Archive for the ‘Diving Destinations’ Category

You would be trained to tackle which ever you chose. High altitude climbing, or deep sea diving. Would you take the gift (no you can’t sell it on e-bay) or pass. If you take the gift, which one would you take and why? For you climbers, please be specific, I would really like to know the reason you would attempt this feat!!!!

Yes, I know that this isn’t a standard religious question usually asked in this section, but, for some reason I wondered how those who are "religious" or "anti religious" would answer. Really, no other reason but curiosity.

I was looking for photos related to diving and came across this photo of a a dog diving in a pool.

According to the photographer the dog was having a blast and the spectators were having more fun just watching the dog!

Diving Destinations: St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

NOTE: I went down to St. Thomas numerous times when my parents lived on a sailboat.

Each year, a large number of vacationers make the decision to vacation in St. Thomas.  St. Thomas is located in the Virgin Islands. This Caribbean island is one of the most popular summer vacation destinations in the world. If you are interested in vacationing in St. Thomas, you may be wondering what fun and exciting activities await you.

In St. Thomas, as well as most other popular vacation destinations, you will likely find an unlined number of activities that will peak your internets.  If you are looking for something that is exotic and educational all at the same time, you may want to consider scuba diving in St. Thomas.

Due to its clear waters, corral reefs, and amazing sea life, St. Thomas is one of the best places in the world to go on a scuba diving adventure. St. Thomas is well-known for its seclusion and beautiful beaches, but scuba diving is a popular underwater activity that brings in tourists from all around the world.

If you are interested in scuba diving in St. Thomas, but you have never been before, you do not have to worry.  Scuba diving lessons are obtainable for individuals who want to scuba dive, but do not know how to. After a couple of lessons, you could easily be able to enjoying diving in the clear waters.

Whether you consider yourself an experienced scuba diver or just a beginner, you are encouraged to scuba dive while on a guided tour.  Scuba diving tours are given by trained and experienced professionals.  In addition to knowing where to look for the best underwater treasures, you will be safe. There are too many accidents that can happen in the open waters. That is why it is advised that you travel with an experienced diver and never go diving by yourself.

Since it is advised that you go scuba diving with a trained professional, you will have to find a scuba diving guide or a company that offers tours.  In St. Thomas there are a number of places.  When searching for scuba diving guides, you are encouraged to   examine the type of tours that are available.  You may find scuba diving tours right off the coast or tours that are hosted off of a boat.

While searching for scuba diving tours in St. Thomas, it is likely that you will come across the Blue Island Divers.  Blue Island Divers is one the most well-known and most recommended scuba diving groups in the St. Thomas area.  In addition to providing their services to adults, scuba diving lessons and assistance can be given to children.   Blue Island Divers offer dives that are focused on underwater wreckage and coral reefs.

In addition to Blue Island Divers, it is likely that you may come across a company known as Admiralty Dive Center.  The Admiralty Dive Center is a state of the art facility that offers a large number of scuba diving tours.  These tours often involve exploring underwater wreckage and underwater sea life. As with the Blue Island Divers, scuba diving lessons and tours are available for individuals of all ages.


As previously mentioned, there are a number of scuba diving tours that may be ideal for your next family vacation or romantic getaway.  You can easily search for additional scuba diving tours by requesting a vacation brochure from the St. Thomas Island.  Additional information may also be obtained through your local travel agent.

Diving Destination – Mexico

Millions of Americans schedule a Mexico vacation.  If you are interested in scheduling a vacation in Mexico, or you already have, you may be wondering what you can do while on vacation.  In Mexico, there are an unlimited number of activities that you may find exciting.  One of those activities may include scuba diving.

When it comes to scuba diving in Mexico, there are many travelers who are misinformed.  Many believe that you have to be an experienced diver to enjoy underwater diving.  This is simply not true.

Before going scuba diving in the ocean, it is advised that you have basic knowledge of diving and strong swimming skills.  However, you do not have to be an experienced diver. When vacationing in Mexico, there are many individuals who go scuba diving for the first time.

Scuba diving is a pretty self-explained activity.  Scuba divers are featured in many movies and can be found in many amusement parks. While the general idea of scuba diving is the same in Mexico, what you will see underwater is not.

There are a number of underwater animals and plants that can only be seen in or around the Mexico area. This in itself is one of the many reasons why you should schedule a scuba diving adventure.

In Mexico, scuba divers are often able to swim with the dolphins and sea turtles. To many, this alone is worth the cost of scuba diving.  Aside from swimming with sea animals, you can also spend your scuba diving trip examining the life and environment underwater.

Just a few of the many sea animals that you may see in Mexico include lobsters, eels, sting rays, and a large number of different kinds of fishes. The fishes found in underwater Mexico often include puffer fishes, spotted fishes, and parrot fishes.

While the sea animals found underwater are the most exciting part of scuba diving, there are other underwater activities that you can participate in.  Many scuba divers enjoy diving along coral reefs that are found along the coast of Mexico.

Coral reefs are not only home to a large number of sea animals, but they also make for great adventures. You may find it exciting traveling in, over, or around the many different sized reefs.

Unless you are an experienced underwater diver, you are advised to go scuba diving with a trained professional. These professionals are most commonly found with scuba diving tour groups.  Scuba diving tour groups can be found all along the coast of Mexico.

Scuba diving is a popular pastime in Mexico; therefore, you are encouraged to schedule your scuba diving adventures ahead of time.

In addition to scheduling a scuba dive with a trained diver, you can learn how to scuba dive at a number of locations in Mexico.  Many of these locations also offer guided tours.  Scuba diving lessons are offered as group lessons or private lessons.  Private lessons may be more expensive, but many first time scuba divers find them rewarding, in more ways than one.


Underworld Scuba operates scuba diving and snorkeling tours in the Manzanillo area of Mexico.  It has been said that the Manzanillo area is one of the best places to go scuba diving in Mexico.

Underworld Scuba, along with number other companies, state that the area is thriving with underwater life and adventures. Another popular scuba diving tour company is The Puerto Dive Team, which operates out of Oaxaco Mexico. They are most known for their private one-on-one underwater tours.

To find other guided tours that are designed for scuba divers, you are encouraged to contact your local travel agent or do the research yourself.  Whether or not you have already selected your Mexico destination, you should easily be able to find nearby tours. The closer you are to the coast, the more tours you will have access to.

What you can do and see underwater is absolutely amazing.  It is likely what you see will stay with you for years to come.

Is there a scene worthy of living near/working @ in the Coastal regions of North & South Carolina? I have family there and it seems like a great place to live. Can anyone tell me about those areas and there dive potentials in general? I know no one down there!

Diving Destinations: Costa Rica

Bonus: Costa Rica Snorkeling Tips

Many people who are experienced divers and snorkelers pick Costa Rica as one of the prime locations for scuba diving and snorkeling because of the beautiful crystal blue ocean waters.

Costa Rica’s environment makes it premier in the idea of snorkeling and diving in some of the best waters in the world.

Not only do tour companies do regular tours, weddings, but also they do have special tours for those who wish to spend a week diving at various beaches around the country.

Many people who are new to diving are strongly advised to undergo training and certification prior to their travel plans because it can get expensive if you come and get certified by an instructor down there and certification standards are different in the United States and Caribbean.

It’s easier to do that so you can be prepared and have yourself together. It’s ideal to be an experienced diver when you visit places like Costa Rica so you can travel with your own equipment since airlines usually allow divers to travel with their tanks and gear depending on who permits it since it’s considered extra weight on flights.

They have packages for how long some people wish to go diving and usually the average times people go on diving trips are about 10-14 days.

Divers depending on the tour company you go with will allow you to customize your trip and usually if you’re traveling in a group, it’s a lot cheaper and you get more for your money when you book as a group.

Rates for snorkeling go by how much you’re charged per day to rent a boat to go out on the water.

The rates are also priced by the season meaning it can cost more if you’re going out during the high tourist season and it’s cheaper when you’re going on the low tourist season.

Usually peak travel seasons are when it’s the most expensive to travel to Costa Rica. It’s cheaper to visit on the off-season because you can get a good rate for travel with airfare and hotel since rates go down in the off-season. That’s why it’s ideal to plan your trips in advance so when you come across a good deal you can book it ahead of time to get the rate that you want.

Google can pull up countless websites for travel agencies that offer diving travel packages so people can customize their vacation packages for their specific need and budgets since not everyone wants elaborate, but want to go low key and inexpensive. Everyone wants to have a good time, but you want to also save some money in the process of it all.

Planning the ultimate diving excursion with friends and family who are into diving can be a lot of fun and having quality time with loved ones and friends is what makes a vacation worth every penny spent. Researching your vacation options early ensures that you get what you’re paying for in advance.

Diving Destinations – Hawaii

NOTE: I would love to dive Hawaii sometime!  The Caribbean has been awesome but it I have an opportunity, I’d like to explore Hawaii.

Hawaii is the perfect vacation paradise for beach lovers and ocean lovers alike. All of the islands offer beautiful scenery both above and below sea level. If you ever had inkling to try scuba diving this is the place. There are hundreds of miles of barrier reef that have equally as many different species of sea life; there are craters and ship wrecks, as well as good old fashioned reefs. The water temperature is always perfect in Hawaii making it a great place to explore underwater.

Oahu is a great place for beginners to learn to scuba dive. There are a few different dive shops that offer same day certification at a competitive price. The best thing about these quickie one day certification courses is that you learn everything you need to know for the one day dive and then you are out in the ocean exploring at sea level in just a few short hours.

Oahu is the place to be for wreck diving. The fish aren’t as impressive as diving on a reef. However, I think that everyone should do a wreck dive at least once. It’s impressive to the power of the ocean to sink those huge heavy ships. It’s amazing to see how the fish adapt to this alien object in their natural habitat.

On the big island, Ka’awaloa Cove offers a great opportunity for scuba diving. The cove is located on the western side of Hawaii. The site is accessible only by boat, but there are several companies that operate tours daily. There are also several dive sites near Kona on the big island. They offer a wide variety of options from beginner dives to the more challenging dives, such as night dives. One popular night dive is around Kailua-Kona. The divers hold lights that attract plankton, which is the main food source for giant manta rays.

The plankton in turn, draw the rays. There are many tour companies offering such night time entertainment. Red Hill is another popular dive site near Kona. It has lava formations that are a breathtaking sight to say the least. The sun reflects light of the lava tubes, thus the name Red Hill. In the deeper water off the Kona coast there are over thirty dive areas accessible only by boat. One site not to be missed is an airplane wreck near Keahole Point.

The island of Maui offers it own spectacular dive sites. Molokini is a volcanic crater in the bottom of the pacific. It has steep ledges and walls that create an amazing site. This particular crater attracts such sea life as reef sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and a huge variety of tropical fish. This site should be on the top of your list when visiting Hawaii. For a tamer and less crowded taste of scuba diving in Maui, try Black Rock or Makena State park.

The crystal clear warm waters of Hawaii are a scuba divers paradise. You could literally stay in Hawaii for a year and not explore all of the amazing dive spots.

Diving Destinations – Jamaica

NOTE: Although we have not dived in Jamaica, we have dived several places in the Caribbean.  I did see a sea turtle like the one below off St John.  It was awesome to watch!

Diving into the waters off the Jamaican shore may sound very exotic, and can be a lot of fun for both the beginner and the seasoned diver. For anyone who wants to be a little more adventurous than snorkeling there’s a world to explore beneath the ocean, but if you don’t have diving experience, you need to consider taking a class before you get into the water.

In some areas such as Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril, the popular diving areas do tend to get booked up in high season so make sure of your place by making your reservation as soon as you can into your vacation (or before if this is at all possible in the area you are going to stay).

One of the most magical experiences you could take home from your vacation in Jamaica is to have dived to 30 or even up to 150 ft below the ocean’s surface.

There you will see not only fish, but also both hard and soft corals and sponges in their natural environment.

Once thing you mustn’t do however is to remove anything. There are some very strict restrictions in place in Jamaica that prevent anyone taking anything to the surface that belongs below the water – in certain areas, your diving guide may even tell you that touching things in the ocean is forbidden either for your safety or the safety of the wildlife.

Other things you can do when diving in Jamaica (depending on the time of year and part of the island you”re visiting) is to dive with turtles, swim with schools of exotically colored fish, or even see nursing sharks.

A word of caution on the sharks however, most sharks in Jamaica won’t attack you but if you encounter one, swim slowly away – if you show fear and panic, this could upset them! There are places you can dive without fear of meeting up with sharks if you prefer life to be slightly less unpredictable, locations such as Sandy Hole which is home to sting rays, but no sharks!

Ex: Hawaii, all those islands, etc.
I am SSI certified and would like to go diving with 3-6 other people!
Websites would be helpful too!

Boat dive off of Atami, Japan Thanks to Hikosaemon and Ken Tanaka for doing the intro for this video. I recommend both of their channels: www.youtube.com www.youtube Also, thanks to Kevin MacLeod and Save Saturday for the music. www.incompetech.com http