Diving in Cyprus

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and is located in the eastern Mediterranean, just south of the Anatolian Peninsula. By Mediterranean standards, Cyprus is one of the warmer islands, and as such tends to have a large influx of tourists throughout the year, especially from Northern Europe. The diving in Cyprus is also relatively good by Mediterranean standards, and although it has some relatively basic sites, there are also some intriguing dive sites available if you seek them out.

In particular, the wreck of the Zenobia is considered to be one of Europe's finest wreck dives and regularly attracts divers from all over the world. The Zenobia sank in June 1980, while on its maiden voyage from Sweden to Larnaca in Cyprus. The roll-on, roll-off ferry sank after two days of frantic efforts to save it following a malfunction on the automatic pilot. The Zenobia sank on June 7th with over 100 trucks still on board.

Today, the wreck of the Zenobia lies just outside of Larnaca Harbour, and stretches from 18 metres down to 43 metres below sea level. At over 165 metres in length, and with multiple passageways along her length, the Zenobia is worthy of a few dives in order to fully appreciate her.

There are a number of other interesting scuba diving sites around Cyprus, in particular around Paphos and Ayia Napa, and also around the north of Cyprus on the Akamas Peninsula.

Diving in Cyprus does not offer as wide a variety of marine life as many other destinations in the Mediterranean, but there are populations of Jacks, Wrasse and Parrotfish around the coastal waters. The wreck of the Zenobia, however, attracts a fair amount of local marine life, and it is also possible to spot Barracuda, Octopus and Morays Eels on the wreck.

Diving is possible all year round in Cyprus, although the warmer summer period of May to September brings the average water temperature up to a comfortable 25 degrees centigrade. Outside of these summer months, it may be advisable to bring a drysuit, which provides more thermal protection than a wetsuit, to use while scuba diving in Cyprus.

By Frances Van Den Berg

Frances wrote this article for Dive Time Diving in Cyprus "Divetime.com is the premier Scuba diving destination on the internet, with a unique offering of Scuba related information and services to divers everywhere"

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Diving in Mauritius

Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean just north of the Tropic Of Capricorn and about 500 miles (800 kms) to the east of Madagascar. Volcanic in origin, its landscape is both awesome and beautiful at the same time. The surrounding waters are also awe-inspiring and contain a wealth of different species of coral, which makes diving in Mauritius a memorable underwater experience. Mauritius is dominated by three peaks, of which the tallest, Piton de la Riviere Noire reaches over 828 metres.

Ownership of Mauritius has changed hands over the centuries. It was first discovered by the Portuguese at the beginning of the 16th century, and was then handed over to the Dutch who in turn handed it to the French for the following three hundred years. It passed into British hands in 1810, and finally gained independence in 1910.

The climate of Mauritius is predominantly sub-tropical, but temperatures vary throughout the year. Temperatures range from 77 to 86 degrees F throughout the year, so it is possible to visit Mauritius all year round, however, the rainy season runs from January to March and cyclones are possible from November to February. The central plateau on Mauritius tends to experience higher average temperatures than the coastal areas and can experience as much as double the amount of annual rainfall.

The prevailing trade winds tend to keep the east side of the island cooler, a fact that was noted by the local islanders who predominantly settled on the west coast of the island. The water temperature can range from 28 degrees centigrade in the summer down to 21 degrees in the colder months.

It is estimated that approximately 430 difference species of fish inhabite the waters surrounding Mauritius, which are coupled with approximately 200 different species of coral, making Mauritius a haven for divers looking for a wide range of coral and marine life. Diving in Mauritius tends to be concentrated along the warmer west coast, particularly at the northern and southern tips of the island.

The East coast of Mauritius is exposed to the battering of the trade winds. Strong currents exist on this side of the island, and while there is still some good diving to be had here, it would be advisable to seek advice on the individual dive sites from local diving centres. At the north of the island, the current tends to deliver some of the more interesting pelagics to Mauritius, and sightings of Tuna, Wahoo and Marlin are not uncommon. However, more often spotted species include eagle rays and the multitude of turtles that inhabit the waters surrounding Mauritius.

For those who love to go wreck diving, there are an estimated 220 wrecks in the waters surrounding Mauritius, ensuring that even the most experienced divers will find plenty to occupy their time while in Mauritius. As is the way with the most islands with a more developed tourist industry, the majority of dive operators here are very professional, allowing people with all levels of experience to enjoy scuba diving in Mauritius.

By Frances Van Den Berg

Frances wrote this article for Dive Time Diving in Mauritius "Divetime.com is the premier Scuba diving destination on the internet, with a unique offering of Scuba related information and services to divers everywhere"

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Diving in the Maldives

While people from all over the world are drawn to the beauty of the fauna and beaches of the Maldives, it is the wonders that lie beneath the sea that attracts thousands of people every year to go scuba diving in the Maldives. Geographically, the Maldives stretch almost 500 miles in a north-south direction just north of the equator and south-west of Sri Lanka.

The natural beauty of the Maldives is a direct result of the unusual geological process that has occurred over millions of years in the region. The islands were born from the emergence of a submerged mountain range and were quickly surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. These stunning coral reefs, coupled with crystal clear waters, give the Maldives a unique, tropical feel that brings visitors back time and time again.

The Maldives' climate can vary throughout the year, but generally visitors can expect to find temperatures ranging between 27 and 32 degrees Celsius during the day, with the temperature dropping only slightly in the evening. Temperatures vary slightly between the northern and southern Maldives, with the South experiencing slightly more rainfall throughout the year and the North more extreme temperatures.

The Maldives also experience two monsoon seasons, which are split into the Northeast and the Southwest monsoons. The Northeast monsoon occurs December until March and brings with it drier weather, while the Southwest monsoon results in wetter weather during May to November.

Diving in the Maldives undoubtedly offers one of the greatest underwater experiences in the world. Beautiful corals are accompanied by a huge range of underwater wildlife, with large pelagics mixing easily with a variety of tropical fish. Such a large variety of diving opportunities ensures that novices and experienced divers will quickly feel at home in the Maldives.

The majority of dives sites in the Maldives tend to be found in the shallower reefs surrounding the islands, however some of the best diving can be found in the multitude of channels that are created by the Maldives' unique geological formations.

An increasing number of dive operators are offering people the opportunity to dive in the less accessible sites further away from the Maldives' shores with live-aboard diving. The majority of the live-aboards in the Maldives operate from the capital in Male. There are a large number of dive operators in the Maldives, the majority of which are affiliated with the island resorts. On the whole, they tend to be well equipped with a good knowledge of the atolls (ring -shaped) local dive sites and reefs. As a result, live-aboard diving in the Maldives is rapidly becoming a thriving industry.

By Frances Van Den Berg

Frances wrote this article for Dive Time Diving in the Maldives "Divetime.com is the premier Scuba diving destination on the internet, with a unique offering of Scuba related information and services to divers everywhere"

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Diving Zanzibar is a Delight

Zanzibar, also known as Spice Island, is a beautiful archipelago located just east of Tanzania. Although it is part of Tanzania, it has had many influences from different nations over the years, including Persia who colonized the island. Zanzibar remained a Persian colony until the late 1800's. Zanzibar's economy is supported in large part by International tourists, who choose diving in Zanzibar as their holiday activity of choice. Interestingly, Freddie Mercury, former lead singer for the rock group Queen, was born in Zanzibar.

There are no real camping sites on the island, and accommodation is restricted to guest houses, hotels and resorts. Accommodation is pretty affordable, so even if you are on a budget you can still easily enjoy all that the island has to offer. Diving in Zanzibar is at its best between October and March when visibility is still good before the rain hits. Water temperatures in Zanzibar are relatively stable and warm all year round, which is ideal for diving and other water activities.

The old style Persian houses and the narrow streets are a welcome break from scuba diving in Zanzibar. The Island is filled with reminders of the old days of cloves, gold and ivory and, of course, the slave trade. In 1964, the Island formed a union with the new United Republic of Tanzania, yet still enjoys a high degree of autonomy within the union.

The capital, Zanzibar city, is the location of one of the Islands old quarter's, Stone Town, which has become a world heritage site. Its features include circular towers, carved wooden doors and beautiful mosques, which reflect its Arab past and include the House of Wonders. The town of Kidichi is home to the hammam (Persian baths), which were built by immigrants from Iran. Stone Town is boasts Zanzibar's most famous dive sites, as well as spectacular hard and soft coral reefs.

One of the best scuba diving locations in Zanzibar is the Big Wall near Mnemba Atoll, and is recommended for experienced divers. The Great Wall is a deep dive ranging between 30 and 50 meters and boasts colorful coral reefs and a number of marine species. This site has some dominant brain coral. Napoleon wrasse, snappers, turtles and tuna are often seen there.

Zanzibar's gentle seas and moderate dives are perfect for divers who are still getting comfortable beneath the waves. In addition, diving can compliment many other activities water-based activities. Diving in Zanzibar offers an ideal solution for families looking for a vibrant holiday destination.

By Brandon Francis

Brandon wrote this article for Dive Time Diving in Zanzibar "Divetime.com is the premier Scuba diving destination on the internet, with a unique offering of Scuba related information and services to divers everywhere."

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Mexico - Snorkeling

Adventures in Mexico snorkeling areas is a very popular choice among a large number of snorkeling enthusiasts that enjoy taking in the amazing sights and views that can be found beneath the surface of the oceans waters. There is a large variety of awesome locations in the beautiful Mexico waters that will ensure you and each of your family members of an eventful trip that you will be able to remember for many years to come.

Acapulco is one area that numerous individuals have found to be a great spot where they can easily explore various species in different varieties in fish and view the beautiful colors that can be found in many of the plants that are located on the oceans floor. There are also many other amazing spots that can be reached by means of a boat where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the time of your life in Mexico snorkeling beauty that is held below in the calm waters. Isla la Roqueta is another amazing area that numerous snorkelers have found to be a favorite spot to explore. You will have the opportunity to find an endless amount of fish species that are housed within the waters natural vegetation.

If you happen to explore in just the right spot, you may even find yourself catching a glimpse of the Lady of Guadalupe. Another popular spot that you might want to investigate would be Puerto Marques. This area provides the snorkeler with amazingly crystal clear and shallow ocean waters to enjoy a time of exploring leisurely. If you would like to feast your eyes on the spectacular sights that can be found in the ancient sunken ship of the Rio de la Plata, Zona Dorada where the beautiful waters of the Icacos is where you will want to explore. In Mexico snorkeling and the captivating beauty held within, you would surely not want to miss out on the astounding sight of the ancient sunken ship.

In selecting the perfect choices for your entire family to enjoy Mexico snorkeling you are sure to find many amazing areas that will create an endless amount of excitement and amazement that is sure to take your breath away. There are numerous visitors who return year after year because they simply are not able to get enough of the pleasures of marine and plant life that can be found in the beauty beneath Mexico waters.

By Angie Atkins

If you would like more information on Mexico snorkeling try my site. And I also have a page on Cancun snorkeling.

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Hawaii Scuba Diving - An Experience to Remember

As long as you are near the coastline, you know that there is a diving spot that is waiting for you. But what matters the most is not the accessibility of diving, but the sights and sounds that empower the diving experience. Diving is not complete without the presence of coral reefs and beautiful sea creatures livening up the area. Environments like that can only be found in certain parts of the world or various islands and when it comes to islands. Hawaii diving should be the main focus for US residents.

Hawaii scuba diving is popular in the area due to the different diving spots found in the many islands particularly Maui. Crystal clear waters is a must for any diver to fully enjoy the experience and many of the scuba dive Hawaii spots have that clear visibility even in lower depths.

Memorable Scuba Dive Hawaii Spots for Beginners

With over 130 islands to choose from, it seems difficult to decide where to start diving in Hawaii. Try to think of it as 8 main islands and out of those 8 focus on checking out Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui if you are just getting started with diving.

Beginners can start off on the second most popular shore dive on Oahu - Sharks Cove. Don't be intimidated by the name because it is not a shark infested area. It is rather a formation of rocks that resembles a shark. There are actually no sharks around, but what makes it memorable for beginners is that you get to explore some interesting sea life in the 50-100 feet depths including eagle ways, parrot fish, and turtles.

For some better sightings of the turtles, have a dive at Turtle Street and check out the coral just 25-30 feet below. If you head to the top of the shelf and go through the large crack, you can also see a school of porcupine fish. Don't forget to take some pictures of the tame turtles and lobster activity that hang out at Turtle Street.

Memorable Scuba Dive Hawaii Spots for Advanced Divers

Advanced divers will have a treat at the Hidden Pinnacle a Maui dive spot, if the currents are alright. This is the place to witness the leathery octo coral along with some amazing schools of pyramid butterfly fish. Just make sure you consult your dive guide before thinking about diving in this area.

Those looking for a real sea life experience should head out to The Cove found in the east coast of Molokai. This is basically a real life view of those realistic aquarium screensavers that you've seen because you'll be seeing the lemon butterfly fish complete with coral trees, hawkfish, puffers, and even some sharks and Manta rays so it's really for the advanced diver. This is the perfect spot too for diving during the night so you can see different species of lobsters.

Whether you are an experienced diver or someone getting the feel of it, diving in Hawaii should be in your trip guide because of the various islands to explore and different places to dive in with varied difficulties. It has enough sea life and fresh corals to make it an experience to remember.

By Edward Price

Edward Price has had a keen interest in scuba diving for many years. For more practical tips and information, visit his scuba diving resource site now. http://www.scubasoul.com

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Scuba Diving in Malaysia

Malaysia has an array of fantastic diving destinations which beckon the divers all over the world. Sipidan Island and Layang Layang are the two most sought after places. Memories of scuba diving in Malaysia keep on delighting the visitors even after months have passed. Every diving spot in the country has something of its own, and together, they make the experience unparalleled.

Diving Spots

Most diving spots in Malaysia are located in Sabah. Apart from it, some popular scuba diving destinations are Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Redang, Pulau Kapas, Mabul, Kapalai, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Lang Tengah and Pulau Tenggol. Scuba diving here gives one the opportunity to enjoy fantastic coral and marine life. Varying depth of ocean around Sabah makes marine life here different from the waters of Peninsular Malaysia. Expert divers prefer to head for Pulau Sipadan or Layang Layang.

Variety of Diving Experiences

Malaysia arranges a variety of experiences for the visitors. One can enjoy muck diving in Pulau Lankayan, Pulau Mabul and Pulau Kapalai. Muck divers dive in coral rubble areas seeking out coral creatures. Recommended places for reef diving are Pulau Talang Talang and Turtle Rock off Sarawak coast. Malaysia has several places for wreck diving too. Several vessels capsized in Malaysian waters during the Second World War and have now become the places of effusive coral growth.

Sipadan Island

Any mention of scuba diving in Malaysia is incomplete without Sipadan Island. As one of the top scuba centres in the world, Sipadan is a must visit for any scuba diving lover. Sipadan is a well-known name in diving circles. Its name is synonymous with hammerhead sharks, colorful reef fish and sea turtles. The huge drop off in Siapadan is the destination of many a diver all over the world. Water conditions and facilities are fine.

Layang Layang

The island, located off Borneo, presents wonderful diving opportunities. Thanks to the coral atoll situated by deep waters, one can enjoy outstanding wall diving. Any time, one could meet species like hammerhead sharks. There is astounding variety of corals, both hard and soft. Creatures like turtles, triggerfish and manta rays are found in the reefs. Diving season in Layang Layang is between March and August.

Mabul

Mabul, located just 25 minutes off Sipadan, is another preferred place for scuba diving. The island's reputation rests as one of the world's best muck diving sites. The term is used to describe limited visibility dives at shallow sites. Muck diving offers one the opportunity to watch some unusual marine life. Macro photographers love to visit Mabul.
By Dinesh Patairya

Dinesh Patairya is a seasoned traveler. He has been writing on travel and tourism for years for several online and offline publications. Malaysia is one of his favorite countries.

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Scuba Diving in the Red Sea, Egypt

People traveling to Egypt do not do so only to view the many fascinating historical sites stretching up and down the Nile River. They also come to take in the glories of the far Western Desert and its five large oases. Visitors also enjoy trekking and exploring through the Eastern Desert and the Sinai Peninsula as well. Currently, however one of the strongest reasons that people from around the world plan a visit is to enjoy the scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt.

Scuba diving in Egypt? Absolutely! In fact, the eastern coast of continental Egypt and the southernmost point of the Sinai Peninsula (which is a territory of Egypt) are frequently referred to as the "Red Sea Riviera". This is for several reasons, but primarily due to the charming towns and villages that have grown to accommodate the enormous number of visitors who make a point of scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt.

The waters are famous for their remarkable conditions and sea life. Travelers to any of the popular towns and resorts along the coastal areas can learn how to snorkel, scuba dive, kite sail, surf and many other activities in this excellent region.

Scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt has become so popular in fact that the government has deemed most of the area as a protected region. Because the bulk of the waters off of Egypt's Red Sea coast are protected many visitors hoping to enjoy scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt will have to book passage with a diving company or private guide service. While this may sound like an annoyance, the reality is that divers frequently comment on the uncrowded conditions and the peaceful environment in which they experienced the diversity of wildlife and scenery beneath the waves.

The popularity of scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt has created an enormous range of accommodations from which visitors may choose. This includes many all inclusive resorts, with luxury amenities and diving certification courses. It also includes vacation rentals, which provide access to a private home or condominium in the town or nearby harbor. Finally, there are traditional hotels which deliver excellent service with Egypt's traditional and famous hospitality.

Additionally, the large numbers of tourists who choose to enjoy their scuba diving in this area have also motivated some small fishing villages to develop into significantly larger towns. Some provide incredible shopping and dining, while others are known as excellent spots to enjoy international night life. Clearly, scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt is a great way to plan an excellent vacation.

By A. Mahallati

Virtual Egypt Travel Guide provides you access to everything Egypt. Through scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt, you can explore and experience everything the Red Sea and scuba diving in Sharm El Sheikh have to offer. For more information on scuba diving in Hurghada, visit the Virtual Egypt Travel Guide.

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Scuba Diving in Malta

I often get questions about scuba diving in Malta from friends and colleagues and this article is an effort to provide an overview of Maltese diving. I will write about some of the areas covered in more detail in separate articles. Let me start off with the most common misconceptions: Malta does not have any coral reefs and it is not tropical diving at all. While the water may be warm enough in summer, the temperature drops down to 12 degrees in the winter making coral growth impossible. This also means that the pictures distributed by various dive centres and tourism authorities of happy divers in shorties is only partly true - I usually dive in a dry suit large parts of the year.

So, how can you summarize Maltese diving then? I think it is relatively simple - the main characters are:

• Good visibility

• Interesting underwater topography (including caverns)

• Wrecks

If this is what you are after you will not be disappointed. Let me also point out that Malta is made up of a couple of islands with Malta, Gozo and Comino being the largest ones. With the exemption of a handful of people on Comino, only Malta and Gozo are inhabited. Malta is the most hectic island with the best wrecks and Gozo has more dramatic scenery and often better visibility.

Visibility

Visibility is often very good or even excellent. In some areas anything below 20 meters can be considered bad. In the harbours it is of course less good and I would say that around 10 meters is rather normal on wrecks like HMS Maori and X Lighter. Visibility changes throughout the year and the best visibility is found in autumn and winter. Summer is the worst time for visibility (and other aspects such as crowds, marine life, heat etc).

Underwater topography

I didn't quite appreciate this factor until I dived in Malta but nowadays I think it is very important. What I am referring to is simply how a site looks and if there are any special features such as drop offs, boulders, caverns etc. There are many steep drop offs in Malta and Gozo (Zurrieq, Dwejra, Blue Hole, Inland Sea to mention a few) and there are also plenty of caverns and a few caves. Many people have an image of Malta as a good cave diving destination but I would disagree with this. Few caves are deep enough to be considered anything but a cavern. That said - they still make very pretty dives. Some interesting caverns are Anchor Bay, Ghar Lapsi, Blue Hole, Cathedral Cave and Billinghurst Cave. I recommend a Cavern Diver course to safely explore these - people have dies in these caverns so be very cautios.

Wrecks If you like wrecks and don't like to have too much fish disturbing the view you will be in heaven. Malta has several really good wrecks and most of them are rather accessible. Some of the wrecks are from WW2 and even WW1:

• HMS Maori

• X Lighter

• Blenheim Bomber

• Bristol Beaufighter

• Margurite (or Odile as it is also called)

• HMS Southwold

• Schnellboot S31

• Hellespont

• Eddy

• HMS Sant Angelo

• Le Polynesien

There are of course many more but this a selection of the most famous. In addition to this, new ones are being scuttled as attractions for divers. Here we have:

• Rozi

• Um el Faroud

• 10

• St Michael

• P29 Boltenhagen

• Xlendi

• Karwela

• Comino Land

• Imperial Eagle

Many of these dives are rather deep or perhaps I should say that few are shallow enough for beginners. Out of these I would say that only HMS Maori and X Lighter are suitable for Open Water divers. Some of the wrecks requires good experience and training - for example Imperial Eagle which has a max depth of 41 metres. Some dives are technical dives (Le Polynesien, HMS Southwold for example).

Marine life Don't come to Malta if your main interest is fish. There are much better destinations for fish spotting (Red Sea, Thailand etc) but that said, the marine life here is actually much better than one could expect. The number of species is not very impressive but there are some really interesting things to be seen.

• John Dory

• Bonitos

• Flying Gurnard

In addition to this, I have seen both Dolphins and Eagle Rays while diving here and friends of mine have seen Sunfish a few times. There is also a healthy growth of sponges and soft corals. One of my favourites is the Neptunes Lace which can be found in abundance in the caverns.

Dive Centres in Malta Malta is very well set up with dive centres for the visiting diver. There are up to 60 dive centres in Malta, Gozo and Comino of varying quality and ambition. Be careful when choosing your dive centre - many of them have sub standard equipment and strange price structures. There are of course good ones as well. Most dive centres don't dive by boat at all but simply drive to the dive site which is ok in winter when the sea is rough but not nice at all summertime. Traffic in Malta is awful so try to find a centre that focuses on boat diving - you will get a better selection of dive sites and a much more pleasant overall experience.

By Magnus Grinneback

If you have any specific questions about dive centres, feel free to email me - webmaster@independentscuba.com

Magnus Grinneback has been diving since 1990 and has many years of experience in the dive industry. Today he lives in Malta and has no commercial interest left in the industry.

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The Best Places to Scuba Dive in Boracay

If you are off to Boracay to learn how to scuba dive, you are on the right track. Boracay is endowed with first-class scuba diving sites. Scuba diving learning centers are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Boracay's scuba diving trainers are also known for being good instructors. Boracay is one of the best places to make that first plunge.

As a beginner, you usually start your diving lessons in dive spots near Boracay's beaches. Though it may take some time for you to fully learn the skills in scuba diving, there is a motivation to learn fast, so that you could be allowed to explore the other diving spots and witness more breathtaking views underwater.

In most cases you may also get your diving certification once you complete a short diving course or when you finish a series of training sessions. Getting your diving certification could serve as your goal as a beginner. However, if you only want to experience the basics and learn the guidelines in scuba diving like breath-holding, one day is enough for you.

On the other hand, if you already are a professional diver, the diving sites in Boracay will let you have a good time. With Boracay's clear blue waters and dive sites located at the south and north end of the island, it is just the perfect place to be when you feel the urge to dive. Boracay's diving sites are filled with breath-taking views of marine life that will delight your sight and give you an excellent diving experience.

Here is a list of the best scuba diving locations in Boracay:

1. Yapak 1 and 2 will give every scuba diver an exhilarating dive because of its rich coral reefs and reef walls. The famous 2 walls of Yapak are known to challenge experienced divers because of rough waters.

2. Baling Hai Beach is on the list because of its Acropa table corals. Baling Hai Beach is for skilled divers only because of its strong currents.

3. Bel-at Beach has stony corals and colorful wall reefs that make the dive site scenic.

The strong currents may be intimidating even to experienced divers, but the view is definitely worth taking the plunge.

4. The Friday's Rock diving site is famous for its reef creatures like moral eels, Pincushion starfish, and lagoon rays. Divers prefer Friday's Rock when they want to feed fishes when diving.

5. Punta Bonga possesses marine life that comprises sea stars, angelfish, sea cucumbers, and butterfly fish among others. Punta Bonga offers an easy dive spot because its bottom is made of soft corals.

Whether you are a beginner attempting to learn for the first time or an experienced diver looking for more adventure, you will find scuba diving in Boracay a fulfilling experience. Visit these top diving sites and see for yourself. Get away from the beach crowd and witness nature from a different perspective. The sea and its creatures will welcome you with open arms.

By Christine Powell

Christine Powell is a native of Boracay Island, Philippines. She has watched the island transform from a hidden gem into an idyllic retreat for foreigners and locals alike. Besides it's year-round warm tropical water, the powdery white sand continues to mesmerize her. While not exploring, kitesurfing, scuba diving, or sharing her insights about Boracay with travelers, she can be found at http://www.boracaynation.com/, her online Boracay home.

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Getting To The UK's Best Dive Sites

Somewhat of a closely guarded secret, the scuba diving in the UK is superb - with a coastline of thousands of historical shipwrecks to discover, encounters with playful seals, beautiful drifts though glorious underwater scenery full of soft corals and plentiful marine life.

One of the hotspots for UK diving is the Orkney Islands - the harbour at Scapa Flow is visited by divers from all over the world to explore the sunken World War 1 battleships of the German fleet - puposefully scuttled under command of the German admiralty in 1919 to avoid surrendering the ships to conquering British forces. From the Orknies it is also possible to dive St Kilda, well known for its birdlife, and the underwater marine life is no less spectacular.

There are at least 10 locations in the UK where it is possible to dive with seals, but the most popular has to be the Farne Islands off Northumbria. Here you can pretty much guarantee an encounter with a playful seal or two and experience the thrill of diving through gullies, along underwater cliffs and through fields of atmospheric life supporting kelp forest.

The soft corals and sponges that adorn the cliffs of the Farnes can be seen all over the UK. There are beautiful dives in particular around the south west coast of the UK which the Gulf Stream keeps supplied with plenty of nutrients. The Manacles in Cornwall has reefs, drop offs and pinnacles covered with jewel anemonies and colourful fish, and I haven't even mentioned the Scillies with wrecks, reefs and walls decorated with corals, sea fans and sea squirts. Similarly divers come from all over the world to visit the Skelligs in southern Ireland with its consistently clear waters perfect for underwater photography.

Larger marine life is out there - some divers are lucky enough to witness the annual migration of the basking sharks, or the occasional dolphin or sunfish. For me personally an encounter with a seahorse off the coast of the Isle of Wight was a moment I will never forget.

By Catherine Darton

So how do you access these dive sites? Dive charter boats on divesearch are waiting to take you there, visit the clickable map to find one and research the useful links you need to plan a trip and refresh your diving skills or start from scratch. And did I mention 10% off teepee holidays in Jersey with BleuSoleil when you book through divesearch?

Catherine Darton
Discover fabulous UK diving and friendly skippers near you at http://www.divesearch.co.uk

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Diving El Salvador

There are so many beautiful places to visit in El Salvador and among the endless, exciting things to do there is scuba diving. Diving in El Salvador is not restricted to ocean waters; you have the option of open water diving and crater lake diving, exciting!

Open water diving:
The warm coastal waters of Los Cóbanos, in the department of Sonsonate are excellent for diving and exploring the underwater world.

Los Cóbanos enjoys a rich bio-diverse eco system and has been declared a Natural Marine Protected Area in the country. Needless to say, the area boasts amazing underwater rock formations, reefs as well as shipwrecks, making the diving experience all more exciting.

Open water diving tours are available in El Salvador between October and May (the dry season) as this is the time when the waters are nice and calm.

Crater lakes:
Because there is a volcanic range in El Salvador, several crater lakes have been created making crater-lake diving another option here. Two of the most popular lakes for diving in El Salvador are Coatepeque and Ilopango. Night diving tours are also offered to these 2 lakes, so you can see the fish asleep!

Lake Coatepeque in the department of Santa Ana was created by a volcanic eruption and it's about 120m deep. The waters are clear, warm and with rich volcanic surroundings it is a haven for underwater creatures. As a side note; very close to Lake Coatepeque is the Cerro Verde National park, a must-see beautiful park that can be visited after a diving trip.

Lake Ilopango is about 20 minutes east of San Salvador city, also created by a volcanic eruption (actually by several eruptions that date back thousands of years) is the largest lake in El Salvador. Ilopango lake has an interesting edgy and rocky topography which makes it great for exploring the rock formations and is about 230 m deep.

Ilopango lake is the most popular lake among locals so it is quite busy during weekends and holidays, therefore it's best to schedule diving trips during the week. Many restaurants and other facilities are readily available in this area so it is a very comfortable place to visit.

Scuba diving training:

There are several scuba diving shops in El Salvador that are fully equipped and PADI certified. They offer training, diving gear, repairs, maintenance and diving tours to all the diving spots in El Salvador. It is best to arrange diving tours with these agencies as they are run by locals who know the area.

The best thing about diving El Salvador is that because it is not a well known diving destination, there are relatively few tourists which means that there is no overcrowding of these places. Most of all, for the same reason, the locals treat visitors more like friends instead of tourists which makes for a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

So diving El Salvador is a really awesome adventure and a visit to one of the local archaeological ruins is also a great idea for a more rounded experience.

By Vanessa Henriquez

There is more to El Salvador beaches than diving, do you enjoy surfing, fishing or kayaking... this can all be part of your El Salvador adventure. Check out this website http://www.explore-beautiful-el-salvador.com/ElSalvadorBeaches.html for other fun and exciting things to do in El Salvador.

Are you interested in diving in other areas of Central America? There are also many other beautiful places to visit, all with their own unique and enchanting characteristics. Visit http://www.adventure-travel-tales-and-tips.com/latin_america.html for ideas and travel tips for other countries of Central America

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Henriquez

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Scuba Diving in Malaysia

Malaysia has an array of fantastic diving destinations which beckon the divers all over the world. Sipidan Island and Layang Layang are the two most sought after places. Memories of scuba diving in Malaysia keep on delighting the visitors even after months have passed. Every diving spot in the country has something of its own, and together, they make the experience unparalleled.

Diving Spots

Most diving spots in Malaysia are located in Sabah. Apart from it, some popular scuba diving destinations are Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Redang, Pulau Kapas, Mabul, Kapalai, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Lang Tengah and Pulau Tenggol. Scuba diving here gives one the opportunity to enjoy fantastic coral and marine life. Varying depth of ocean around Sabah makes marine life here different from the waters of Peninsular Malaysia. Expert divers prefer to head for Pulau Sipadan or Layang Layang.

Variety of Diving Experiences

Malaysia arranges a variety of experiences for the visitors. One can enjoy muck diving in Pulau Lankayan, Pulau Mabul and Pulau Kapalai. Muck divers dive in coral rubble areas seeking out coral creatures. Recommended places for reef diving are Pulau Talang Talang and Turtle Rock off Sarawak coast. Malaysia has several places for wreck diving too. Several vessels capsized in Malaysian waters during the Second World War and have now become the places of effusive coral growth.

Sipadan Island

Any mention of scuba diving in Malaysia is incomplete without Sipadan Island. As one of the top scuba centres in the world, Sipadan is a must visit for any scuba diving lover. Sipadan is a well-known name in diving circles. Its name is synonymous with hammerhead sharks, colorful reef fish and sea turtles. The huge drop off in Siapadan is the destination of many a diver all over the world. Water conditions and facilities are fine.

Layang Layang

The island, located off Borneo, presents wonderful diving opportunities. Thanks to the coral atoll situated by deep waters, one can enjoy outstanding wall diving. Any time, one could meet species like hammerhead sharks. There is astounding variety of corals, both hard and soft. Creatures like turtles, triggerfish and manta rays are found in the reefs. Diving season in Layang Layang is between March and August.

Mabul

Mabul, located just 25 minutes off Sipadan, is another preferred place for scuba diving. The island's reputation rests as one of the world's best muck diving sites. The term is used to describe limited visibility dives at shallow sites. Muck diving offers one the opportunity to watch some unusual marine life. Macro photographers love to visit Mabul.

By Dinesh Patairya

Dinesh Patairya is a seasoned traveler. He has been writing on travel and tourism for years for several online and offline publications. Malaysia is one of his favorite countries.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dinesh_Patairya

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Hawaii Scuba Diving - An Experience to Remember

As long as you are near the coastline, you know that there is a diving spot that is waiting for you. But what matters the most is not the accessibility of diving, but the sights and sounds that empower the diving experience. Diving is not complete without the presence of coral reefs and beautiful sea creatures livening up the area. Environments like that can only be found in certain parts of the world or various islands and when it comes to islands. Hawaii diving should be the main focus for US residents.

Hawaii scuba diving is popular in the area due to the different diving spots found in the many islands particularly Maui. Crystal clear waters is a must for any diver to fully enjoy the experience and many of the scuba dive Hawaii spots have that clear visibility even in lower depths.

Memorable Scuba Dive Hawaii Spots for Beginners

With over 130 islands to choose from, it seems difficult to decide where to start diving in Hawaii. Try to think of it as 8 main islands and out of those 8 focus on checking out Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui if you are just getting started with diving.

Beginners can start off on the second most popular shore dive on Oahu - Sharks Cove. Don't be intimidated by the name because it is not a shark infested area. It is rather a formation of rocks that resembles a shark. There are actually no sharks around, but what makes it memorable for beginners is that you get to explore some interesting sea life in the 50-100 feet depths including eagle ways, parrot fish, and turtles.

For some better sightings of the turtles, have a dive at Turtle Street and check out the coral just 25-30 feet below. If you head to the top of the shelf and go through the large crack, you can also see a school of porcupine fish. Don't forget to take some pictures of the tame turtles and lobster activity that hang out at Turtle Street.

Memorable Scuba Dive Hawaii Spots for Advanced Divers

Advanced divers will have a treat at the Hidden Pinnacle a Maui dive spot, if the currents are alright. This is the place to witness the leathery octo coral along with some amazing schools of pyramid butterfly fish. Just make sure you consult your dive guide before thinking about diving in this area.

Those looking for a real sea life experience should head out to The Cove found in the east coast of Molokai. This is basically a real life view of those realistic aquarium screensavers that you've seen because you'll be seeing the lemon butterfly fish complete with coral trees, hawkfish, puffers, and even some sharks and Manta rays so it's really for the advanced diver. This is the perfect spot too for diving during the night so you can see different species of lobsters.

Whether you are an experienced diver or someone getting the feel of it, diving in Hawaii should be in your trip guide because of the various islands to explore and different places to dive in with varied difficulties. It has enough sea life and fresh corals to make it an experience to remember.

By Edward Price

Edward Price has had a keen interest in scuba diving for many years. For more practical tips and information, visit his scuba diving resource site now. http://www.scubasoul.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Price

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Scuba Diving in Malta

I often get questions about scuba diving in Malta from friends and colleagues and this article is an effort to provide an overview of Maltese diving. I will write about some of the areas covered in more detail in separate articles. Let me start off with the most common misconceptions: Malta does not have any coral reefs and it is not tropical diving at all. While the water may be warm enough in summer, the temperature drops down to 12 degrees in the winter making coral growth impossible. This also means that the pictures distributed by various dive centres and tourism authorities of happy divers in shorties is only partly true - I usually dive in a dry suit large parts of the year.

So, how can you summarize Maltese diving then? I think it is relatively simple - the main characters are:

• Good visibility

• Interesting underwater topography (including caverns)

• Wrecks

If this is what you are after you will not be disappointed. Let me also point out that Malta is made up of a couple of islands with Malta, Gozo and Comino being the largest ones. With the exemption of a handful of people on Comino, only Malta and Gozo are inhabited. Malta is the most hectic island with the best wrecks and Gozo has more dramatic scenery and often better visibility.

Visibility

Visibility is often very good or even excellent. In some areas anything below 20 meters can be considered bad. In the harbours it is of course less good and I would say that around 10 meters is rather normal on wrecks like HMS Maori and X Lighter. Visibility changes throughout the year and the best visibility is found in autumn and winter. Summer is the worst time for visibility (and other aspects such as crowds, marine life, heat etc).

Underwater topography

I didn't quite appreciate this factor until I dived in Malta but nowadays I think it is very important. What I am referring to is simply how a site looks and if there are any special features such as drop offs, boulders, caverns etc. There are many steep drop offs in Malta and Gozo (Zurrieq, Dwejra, Blue Hole, Inland Sea to mention a few) and there are also plenty of caverns and a few caves. Many people have an image of Malta as a good cave diving destination but I would disagree with this. Few caves are deep enough to be considered anything but a cavern. That said - they still make very pretty dives. Some interesting caverns are Anchor Bay, Ghar Lapsi, Blue Hole, Cathedral Cave and Billinghurst Cave. I recommend a Cavern Diver course to safely explore these - people have dies in these caverns so be very cautios.

Wrecks If you like wrecks and don't like to have too much fish disturbing the view you will be in heaven. Malta has several really good wrecks and most of them are rather accessible. Some of the wrecks are from WW2 and even WW1:

• HMS Maori

• X Lighter

• Blenheim Bomber

• Bristol Beaufighter

• Margurite (or Odile as it is also called)

• HMS Southwold

• Schnellboot S31

• Hellespont

• Eddy

• HMS Sant Angelo

• Le Polynesien

There are of course many more but this a selection of the most famous. In addition to this, new ones are being scuttled as attractions for divers. Here we have:

• Rozi

• Um el Faroud

• 10

• St Michael

• P29 Boltenhagen

• Xlendi

• Karwela

• Comino Land

• Imperial Eagle

Many of these dives are rather deep or perhaps I should say that few are shallow enough for beginners. Out of these I would say that only HMS Maori and X Lighter are suitable for Open Water divers. Some of the wrecks requires good experience and training - for example Imperial Eagle which has a max depth of 41 metres. Some dives are technical dives (Le Polynesien, HMS Southwold for example).

Marine life Don't come to Malta if your main interest is fish. There are much better destinations for fish spotting (Red Sea, Thailand etc) but that said, the marine life here is actually much better than one could expect. The number of species is not very impressive but there are some really interesting things to be seen.

• John Dory

• Bonitos

• Flying Gurnard

In addition to this, I have seen both Dolphins and Eagle Rays while diving here and friends of mine have seen Sunfish a few times. There is also a healthy growth of sponges and soft corals. One of my favourites is the Neptunes Lace which can be found in abundance in the caverns.

Dive Centres in Malta Malta is very well set up with dive centres for the visiting diver. There are up to 60 dive centres in Malta, Gozo and Comino of varying quality and ambition. Be careful when choosing your dive centre - many of them have sub standard equipment and strange price structures. There are of course good ones as well. Most dive centres don't dive by boat at all but simply drive to the dive site which is ok in winter when the sea is rough but not nice at all summertime. Traffic in Malta is awful so try to find a centre that focuses on boat diving - you will get a better selection of dive sites and a much more pleasant overall experience.

By Magnus Grinneback

If you have any specific questions about dive centres, feel free to email me - webmaster@independentscuba.com

Magnus Grinneback has been diving since 1990 and has many years of experience in the dive industry. Today he lives in Malta and has no commercial interest left in the industry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Magnus_Grinneback

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