazing sea organisms such as turtles, trumpet fish and stingrays. This exotic island is also sheltering some weird creatures, like giant anemones, parrotfish and barracudas, which live in caves. While scuba diving around wrecks you can observe the mysterious habitats of moray eels of many sizes and shapes and get impressed by their charm.

An important thing is the fact that even if you are a beginner when it comes to practicing scuba diving you shouldn’t be afraid because Tenerife is a friendly and exciting place. For those who are experienced divers, Tenerife will bring them to another step of their passion. In other words, this place is really a curiosity of nature and it amazes everyone who’s going to scuba dive, whether it’s an experienced or a beginner diver. The Canary Islands are all extremely beautiful and Tenerife has the largest number of admirers when it comes to scuba diving trips. If you want to get to dive in each great location of the world then Tenerife is something that should not be ignored. Take your family with you and benefit from the most interesting moments while scuba diving the diversity of Tenerife’s waters.

ecoadmin asked:

Snorkeling y buceo scuba con lobos marinos (no focas) en las Islas Palomino, a poca distancia del puerto del Callao, en la capital del Perú, Lima. Los mamíferos marinos de estas islas suelen ser más amigables que los de las Islas Ballestas, en la provincia de Pisco, departamento de Ica. Para más información por favor visite: http://www.islaspalomino.com
Snorkeling and scuba diving with sea lions (not seals) at Islas Palomino, at short distance from the port of Callao, in the capital of Peru, Lima. The marine mammals of these islands use to be friendlier than those of Ballestas Islands at the province of Pisco, department of Ica. For more information please visit: http://www.islaspalomino.com
TAGS: nadando, nadar, swim, snorkeling, free diving, sea lions, lobos marinos, wetsuits, snorkel, fins, flippers, aletas, máscaras, masks, diving in peru, travel, viaje, turismo, tourism, tours, attractions, atracciones, atractivos, vacaciones, vacations, getaways, excursión, excursiones, lima city, ciudad de lima, lima videos, lima video

Jeremy Thompson asked:


Going to Maui on vacation? Since you will be visiting one of the best and most popular areas for underwater sightseeing, you will want to make sure you bring your snorkeling gear. The warm Pacific waters of Maui offer a view of over seven hundred types of the most colorful fish in the world. You will swim among beautiful coral, large sea turtles, and even catch a view of some underwater lava formations.
If you do not intend to snorkel a lot on your vacation or in the future, you may choose not to spend money on your own mask and snorkel. However, there are a wide variety of snorkel and dive shops in Maui that can provide you with everything you will need for a wonderful and memorable underwater experience. Rentals for snorkeling gear start out at as little as $20 dollars a day. And many times if you are staying at a resort on the beach the resort may provide the equipment at no extra cost.
Another service that many dive shops in Maui offer is a tour of their beautiful waters. Tour guides will help you get acquainted with the water and advise you on good and bad conditions for snorkeling. If you are not used to the large waves of the Maui waters, snorkeling may be a bit more challenging. Listening to a marine forecast will also give you an idea if the ocean’s conditions are suitable for snorkeling or not. Another tip of advice dive shops may offer are to go on a sunny day when the water is most clear and the sun will enhance the colors of the coral and fish.
Dive shops can also provide you with a fish identifying guide so you can put a name with all of the beautiful sea life you will experience. Before going on your own snorkeling excursion you will probably want to consider visiting a dive shop and becoming more informed. Depending on the size of your group, tours can be as little as $90 a day. Going with a larger group tends to be more cost efficient. You can usually be grouped with other enthusiastic snorkelers who are ready for a day underwater as well.
Snorkeling is just one of the many exciting activities that you should consider trying on your Maui vacation. It is a great way to experience, up close and personal, some of the most beautiful sights that the island of Maui has to offer.
After snorkeling the beautiful waters and Maui Hawaii and seeing everything this island has to offer underwater you may be left with the desire to see the under water landscape and fish even closer. If this sounds like you then you might want to try scuba diving. Scuba diving will require extra equipment and training which in turn will cost more but the experience will be remember for years to come. The things you can see were scuba diving in Maui Hawaii are simply unbelievable. So start out with snorkeling and if you enjoy the experience give scuba diving a thought. You will not regret it!

Jerry Wanga asked:


Well… it’s not what you think! It’s not a haven for the Mafia mobs and its not in Italy. Mafia Island is a slice of the archaic Swahili Coast that stretches along the Tanzanian and Kenyan coastline. The name Mafia is not Italian but is a twisted version of the Arabic term morfieyeh, for group that refers to the Mafia archipelago. Mafia Island seems to be unaffected by the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world. Inhabitants of this slice of paradise continue with their traditional way of life almost undisturbed by the outside world. Well, if white sandy beaches and clear waters are your thing, Mafia is the place to be. This remarkable island is located on the southern coast of Tanzania, near the Rufiji Delta. It is 30 miles from north to south, and up to ten miles in breadth. Mafia Archipelago comprises of one large island (394 km²) and a number of smaller islands and uninhabited coral atolls situated about 120 km southeast of Dar-es-Salaam. It is indeed amazing that such an astounding Island remains off the beaten path, a destination only for the discerning traveller. Mafia is ideal for active people … divers, sailors and walkers … looking for something really different, unique and unusual.

Travel to the island is by small aircraft either from Zanzibar or from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s Capital city. If you want to see Tanzania, you can take a bus from Dar es Salaam to Kisiju which is on the edge of the mainland bordering the Ocean, and thence by boat to Mafia Island.

Mafia Island is locate in the Pwani Region of Tanzania and is home to the largest marine park in East Africa. It boasts of the finest unbleached coral in the Indian Ocean and claims to have resident Whalesharks … something that attracts divers from around the world. Islands, sandbanks and beaches personify Mafia’s sheltered deep-water anchorage and the original harbour. The clear, protected waters present fantastic snorkeling, sailing and swimming prospects. Just beyond the Bay, a continuous reef extends for almost the length of the island, from Tutia in the south to Ras Mkumbi at the northern tip. The history of this dreamy Island stretches back to the 8th century when Mafia played a big role in ancient trade between the people of the Far East and mainland Tanzania. The island is home to an assortment of rare species including green and hawksbill turtles, which now and again lay their eggs on its wrack-strewn beaches. A 200m deep trough off the island is home to tuna and marlin. Its people are primarily fishermen; many also engage in small-scale food cultivation.

The Mafia Archipelago is a genuine paradise for nature lovers and divers and the perfect place for absolute relaxation. The ‘away-from-it-all’ place. Mafia has a stunning and varied natural environment. This Archipelago will pleasure you with white sandy beaches, fantastic coral reefs, tropical vegetation dominated by large palm groves, imposing baobab trees, fruit trees (e.g. mango & cashew) and mangroves. Also to be found in Mafia are Monkeys, small antelopes, wild pigs, lemurs and a small colony of dwarf hippos. It is also a nesting area for falcons and fish eagles.

There are trips offered on request to other islands in the Archipelago. The trips are done in traditional dhows to smaller islands like Jinbondo, Chole, Juani, and Makweche islands. On Chole Island there are a few self-guided trails that will take you around the island, e.g. the Bat Trail and the Village Trail. The trails provide the opportunity of viewing some sites in Chole like an old German prison, the Persian ruins, market area and boat yard. You will also get to meet Chole’s friendly local people. Chole Island in addition has a large colony of Comoro bats, a protected species of fruit eating ‘flying foxes’

Once on Mafia Island, you can also explore the local markets in Utende and Kilindoni; enjoy the impressive Baobab trees and peculiar mangroves, which somehow endure saline conditions; or just delight in the total stress-free surroundings.

The island is a fine retreat for adventure seeking scuba divers, game fishermen, and those purely in the hunt for idyll relaxation and recreation.

There is accommodation available on the picturesque island.

Robert Barner asked:


With over 800 marine species, French Polynesia is a unique destination for diving. Its 118 Islands offer unlimited resources, in a huge underwater environment. This is a great travel and vacation experience.

Lagoons’ crystal waters, impressive underwater cliffs, the amazing Big Blue of the Pacific Ocean are as many environments as there are exciting, surprising and unforgettable dives It’s live entertainment on a natural big screen! From beginners to advanced divers, there are diving sites suitable to anyone.

BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

Please ensure you are in good shape and if not sure, do a medical check. Diving in Polynesia can be quite thrilling and tiring. If you haven’t been diving for a long time, start with an easy dive. Check your equipment (pressure gauge, computer, BCD, wetsuit, etc) before packing”

bjornharms asked:

Video taken with SeaLife DC500 underwater camera at Hurrican Harbor water park on August 6, 2006.

Adi Arifin asked:


The almost three hours drive was completely paid off with the good time I had. It was a really sleepy fishing village with only a few modest accommodations available. Even my cell-phone, subscribed to the widest network provider, could not get a signal. I stayed at a very modest bungalow called Three Brothers, less than $8 for an absolute beachfront bungalow with private bath. Whilst it did not have luxurious amenities like TV, AC, or hot water, it is nice and clean, but the more impressive thing of friendliness of the staffs treating guests like old friends.

Just a few weeks back we got in touch with Scott, a Seattle based American furniture exporter, who has just completed a beachfront villas at Amed. His invitation to visit his new villa was really appealing. But I was calculating about the chance that we can rent it out to our mostly Seminyak-minded clientele, and the time I had to spend to pay a visit. No other holiday rental agency listed villas outside the greater South, literally means “close to Seminyak”. No one has ever inquired villas at those remote areas. It was simply just like a question of who came to earth first between a hen and an egg.

A few days back, we rented out a villa Talia Vasthi at Candidasa for two weeks. I felt this occasion like a moment to clear the cloud out. It proved that there were certain holiday makers who are interested in off-the-beaten-track areas. So decision was made, I would drive east to meet Scott at his villa.

I was surprised that things have been progressing quite quickly. The new bypass connecting Sanur to the East has now been completed. They even started construction to make it four ways instead of two. This new road ended just a few kilometers away from Padang Bai, the main ferry port to Lombok which was very close to Candidasa. It cut out the traffic hassle at Batubulan, Celuk, Sukawati, Gianyar, and Klungkung. Only a few minutes over one hour I have passed Tirtagangga. The traditional fish-market which was the entrance to Amed was reached within less than two hours. Turning right from the fish market, I just followed the road along the beach. Everything remained the same, nothing seemed to change compared to my previous visit almost two years back. There was nothing to notice until the road hiked up hill and sloped back down, I saw a big house on the beach. The road hiked-up again after the house, so it was in between the two hills.

Built on roughly 5,000 square meters of land, it has spacious parking space at the front. Entering the gate, narrow pathway leaded to the house through soothing freshwater pond full of koi fishes. The main door opened directly to the living area opening to spacious terrace at the back, overlooking the beach through its indigo swimming pool. On the left hand side was a huge LCD-TV with state of the art sound systems equipped the living area furnished with modern comfortable couches. On the right hand side was a dining table and fully equipped kitchen. At the same floor there were a study room with a double bed, and a private home gym with complete set of body-building equipment and a mini-pool table.

The stairway next to the front door leaded to a hall at the upper floor, which housed all the remaining three bedrooms. The spacious master bedrooms enjoyed both ocean views in one side and mountain views in the other side. Both views are magnificent, however, after a while stunning at the ocean views I found the mountain more appealing. The two smaller guest bedrooms enjoyed either one views, a bedroom enjoyed the ocean views while the other enjoyed the mountain views. All bedrooms had adjoined western en-suite with bath-tub and running hot water. Functional minimalist furnishing suggested the guest to enjoy outdoor living. However, the master bedroom had a wide LCD-TV.

While the upstairs balcony offered spacious space gazing at the stunning views, the downstairs terrace offered even more space for more purposes, with large daybeds, lounging chairs, and dining table. At the opposite of the swimming pool, very close to the beach was a garden gazebo. A small pathway leaded to a small door to the beach where hundred of traditional boat decently parked nest to each other.

There was nothing special about the beach, really. For lovers of underwater world, the treasure was hiding under the calm surface. Boat parked just in front of the villa to transfer you to chosen diving spots. Scott, the owner, was a well-seasoned scuba diver who managed a diving operator in addition to his main furniture business. I would personally suggest that he owned it more for his personal enjoyment than to deliver decent income. However, the point was that the he offered package of daily diving to various diving spots in the area to guest renting his villa.

He should be away when you stay at his villa. That was the reason why you could rent his villa anyway, because he left the villa vacant while he was away, either taking care of his business or dive other underwater treasures in the other sides of the globe. But Wayan, his right-hand aide would do his best to pamper your stay in and out of the villa, on the surface or underwater.

Find photos at Amed Diving Villa

brothaE asked:

brotha E and family scuba diving with sharks in Tahiti, November 2006.

Emma Lelliott asked:


If you dream of getting away from it all and relaxing on the Caribbean coast, a holiday in Guardalavaca, Cuba, could be just what you are looking for. Located near Holguin on the northeast coast of Cuba, Guardalavaca is something of a hidden gem when it comes to Cuban beach resorts. The beach is fantastic, the resort has plenty of activities to keep you occupied and Guardalavaca’s hotels are top notch, but the resort remains quiet, secluded and unspoilt, making it ideal for a relaxing beach vacation. Here are a few highlights for a Guardalavaca holiday.

The Beaches

Most people come to Guardalavaca for one thing and one thing only - time on the beach. As though it weren’t enough for a resort to have one beautiful beach, while you are on a Guardalavaca holiday you can choose from three - Guardalavaca beach itself, Esmerelda beach, and Playa Pesquero. There’s even a mini train that connects Guardalavaca beach to Esmerelda, making it easy to move between the two.

All three beaches feature pristine white sand that slopes gently into clear water, dotted with the occasional tree to provide a spot of shade. The presence of the coral reef at Guardalavaca keeps the water calm most of the time, making it perfect for families and gentle swimming. Catamarans, pedalos and other common beach activities are all available for those who would like to do more than sunbathe.

Reef Diving

Out of all the diving spots in Cuba, Guardalavaca is a real highlight for scuba enthusiasts due to the expansive coral reef, located a few miles offshore. Teeming with wildlife, the reef is a wonder to explore while scuba diving, with plenty of caves and sheer drops to see. If you tire of the coral reefs themselves, there are a number of shipwrecks that can also be seen. If you are interested in scuba diving, the resort has several diving centres who can arrange trips and equipment rental for the best dive sites.

Swimming with Dolphins

Swimming with dolphins can be an amazing experience, and if you are on holiday in Guardalavaca you will have the perfect opportunity to take part in this unique activity. Close to the resort is the Acuario Cayo Naranjo aquarium, where you can see spectacular dolphin, seal and walrus shows, and then swim with the dolphins yourself. The trainers will teach you how to get the dolphins to splash and clap, and there is also the chance to “surf” on the dolphins at the end of your swim. People of all ages are able to take part, and life jackets are provided.

Deep Sea Fishing

Deep sea fishing has been associated with Cuba ever since Ernest Hemingway (who was a keen hunter and fisherman when he wasn’t writing books) made the island his home in the 1930s, and the Cuban waters are rich with tuna, barracuda, sailfish, snapper, grouper, and many other kinds of fish. Those on holiday in Guardalavaca can take part in this exciting and demanding activity, and you don’t need to be a veteran fisherman to do it. Experienced crews can teach you the basics and take you out, and the concentration of fish around the reef makes Guardalavaca a great place to go for deep sea fishing trips.

Chris Chew asked:


Thailand is sandwiched between The Gulf of Thailand on its eastern coastline and the vast expanse of the Andaman Sea on its western coast. It is in these body of waters that scuba divers can explore the marine life of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean without having to cross continents.

The waters in Thailand have one of the richest and diverse marine life in the world because conditions here for coral growth is almost perfect with an average temperature of 28C all year round and fantastic underwater visibility.

Because of these almost ideal scuba diving conditions and attractions, the scuba diving industry in Thailand is thriving robustly with the proliferation of first class scuba diving facilities, services and diving schools.

When you throw in what the tourist industry has to offer in Thailand such as fantastic entertainment, a spread of accommodations, hotels and resorts for every budget and Thailand’s renowned delightful cuisines, you can be assured of an enjoyable scuba diving vacation.

The Gulf of Thailand has hundreds of islands on its 1,840km (1,143 miles) long coast. The gulf is a shallow bowl shaped body of water separated from the South China Sea by a pair of underwater ridges that extend from Vietnam on one side and Malaysia to the other.

The sea bed bottom here is mostly mud mixed with sand and shells. Corals are usually found around the fringes of the gulf islands. There are several rivers in the north bringing enough sediment and freshwater to inhibit coral growth until to the south or the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand.

The underwater scenery in the gulf is perhaps not as visually appealing as those of the Andaman Sea as it has slightly less variety of marine life. Marine parks such as the Ang Thong Marine Park include spectacularly formed limestone islands with lush rainforest covering them and many of these islands are actually uninhabited.

World famous resorts of Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui offer excellent scuba diving facilities as well as other reacreations and entertaiment.

The Andaman Sea was already thriving thousands of years ago with Chinese, European, Thai and Indian trading vessels plying its waters. Today, the Andaman Sea is more of a playground for dive boats and sailing yachts rather than for trading vessels.

One of the better known playgrounds for divers in the Andaman and is often rated amongst the top scuba diving destinations in the world are the Similan Islands. Divers can explore Similan, the Surin Islands and the Mergui Archipelago in liveaboard diving cruises.

Thailand’s Andaman Sea stretches 870km (541 miles) from Tarutao National Park on the border of Malaysia to the Surin Islands on the border of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). It is part of the Indian Ocean and is separated from the Bay of Bengal by the Andaman-Nicobar Ridge. Quaint formations of granite outcrops can be senn in the Surin and Similan Islands.

Other island groups such as Koh Phi Phi are shaped by massive limestone and calcium carbonates since prehistoric time.

The only problem when you travel to Thailand for scuba diving is where to start your diving vacation since there are so many excellent dive spots to choose from and you will be spoilt for choice.