Diving holidays - Holiday Activity Guide
PureTravel says:
"For most of us, being able to see the creatures of the coral reefs of the world is only possible via documentaries. Scuba diving can seem difficult and while you can’t teach yourself you can complete a training course in as little as five days. The oceans are then yours to explore.
To learn to scuba, you will need to take a series of courses to get certified by PADI, the largest scuba certification organization in the world. For recreational diving, you just have to complete a five day full-time PADI Open Water course in which you learn how to dive to a depth of 18 meters. You can then take an advanced open water course if you want, to learn to dive to the recreational limit of 42 meters. Once you pass the training and get your scuba diving certification card, you can then dive anywhere in the world.
And there is nothing quite like being submerged in crystal blue waters, watching firsthand the daily activities of tropical fish and other aquatic animals. For nature lovers and adventure seekers, scuba diving holidays are an experience like no other."
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Suggested Diving holidays:
Belize; one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World.
The second largest barrier reef in the world is just off the Caribbean coast of Belize. Additionally, there are many tiny islands known as “cayes” that also have reefs surrounding them and stunning atolls for divers to explore.
The most famous spot in Belize, the Blue Hole, is a thousand foot wide sinkhole near the center of Lighthouse Reef. From the air, you can see where the water turns from a rich blue to a deep indigo as the sinkhole goes down. Within the hole, there are incredible alcoves, stalactites and columns, as well as some of the biggest fish you'll find in the Caribbean.
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The Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
The Barrier Reef on Australia’s north coast is so large that you can see it from space. It is so long, that if it were on the east coast of the United States, it would stretch from Maine to Miami. And besides just being large, the reef is full of an incredible array of algae, corals, reef fish, crabs, urchins, starfish, and mollusks.
Since the water is clear, warm and shallow, there is plenty of coral growth, and so there are more species of aquatic life in the Great Barrier reef than in any other coral reef on Earth. In certain areas, you can also expect to see manta rays, sharks and whales. The Barrier Reef is definitely the most renowned and most sought after place to dive in the world.
The Seychelles.
Ever since Africa and India broke apart and the Seychelles Islands began drifting south, the islands have remained relatively isolated and undisturbed; the perfect place for wildlife to flourish. These spread out islands are surrounded by gorgeous, colorful coral reefs, and on some islands, there is also an abundance of giant tortoises.
There are plenty of incredible scuba diving spots, and in some places you are likely to see whales, sharks, and several varieties of rays. Divers are likely to see varieties of sea life such as lion fish, moray eels, parrot fish, barracuda, and countless varieties of crabs and other crustaceans.
Diving in Tobago.
Off of the coast of Venezuela in between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean are the sister islands of Trinidad and Tobago. From this unique location, the island of Tobago provides a variety of types of diving experiences from drift dives to shallow reef diving. The island is home to many placid coral gardens that are perfect for beginner divers.
It is not at all uncommon to see majestic manta rays in Tobago. In fact, the rays used to be called “Tobago Taxis,” but of course now it is illegal to touch one. The mantas often swoop in large circles to catch their tiny pray, and these acrobatic displays can commonly be seen by divers.
The Maldives.
Off of the coast of India lie 1,100 coral islands and atolls known as the Maldives. These reefs built themselves on the peaks of ancient extinct volcanoes, and the reefs are perfectly protected from the open ocean. If you are looking for a world-class diving experience, head to the Maldives. The Republic itself was only founded for the main purpose of allowing divers easier access to the isles.
In the Maldives, you can find 75% of all of the reef fish in the entire world. Almost every species is present here, making it a real experience to dive here. Additionally, you can have the unique experience of going wreck diving or drift diving in the Maldives.
The Red Sea, Egypt.^
When people think of scuba diving, the first place that comes to mind is definitely not Egypt. Nevertheless, despite being surrounded by desert and mountains, the Red Sea is home to some absolutely amazing dive sites.
First of all, diving conditions are always remote and uncrowded. Waters are calm, there are very few currents, and the dive sites are usually very close to the shore. And, the Red Sea is home to countless varieties of aquatic life. 30% of the species you will find here can be found nowhere else. In addition to countless varieties of fish and coral, divers are likely to see sharks, turtles, barracuda, and rays.
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Diving in Tahiti.
Even mentioning the name Tahiti conjures up images of pristine white beaches, crystal clear blue water, and swaying palm trees. But Tahiti is also a boon for scuba divers as well. The isles have some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world, and adventuresome divers can explore deep channels of the atolls where they will find animals such as black and silver-tipped sharks, eagle rays, dolphin, barracuda and wrasses.
Tahiti has warm water year round, and drift diving and wreck diving is also popular there. However, Tahiti is better for more advanced divers, since currents can often be strong. Live-aboard diving is recommended.
Akumal, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
In the last fifteen years or so, cave diving has become more and more popular. If you are already a certified diver, you can usually sign up for a cave diving class that lasts only a couple of hours. And those who try it promise that cave diving is an incredible experience.
The area of Akumal in the Yucatan is home to gorgeous beaches and underwater cenotes, or caves. This cool, clear water allows divers to clearly view underwater limestone caves that took thousands of years to make. For advanced cave divers, there is an incredible array of different diving trips available where you can see marine life such as sting rays, lobster, sea turtles, barracudas and nurse sharks.
