Posts Tagged ‘Caribbean’

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 – 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!

We’re planning on going scuba diving this summer under the supervision of a certified instructor as a cruise excursion. Unfortunately, my brother is worried he’ll run out of air (we’re only going about 15-20 feet deep, so on the off-chance that happens, it isn’t too hard to swim to the surface (plus, there are a bunch of people who’ll be there just in case; it’s the clear waters of the caribbean, so they can see him). Anything I can say to reassure him that he isn’t gonna drown?