diving - Blogs - Tripatini2024-03-29T13:47:04Zhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/diving6 Nifty Nature & Adventure Activities on São Miguel in Portugal´s Azores Islandshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/sao-miguel-azores-portugal-ecotourism-adventure-travel2023-08-01T07:05:00.000Z2023-08-01T07:05:00.000ZIberia Airlineshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberiaAirlines<div><h6><a href="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1221307193-640x427.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1221307193-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" alt="iStock-1221307193-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/portfolio/Mlenny?mediatype=photography"><em>Mlenny</em></a></span></h6><p><strong>Portugal</strong>'s answer to <strong>Spain</strong>'s <strong>Canary Islands</strong>, the <a href="https://www.visitazores.com/en/experience-the-azores" target="_blank"><strong>Azores</strong></a> are a nine-island grouping 1,529 kilometres (950 miles) out in the <strong>Atlantic Ocean</strong> west of the <strong>Iberian Peninsula</strong>. The largest (759km²/293 square mi.) and most populous of the archipelago, <strong>São Miguel</strong>, is home to capital <strong>Ponta Delgada</strong>, but also a spectacular volcanic but verdant landscape including towering cliffs and ancient laurisilva forests that make a truly splendid playground for nature and adventure lovers.<br /><br /></p><h6><a href="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1207075569-640x427.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1207075569-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" alt="iStock-1207075569-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/portfolio/EnricoPescantini?mediatype=photography"><em><span style="font-size:8pt;">Enrico Pescantini</span></em></a></h6><h3><strong><br /> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Hiking & Trekking</span></strong></h3><p>Topping the list of outdoorsy musts are São Miguel's more than 20 signposted <a href="http://trails.visitazores.com" target="_blank">hiking trails</a>, many of them apt for beginners as much as experienced hikers and some of which can hiked with the help of expert guides. The best known is the one running from <strong>Vista do Rei</strong> to <strong>Sete Cidades</strong>, including along the way some of the best views of the lagoons within the caldera of the island's volcano. (You can also, by the way, experience this nature and landscapes via tours on horseback, on two wheels or via 4x4, jeep, or quad.)</p><p> </p><h6><a href="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1168828217-640x427.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1168828217-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" alt="iStock-1168828217-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/portfolio/font83?mediatype=photography"><em><span style="font-size:8pt;">font83</span></em></a></h6><h3><strong><br /> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Geological Tourism<br /> </span></strong></h3><p>This subset of ecotourism focusses on the topography and geology of a destination's landscapes, and thanks to its 1,766 volcanoes (nine of which are still active - but don't worry, they're closely monitored), São Miguel has some pretty cool geosites to offer - ten of them, including the calderas of <strong>Fogo</strong>, <strong>Furnas</strong>, and Sete Cidades. Take advantage of the guided tours and interpretation centres to explore these landscapes of steaming fumaroles, vulcanic caves, and geothermal hot springs. And speaking of which...</p><p> </p><h6><em><a href="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1206188073-640x427.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1206188073-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" alt="iStock-1206188073-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a></em><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/portfolio/cicerocastro?mediatype=photography"><strong><em><span style="font-size:8pt;">cicerocastro </span></em></strong></a></h6><h3><strong><br /> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Geothermal Hot Springs</span><br /> </strong></h3><p>The world over, where there's vulcanism there's naturally hot water, and the menu of thermal and/or mineral springs on São Miguel deserves special mention, where you can soak in pools, lagoons, waterfalls, and other bodies of water amid verdant greenery, oceanside, even in volcano calderas, with top destinations including <strong>Caldeira Velha</strong>, <strong><a href="https://termasdaferraria.com/" target="_blank">Termas da Ferraria</a></strong>, <strong>Termas de Poça da Dona Beija</strong>, and <strong>Parque Terra Nostra</strong>.</p><p> </p><h6><a href="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-116882821888-640x459.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-116882821888-640x459.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" alt="iStock-116882821888-640x459.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/portfolio/JanoCalvo?mediatype=photography"><strong><em><span style="font-size:8pt;">JanoCalvo</span></em></strong></a></h6><h3><strong><br /> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Snorkelling & Diving</span></strong></h3><p>Sitting out here in the Atlantic, the crystalline waters of the Azores are still home to some of the world's richest marine biodiversity, and furthermore feature interesting remnants from mostly Portuguese and Spanish shipwrecks dating back as far as the 16th century (another particularly notable wreck is that of the <em><strong>MV Dori</strong></em> cargo ship, which participated in the the D-Day invasion of <strong>Normandy</strong> in World War II and sank here in 1964). Particularly great spots include, on the south coast, <strong>Amora</strong>, <strong>Âncoras do Ilhéu</strong>, <strong>Fontes Hidrotermais</strong> (including underwater fumaroles), and the islet of <strong>Villa Franco</strong>, a collapsed volcano.</p><p> </p><h6><a href="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-542197486-640x427.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-542197486-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" alt="iStock-542197486-640x427.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/portfolio/sack?mediatype=photography"><em><span style="font-size:8pt;">Juergen Sack</span></em></a></h6><h3><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><br /> Canyoning/Coasteering</strong></span></h3><p>Also known as canyoneering, one especially exciting and increasingly popular way of exploring São Miguel's more rugged terrain is signing onto a guided excursion through its ravines, gorges, canyons, and waterfalls by hiking, scrambling, sliding, jumping, chimneying, rappelling, and rafting (with the aid of helmet, harness, and ropes, of course, all provided by your outfitter). One of the best places to do it is <strong>Ribeira dos Caldeirões National Park</strong>, and previous experience isn't required - but if you have a fear of heights, this probably isn't for you. A variation on this theme, by the way, focusses on the rocks, gullies, sea caves, cliffs, and other formations found along sea costs. Coasteering involves swimming, jumping, diving, climbing - also guide led, with wetsuit and necessary gear also provided.</p><p> </p><h6><a href="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1019441122-640x296.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/mgv/iStock-1019441122-640x296.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" alt="iStock-1019441122-640x296.jpg?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><em><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/portfolio/tane-mahuta?mediatype=photography"><span style="font-size:8pt;">ane-mahuta</span></a></em></h6><h3><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><br /> Paragliding</strong></span></h3><p>What a magical backdrop for soaring over São Miguel's varied green landscapes and wild coasts with the immensity of the Atlantic beyond! This island has become one of the world's foremost paragliding destinations, in part because it's possible to do all year long (though summer remains the best time of year). The classic cross-country route connects Furnas, <strong>Lagão do Fogo</strong>, and Sete Cidades. And for more than 20 years there's even been an annual <strong>Azores Paragliding Festival</strong>, held in August. Up, up, and away!</p><p> </p><p>Exciting enough for you? If so, get your adrenaline flowing by <a href="https://www.iberia.com/es/cheap-flights/Azores-Ponta-Delgada/" target="_blank">booking a flight to São Miguel</a>, and let the adventure begin! (And for more info on this fascinating archipelago, check out <a href="https://www.visitazores.com/en" target="_blank">VisitAzores.com</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p></div>6 Inspiring Australia Destinations for Water Enthusiastshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/australia-water-sports-snorkeling-scuba-diving-sailing-beaches2023-07-21T09:57:54.000Z2023-07-21T09:57:54.000ZSophie Andersenhttps://tripatini.com/members/SophieAndersen<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12157790867?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Australia has a wealth of chances for </span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/tips-yachting-sailing-boating"><span style="font-weight:400;">water sports enthusiasts</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;"> looking for exhilarating adventures because of its amazing natural beauty and gorgeous beaches. Everyone may find something to enjoy in this unique nation, whether you prefer surfing, diving, snorkelling, or simply relaxing in the peace and quiet of crystal-clear seas. In this post, we highlight six Australian locations that any traveller who likes the sea should consider visiting.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The Great Barrier Reef must be included on any list of places to visit in Australia that are on the sea. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the world's biggest coral reef system, covering over 2,300 kilometres off the Queensland coast. Witness the beauty of this underwater utopia as you dive into a world of colourful coral gardens and discover a variety of aquatic creatures. You will be in awe of nature's magnificence when snorkelling or scuba diving here.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/sea-man-beach-vacation-6299936/" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12157791498,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12157791498?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="640" /></a></span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Bondi Beach, New South Wales</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Bondi Beach in New South Wales, regarded as one of Australia's most recognizable beaches, is a surfer's paradise. Both novice and expert surfers are drawn to its beautiful shores and reliable waves. There are several surf schools where beginners may learn the fundamentals. After a hard day of surfing, unwind on the beach or take a stroll along the spectacular Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, which provides stunning views of the coastline.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">The South Coast of New South Wales</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Water lovers shouldn't pass up visiting New South Wales's southern coast, which is a hidden gem. This area has gorgeous beaches, quiet coves, and clear rivers from Jervis Bay to Eden. Discover the Jervis Bay Marine Park's crystal-clear waters, which are home to resident dolphins and migratory whales. Explore the calm waterways of Merimbula Lake or Batemans Bay by kayak or stand-up paddleboarding. Those who love to find peace while fishing will enjoy </span><a href="https://www.charterfishnarooma.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">hiring fishing charters to Naroma</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">, a gorgeous town that offers amazing activities to fishing enthusiasts. All in all, the southern coast of New South Wales in Australia offers peace and tranquillity for those who enjoy the water.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Whitsunday Islands, Queensland</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The Queenslandian Whitsunday Islands are a tropical paradise seekers' ideal vacation spot. This area is a must-see because of its 74 lovely islands to explore, turquoise seas, and palm-lined beaches. Join a sailing excursion to see Whitehaven Beach's spectacular beauty, which is renowned for its spotless silica sand and crystal-clear seas. Visit the northern region of the Great Barrier Reef, which is alive with vibrant coral gardens and marine life, to snorkel or scuba dive. </span><a href="https://trendswide.com/outdoor-adventure-party-ideas-for-active-kids-embrace-nature-and-unleash-the-fun/"><span style="font-weight:400;">Adventure seekers</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;"> may enjoy a beautiful water playground in the Whitsundays.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-black-wet-suit-under-water-11533702/" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12157791864,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="750" alt="12157791864?profile=RESIZE_930x" /></a></span><br /><br /></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Bay of Fires, Tasmania</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The Whitsunday Islands in Queensland are the perfect getaway for anybody looking for a tropical paradise. The 74 beautiful islands to discover, the turquoise waters, and the palm-fringed beaches make this region a must-see. Visit Whitehaven Beach, which is famed for its pristine silica sand and crystal-clear oceans, by taking a sailing adventure. Go snorkelling or scuba diving at the northern Great Barrier Reef area, which is teeming with colourful coral gardens and marine life. The Whitsundays offer adventurers a stunning aquatic playground.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Off the coast of Western Australia, is a must-visit location. Ningaloo Reef, in contrast to the Great Barrier Reef, is easily reachable from the coast, making it perfect for snorkelling and diving excursions. Swim with the world's largest fish, the magnificent whale shark, or go snorkelling with elegant manta rays and colourful tropical species. Experience the breathtaking view of humpback whales moving along the shoreline between March and July. The underwater adventure promised by Ningaloo Reef will be spectacular.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">In Conclusion</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Australia is a haven for water enthusiasts due to its varied and fascinating landscapes. Each place has its own charm and beauty. Australia's seas provide both tranquil moments in nature and heart-pounding exploits. Travel to these enlightening locations, and let Australia's aquatic beauties make a lasting impression on your spirit.</span></p>
<p> </p></div>Scuba Diving Adventures on Mexico's Riviera Maya & Cancúnhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/scuba-diving-riviera-maya-cancun-tulum-mexico2018-02-11T09:41:04.000Z2018-02-11T09:41:04.000ZSam Thomassenhttps://tripatini.com/members/SamThomassen<div><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009232861,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009232861,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009232861?profile=original" /></a><br /> <br /> The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico was once best known for pretty fishing villages, but is now a world-class site for luxury holidays and some of the most diverse diving opportunities you'll find anywhere in the world. It's no great surprise really, the basic ingredients were always there. The Riviera Maya offers white sandy beaches, the second longest barrier reef in the world, and Caribbean water known for both its clarity and its dive-friendly temperatures.<br /> <br /></font></font></font></font></p><h2 class="western"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, serif">Scuba Diving Options in Rivera Maya and Cancun</font></font></h2><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><strong><br /> Punta Nizuc</strong> - </font></font><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif">Popular with snorkelers and divers alike, the site is famous for its richly populated offshore reef. The underwater museum, the Museo Subacuático de Arte is well worth a visit too.</font></font></font></font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><strong><br /> Punta Cancun</strong> - </font></font><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif">The Punta is found at the eastern end of the Cancun resort area and offers several different dive sites featuring colourful coral and a rich variety of marine life including rays, barracuda and sharks.</font></font></font></font></p><p></p><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><strong>Playa del Carmen</strong> - </font></font><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif">The town with its many European visitors is busy and bustling, while the neighbouring villages of Akumal and Tulum offer a simpler style, evocative of Yucatan's fishing village history. These are great locations if your diving preference is for shallow dives with great visibility.</font></font></font></font></p><p></p><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><strong>Cenotes</strong> - </font></font><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif">Diving in the Rivera Maya isn't limited to the sea. The area is also known for it's underwater caverns, many of which lead to extended underwater cave systems meaning that the riviera is a great place to complete a cave diving course in Mexico.</font></font></font></font></p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009233260,original{{/staticFileLink}}"></a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009233260,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009233260,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009233260?profile=original" /></a></p><h2 class="western"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> Travelling to the Rivera Maya</font></font></h2><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> The area is served by Cancun International Airport. In dive season you'll be able to pick up a direct flight to Cancun from the USA, Canada or Europe to name but a few. Major credit cards are accepted in the tourist areas, and while Spanish is the official language English is widely spoken.</font></font></font></font></p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009233684,original{{/staticFileLink}}"></a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009233684,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009233684,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009233684?profile=original" /></a></p><h2 class="western"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> Getting Your Scuba Diving Certification in the Rivera Maya</font></font></h2><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> To make sure that your hard-earned money and leisure time are used to the best advantage there are a few steps you should follow.</font></font></font></font></p><h3 class="western" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> Decide where you want to go</font></font></h3><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> Even if getting your dive training done is the main focus of your holiday, you probably won't be spending most of the days underwater. If you're looking for a sunny and relaxed location that's foreign enough to be exotic but has enough familiar elements that you won't be risking culture shock at the same time as you're acquiring a new skill, doing your scuba certification in Mexico makes a lot of sense.<br /> <br /></font></font></font></font></p><h3 class="western"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, serif">Choose the right scuba certification program for you</font></font></h3><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> You can find a pre-packaged tour that's all-inclusive of everything from flights and equipment hire to post dive parties, or book your accommodation and dive tuition separately. Either way, it's vital that the people who you'll be working with are competent and professional. Reputable dive schools will be registered with a professional organisation so however you book your tuition do check this out.<br /> <br /></font></font></font></font></p><h3 class="western"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, serif">Do the necessary preparation before you arrive</font></font></h3><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> Organisers of dive certification vacations will generally send you a textbook, or links to an online learning centre so you arrive ready to take the required written exam and move quickly on to your first pool based practical lesson. The information may seem a bit dry at times, but it's vital to your safely once you get in the water. Arriving at your destination well prepared will ensure that you get the maximum possible time to do the fun stuff.</font></font></font></font></p><h3 class="western"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> Get best value for your money</font></font></h3><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> Your basic course is a life-long qualification, so the cost of the tuition is actually pretty reasonable. Dive schools are independently run so prices vary slightly. When you're looking at different packages be sure to check exactly what's included in them so you can be sure to compare like with like. Free diving for the rest of your holiday once you've completed your basic training is a common perk that enables you to consolidate your skills on your first scuba experience.</font></font></font></font></p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009233496,original{{/staticFileLink}}"></a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009233496,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009233496,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009233496?profile=original" /></a></p><h2 class="western"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> To Infinity and Beyond!</font></font></h2><p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><br /> Infinity2Diving are the only <a href="https://www.infinity2diving.com" target="_blank">five-star PADI dive resort in Tulum</a> and offer recommended courses suited to all levels from absolute beginners to experienced divers looking to take on new challenges. You might find that doing your basic open water certification is enough for you, but for many people diving can be more than a little addictive. The possibilities are endless; deeper dives, cave dives, technical dives and who knows...maybe you'll eventually want to become a dive instructor yourself.</font></font></font></font></p><p></p></div>How to Choose a Scuba Diving Vacationhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/choosing-scuba-diving-vacations2018-07-14T22:00:00.000Z2018-07-14T22:00:00.000ZLinda Leehttps://tripatini.com/members/LindaLee<div><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009263880,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009263880,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009263880?profile=original" /></a><br /> Scuba diving is one of the most popular activities loved by tourists across the world. No matter whether you are a first-time diver or you are an experienced one, you will definitely enjoy diving. Everyone has the wish to explore the deep sea and to touch the aquatic life. There are several living forms present deep in the water and some of the people do have such courage to dive underwater for the exploration. If you are an adventure lover and want to fulfil your dream to dive underwater to explore the vast marine life, the first thing you should do is to choose the best destination.<br /> <br /> There are a few dive spots around the world offering the opportunity to divers to get the best experience and explore aquatic life. Just imagine you are touching the corals and surrounded by various colourful marine fishes. There are various type of diving as per the age limit, experience level and wish of the tourists. Before you are heading towards experiencing this activity, it is very important to choose the type of diving you want to do, check out the options below to know about the various scuba diving locations you can opt for-</p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><ol style="text-align:justify;"><li><strong>Licensed Dive Agencies</strong></li></ol><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;">There are various accredited diving agencies available in the market that provides the best training and diving experience to the tourists. If you want to try out this activity with the help of the professionals, you can surely opt for the licensed ones. Some of the examples of the licensed scuba diving training agencies include the PADI, CMAS, SSI and the BSAC. All these organizations first provide the training to the candidates before they go for the activity. All the members of these agencies are well trained and experienced. They use latest gear and equipment like <a href="http://www.gearbyposeidon.com/best-scuba-cameras/">waterproof camera</a> for doing the activity.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><ol style="text-align:justify;" start="2"><li><strong>Family Scuba Vacations</strong></li></ol><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;">If you are going for a vacation with your kids, you must try out the scuba family trips. There are various organizations that provide the scuba diving trips with the family members where the kids can enjoy with the elders. The kids get specialised training so that they can dive with the elders in a safe area, not so deep. Here, the kids get the opportunity to learn scuba along with exploring the underwater marine life. These activities help all kids to know and enjoy with other members. The trainers suggest the kids to use the diving camera of a professional brand to get best marine experience.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009263701,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009263701,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009263701?profile=original" /></a></p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><ol style="text-align:justify;" start="3"><li><strong>Whale Shark Diving</strong></li></ol><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The shark diving will help to believe that white shark not just prey on the humans, they are purely wonderful to watch swimming in their own habitat. You can try out the white sharks diving to observe them living in their own natural habitat. You can dive few meters below the water level in a steel cage and observe these huge creatures. The observation will help you to know about the sex of the sharks, their markings and the behaviour. The shark diving vacations consist mainly the out-at sea research. The whale shark is a filter feeder and they mainly eat the planktons.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><ol style="text-align:justify;" start="4"><li><strong>Liveaboard Diving</strong></li></ol><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;">This type of activity means that you use the live board the swimming boat with the help by which you dive. The live boards are useful in diving between the remote and the less crowded diving sites. Before choosing this activity, you should feel that you have truly loved for scuba diving. This activity has less diving and more sailing. This is one of the relaxing activities you can do with your friends and families.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;">While, scuba diving or any other activities, it is very important to carry all preferred gear to keep you safe. You can buy the <a href="http://www.pearltrees.com/lindaforu/item226167344">best underwater camera</a> to capture the unparalelled experience of diving.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p></div>Your Pre-Dive Safety Checklisthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/pre-dive-safety-check-list2018-05-18T13:41:20.000Z2018-05-18T13:41:20.000ZJesus Guzmanhttps://tripatini.com/members/JesusGuzman<div><p>Scuba diving does have innate potential hazards, yet the sport also boasts an impressive safety record. That's because scuba divers recognise that they owe it to themselves, to their diving buddies, and even to the sport to dive responsibly.<br /> <br /><br />Diving responsibly starts with gaining the proper training and certification, but it certainly doesn't end there. Even experienced divers can run into difficulties yet the vast majority of accidents and incidents can be avoided by completing a systematic and rigorous pre-dive safely check list before each and every expedition.</p><p></p><p>As with all vital safely procedures, there's an acronym to remind divers of exactly what they should be checking and in what order. PADI trained divers are drilled in the BWRAF list of safety checks. Officially speaking, BWRAF stands for 'Begin With Review And Friend'. There are of course many variants on this mnemonic, some are humorous and irrelevant, 'Bruce Willis Runs All Films' for example. Others are rather more poignant - 'Because We Really Are Friends', or very much to the point. 'Breathing Water Really Ain't Fun'!</p><p><br /> However you choose to remember the initials they're only useful if you're also equally aware of what each of them designates. The standards are the same worldwide, so whether you did your initial dive training at a Tulum Mexico scuba diving centre, or gained your certification in a chilly UK lake, the checks to be made are exactly the same.<br /><br /> <strong>B – Buoyancy.</strong> Your safely run-through should start with your and your buddy's Buoyancy Compensator Device. Verify that the hoses are attached properly and the the device both inflates and deflates correctly. Once you're in the water you should also check your own buoyancy and confirm that you're weighted correctly.<br /> <br /><strong>W- Weight.</strong> Ensure that you have the right weights, and that they're correctly distributed for best trim. Make sure that weight belts are properly secured, that the loose end is correctly tucked, and that everything is set up to allow for quick release if required. This is also the time to make sure that you're familiar with your buddy's belt or integrated weights and that you know how to release them quickly if you need to.<br /> <br /><strong>R – Releases.</strong> Confirm that all belts are correctly strapped and tightened. If you count them off and give a quick tug on each as you work through you'll familiarise your brain and your hands with where everything is, should you need to access it in a hurry. Do this for yourself and for your buddy, and have them do the same for you.<br /> <br /><strong>A – Air.</strong> Tanks should be full, regulators fully on and of course you'll check every hose and connector to ensure that there are no leaks. Check your buddy's pressure gauge by having them take a couple of breaths while you monitor the needle for any signs of fluctuation and have your buddy do the same for you. You should also check each others alternate air source ensuring that they're correctly attached to the BCD and easily visible. Finally take a couple of breaths from the alternate air to ensure it's working correctly and you know how to use it.<br /> <br /><strong>F - Final OK.</strong> This is a visual check of all equipment to make sure everything looks as it should, Make sure fins, mask and snorkel are in place, check flashlights if you have them and check your dive computer. Once this stage is complete, you and your buddy can safely give each other the all OK signal and begin your descent.<br /> <br />As a newly qualified diver you'll probably be most careful in completing your BWRAF check, the danger comes in when you start to gain experience of many dives where nothing untoward happened the majority of accidents are down to complacency.<br /> <br />Holiday divers also need to be especially careful as it can take a few dives for old skills to come to the forefront of your brain. When you arrive at your <a href="http://www.kooxdiving.com/en/" target="_blank">Scuba diving Tulum centre</a>, or wherever else your travels have taken you. your slightly rusty diving skills could leave you vulnerable. If you have any doubts at all about resuming independent buddy diving, any reputable diving school will be delighted to set up a brief refresher session for you. A few hours with an expert instructor will help you re-familiarise yourself with the equipment, give you a chance to check anything you're uncertain about, and set you up to enjoy your diving holiday to the max.</p><p></p></div>Sistema Sagitario - Mexico Cave Divinghttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/sistema-sagitario-mexico-cave-diving2017-11-05T22:30:00.000Z2017-11-05T22:30:00.000ZGabriel Rubihttps://tripatini.com/members/GabrielRubi<div><p><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009205459,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9009205459?profile=original" /></p><p><br /> <font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif">Cave diving in Mexico is a wonderful experience combining underwater diving with the exploration of cave systems that date back eons. In Sistema Sagitario evidence can still be seen of human remains and previous rock movements that tell a story of who lived here before the caves were flooded.</font></font></p><p><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><font><br />A recent ceremony was held to ensure that local guides were aware of the work that the archaeologists and explorers are doing in order for them not to disturb the closed parts of the dive sites that are currently being mapped and studied. Guides were also told of where the entrance sites would be positioned, and the cost of the Mexico cave dive tours.</font></font></font></p><p></p><p><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><font>Entrance fees will be paid at the Zero Gravity facility in Puerto Aventuras, and the key to the cenote recorded. It will only be given to certified cave divers who assist with a local guide.<br /> <br /></font></font></font></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296629862,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><font><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296629862,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9296629862?profile=original" /></font></font></font></a></p><p><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><font><br /> The cartography of the caves has been made by Fred Devos, and his wife Angelica Chimal, who were present at the ceremony, alongside many local guides and cave instructors including Wiliam Ortega from Cenote Pro, Ana Covarrubias from the Playa Diving Centre, Erik Rosenstein from Beyond Diving, and Alberto Salvini from Pluto Diving.</font></font></font></p><p><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><font><br /> The history of the caves is fascinating, and the exploration and planning have been undertaken by many expert divers, who have retrieved vital data for the maps to be made. Dozens of photographs have been published to show the beautiful caves with immense passages and an average depth of 10 metres.<br /> <br /></font></font></font></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009206069,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><font><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009206069,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9009206069?profile=original" /></font></font></font></a></p><p><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><font><br /> Lately, new caves have been opened for the benefit of divers wanting to take part in Mexico caves diving. If you’re interested in diving here all you have to do is get in touch with an advanced diver in Mexico who’ll be able to advise you on the range of cave diving courses available for you to be able to learn and earn the cave diver training certificate.</font></font></font></p><p><font color="#595959"><font face="Arial, serif"><font><br /> Courses include the provision of tanks and cylinders, transportation to the dive sites and a dive instructor with 15 years of teaching experience. Get a one-man facility for cavern and cave diving today!</font></font></font></p><p><a href="https://www.advanceddivermexico.com/single-post/2017/09/25/Sistema-Sagitario" target="_blank"><br /> Visit original source.</a></p><p></p></div>Travelling & Diving in Maltahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/travelling-and-diving-in-malta-is-worth-it2017-05-09T13:11:59.000Z2017-05-09T13:11:59.000ZElena Tahorahttps://tripatini.com/members/ElenaTahora<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009151677,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009151677,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9009151677?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br />Malta is a small Mediterranean Island country that is rich in history. Endowed with the eye-catching historical architectural building, <a href="http://www.visitmalta.com/" target="_blank">Malta</a> becomes a great historical place to visit. Its strategic position and the fair weather has attracted many tourists. Malta has a history of having many ancient structures in the world. Its terrain is rocky and flat with many cliffs and bays at its coastlines which provide an ample harbor.<br /><br /></p><p><b>Travelling<i><br /><br /></i></b></p><p>Traveling in Malta is nothing short of fun and memorable adventures. Once in Malta, moving around will require reliable sources of transport to ensure you are in a position to experience the best view of the sites. Here are some of the best means of moving around;</p><p><strong><i><br /></i>Buses</strong></p><p><br />It has a broad range of efficient Island buses where weekly tickets are always available which are necessary for moving around. Malta buses get well equipped with digital and automated that signal stop. They have a Journey Planner, an online plan that readily provides information and route maps.</p><p><strong><i><br /></i>Bike</strong></p><p><br />Bikes offer flexible means of transport that is much easier and cost efficient. It is not much common in Malta, but it offers an epic way of exploring. Cycling is fun and an effective way of discovering Gozo and Malta due to their small size.</p><p><strong><i><br /></i>Taxi</strong></p><p><br />The white taxis in Malta, are the only legalized taxis that can pick you from the street. Making early bookings is highly recommended, make payments early and do the negotiations if the need be. The taxi will pick you're from the apartment or your hotel. You should also consider a tourist guide on giving directions and any other required information. There's also a large number of cab operators across the island. One funky company, with an excellent service, is <a href="http://www.greenr.cab/" target="_blank">Greenr.cab</a>. They operate with a fleet of electric cars. There's also e-cabs, the largest company on the island, with a high quality service, wifi fi in each car and more.</p><p><br />Apart from traveling adventure, diving will you a therapeutic feeling. The experience is worth it, and it will leave you nostalgic.</p><p><em><strong><br />Accommodation:</strong></em></p><p><br />There's a different type of accommodation options in Malta and Gozo. If you want to go high end, book at 5-star hotels across the island. The top 3 hotels in Malta are Hilton, Radisson Golden Sands and Kempinski Hotel on the sister island of Gozo. For those holiday makers how are looking for a less expensive option, you can book a 4 or 3-star hotel, there's about 100 spread over the island. You can also <a href="http://www.maltasothebysrealty.com/eng" target="_blank">rent an apartment in Malta</a>. Prices depend on the area, central apartments, with sea view, will cost about 30% to 40% more. If you are going to visit Malta during the peak season i.e June-Sept, make sure you book in advance because Malta gets about 1 million tourists every year.</p><p><br />There's another option if you are a bunch of people looking for privacy, <a href="http://www.abrahamgozofarmhouses.com/" target="_blank">farmhouse rentals</a>. There are some huge farmhouses for rent especially in Gozo with pool and you can also hire your personal chef. It's very cost effective because you will be sharing all the expenses between a few people.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009152263,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009152263,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="720" class="align-full" alt="9009152263?profile=original" /></a></p><p></p><p><strong>Great Places for Diving</strong></p><p><strong><i><br /></i>Reqqa Point<br /><br /></strong></p><p>It is the best dive shore on Gozo. The entry is nearly a vertical wall where Dorado, late in the season, usual go fishing. It creates a beautiful scene of the predator and prey. The rocky ledges get populated by micro life.<br /><br /></p><p><strong>Double Arch Reef<i><br /><br /></i></strong></p><p>Riding on a boat from Marsalforn on Gozo give a spectacular view of an arch. Barracuda and Sea bream are easily located.<br /><br /></p><p><strong><i>HMS Maori<br /><br /></i></strong></p><p>Being located at Valletta Harbour in Malta, which sank in 1992, is readily accessible by divers since it lies low at 16feet or less. Conger eel and John Dory's are found in HMS Maori. Therefore, you should be attentive.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009152295,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009152295,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9009152295?profile=original" /></a></p><p><strong><i><br /></i>Comino</strong></p><p><br />Comino gets endowed with rural charm and great diving. There is plenty of barracuda that the divers should be very keen. Its depth ranges from 7 – 450feet allowing divers to dive deep.<br /><br /></p><p><strong>Wreck of the <i>Um el Faroud</i></strong></p><p><br />It gets considered as the best wreck dive, and it is more than 330feet. It was scuttled and prepared in 1998 as an attractive <a href="https://www.atlantisgozo.com/dive-sites/" target="_blank">dive site in Malta</a>.</p><p><br />Favored by weather and many tourist sites, traveling and diving in Malta is the best vacation decision anyone can make. The adventurous moments are worth. The beauty of the land and good hospitality from the locals give tranquility.<br /><br /></p></div>My Favorite Dive Spots in French Polynesiahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/my-favorite-dive-spots-in-french-polynesia2017-03-18T10:56:36.000Z2017-03-18T10:56:36.000ZRobert Walshhttps://tripatini.com/members/RobertWalsh<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009147475,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="608" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009147475,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9009147475?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br />Tahiti is a goldmine for divers of all skill levels. It has something to offer for everyone and anyone. The dive sites here are some of the best in the world and mostly unspoiled. Tahiti is located in the southern Pacific Ocean, and is home to thousands of varieties of marine life and beautiful Coral Reefs.</p><p><br />These are the spots I liked the best:<br /><br /></p><p><b>Moorea</b></p><p><a href="http://www.tahiti.com/island/moorea" target="_blank">Moorea</a> is located within the heart of French Polynesia, and is a fantastic place to visit if you are daring and love to try new things. What is the main attraction here you ask? Hand-fed Sharks and Stingrays. Most people would think to never try to feed a Shark, with your own hands! are you mad?</p><p>If you are daring, you will find yourself swimming with, and feeding Blacktip Sharks. Fortunately reef Sharks are generally harmless, so you should not be in any danger. Just be sure to bring <a href="http://www.outsidepursuits.com/best-underwater-cameras/">dive camera</a> to document feeding the sharks, otherwise no one will believe you!</p><p><b><br /></b><b>Bora Bora</b></p><p>Bora Bora is the jewel of Tahiti, and the most well-known location in Tahiti. Although it is mainly known for its beauty above, the sights under the water are still no short of stunning. When you dive here, you will find that paradise is just 40 feet down.</p><p>Bora Bora’s lagoon is a fan favourite, simply because of beautiful coral ledges and cliffs that the lagoon offers. Just grab your <a href="http://www.outsidepursuits.com/best-snorkeling-gear-reviews/">snorkel gear</a> and you can easily see some of the best spots from the beach. Bora Bora’s beauty doesn’t stop at the lagoon, as there are countless types of marine life constantly on display. If you want to experience heaven on earth, look no further than Bora Bora.</p><p><b><br /></b><b>Rangiroa</b></p><p>Rangiroa is another stunning area in Tahiti. <a href="http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/islands/rangiroa/rangiroa.asp" target="_blank">Rangiroa</a> is special because it has the second largest Atoll in the world, which is the ring of coral around a lagoon. It is said that when you are at one end of the Atoll, you can’t see the end of the other side. That’s massive! This Atoll has led to Rangiroa being rich in marine life, making this location a must visit when you are in Tahiti. Here the water is warm year round so no wetsuit is necessary.</p><p></p><p><b>Manihi</b></p><p>Manihi is located 330 miles away from Tahiti. This location is home to some of the best diving spots in the world. <a href="http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/islands/manihi/manihi.asp" target="_blank">Manihi</a> also has one of the most amazing Atolls in the world, and is regarded as one the most scenic Atolls. A specific treasure that is found in Manihi is a black Pearl, which is a great reason to visit this beautiful area. Who knows, you may end up finding a pearl for yourself. Of course, Manihi has no shortage of beautiful marine life and coral, and is a beautiful, tranquil area that is appealing if you like remote areas.</p><p></p></div>My Snorkeling/Diving Trip to Puerto Ricohttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/snorkeling-diving-puerto-rico2016-10-12T21:30:00.000Z2016-10-12T21:30:00.000ZRobert Walshhttps://tripatini.com/members/RobertWalsh<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009102495,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009102495,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="565" alt="9009102495?profile=original" /></a></p><p>In case you didn't already know it, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth territory of the United Sates. While Spanish is the official language, just about everyone knows some English, so you should be fine if you don't speak any. </p><p>As you can imagine the area is tropical, with temperatures nearing 90 degrees year round. There is minimal change in water temperature through the different seasons, making this a great destination for both snorkeling and scuba diving.</p><p>Since the temperature only fluctuates around 5 degrees throughout the seasons, there is never a bad time of year to visit. One thing I found while I was there is a new type of mask called a "full face" snorkel mask. If you haven't seen one yet, they are awesome. They cover your whole face and allow you to breathe through your nose! You can see some of these new full face snorkel masks <a href="http://www.outsidepursuits.com/best-snorkel-mask/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>I have compiled a list of 5 of the best sites that I went to and recommend you do as well!</p><p><b>Fallen Rock</b></p><p>This is a top dive site in the area. Immense coral boulders form a beautiful drop off point that goes beyond 100 feet in depth. At the uppermost part of the reef, depths are around 65 feet. At Fallen Rock, prepare to see an array of fish and other aquatic creatures wandering in the deep. There is some even better diving around 100 feet deep but you will need an advanced open water certification and use of a dive computer is highly recommended. I had just bought a new one so I was good but if you don't have one yet, here are <a href="http://www.outsidepursuits.com/best-diving-watches/" target="_blank">some good dive computers</a>.</p><p><b>Mona Island <br /></b></p><p>Off the western portion of Puerto Rico lies Mona Island. This popular snorkeling destination offers the opportunity to visualize every imaginable color strewn throughout nature. From rainbow-colored fish, to turtles, rays, and more, this area is known to contain the largest concentration of reef fish in all of Puerto Rico. </p><p>If looking to snorkel in this area, be sure to bring your own equipment, as there are no rental stations or shops nearby!</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009103275,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009103275,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-left" alt="9009103275?profile=original" /></a></p><p><b>Coffin Island <br /></b></p><p>This snorkeling location is a nature preserve located on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. In this area, there are designated snorkeling trails that are marked in order to make the snorkeling experience an educational one. Learn what you are seeing around you, while embracing the incredible beauty in this scenic, underwater experience. </p><p>On the island, there are hiking trails that lead to an old lighthouse, and various other locations worth checking out. Grab the ferry to get to the island and be there in under an hour!</p><p><b><a href="http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/fajardo.shtml" target="_blank">Fajardo</a></b></p><p>If you are looking for a diving experience with a variety of views, from reefs to caverns to channels and more, Fajardo is an excellent choice and was my favorite dive site by far. The marine life is abundant, and many divers are able to actually hand feed fish living amongst the coral. This town is in the eastern portion of Puerto Rico, making it destination in a different area than many other diving hotspots. Check out barracudas and eels, and get some need underwater shots!</p><p><b>San Juan <br /></b></p><p>This diving site is right off of the beach, making it a quick, close option – allowing for more convenience. There are incredible reefs in various shapes and sizes, and these reefs house a wealth of marine life. The visibility in this area is approximately 20 feet, which is excellent considering the simple accessibility of the site. </p></div>57 Top Spots for Snorkeling/Diving in Europe & the Americashttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/57-top-spots-for-snorkeling-diving2016-08-10T02:10:22.000Z2016-08-10T02:10:22.000ZMax Peslinghttps://tripatini.com/members/MaxPesling<div><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><a href="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L2F-Sep-15-pic-multinational-snorkeling-diving-collage-640x320.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L2F-Sep-15-pic-multinational-snorkeling-diving-collage-640x320.jpg" alt="L2F-Sep-15-pic-multinational-snorkeling-diving-collage-640x320.jpg" /></a><br /> If you’re like me, you’re absolutely entranced by the otherworldliness of what lies off our planet’s shores, you try to don mask and fins and take the plunge into the big blue every chance you get. And Iberia offers so many different destinations to be dazzled – here are some of my favorites. <span id="more-10734" style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p><h3 style="background:#ffffff;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#d7192c;text-transform:none;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><span style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#ff0000;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Croatia</strong></span></h3><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><br /> This country’s<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Dalmatian Coast<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>is one of<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Europe</strong>’s stars when it comes to all things aquatic, and for underwater scenery, head especially to the<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Brijuni Archipelago</strong>;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Istria</strong>’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Cape Kamenjak</strong>, the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Pakleni Islands</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>off<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Hvar</strong>; and the islands of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Vis</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Mljet</strong>, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Losinj</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(this last especially known for its dolphins).</p><h3 style="background:#ffffff;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#d7192c;text-transform:none;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><span style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#ff0000;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> Cuba</strong></span></h3><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><br /> All along its coastline, the reefs and marine life, along with exceptional visibility, make the Caribbean’s largest island a bucket-lister for snorkelling/diving enthusiasts. Prominent among its hundreds of sites are, along the north coast,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Jibacoa</strong>, east of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Havana</strong>, and the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Jardines del Rey</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>islands including<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Cayo Coco</strong>. In the south, the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Bahía de Cochinos</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Bay of Pigs</strong>), and <strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Isla de la Juventud</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Isle of Youth</strong>, aka<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Isla de Pinos</strong>,<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Isle of Pines</strong>). Finally, at Cuba’s western end, the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">María la Gorda<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>biosphere reserve on<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Pinar del Río</strong>’s<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Guanahacabibes </strong>peninsula.</p><h3 style="background:#ffffff;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#d7192c;text-transform:none;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><span style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#ff0000;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> Dominican Republic</strong></span></h3><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><br /> Top stars include the south coast’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Bayahibe</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>as well as<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Saona</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Catalina</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>islands. But for one of the all-time great experiences of a lifetime, take a wintertime cruise out of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Samaná</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Silver Bank</strong>, where you can snorkel/dive with some of the majestic, gentle giants of the deep, humpback whales. Life changing.</p><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><span style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#ff0000;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> <span class="font-size-3">Ecuador</span></strong></span></p><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><br /> Hands down, the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Galapagos Islands</strong>, especially<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Santa Cruz</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Floreana</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>islands, with diversity including sea lions, sea tortoises, marine iguanas, and bull sharks (not to mention, on land, cool and cute little<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Galapagos penguins</strong>).</p><h3 style="background:#ffffff;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#d7192c;text-transform:none;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><span style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#ff0000;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> Greece</strong></span></h3><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><br /> Another country that’s huge on coastline and islands, there’s truly an embarassment of riches, including<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Alonissos</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Crete</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Corfu</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Kos</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Lesvos</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Mykonos</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Naxos</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Paros</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Rhodes</strong>, <strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Santorini</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Skiathos</strong>, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Skopelos</strong>.</p><h3 style="background:#ffffff;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#d7192c;text-transform:none;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><span style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#ff0000;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> Honduras</strong></span></h3><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> Plasencia</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on this country’s Caribbean coast (which is actually its only coast) is a favorite of many, but there’s nothing quite like the Caribbean islands<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Roatán<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>(especially<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Coxen Hole</strong>) and other<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Bay Islands<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>such as<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Utila</strong>,<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Guanaja</strong>, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Pigeon Cay.</strong></p><h3 style="background:#ffffff;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#d7192c;text-transform:none;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> Italy</strong></h3><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><br /> The Italian boot is waterlogged indeed – and especially down south, in areas such as the <strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Cilento Coast</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>south of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Naples</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Tuscany</strong>’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano</strong>. But unsurprisingly, perhaps its top stars include its islands – <strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Lipari</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Panarea</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Salina</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Sardinia</strong>,<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Sicily</strong>, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Stromboli</strong>.</p><h3 style="background:#ffffff;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#d7192c;text-transform:none;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> Mexico</strong></h3><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><br /> Much of the best action is down off the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Yucatan Peninsula</strong>, such as the island of<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Cozumel (especially its Chankanaab Lagoon</strong>, where parenthetically I actually first got turned on to snorkelling many years ago)<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">, Isla Mujeres<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>right offshore from<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Cancun</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(special stars June through September: gentle<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">whale sharks</strong>), and<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Isla Holbox</strong>, a short boat ride out from <strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Puerto Morelos<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>on the<strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Riviera Maya.</strong></p><h3 style="background:#ffffff;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#d7192c;text-transform:none;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><span style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#ff0000;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> Spain</strong></span></h3><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><br /> With all its coastline and islands, Iberia’s home base is a snorkelling/diving<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;">paraíso</em>, but for absolutely top experiences, head out to the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Balearic Islands</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(especially<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Minorca</strong>) and the <strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Canary Islands</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(here I especially recommend<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Fuerteventura</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Lanzarote</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>– and <strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Tenerife</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>ain’t too shabby either). On the mainland, plunge above all into<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Cabo de Gata</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in <strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Almería</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Catalonia</strong>’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Cap de Creus</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">L’Estartit</strong>.</p><h3 style="background:#ffffff;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;color:#d7192c;text-transform:none;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /> USA</strong></h3><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><br /> Top honors in this country go to the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Florida Keys</strong>, stretching <span>120 miles </span>southwestward from south Florida. Top spots include<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Bahia Honda</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Looe Key</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">John Pennekamp State Park</strong>, and, at the end of it all, the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Dry Tortugas</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(which includes a cool historic fort, too). In<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Key West</strong>, definitely the beach in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;">Zachary Taylor State Park</strong>.</p><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"> </p><p style="background:#ffffff;font:13px/16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;border:0px;text-align:justify;color:#333333;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;clear:both;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;"><span class="font-size-1"><em style="background:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;">images | Shutterstock</em></span></p></div>The Splendid Coasts of Colombiahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/the-splendid-coasts-of-colombia2015-05-13T20:59:14.000Z2015-05-13T20:59:14.000ZIberostar Hotels & Resortshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberostarHotelsResorts<div><p><a href="http://passportto.iberostar.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CAR_CostasColombia.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://passportto.iberostar.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CAR_CostasColombia.jpg" class="align-center" alt="CAR_CostasColombia.jpg" /></a><br />Every year, <b>the whales </b>that live close to the Antarctic waters of Chile make a trip of over 8,000 kilometers to the Pacific coast of <b>Colombia</b> to <b>give birth and rear their whale calves. </b>The best time to see them is between July and October, although they start to arrive in June. You can see them throughout the Pacific coast. Sometimes the whales come so close to the shore that they can be seen from the beach or from the viewpoints in the hills.<br /><br />Some of the most recommendable sites to see these magnificent mammals are <b>Bahía Solano and El Velle</b>, with vantage points to watch the whales playing in front of the coast. <strong>Gorgona island,</strong> to the southwest of Buenaventura, offers the possibility of diving with them.<br /><br />The Caribbean coast has genuinely incredible locations for <b>diving</b>, but the Pacific coast offers a very different experience. The visibility is somewhat lower, while in contrast, the quantity and size of the marine fauna is spectacular. On the Caribbean coast, <strong>San Andrés y Providencia,</strong> a traditional destination for Caribbean diving, with excellent visibility, wonderful coral reefs and varied marine fauna truly stands out. You can also visit <strong>Taranga </strong>and <strong>Cartagena,</strong> which offer good diving prospects not too far from the city. The <b>Rosario Islands</b>, famous for diving, have warm streams of waters which have damaged the reef to a certain degree and so dives are not as good as the once were. <br /><br />On the Pacific coast, <strong>Gorgona Island</strong> also offers good diving and, in the whale spotting season, you can see these great creatures beneath the waves. In <strong>Playa Huína </strong>you can dive close to <b>Bahía Solano</b>, where a ship which survived the attack at Pearl Harbor sank, creating an artificial reef.</p><blockquote><p> </p><p><i>“</i><a href="http://www.iberostar.com/hoteles-y-destinos/nuestros-destinos"><b>IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts</b></a><i> boasts <b>countless hotels in the Americas</b>, and although Colombia is not currently one of our destinations, you never know!”</i></p><p></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-1"><i>from our blog <a href="http://passportto.iberostar.com" target="_blank">PassportTo...</a></i></span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></blockquote></div>Cozumel, Mexico's Great Maya Reefhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/cozumel-mexico-s-great-maya-reef2015-03-19T18:08:29.000Z2015-03-19T18:08:29.000ZIberostar Hotels & Resortshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberostarHotelsResorts<div><p><a href="http://passportto.iberostar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/CAR_ElGranArrecife.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://passportto.iberostar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/CAR_ElGranArrecife.jpg?width=1000" width="1000" class="align-center" alt="CAR_ElGranArrecife.jpg?width=1000" /></a></p><p><br />Opposite <b>Playa del Carmen</b> beach in <b>The Riviera Maya</b>, is the idyllic island of <b>Cozumel</b>. An island with many charms but which stands out for one thing in particular: the <b>Arrecifes National Park</b>, or as it is more popularly known, <b>“The Great Maya Reef”.<br /><br /></b>Situated off the southern coast of Cozumel, the Arrecifes National Park consists of the reefs – <i>arrecife</i> being the Spanish word for ‘reef’ – which have formed over thousands of years and which owe their apparition to the diverse underwater terraces on the edge of which they sit. These reefs provide a home to a quarter of all of the flora and fauna on the planet!</p><p><br />The beauty of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park became known thanks to researcher<b> Jacques Cousteau</b>, and this led to divers from all over the world heading for this part of Mexico to discover a true paradise. It is a very delicate marine system, which is why in 1996 the Mexican authorities decided to protect it by imposing regulations to ensure respect of the reef.</p><p><br /><b>Diving</b> is the number one attraction in Cozumel; the water temperature ranges from 25°C to 32°C over the year, visibility can be just over 40 / 50 meters, and the diversity of flora and fauna has led to the island’s placing as <b>one of the five best destinations in the world</b> for practicing this activity. It is possible to practice continuous dives, and the visitor can enjoy the transparent waters, which are heaving with a wide range of marine life made up of hundreds of multicolored fish; branched red, coffee and yellow sponges, fragile starfish and black sea urchins. Explore holes in the coral plate and clusters of fire coral, brain coral, lettuce-leaf coral and elkhorn coral that cover vast surfaces of the seabed. The reef is a refuge zone for the protection of the marine flora and fauna, but this park is not only a marine park, as its on-land area is home to <b>a total of 136 species of amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal. </b>During seasonal nights, you can <b>observe the nesting of turtles</b> in the south of the island.</p><p><br /><b>The Great Maya Reef </b>is a space full of magic and underwater wonder, whose ecosystems must be preserved if we are to continue enjoying their beauty and the advantages they produce for ecology. If you are a fan of diving, this is a destination that you cannot miss!</p><blockquote><p> </p><p></p><p><strong>“IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts</strong><i> has a<strong>5-star</strong> <strong>All-Inclusive</strong> hotel on the island of <strong>Cozumel</strong>. </i>The<i> </i><a href="http://www.iberostar.com/hoteles/cozumel/iberostar-cozumel"><b>IBEROSTAR Cozumel</b></a><b>,</b><i> situated <strong>right on the beach</strong>, has <strong>306 </strong><em><b>bungalow</b></em> <strong>rooms </strong>of different categories, where clients will find everything needed to feel right at home while on vacation. “</i></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-1"><i>from our blog <a href="http://passportto.iberostar.com" target="_blank">PassportTo...</a></i></span></p><p></p></blockquote></div>Dominican Republic Divinghttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/dominican-republic-diving2014-08-05T18:29:59.000Z2014-08-05T18:29:59.000ZIberostar Hotels & Resortshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberostarHotelsResorts<div><p><strong><a href="http://passportto.iberostar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/CAR_Dominic_Buceo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://passportto.iberostar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/CAR_Dominic_Buceo.jpg?width=650" width="650" class="align-center" alt="CAR_Dominic_Buceo.jpg?width=650" /></a></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>Some people were born to be underwater. Submerged beneath the waves, their bodies take on skills and movements befitting a marine creature. For them, nowhere under the ocean surface can be left unexplored in the quest for a little piece of submarine magic. And for these born divers, the Dominican Republic is a paradise with two especially fascinating places: the wreck of the <em>St. George</em> and the Padre Nuestro [Our Father] Cave.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:13px;">The <em>St. George</em> was built in Scotland in 1962 and for twenty years it was used to ship wheat and barley between Norway and America. This 240 meter-long transatlantic vessel ended up abandoned in the port of Santo Domingo. In 1999, it was sunk in the Romana-Bayahibe area in order to covert it into an artificial reef and diving spot. And so it was. Now it's home to a large number of species of flora and fauna, a steel chest at the bottom of the sea with the best and most colorful of treasures. Barracudas, morays, mackerels, groupers and many more species swim about its decks and propellers, pausing to reflect as if strolling down an avenue. But its riches are not just to be found in its exterior; through openings in the side of the hull you can explore the engine room, the bridge, winches etc. in the interior.<br /> <br /></span> <span style="font-size:13px;">And if the diver prefers rocky seascapes, the Padre Nuestro Cave in the Parque Nacional del Este (Eastern National Park) is a challenging 290 meter-long tunnel that is only suitable for experts and the physically fit. The dive begins at an entrance above ground, where the cave walls are filled with stalactites and stalagmites, different rock layers and fresh and saltwater formations. Pondering the long years it took to form these impressive natural constructions is preparation for what lies just up ahead. The walkway ends with some safety ropes that aid the descent for a dive, lasting around half an hour, that is truly unforgettable. Of course, divers should always follow the guides’ safety instructions and not take any unnecessary risks.<br /> <br /></span> <span style="font-size:13px;">The surface of the sea, that undulating horizon that opens up before the land traveler, is only the beginning of the adventure for those thrill-seekers who love wet skin and the taste of salt on their lips.</span></p><p> </p><blockquote><p><em>“The </em><strong><em><a href="http://www.iberostar.com/hoteles/republica-dominicana">IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts in the Dominican Republic</a></em></strong><em> bring you closer to the most beautiful corners of the island, with 6 luxury vacation complexes located in <strong>Bayahibe, Playa Bávaro and Puerto Plata. Their superb location </strong>allows guests to explore the island and discover all its secrets.”</em></p><p></p></blockquote></div>Scuba Diving in the Philippineshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/scuba-diving-in-the-philippines2011-08-14T00:40:05.000Z2011-08-14T00:40:05.000ZMonarch Sands Resorthttps://tripatini.com/members/MonarchSandsResort<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008640494,original{{/staticFileLink}}"></a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008640875,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008640875,original{{/staticFileLink}}" height="461" width="700" alt="9008640875?profile=original" /></a><span class="font-size-4"><strong>EXPERIENCE THE ADVENTURE</strong></span></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008640494,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><br /></a>Experience the thrills of an adventure under water and be amazed by the beauty, <strong>scuba diving in the Philippines</strong> offers you all of this and more……</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.monarchsands.com" target="_blank">Scuba diving in the Philippines</a></strong> is undoubtedly one of the most exciting diving locations in the world. At Monarch Sands Dive Resort we have a number of truly magnificent dive sites for you to choose from. Dive trips to nearby Apo island and Dauin Reef is our highly popular speciality. Divers from all over the world come to see our undersea wonders.</p><p>Monarch Sands Dive Resort is located on Negros Island, the fourth largest island in the Philippines group. The resort lies just north of the town of Siaton, about an hour away from Dumaguete.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296553500,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296553500,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296553500?profile=original" /></a></p><h2 style="text-align:center;" class="head2">The Best Dive Resort Philippines Has To Offer</h2><p>Some of the most scenic, most magnificent diving locations can be found here. The dive sites are extremely popular, and the pristine white sands of the island serve as the gateway to them all. Some even think Monarch Sands Dive Resort is the best <a href="http://www.monarchsands.com" target="_blank">dive resort Philippines</a> has to offer. Trip Adviser rates us #1 of all Dumaguete dive resorts and hotels.</p><p>Apo island lies in the southeast, just minutes away from Monarch Sands Dive Resort. This is where scuba diving Philippines style really takes off. Apo island is sheer scuba diving heaven come true. The island is volcanic surrounded by an exquisitely picturesque, but properly protected coral reef.</p><h2 style="text-align:center;" class="head2">Scuba diving Philippines Apo Island and Dauin Reef</h2><p><a href="http://www.monarchsands.com" target="_blank">Scuba diving in the Philippines</a>, and especially at Apo island, you will encounter a highly varied and unbelievably colourful array of aquatic life. You will see clownfish by the dozen, mighty giant turtles, fierce lion fish, ganard fish, fields of grass eels and large jacks. But don’t forget the coral itself. This remarkable living thing provides a psychedelic virtual rainbow of colour. It’s a sight you will never forget for as long as you live. Dauin is to most the best location for muck diving. Our Philippine dive resort can package either sites or a combination.</p><p>Our Philippine Dive Resort enjoys a very pleasant climate all year round. The average annual temperature is 25 degrees Celsius, 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The surface of the water actually enjoys a higher average annual temperature ranging from 27 degrees to 31 degrees Celsius, 80 degrees to 87 degrees Fahrenheit.</p><p>The water at our Philippine dive resort is remarkably crystal clear as well. Visibility can vary, but it generally ranges between 10 feet and 40 feet, 3 metres to 12 metres.</p><p>It is certainly possible to dive all year round at Monarch Sands Dive Resort, though the months from December through to February are the coldest. But that is in relative terms; cold is hardly the right word to use. The warmest time tends to be from March and May.</p><p>The dive sites at Monarch Sands Dive Resort generally range between 16 to 98 feet, 5 to 30 metres deep. You can see some 400 species of coral and some 700 species of fish. If you are seeking the experience of a lifetime, <strong>scuba diving in the Philippines</strong>, this is it! The nearest airport is Dumaguete DGT.</p><p>Your tanks are full, the dive boat is standing by. Experience diving in the Philippines today.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008642074,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008642074,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008642074?profile=original" /></a></p></div>Marine Tourism In Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islandshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/marine-tourism-in-indonesias-raja-ampat-islands2011-08-13T17:45:53.000Z2011-08-13T17:45:53.000ZS. Antohttps://tripatini.com/members/SAnto<div><p><em><strong><a href="http://aglolink.org/travel/marine-tourism-in-the-raja-ampat-islands/" title="Marine Tourism In The Raja Ampat Islands">Marine Tourism In The Raja Ampat Islands</a></strong></em> in West Papua is the most ideal place of maritime tourism in Indonesia today. <em>Beautiful views</em> of Raja Ampat, is second to none elsewhere. So far, Raja Ampat is better known for <em>diving marine tourism</em>. And for tourists in our country can enjoy the <a href="http://aglolink.org/travel/geopark-tourism-lake-toba/" title="Geopark Tourism In Lake Toba">nautical tourism</a> with a walk by renting speedboad among the small islands which around 700 island in Raja Ampat.</p><p>Raja Ampat name reputedly comes from the legend rooted in its territory. It is said that there was a woman who found seven eggs, then she took care of the eggs until hatching. Of all the eggs four to four princes. While the other three eggs into a ghost, a woman, and stone. After the split up the four princes and living in different islands. Over time, they appear as kings in their respective territories on the <em>island Waigeo, Salawati, Misool Timur, and West Misool Island</em>. Among the scattered islands are coral islands of which there are a number of natural caves are adorned with several skulls and human bones. No one knows who is buried there.</p><p><a href="http://aglolink.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Raja-ampat-200x150.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="640" src="http://aglolink.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Raja-ampat-200x150.jpg?width=640" class="align-full" alt="Raja-ampat-200x150.jpg?width=640" /></a></p><p> </p><div class="mcePaste" style="left:-10000px;top:0px;width:1px;height:1px;overflow:hidden;"><p style="text-align:justify;"><em><strong>Raja Ampat Islands</strong></em> in West Papua is the most ideal place of maritime tourism in Indonesia today. <em>Beautiful views</em> of Raja Ampat, is second to none elsewhere. So far, Raja Ampat is better known for <em>diving marine tourism</em>. And for tourists in our country can enjoy the <a href="http://aglolink.org/travel/geopark-tourism-lake-toba/" title="Geopark Tourism In Lake Toba">nautical tourism</a> with a walk by renting speedboad among the small islands which around 700 island in Raja Ampat.</p><img width="640" height="480" alt="Raja ampat, marine tourism, west papua" src="http://aglolink.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Raja-ampat.jpg" title="Raja ampat" class="size-full wp-image-405" /></div></div>Five Can't-Miss Adventures of a Lifetimehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/five-can-t-miss-adventures-of-a-lifetime2014-01-30T15:02:17.000Z2014-01-30T15:02:17.000ZNicholas Kontishttps://tripatini.com/members/NicholasKontis<div><p><span style="line-height:0px;overflow:hidden;" id="mce_0_start"><span style="line-height:0px;overflow:hidden;" id="mce_1_start"><br /> Starting to think about warm-weather travel yet? Check these out:</span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Alaska-Bike-Tours1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4554" title="Alaska Bike Tours" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Alaska-Bike-Tours1.jpg" width="550" height="413" alt="Alaska-Bike-Tours1.jpg" /></a></p><p>During the summer months biking in Alaska is a fun way to see America's largest state. Get up close with Alaska’s nature and wildlife, meet the locals.</p><p><span style="line-height:0px;overflow:hidden;"> </span></p><p> By bike you get far away from tourist areas, but still travel on paved highways, on less traveled roads. Give yourself at least seven days to cover 50-70 miles of this pristine, outdoor wonderland.</p><p><span style="line-height:0px;overflow:hidden;"> </span></p><p> Local knowledge, small group size and personalized service have made Alaska Bike, the preferred choice for bicycle tours and multisport tours of Alaska! Owned, operated and guided by Alaskans.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.alaskabike.com/" target="_blank">www.alaskabike.com</a></p><p><img src="http://www.easysailing.gr/modules/My_eGallery/gallery/sporades/alonissos/Kokinokastro_Alonissos.jpg" alt="Kokinokastro_Alonissos.jpg" /></p><p>Sail the Greek Islands on a luxury chartered yacht with a great of your best mates. <br /> Set sail from Athens Greece to the Greek Islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Rhodes, Crete, Zakynthos, enjoyyour sailing holidays in Greece. Alpha Yachting Greece is managed by Manos Komninos, an established Naval Architect with over 20 years of experience, who is not only a Yacht Broker, but who can suggest the ideal yacht for your sailing holidays in Greece.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.alphayachting.com/" target="_blank">www.alphayachting.com</a></p><p></p><p><span style="line-height:0px;overflow:hidden;"><span style="line-height:0px;overflow:hidden;"><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CAMEL-SAFARI-OZ1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4557" title="CAMEL SAFARI OZ" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CAMEL-SAFARI-OZ1.jpg" width="800" height="462" alt="CAMEL-SAFARI-OZ1.jpg" /></a></span></span></p><p></p><p>Australia offers the traveler unlimited options of activities, but it's not every day that you'll go on a camel trek in the Outback.<br /> Russell Osborne, Camel Trainer, explains the basics of training wild camels to becoming domestic, working camels. There is a lot more to the entire process than what can be described here in this blog and camel training should only be done under the instruction of a trained professional. In saying that, the relationship developed between camel and handler depends on the level of trust that is achieved.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.australiancamels.com/" target="_blank">www.australiancamels.com</a></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/brazil-wtl-7.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4558" title="brazil wtl 7" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/brazil-wtl-7.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="brazil-wtl-7.jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="line-height:0px;overflow:hidden;"> </span> </p><p>Scuba Dive where few go in Brazil. Fernando De Naronha is a protected national park of of Recife, f the north east coast of travel in the Atlantic Ocean. Great for active divers, or a wonderful opportunity to get certified.<br /> One of the best dives to do is at Ilha do Meio, which has caves and an abundance of sharks. Another nice place to dive is Canal da Rata, ideal for night dives.<br /> Cagarras offers deep dives. Pontal do Norte is excellent for skillful l scuba divers. This region offers many sorts of dives and a large variety of sea animals to be seen.<br /> <br /> Fernando de Noronha is a wonderful place to visit. It is a small piece of heaven that can be found only in Brazil. There, you can practice scuba diving, observing the great amount of animals, relax on the beat and enjoy the azure, warm, Atlantic waters.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.scubadivingbrazil.com/" target="_blank">www.scubadivingbrazil.com</a></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Chetwan-National-Park.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4559" title="Chetwan National Park" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Chetwan-National-Park.jpg" width="500" height="435" alt="Chetwan-National-Park.jpg" /></a></p><p> </p><p>Think Nepal is all about trekking? Think again. In south central, Nepal lies Chitwan National Park where you can take in a real African style Safari in the backyard of the Himalayas , complete with riding elephants, and the chance to see the few remaining, endangered tigers and rhinos. <br /> <br /> In 1996, an area of 750 sq. km. surrounding the park was declared a buffer zone which consists of forests and private lands. The park and the local people jointly initiate community development activities and manage natural resources in the buffer zone. The Government has made provision of plowing back 30-50 percent of the park revenue for community development in the buffer zone. <br /> <br /> <a href="" target="_blank">www.chitwannationalpark.net</a></p><p> </p><p>Like my travel rants and raves?</p><p> </p><p>I am travel expert, Nick Kontis. I have sent over 10,000 people around the world with my discounted airfares.</p><p>Now, I promote travel on my World Travel List.</p><p> </p><p>You can post your travel tails or if your a travel provider post your company on Trip Rambler, and be seen by 1,000s of world travelers from over 120 countries</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com">http://trip.worldtravellist.com</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://facebook.com/worldtravellist">http://facebook.com/worldtravellist</a></p><p> </p></div>Personalized Tours: Snorkeling in Palau and Yaphttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/personalized-tours-snorkeling-in-palau-and-yap2011-08-23T21:06:22.000Z2011-08-23T21:06:22.000ZElizabeth Hansenhttps://tripatini.com/members/ElizabethHansen<div><p><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296553694,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296553694,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296553694?profile=original" /></a></strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Sometimes the most authentic way to experience a destination is with a small group led by an expert guide.</strong></span> Such was the case when my neighbor Daira Paulson went snorkeling in <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Micronesia</strong></span> last year.</p><div>“We took a <a href="http://www.seaforyourself.com/">Sea for Yourself</a> snorkel trip to <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Yap and Palau</strong></span>, where we snorkeled in clear warm water with a wide variety of colorful fish and coral. It was a spectacular experience. The group size is limited (we had nine).</div><br /><div>“The company owner, a marine biologist, and another marine biologist who has lived in Palau for 11 years, were our guides. In addition to full snorkel days, we had evening presentations on a</div><div>variety of marine biology topics.</div><div>“<span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>We were in Yap for three days, one of which included an afternoon visit to a local village. This visit was arranged through the personal connection of our guide. It was not a commercial venue</strong></span>. The women are still topless and, along with the village elders and children, demonstrated aspects of their culture and their somewhat subsistence lifestyle. <br /><br /><div><div>"While in Yap we stayed in an average hotel, as it is the only hotel in Yap with a dock. It was nothing fancy, but fully adequate. Its location gave us quick access to the boat that was exclusively for our group.</div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>"Our base in Palau was in a lovely five-star resort</strong></span> (Palau Pacific Resort) situated on a pristine bay filled with a variety of corals, clams, and fish. It had a dock and, again, we had our own dedicated boat.</div><br /><div><div>"A typical day was to depart at 9 each morning. <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>On some days, the resort packed a picnic lunch, which we enjoyed on pure white sandy beaches</strong></span>. On other days, we returned to the resort for lunch and then departed again for an afternoon snorkel. Almost all the snorkels are done over reefs 5-10 feet below the surface. We went to a “drop off reef” one day and on another, swam in Jellyfish Lake (an amazing experience).</div></div><br /><div>"I like taking underwater photos. <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>I was thrilled to come home with photos of 25 different Butterflyfish species</strong></span> – and that’s just the beginning. Coral. Triggerfish. Surgeonfish. Damsels. Jacks. Sharks. Eels. Parrotfish and so much more. We even saw Japanese planes shot down during the war.</div><br /><div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;font-size:large;">"Snorkel trips aren’t for everyone, but I love them."</span></div></div><div>Common Lionfish, Photo credit: Daira Paulson</div></div></div>A Truly Idyllic Philippines Resorthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/a-truly-idyllic-philippines-resort2011-08-13T12:30:00.000Z2011-08-13T12:30:00.000ZMonarch Sands Resorthttps://tripatini.com/members/MonarchSandsResort<div><h1 style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296553664,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296553664,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="384" alt="9296553664?profile=original" /></a></h1><h1 style="text-align:center;">A Truly Idyllic Philippines Resort</h1><p>One of the finest <strong>Dumaguete resorts</strong> can be found at Monarch Sands Beach Resort. The resort lies south of Dumaguete. Snuggled within a quiet, isolated and secluded cove. With cottages on the beach. This magnificent <strong>Philippine beach resort</strong>, white sand, native-style houses, complemented by the azure and pristine waters of the Sulu sea, is the ideal getaway with its tropical setting – a perfect Philippine beach resort for a perfect vacation.</p><p>This <strong>Philippines diving resort</strong> is renowned for its speciality diving and snorkelling packages that can be experienced from Apo island. There are also many fascinating local tours of the area for you to enjoy. It’s by far the best way to discover the history and many varied attractions of the area.</p><p>At Monarch Sands Beach Resort you can simply let yourself go and relax under coconut trees, or join in all the adventure and excitement. You can experience nature’s breathtaking tropical beauty all around you, and to top it all off, we will provide you with a specialized and personalized service that will make you feel like a very important royal personage.</p><h2 class="head2">The Tropical Paradise Setting of This Unforgettable Philippine Beach Resort</h2><p>This is truly a setting that could easily be described as a Tropical Paradise. Imagine the thrill of sipping coconut coolers while relaxing under the shade of a coconut tree? Or tossing the occasional banana to an inquisitive monkey? Trip Advisor rates our <strong>Philippine Beach resort</strong> as the #1 by travellers to Dumaguete.</p><p>Of all the <strong>Dumaguete resorts</strong>, this is where the snorkelling and diving is at its most exquisite, and if you really want to relax, then you can savour the exquisite experience of a full body, totally relaxing massage, lying on the luxurious and satisfyingly warm sensational white sand beach.</p><p>This is the <strong>Philippines resort</strong> you will remember best. Come on in, the water’s great – Dumagauete beach accommodations and exciting dive adventures is waiting, and all that’s missing is you!</p></div>Sunset Bay Club & SeaSide Dive Resort. Access the underwater paradisehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/sunset-bay-club-amp-seaside2011-07-14T19:07:15.000Z2011-07-14T19:07:15.000ZSunSet Bay Club & SeaSide Dive.https://tripatini.com/members/SunSetBayClubSeaSideDive<div><div class="discussion"><div class="description"><p>Not only can we boast of our scenic rainforest; Rivers, Mountains and beaches, but our natural beauty spreads right through to the unseen. Under the large canvas of this beautiful blue ocean lays one of the Caribbean’s most exciting underwater Worlds. An exotic scene, a true reflection of the <a href="http://www.dominica.dm/" target="_blank">Dominican</a> beauty. <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008634090,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008634090,original{{/staticFileLink}}" height="287" alt="9008634090?profile=original" /></a></p><p>This aquatic kingdom is filled with a diversity of flora and fauna, a melody of colors, an amazing demonstration of the harmony of life.</p><p>At the <a href="http://www.sunsetbayclub.com/" target="_blank">Sunset Bay Club</a>, the only All-Inclusive resort in Dominica, access is granted to visit the hidden treasure beneath the sea. We put it at your finger tips. An open door to a new experience. A new world of rich marine diversity.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008634653,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008634653,original{{/staticFileLink}}" height="245" alt="9008634653?profile=original" /></a>Emerge, return to shore and dine at the 4 seasons Restaurant and enjoy a breathtaking sunset on the terrace as you bask in the ambiance of lovely staff and bid farewell to a fun filled day and prepare for a new experience at sunrise.</p></div></div></div>5 Unique Travel Activities in 5 Different Regions of Our Planethttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/5-unique-travel-activities-in2011-07-12T21:00:00.000Z2011-07-12T21:00:00.000ZNicholas Kontishttps://tripatini.com/members/NicholasKontis<div><p>To be human is to live for adventure. Many of us will perhaps only visit a destination once in a lifetime. Others will go back to familiar places or seek out new dreams. Here are five adventures that you sure do not want to miss before you leave the planet. I picked five of my favorites: Playing a round of Golf in the birthplace of Golf at historic St. Andrews in Scotland, Scuba Diving in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea, Sky Diving over Moab in the U.S. state of Utah, River Rafting on Futaleufu River in Patagonia , Chile, and Heli-Skiing on Mount Cook on the South Island of New Zealand. Hope that you like the photos. Nick , your founder here at the World Travel List.</p><p> </p><p>Golf – Scotland</p><p><img alt="" src="http://www.golfaroundscotland.net/proimg/11897862161.jpg" /></p><p>Not just a round of Golf. How about a round of Golf in the birthplace of Golf. Playing a round in historic St. Andrews just might be as close to “golfers heaven” as on can get. Having done this once in a lifetime, even if the weather left little to be desired, was still a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.</p><p>Learn more : <a href="http://www.standrews.com/">www.standrews.com</a> , <a href="http://www.scotlandgolftours.com/">www.scotlandgolftours.com</a></p><p><br /> </p><p>Scuba Dive – The Red Sea – Egypt</p><p><img alt="" src="http://www.visiting-egypt.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Red_Sea_Diving.jpg" /></p><p>One of my greatest pleasures in life is when I’m under the sea. Egypt is more than just a cultural destination. Egypt has also is ideal for water sports, relaxation, and excellent diving in the Red Sea. With its year-round sunshine, the Red Sea is the ideal place to enjoy scuba diving. The underwater scenery is rich with coral-covered reefs and famous dive sites such as Ras Mohamed and Elphinstone as well as wrecks, including the Thistlegorm. Also with relatively calm water, the Red Sea makes a great destination to get your scuba certification.</p><p>Check out : <a href="http://www.redseadivers.com">www.redseadivers.com</a> , <a href="http://www.emperordivers.com">www.emperordivers.com</a></p><p><br /> </p><p>Sky Dive – Utah – U.S.A.</p><p><img alt="" src="http://www.moab-skydiving.com/images/gallery/moab-skydiving-videos.jpg" /></p><p>Want a real rush, tr<em>y jumping out of an airplane at 30,000 feet. And for pure beauty try sky diving over the red rock formations of Moab, this can’t be beat.</em> Tandem diving is a great way to get your feet wet, especially if you’re just a beginner, like I was. It was one of the coolest things that I have done in my life. Feel the adrenaline</p><p>Check out the highly recommended : <a href="http://www.skydivemoab.com">www.skydivemoab.com</a></p><p> </p><div><center> </center></div><p>Chile – River Rafting</p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Chile-Fu-Rafting2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10656" alt="" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Chile-Fu-Rafting2.jpg" width="499" height="329" /></a></p><p>There are rivers throughout the world where one can experience the thrill of the rapids, but if you’re a real adrenaline junkie or thrill seeker, (I’ll try anything once), then I have just the river for you. Chile’s Futaleufu in Patagonia. Warning, this is not for the timid. You will work hard. I think I gained more muscle mass in three days than in a lifetime. Given the proper instruction and using a reputable river guides, and you can do it.</p><p>Look no further than Earth River Expeditions : <a href="http://www.earthriver.com">www.earthriver.com</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>New Zealand – Heli-Skiing</p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/New-Zealand-helicopter-heli-ski.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10657" alt="" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/New-Zealand-helicopter-heli-ski.jpg" width="600" height="435" /></a></p><p>The Kiwis are known for adventure. New Zealand offers many outdoor activities for the active traveler. If you’re a skier, New Zealand’s, South Island offers some of the finest powder in the world. If you really want to get to areas where few people get to then hire a heli-skiing operator to take you to the top. The views are spectacular and best of all, it’s all downhill from there.</p><p></p><p>The Author is Nick Kontis , founder of the World Travel List</p><p>Nick Kontis started out as a world traveler at an early age traveling back and forth between California to Greece every summer. But it was a back packing trip around the world at age 24 that proved to be a life changing experience. After traveling by car, train, , plane, bike and, boat around the world, it would be this trip of a lifetime that would lead to a life as a travel entrepreneur and world traveler. Nick has been on both radio and television. Featured on Arthur Frommer’s television show, and referred by Lonely Planet writers. Frequently mentioned as the “father of around the world airfares” Arthur Frommer once said, “If Jules Verne were alive today he would use Nick to go around the world in 80 days.” Nick and his various travel companies have sent over 10,000 people taking their dream trip through airfare discounts of as much as 50% off the airlines published fares. Now Nick promotes travel through his World Travel List and ‘Trip Rambler’ by World Travel List. Having traveled to over 80 countries Nick hopes to inspire others to travel the world.</p><p><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"> </span></p></div>The World's "Undersea Rainforests" Need Protectionhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/world-s-undersea-rainforests-need-protection2013-06-07T19:17:03.000Z2013-06-07T19:17:03.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008769080,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008769080,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="300" alt="9008769080?profile=original" /></a>The mention of coral reefs usually brings to mind crystal-clear, warm tropical waters, bright colorful fish and coral … maybe even the movie, “Nemo.” <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Coral reef" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef" target="_blank">Coral reefs</a> form such vast, diverse ecosystems</strong> that they are commonly called the <strong>“rainforests of the oceans.”</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Like the rainforests on land, <strong>coral reefs are extremely threatened by humans’ actions and climate change</strong>. Since the late 1970s, coral reefs across the world have been dying at an unprecedented rate, and it only seems to be getting worse, according to Phil Dustan, a marine biologist at the College of Charleston, South Carolina, in an <a title="Earth Observatory article on coral reefs" href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Coral/coral2.php" target="_blank">Earth Observatory / NASA report</a>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">“It’s a real tragedy,” states Dustan. “But over the past 20 years, we’ve seen a rapid decline in the vitality of coral reefs and their ecosystems worldwide.” In the report, Dustan explains that <a class="zem_slink" title="Coral" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral" target="_blank">corals</a> evolved in warm, clean, still waters with stable levels of sunlight and salinity. In order for the corals to survive, these waters must remain pristine and relatively undisturbed. A delicate balance also has to be maintained between the animals that feed on and live among the reefs. If any of these factors are thrown off balance, the polyps in the reef will be eaten away by predators, devastated by disease, or simply become so stressed that they die, Dustan explains.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Coral-Polyps-photo-courtesy-of-Phillip-Dustan-College-of-Charleston.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Coral-Polyps-photo-courtesy-of-Phillip-Dustan-College-of-Charleston.jpg?width=172" width="172" alt="Coral-Polyps-photo-courtesy-of-Phillip-Dustan-College-of-Charleston.jpg?width=172" /></a>Corals are invertebrate animals that stay fixed in one place and live in tropical waters all over the world</strong>, usually close to the surface where the sun’s rays can reach them. Dustan explains that though corals may appear to be jagged stone plants sprouting from the ocean floor, only a very thin layer of polyps on the coral’s surface is actually alive. These polyps, which resemble tiny sea anemones, <strong>build interconnected tubes</strong> around themselves as protection against predators. Each time new polyps are born, they will construct their shells on top of their predecessors’. Stacks upon stacks of the limestone shells pile up on top of one another through the years to create coral branches and heads, and ultimately giant reefs (Miller and Crosby 1998).</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cahuita-10.jpeg"><img class="align-right" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cahuita-10.jpeg?width=295" width="295" alt="cahuita-10.jpeg?width=295" /></a>Over millions of years, thousands upon thousands of species of sea creatures have come to depend on corals as a source of food and shelter. So far, researchers have identified nearly <strong>4,000 kinds of fish and tens of thousands of invertebrates that thrive and depend on some 800 types of known coral</strong>, Dustan reports.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Coral reefs are dying off due to pollution, overfishing, blast fishing (using dynamite to kill fish), and digging under the water</strong>. Coral reefs only develop in areas with specific environmental characteristics: Warm water temperatures, clear waters low in phosphate and nitrogen, a solid structure for attachment, and moderate wave action to disperse wastes and bring oxygen and plankton to the reef. <strong>Reef growth is extremely slow</strong>; an individual colony grows 1 to 7 inches (1 to 18 cm) in a year, depending on the species.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Coral-reef-map.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Coral-reef-map-300x289.jpg?width=300" width="300" alt="Coral-reef-map-300x289.jpg?width=300" /></a>A recent study by the <a title="Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interamerican_Association_for_Environmental_Defense" target="_blank">Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA)</a>, entitled “<a title="AIDA report on coral reefs" href="http://www.aida-americas.org/en/project/future_for_coral" target="_blank">Coral Reefs in Costa Rica</a>,” states that <strong>97% of the 970 km2 of reefs that live in Costa Rica’s waters are threatened by human activities</strong>. Paradoxically, corals have a value of $582 million annually for Costa Rica, a product of its profits in fishing, tourism, scientific research, and in prevention of natural disasters (corals prevent coastal erosion caused by hurricanes and storms).</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The AIDA report calls for urgent action by Costa Rica’s government to protect coral reefs. While Costa Rica is bound by international treaties such as the <a title="United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Convention_on_the_Law_of_the_Sea" target="_blank">United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea</a> to protect corals, the country does not have specific regulations that enforce these obligations.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Visit Costa Rica’s coral reefs</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Tortuga-Island-snorkel-2.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Tortuga-Island-snorkel-2-300x197.jpg?width=300" width="300" alt="Tortuga-Island-snorkel-2-300x197.jpg?width=300" /></a>Some of the <strong>best places to experience Costa Rica’s living coral reefs</strong> are <a title="Tortuga Island Cruise with Costa Rica Special Deals" href="http://costaricaspecialdeals.com/puntarenas-tours/calypso-pacific-island-cruise.html" target="_blank">Tortuga Island</a> in the <a class="zem_slink" title="Gulf of Nicoya" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.8,-84.8&spn=1.0,1.0&q=9.8,-84.8%20%28Gulf%20of%20Nicoya%29&t=h" target="_blank">Nicoya Gulf</a> (Pacific Ocean), <a title="Cano Island Tour with Costa Rica Special Deals" href="http://costaricaspecialdeals.com/2012-06-22-18-43-52.html" target="_blank">Cano Island</a> off the <a class="zem_slink" title="Osa Peninsula" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=8.55,-83.5&spn=1.0,1.0&q=8.55,-83.5%20%28Osa%20Peninsula%29&t=h" target="_blank">Osa Peninsula</a> in the Southern Pacific, Uvita Island offshore of Limon and the <a title="Cahuita National Park tour with Costa Rica Special Deals" href="http://costaricaspecialdeals.com/2012-06-22-18-44-27.html" target="_blank">Cahuita National Park</a> – both on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The <strong>Cahuita National Park</strong> is home to one of <strong>Costa Rica’s largest coral reefs</strong>, and the only mature coral formation found along the Caribbean coast. Extending 500 meters out from Cahuita Point, the reef fans out over an area of about <strong>600 acres (a square mile)</strong>. <strong>Snorkeling in the area is fantastic</strong>, and you can swim right out from shore or go on a boat. You can see 35 species of coral and an abundant variety of marine life.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Enjoy an exciting <a title="Cahuita National Park snorkeling tour with Costa Rica Special Deals" href="http://costaricaspecialdeals.com/2012-06-22-18-44-27.html" target="_blank">1-day snorkeling and hiking tour in the Cahuita National Park</a> from Puerto Viejo with <a title="Costa Rica Special Deals" href="http://costaricaspecialdeals.com/" target="_blank">Costa Rica Special Deals</a>. The Costa Rica travel agency offers top deals on <strong>Costa Rica vacation packages</strong>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cahuita-12.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cahuita-12-300x90.jpg?width=369" width="369" alt="cahuita-12-300x90.jpg?width=369" /></a>Learn More</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Learn more about <strong>what you can do to protect coral reefs</strong> at reef monitoring programs like the <a title="Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network" href="http://gcrmn.org/" target="_blank">Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network</a> and <a title="Reef Check" href="http://www.reefcheck.org/" target="_blank">Reef Check</a>. Both employ a network of volunteers around the globe to monitor reefs.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cbN161yBBGA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"></p></div>From DIve Photographer Nuno Silvestrehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/from-dive-photographer-nuno2011-03-09T13:02:44.000Z2011-03-09T13:02:44.000ZPortugal Dream Coasthttps://tripatini.com/members/PortugalDreamCoast<div><p><strong>A contribution of Nuno Silvestre, a fish saying "Hi Nuno".</strong></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008603856,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="420" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008603856,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" alt="9008603856?profile=original" /></a></p><p> </p><p>Nuno Silvestre is an amazing scuba diving photographer. Born in Setubal and a citizen of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.portugaldreamcoast.com">Portugal Dream Coast</a>. We are proud!</p></div>Costa Rica A Prime Scuba Diving Destinationhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/beautiful-costa-rica-is-a-prime-scuba-diving-destination2013-09-10T12:49:51.000Z2013-09-10T12:49:51.000ZDanny Solano Alvarezhttps://tripatini.com/members/DannySolanoAlvarez<div><p><em>by Shannon Farley</em><br /><br />Costa Rica is known for its adventures. One that draws adventure enthusiasts from all over the world is <strong>scuba diving in Costa Rica’s warm and beautiful waters</strong>.</p><p>The “Rich Coast” in Central America offers under-the-sea adventures ranging from impressive <strong>coral reefs</strong> to <strong>vast schools of fish</strong> and other marine life to <strong>shipwrecks</strong>. With two coastlines, the <strong>Pacific</strong> and the <strong>Caribbean</strong>, Costa Rica presents <a class="zem_slink" title="Scuba diving" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuba_diving" target="_blank">scuba divers</a> with a myriad of fascinating dive sites. Warm, tropical waters off Costa Rica stay near an ideal 80 degrees year-round for divers, reports Costa Rica’s scuba diving experts at <a title="Costa Rica Scuba experts" href="http://www.costarica-scuba.com/" target="_blank">Costarica-scuba.com</a>. Visibility tends to range between 20-75 feet and most dives are done from boats since the majority of good dive sites lay between rock formations and islands.</p><p><strong><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-Suba-diving-map-Costa-Rica.jpg"><img class="wp-image-4126 alignleft" title="Suba diving map of Costa Rica courtesy of Costarica-scuba.com" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-Suba-diving-map-Costa-Rica.jpg" alt="Suba diving map of Costa Rica courtesy of Costarica-scuba.com" height="389" width="465" /></a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-parrotfish.jpg"><img class="wp-image-4129 alignright" title="See parrotfish and amazing coral reef diving on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-parrotfish-300x234.jpg" alt="See parrotfish and amazing coral reef diving on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast" height="211" width="270" /></a></strong></p><p><strong>Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast</strong> features one of the largest coral reefs in the country, at <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Cahuita National Park" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.72916666667,-82.825&spn=0.05,0.05&q=9.72916666667,-82.825%20(Cahuita%20National%20Park)&t=h" target="_blank">Cahuita National Park</a></strong>. Fanning out over 600 acres (about 1 square mile), the reef has 35 varieties of coral, including giant Elkhorn Coral, Brain Coral and Venus Sea Fans. The coral garden sustains an abundant variety of marine life, including sea urchins, sea cucumbers, lobsters, white shrimp, crabs, barracudas, octopi, sting rays, small sharks, and about 125 types of fish such as blue parrot fish, clown fish and angel fish. Additionally, there are two shipwrecks that are easy to explore since they are in shallow water.</p><p><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-sardine-school.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4130" title="Dive with multitudes of marine life like this sardine school off Costa Rica's Pacific Coast" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-sardine-school-300x200.jpg" alt="Dive with multitudes of marine life like this sardine school off Costa Rica's Pacific Coast" height="200" width="300" /></a></p><p>Scuba diving off <strong>Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast</strong> gives divers the amazing experience of swimming with multitudes of fish and other marine life due to the waters’ richness in plankton and marine organisms. Natural rock formations are scattered along the ocean floor. The Pacific Coast is home to a huge range of sea life like white-tip sharks, bull sharks, lobsters, eels, tropical fish, puffers, snapper, jack, grouper, moray eels, eagle rays, octopi, angelfish, parrotfish, dolphins, and giant manta rays. During their mating season, sea turtles (Green, Leatherback and Olive Ridley) can be seen on the surface.</p><p><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-Cano-Island-sharks.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4131" title="See sharks diving off Costa Rica's Cano Island in the Pacific" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-Cano-Island-sharks-300x176.jpg" alt="See sharks diving off Costa Rica's Cano Island in the Pacific" height="176" width="300" /></a></p><p>Costa Rica’s long Pacific Coast is full of phenomenal dive spots like Cano Island, Tortuga Island, the Catalina Islands, the Bat Islands, and Manuel Antonio. Then there is <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Cocos Island National Park" href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/820" target="_blank">Cocos Island</a></strong>. Only accessible by live-aboard week-long dive boat trips, Cocos Island is considered a jewel of nature and was described by <a class="zem_slink" title="Jacques Cousteau" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Cousteau" target="_blank">Jacques Cousteau</a> as “the most beautiful island in the world,” according to National Geographic.</p><p>For those new to scuba diving, you can vacation in Costa Rica and also get <strong>scuba certified</strong> at the same time. There are several <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Professional Association of Diving Instructors" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Association_of_Diving_Instructors" target="_blank">PADI</a>-certified scuba schools</strong> and <strong>scuba resorts</strong> in Costa Rica. <strong>Quepos/Manuel Antonio</strong> is home to the only 5-star PADI scuba diving center on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, <a title="Oceans Unlimited 5-star PADI scuba center and school in Costa Rica" href="http://www.oceansunlimitedcr.com" target="_blank">Oceans Unlimited</a>. They offer guided dive and snorkeling trips, PADI dive courses, introductory resort courses and Nitrox. The best part of diving at the more than 25 dive sites along the Manuel Antonio coastline is that all dive locations are within 10-20 minutes of the coast.</p><p><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-spotted-eagle-ray.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4132" title="Dive with large marine life like this spotted eagle ray on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-spotted-eagle-ray-300x225.jpg" alt="Dive with large marine life like this spotted eagle ray on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast" height="225" width="300" /></a></p><p>Get complete scuba diving information for Costa Rica with diving experts at <a title="Costa Rica Scuba experts" href="http://www.costarica-scuba.com/" target="_blank">Costarica-scuba.com</a>. Then, plan your <strong>scuba diving vacation in Costa Rica</strong> with <a title="Costa Rica Special Deals travel service" href="http://costaricaspecialdeals.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Costa Rica Special Deals</strong></a>, a dependable online travel service company based in Costa Rica. Their main goal is to give you excellent, professional customer service and guide you through the reservation process of hotels, tours, transportation, local flights, car rental, and any other services you may need during your visit to Costa Rica. They know Costa Rica from top to bottom, and offer you all of their valuable knowledge from more than 20 years of collective experience.</p><p><strong>Great vacation deals in Costa Rica</strong> can be found with <a title="Costa Rica Special Deals" href="http://costaricaspecialdeals.com/" target="_blank">Costa Rica Special Deals</a> travel agency. They feature exciting well-priced Costa Rica vacation packages and the most competitive rates online.</p><p> </p><p></p></div>Costa Rica Offers Prime Scuba Diving on Two Coastshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/costa-rica-offers-prime-scuba-diving-on-two-coasts2013-04-19T15:47:32.000Z2013-04-19T15:47:32.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p>Costa Rica is known for its adventures. One that draws adventure enthusiasts from all over the world is <strong>scuba diving in Costa Rica’s warm and beautiful waters</strong>.</p><p>The “Rich Coast” in Central America offers under-the-sea adventures ranging from impressive <strong>coral reefs</strong> to <strong>vast schools of fish</strong> and other marine life to <strong>shipwrecks</strong>. With two coastlines, the <strong>Pacific</strong> and the <strong>Caribbean</strong>, Costa Rica presents <a class="zem_slink" title="Scuba diving" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuba_diving" target="_blank">scuba divers</a> with a myriad of fascinating dive sites. Warm, tropical waters off Costa Rica stay near an ideal 80 degrees year-round for divers, reports Costa Rica’s scuba diving experts at <a title="Costa Rica Scuba experts" href="http://www.costarica-scuba.com/" target="_blank">Costarica-scuba.com</a>. Visibility tends to range between 20-75 feet and most dives are done from boats since the majority of good dive sites lay between rock formations and islands.</p><p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-Suba-diving-map-Costa-Rica.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-Suba-diving-map-Costa-Rica.jpg?width=465" width="465" alt="Dive-Suba-diving-map-Costa-Rica.jpg?width=465" /></a></strong></p><p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-parrotfish.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-parrotfish-300x234.jpg?width=270" width="270" alt="Dive-parrotfish-300x234.jpg?width=270" /></a>Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast</strong> features one of the largest coral reefs in the country, at <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Cahuita National Park" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.72916666667,-82.825&spn=0.05,0.05&q=9.72916666667,-82.825%20%28Cahuita%20National%20Park%29&t=h" target="_blank">Cahuita National Park</a></strong>. Fanning out over 600 acres (about 1 square mile), the reef has 35 varieties of coral, including giant Elkhorn Coral, Brain Coral and Venus Sea Fans. The coral garden sustains an abundant variety of marine life, including sea urchins, sea cucumbers, lobsters, white shrimp, crabs, barracudas, octopi, sting rays, small sharks, and about 125 types of fish such as blue parrot fish, clown fish and angel fish. Additionally, there are two shipwrecks that are easy to explore since they are in shallow water.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-sardine-school.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-sardine-school-300x200.jpg?width=300" width="300" alt="Dive-sardine-school-300x200.jpg?width=300" /></a>Scuba diving off <strong>Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast</strong> gives divers the amazing experience of swimming with multitudes of fish and other marine life due to the waters’ richness in plankton and marine organisms. Natural rock formations are scattered along the ocean floor. The Pacific Coast is home to a huge range of sea life like white-tip sharks, bull sharks, lobsters, eels, tropical fish, puffers, snapper, jack, grouper, moray eels, eagle rays, octopi, angelfish, parrotfish, dolphins, and giant manta rays. During their mating season, sea turtles (Green, Leatherback and Olive Ridley) can be seen on the surface.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-Cano-Island-sharks.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-Cano-Island-sharks-300x176.jpg?width=300" width="300" alt="Dive-Cano-Island-sharks-300x176.jpg?width=300" /></a>Costa Rica’s long Pacific Coast is full of phenomenal dive spots like Cano Island, Tortuga Island, the Catalina Islands, the Bat Islands, and Manuel Antonio. Then there is <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Cocos Island National Park" href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/820" target="_blank">Cocos Island</a></strong>. Only accessible by live-aboard week-long dive boat trips, Cocos Island is considered a jewel of nature and was described by <a class="zem_slink" title="Jacques Cousteau" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Cousteau" target="_blank">Jacques Cousteau</a> as “the most beautiful island in the world,” according to National Geographic.</p><p>For those new to scuba diving, you can vacation in Costa Rica and also get <strong>scuba certified</strong> at the same time. There are several <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Professional Association of Diving Instructors" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Association_of_Diving_Instructors" target="_blank">PADI</a>-certified scuba schools</strong> and <strong>scuba resorts</strong> in Costa Rica. <strong>Quepos/Manuel Antonio</strong> is home to the only 5-star PADI scuba diving center on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, <a title="Oceans Unlimited 5-star PADI scuba center and school in Costa Rica" href="http://www.oceansunlimitedcr.com" target="_blank">Oceans Unlimited</a>. They offer guided dive and snorkeling trips, PADI dive courses, introductory resort courses and Nitrox. The best part of diving at the more than 25 dive sites along the Manuel Antonio coastline is that all dive locations are within 10-20 minutes of the coast.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-spotted-eagle-ray.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dive-spotted-eagle-ray-300x225.jpg?width=300" width="300" alt="Dive-spotted-eagle-ray-300x225.jpg?width=300" /></a>Get complete scuba diving information for Costa Rica with diving experts at <a title="Costa Rica Scuba experts" href="http://www.costarica-scuba.com/" target="_blank">Costarica-scuba.com</a>. Then, plan your <strong>scuba diving vacation in Costa Rica</strong> with <a title="Costa Rica Special Deals travel service" href="http://costaricaspecialdeals.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Costa Rica Special Deals</strong></a>, a dependable online travel service company based in Costa Rica. Their main goal is to give you excellent, professional customer service and guide you through the reservation process of hotels, tours, transportation, local flights, car rental, and any other services you may need during your visit to Costa Rica. They know Costa Rica from top to bottom, and offer you all of their valuable knowledge from more than 20 years of collective experience.</p><p><strong>Great vacation deals in Costa Rica</strong> can be found with <a title="Costa Rica Special Deals" href="http://costaricaspecialdeals.com/" target="_blank">Costa Rica Special Deals</a> travel agency. They feature exciting well-priced Costa Rica vacation packages and the most competitive rates online.</p><p> </p><p>By Shannon Farley</p></div>Belize, a Tiny Country With a Lot to Ithttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/do-you-belize-in-love2013-03-06T21:26:05.000Z2013-03-06T21:26:05.000ZNicholas Kontishttps://tripatini.com/members/NicholasKontis<div><p>When one thinks of Belize, most likely the first thought to come to mind is the fabled Blue Hole, and the world’s second largest barrier reef, second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. But the tiny nation surrounded by its big brother to the north, Mexico and Guatemala to the west and south, is an eco-travelers, adventurer enthusiasts dream. Taking a closer look, there is more to Belize than meets the eye.</p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Belize-BLUE-HOLE-Helicopter-Portofino.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19836" alt="Belize - BLUE HOLE Helicopter Portofino" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Belize-BLUE-HOLE-Helicopter-Portofino.jpg" width="1000" height="665" /></a></p><p>Scuba dive or take a helicopter ride over Belize’s stunning Blue Hole.</p><p></p><p>Recently, I got the chance to get my “Indiana Jones” on, and paid a visit to the land of magnificent Mayan pyramids, wildlife reserves, marine reserves, lush jungle, tall waterfalls, spelunking in caves, scuba diving, luxurious resorts fine dining in Belize City and San Pedro, and more. Belize is a country one must explore to truly appreciate. Belize is even an under-rated culinary mecca.</p><p>Some facts of interest about Belize. The nation is the youngest country in Central America, gaining independence from the British in 1982. Belize is the only ex British colony in Central America. English is the first language of Belize. The population of Belize is less than 375,000. Over half a million visitors arrive by cruise ship alone every year. Belize is the least dense country in Central America. Over 60% of Belize is forested land, 36 percent of the land is protected. With over 1800 miles of road, but only 400 miles of paved road.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Mexico-Rocks.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Mexico-Rocks.jpg" width="1024" height="768" /></a></p><p>Don’t care to dive? Grab a Kayak from the Portofino Resort for a fifteen minute trip to snorkel ‘Mexico Rocks’, Ambergris Caye</p><p></p><p>From the Mexico-Belize border to the Belize-Guatemala border the distance is only 279 Kilometers or 175 miles, and from east to west 110 kilometers, a mere 68 miles wide, from the Caribbean Sea to the border of Guatemala.</p><p>Out of a total of four Coral Atolls in the Western Hemisphere, Belize boasts three of them. Drive a few miles in any direction and you’ll discover a new ecosystem.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Diner-and-Le-Bistro.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Diner-and-Le-Bistro.jpg" width="1024" height="685" /></a></p><p>Meals fit for a king and queen on Ambergris Caye - Five star dining at Portofino Resort’s - Le Bistro Restaurant</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Jaquars.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Jaquars.jpg" width="1024" height="768" /></a></p><p>Jaguar’s Temple Night Club is a favorite nightlife spot, San Pedro, Ambergris, Caye</p><p></p><p>The first thing one notices about Belize is the attitude of its people. A wonderful melting pot of, Mayan, Creole, Caribbean, Chinese, and European cultures all blending together to form an open and tolerant society. A cavalcade of faces who are all gracious and friendly. The Belizean people understand that working toward a common goal is for the betterment of the nation. The whole is greater than the individual parts. Tourism must thrive for Belize to prosper, and its people embrace you with love from the moment you arrive at Belize International Airport.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Nick-Repelling-in-Belize.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19837" alt="Nick - Repelling in Belize" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Nick-Repelling-in-Belize.jpg" width="1024" height="768" /></a></p><p>Take the plunge – Rapelling 300 feet down into the Black Hole Cave.</p><p></p><p>Hike two hours into the jungle to repel 300 feet off the side of a cliff into the Black Hole Drop, and have lunch in a cave.</p><p> </p><p>Things to Do:</p><p>Chances are that you come to Belize for sun and beaches. For a lazy Caribbean beach vacation, Belize is as good as it gets. Famous for being a snorkelers and scuba divers paradise. Of course, diving over 100 feet into the deepest, deep blue hole imaginable is a must for scuba enthusiasts. The Blue Hole is rated as one of the top 10 ten scuba diving experiences in the world. A visit to the Mayan pyramids of Caracol brings you Mayan culture.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Hol-Chan-Sharks-ray-alley1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Hol-Chan-Sharks-ray-alley1-1024x769.jpg" width="779" height="585" /></a></p><p>Many a graceful Blue Spotted Stingray at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley.</p><p>Snorkelers and divers alike, can come face to face with playful Whale Shark’s, and exotic Rays at Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Belize-Nick-C-Br-Living-Room.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19835" alt="Belize - Nick C Br Living Room" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Belize-Nick-C-Br-Living-Room.jpg" width="800" height="600" /></a></p><p>Room with a jungle view at the Cave’s Branch Resort.</p><p></p><p>From Ian Anderson’s, Caves Branch Resort you can take day trips and experience the jungle of Belize.</p><p>Explore Mayan history and find a skull or two spelunking Belize’s Achtun Tunichil Muknal or Atm Caves. This cave is one of the most popular Mayan burial sites in Western Belize. Swimming, crawling, climbing this sacred cave is quite an experience. The cave contains four skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware left by the Mayans.</p><p>Jump off a waterfall, repelling off a cliff into the Black Hole, or go tubing down a river. Kayaking, horseback riding, Belize is an adventure travelers paradise.</p><p></p><p>Chill out in Belize’s Southern Cayes. A world less traveled. Explore 16 miles of “beach heaven” in Placencia and see the real laid back Belize, where you can swim alongside tranquil turtles, while you float in the crystal clear Caribbean waters. Snorkelers and divers gravitate to Placencia’s, turquoise waters.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8707.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19845" alt="IMG_8707" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8707.jpg" width="800" height="600" /></a></p><p>Meet the real natives at the Belize Zoo.</p><p></p><p>Chances are that you will not see a local Baird’s Tapir, Keel-Billed Toucan, nor a jaguar in the wild. However, you can view these rare animal species at the Belize Zoo. 29 acres of tropical savanna and exhibits over 150 animals, representing over 45 species, all native to Belize. Where rescue animals get a second chance to go back into the wild, and locals learn to protect endangered species. Belize is all about new adventures.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Tropic-Air.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Portofino-Tropic-Air.jpg" width="1024" height="768" /></a></p><p>The skilled pilots of Tropic Air transport you around Belize.</p><p></p><p>Getting to and around Belize:</p><p>There are not nonstop flights from the United States to Belize. American Airlines, Delta, United, and U.S. Air all fly from the U.S. Taca flies via San Salvador, now Tropic Air will begin flying from Cancun, Mexico to Belize. There is also the twice daily San Pedro two-hour ferry ride linking Chetumal, on the southern tip of Quintana Roo, Mexico to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. Tropic Air and Mayan Air operate flights within Belize linking the various regions of Belize on small flights.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_9029.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19841" alt="IMG_9029" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_9029.jpg" width="800" height="600" /></a></p><p>Have an ice cold Belikin Beer at the Jambal Jerk Pit, San Pedro</p><p></p><p>Don’t come home without it:</p><p>Don’t forget to pick a bottle of Marie Sharp’s Belizean Heat, made with fresh Habanero peppers and local grown vegetables and fruits. Luckily, I was not the first person to be stopped at U.S. customs for bringing in excess hot sauce. Do not leave Belize with feasting on the scrumptious Mayan cuisine at Elvi’s Kitchen in San Pedro.</p><p></p><div id="iol_fp"><div id="iol_dp"><div id="iol_ip"><div id="iol_imp"><div id="iol_imw"><div><a><img alt="" src="http://www.insidethegate.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Caracol2.jpg" /></a></div></div><div>“It’s a jungle out there” – The Mayan Pyramids of Caracol</div><div><p>Whether you’re an outdoor adventurer or a beach bum, a shopper or a foodie, Belize is paradise.</p><p>I don’t know what I enjoyed more, the beach or the jungle? I came for the beaches and to scuba dive Belize’s clear Caribbean waters, but I left my heart in the jungle.</p><p>Belize, what’s not to like. I do “Belize in love.”</p><p></p><p><a href="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_9036.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19851" alt="IMG_9036" src="http://trip.worldtravellist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_9036.jpg" width="800" height="600" /></a></p></div></div></div></div></div><p>For more information on Belize visit the following trusted web sites and companies:</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.portofinobelize.com">www.portofinobelize.com</a> - For the ultimate beach stay on Ambergris Caye.</p><p><a href="http://www.cavesbranch.com">www.cavesbranch.com</a> - For the experience of a lifetime stay in 5 star, luxury, tree houses in the jungle with many jungle adventures and day trips to choose from.</p><p><a href="http://www.robertsgrove.com">www.robertsgrove.com</a> - The place to stay in Placencia.</p><p><a href="http://www.tropicair.com">www.tropicair.com</a> – Will transport you safely to and from various points in the country and runs on time.</p><p><a href="http://www.amigosdivebelize.com">www.amigosdivebelize.com</a> Amigos del Mar offers trips to the Blue Hole and more.</p><p><a href="http://www.portofinodiving.com">www.portofinodiving.com</a> - For dive trips on Ambergris Caye, Action Divers takes you to Shark’s Ray Alley and more.</p><p><a href="http://www.seariousadventures.com">www.seariousadventures.com</a> <strong><em>–</em></strong> Offers sailing trips, jungle river cruises and more</p><p><a href="http://www.travelbelize.org">www.travelbelize.org</a> – For all things Belize. The great folks at the Belize Tourist Board are there to assist you.</p><p></p><p><em>About the Author: Nick Kontis – Travel Expert and Founder of the World Travel List</em></p><p><em>Nick Kontis started out as a world traveler at an early age traveling back and forth between California and Greece every summer. But it was a backpacking trip around the world at age 24 that proved to be a life changing experience. After traveling by car, train, plane, bike and, boat around the world, it would be this trip of a lifetime that would lead to a life as a travel entrepreneur and world traveler. Nick has been on both radio and television. Featured on Arthur Frommer’s television show, and referred by Lonely Planet writers. Frequently mentioned as the “father of around the world airfares.” Arthur Frommer once said, “If Jules Verne were alive today he would use Nick to go around the world in 80 days.” Nick and his various travel companies have sent over 10,000 people taking their dream trip through airfare discounts of as much as 50% off the airlines published fares. Now Nick promotes travel through his World Travel List and ‘Trip Rambler’ by World Travel List. Having traveled to over 80 countries Nick hopes to inspire others to travel the world. Follow Nick’s “passion for travel” on the World Travel List.</em></p></div>Chankanaab Lagoon: The Top Ticket on Mexico's Cozumel Islandhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/chankanaab-lagoon-the-top-ticket-on-mexico-s-cozumel-island2013-02-06T18:35:04.000Z2013-02-06T18:35:04.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><p><strong><a href="http://passportto.iberostar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/pic-IBP-Mexico-Cozumel-Chankanaab-underwater-Christ-statue.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://passportto.iberostar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/pic-IBP-Mexico-Cozumel-Chankanaab-underwater-Christ-statue.jpg?width=640" width="640" class="align-center" alt="pic-IBP-Mexico-Cozumel-Chankanaab-underwater-Christ-statue.jpg?width=640" /></a></strong></p>
<p></p>
<p>One of my earliest travel memories, back in the early 1970s, <strong>Cozumel</strong> at that time was the Yucatan's biggest (hell, <em>only</em>) beach resort deal. Cancun was still but a glimmer in the eyes of <strong>Mexico</strong>'s government tourism planners and the "Riviera Maya" was little more than miles of hot, buggy scrubland punctuated by a string of barefoot (not even electrified) villages with the seaside Maya site of Tulum stuck in there somewhere (suffice it to say, a whole lot more inaccessible in those days). <br /><br />My, oh Maya, but how times change, eh? Nonetheless, though for many years already Cozumel has been demoted to second - actually, probably third - vacation banana hereabouts, it's still held its own thanks to cruise ships, beaches that are still considered the Yucatan's best, and attractions like <strong>Chankanaab Lagoon</strong> – a five minute cab ride from the island’s town, San Miguel. Back in the day, Chankanaab was for a then-aspiring marine biologist (<em>moi</em>) the hands-down highlight of a vacation on this island. It sent my sense of wonder into overdrive as I snorkeled through crystalline water above a section of the world-famous Palancar Reef, surrounded by a riot of colorful marine life. I guess you could say I found Nemo (and a few thousand of his buddies) three decades before the movie came out. A poster of the lagoon's colorful finny denizens long held pride of place on my bedroom wall when I came back from that magical experience (yep, fish trumped pinups of Cheryl Tiegs and Farah Fawcett). <br /><br /><span style="font-size:13px;">Fast-forward…and obviously, things are, well, <em>un poco diferente</em> in 2013 than in 1973. More resorts on Cozumel</span><span style="font-size:13px;">, a bigger airport, and perhaps most of all, routine cruise-ship calls are among the major factors that’ve led to some changes in the landscape and seascape at Chankanaab (Mayan for “small sea,” declared a national park in 1980, and since 1995 part of the larger </span><strong style="font-size:13px;">Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park</strong><span style="font-size:13px;">). Development since my first visit has added to the menu organized </span><strong style="font-size:13px;">snorkel</strong><span style="font-size:13px;">/</span><strong style="font-size:13px;">scuba</strong><span style="font-size:13px;"> tours; Snuba (</span><strong style="font-size:13px;">scuba diving </strong><span style="font-size:13px;">but tethered to a raft; no training required); Seatrek (strolling across the seabed with an oxygenated helmet; also no experience needed); statues in an underwater sculpture garden such as a dramatic Christ (pictured above); kayaking; and Dolphin Discovery, which lets folks get in the water with dolphins, sea lions, and manatees. On land, meanwhile, there are a couple of restaurants and reproductions of a traditional Maya village and ruins to tour. So yes, it’s much pricier now – $21 per adult and $14 for kids – but a lot is included, and the <em>magia marina</em> still there, undah da sea…</span></p>
<p><br /><span class="font-size-1"><em>Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12774122@N04/">Jason T. Fowler<br /><br /><br /></a></em></span></p></div>Captain Kidd's Last Booty: the Dominican Republic's Underwater Pirate Museumhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/captain-kidd-s-last-booty-the-dominican-republic-s-underwater2013-02-12T17:04:23.000Z2013-02-12T17:04:23.000ZIberostar Hotels & Resortshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberostarHotelsResorts<div><p></p><p><a title="Under water Ship Wreck by SeRVe Photography, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/savaughan/3237592534/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3237592534_955acd8116_o.jpg" alt="Under water Ship Wreck" width="1068" height="1024" /></a></p><p><a title="Under water Ship Wreck by SeRVe Photography, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/savaughan/3237592534/"><br /></a> A little over 300 years after it was scuttled and left to lie at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, the <em>Quedagh Merchant</em> was discovered in 2007 just off the coast of the <strong>Dominican Republic's Catalina Island</strong>, off the southeastern coast near <strong>La Romana</strong>. Four years later, this famous <strong>shipwreck</strong> was opened up to the diving public as an imaginative new attraction, the <strong>Museum of the Living Sea</strong>. The story of how it got there is a real life tale of <strong>Pirates of the Caribbean</strong> and one of which Captain Jack Sparrow himself might be proud.</p><h3><span><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Hanging_of_William_Kidd.jpg/250px-Hanging_of_William_Kidd.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Hanging_of_William_Kidd.jpg/250px-Hanging_of_William_Kidd.jpg?width=150" width="150" class="align-right" alt="250px-Hanging_of_William_Kidd.jpg?width=150" /></a>The Rise and Fall of Captain Kidd</span></h3><p>Captain Kidd had arrived at Catalina Island in 1699 in the Quedagh Merchant, a ship he had recently ‘acquired.’ Kidd worked for the English government as a privateer, his task being to keep the seas clear of pirates to allow the Crown’s trading to carry on safe from attacks. Unofficially his task was also understood to include taking possession of enemy ships and it was this element of the job that landed him the prize of the Quedagh Merchant. Having been a successful privateer for many years he saw the treasures on the ship as just reward for his hard work.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:13px;">His exploits by this time had caused anger and concern back in London, and having left his newly won treasure at Catalina Island he was arrested and taken to London for his trial. Despite his defense that he was only carrying out his duties, Captain William Kidd was convicted as a pirate and hung in 1701, with his corpse left on display in an iron cage for several years as a warning to others.<br /> <br /></span> <strong><span style="font-size:1.17em;">Shipwreck<br /> <br /></span></strong> <span style="font-size:13px;">With Kidd out of the way, the ship was quickly stripped of its gold, silver and other precious materials and cut loose to break up and fall to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. It sailed barely 70 meters from the shore of Catalina Island before sinking, yet for some reason it lay undiscovered until 2007. Several cannons and anchors were still attached, and while the marine life had grown around the wreck it was still easy to identify it as the Quedagh Merchant.</span></p><h3><span>Living Museum of the Sea</span></h3><p>The government of the Dominican Republic has collaborated with Indiana University to open up this unique underwater museum, which complements Catalina's already considerable diving attractions, such as its 140-foot wall. Visitors can follow plaques that guide them around the wreck and offer information on the rare corals that are found at the site. Local dive operators now include the site on their excursions.<br /> <br /> And so it seems that after a three centuries-long pause, the Quedagh Merchant is attracting interest once again, arggh!<br /> <br /> <br /> <span class="font-size-1"><em>Adapted from original post on <a href="http://passportto.iberostar.com" target="_blank">PassportToIberostar.com</a></em></span><br /> <br /> <span class="font-size-1"><em><span style="font-size:13px;">Images | </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/savaughan/" style="font-size:13px;">SeRVe Photography</a><span style="font-size:13px;">, Wikipedia<br /> <br /> <br /></span></em></span></p></div>Snorkeling in Costa Rica is Magical off the Nicoya Peninsulahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/snorkeling-in-costa-rica-is-magical-off-the-nicoya-peninsula2012-11-09T18:11:08.000Z2012-11-09T18:11:08.000ZDanny Solano Alvarezhttps://tripatini.com/members/DannySolanoAlvarez<div><p><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tortuga-Island-snorkel.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tortuga-Island-snorkel.jpg?width=283" width="283" alt="Tortuga-Island-snorkel.jpg?width=283" /></a></p><p>One of the most amazing things I’ve learned how to do is <a class="zem_slink" title="Scuba diving" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuba_diving" target="_blank">scuba dive</a>. It’s the closest thing to flying I’ve ever felt, and given my fear of heights (or, rather, falling from them), it feels a whole lot safer. When you get your buoyancy worked out right, being weightless under water, drifting here and there looking at cool sea life and them looking at you is pretty cool in my book.</p><p>If you don’t know how to scuba dive, or don’t have the equipment, <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Snorkeling" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snorkeling" target="_blank">snorkeling</a></strong> is just as fun. Besides, most of the colorful sea life is within the first 20 feet of water anyway. <strong>Snorkeling or scuba diving in tropical waters is the best</strong>. Usually, it’s like swimming in a glass of drinking water, visibility is so clear.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tortuga-Island-04.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tortuga-Island-04.jpg?width=271" width="271" alt="Tortuga-Island-04.jpg?width=271" /></a></p><p>In <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Costa Rica" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.93333333333,-84.0833333333&spn=10.0,10.0&q=9.93333333333,-84.0833333333%20(Costa%20Rica)&t=h" target="_blank">Costa Rica</a>’s Central Pacific</strong> area, just off the coast of the <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Nicoya Peninsula" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=10.0,-85.4166667&spn=1.0,1.0&q=10.0,-85.4166667%20(Nicoya%20Peninsula)&t=h" target="_blank">Nicoya Peninsula</a></strong> in the <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Gulf of Nicoya" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.8,-84.8&spn=1.0,1.0&q=9.8,-84.8%20(Gulf%20of%20Nicoya)&t=h" target="_blank">Nicoya Gulf</a></strong>, the quintessential <strong>tropical paradise of Tortuga Island is a diver’s dream</strong>. The crystal clear turquoise waters surround volcanic rock reef and sandy ocean floor. With very little ocean current around the island, it makes for an <strong>ideal place to swim, snorkel and scuba dive</strong>.</p><p>Average <strong>water visibility ranges from 30 to 50 feet</strong> or more, especially in <strong>dry season (mid-December to April)</strong>. Warm tropical waters are teeming with giant schools of yellowtails, spotted eagle rays, stingrays, angel fish, parrot fish, sea horses, octopus, needlefish, starfish, frog fish and many species of eels. Snorkeling and diving guides report regularly seeing white tip sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, and the mammoth gentle whale sharks measuring up to 35-feet-long!</p><p>Famous for its sugary white sand beaches lined with tall swaying coconut palms, <strong>Tortuga Island is a little piece of heaven</strong> you’ll daydream about forever! <strong>Tours</strong> to the gulf island journey there from points on the <strong>Nicoya Peninsula by scenic boat ride</strong>, where you get to watch playful dolphins or jumping manta rays. <strong>Tours are a full day</strong>and include lunch, cold drinks, snorkeling or scuba diving, and time on the island to explore the beach, hike trails, rent a kayak or play volleyball.</p><p>Jump in Costa Rica’s ocean waters nearly anywhere and you can see some fish, but along the <strong>southern Nicoya Peninsula</strong>, <strong>there are <a title="Snorkeling site map for Costa Rica's southern Nicoya Peninsula" href="http://www.montezumabeach.com/maps/snorkeling-map/" target="_blank">special spots</a></strong>where the sea life really seems to gather and you have interesting rock and coral formations. And where there are fish, there are larger predators that hunt them.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tropico-08.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tropico-08-300x300.jpg?width=300" width="300" alt="Tropico-08-300x300.jpg?width=300" /></a>One of the <strong>best secrets of the area is the giant tide pool between Hermosa and Santa Teresa beaches</strong>. Often over-looked by the surf-oriented travelers, the tide pool is only exposed at low tide, when it makes a larger-than-Olympic-sized shallow sea water swimming pool. The sun-warmed clear water is a little over waist deep and is filled with all kinds of interesting fish and sea creatures that get trapped when the tide goes out. Since the water is shallow and it’s right off the beach, this snorkeling site is <strong>perfect for families with kids</strong>.</p><p>Another <strong>beautiful snorkeling site in the area is Playa Los Suecos</strong>, also called “Punta Murcielago” (Bat Point) or <strong>“The Malpais Secret Beach.”</strong> The little beach is tucked right next to the <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabo_Blanco_Absolute_Natural_Reserve" target="_blank">Cabo Blanco</a> <a class="zem_slink" title="Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabo_Blanco_Absolute_Natural_Reserve" target="_blank">Absolute Natural Reserve</a>’s</strong>protected marine area, and so is a great site for seeing fish and larger animals like stingrays and sea turtles. It’s called Bat Point because there is a sea cave on the rocky point, accessible only at very low tide that is filled with bats.</p><p>Keep in mind when you are snorkeling in Costa Rica, that the country is located very near the equator and the <strong>tropical sun reflecting off the water</strong> will fry your skin faster than a snapper in a frying pan. Wear a T-shirt or nylon shirt, a hat, and slather on a <strong>thick layer of SPF 30 or 50 waterproof sports sunscreen!</strong></p><p><strong>Hotel Tropico Latino</strong> on the <strong>Nicoya Peninsula’s gorgeous Santa Teresa Beach</strong> can arrange all of your <a title="Hotel Tropico Latinos' tour to Tortuga Island" href="http://www.hoteltropicolatino.com/activities/tortuga-island.html" target="_blank"><strong>snorkeling and scuba diving adventures</strong></a>. The intimate <strong>beachfront boutique hotel</strong> rests right on four acres of unspoiled white sand at <strong>Santa Teresa</strong>, nearby to all the best swimming and surfing areas and natural tide pools.</p><p><strong>Visit now</strong> and you can take advantage of tempting <strong>special offers</strong>, <strong>with discounts from 25% to 15% on rooms during November and December 2012</strong>. Treat yourself to a well-deserved break and benefit from these great deals!</p><p>Imagine your own <strong>secluded luxury suite right on the beach</strong>, relaxing in your private pool and Jacuzzi while watching dazzling sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, then dining <em>al fresco</em> on your private terrace. That’s the <a title="Hotel Tropico Latino Beachfront Suite in Costa Rica" href="http://www.hoteltropicolatino.com/accommodation/beach-front-suite.html" target="_blank"><strong>Beachfront Suite</strong></a>. Seco<a target="_blank" href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tropico-03.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tropico-03-300x183.jpg?width=300" width="300" alt="Tropico-03-300x183.jpg?width=300" /></a>nd-story <a title="Superior Beachfront Rooms at Costa Rica's Hotel Tropico Latino" href="http://www.hoteltropicolatino.com/accommodation/superior-beach-front-room.html" target="_blank"><strong>Superior Beachfront Rooms</strong></a> overlook the water just a few feet away from the sand. They have modern, comfortable furnishings, artistically-designed private bathrooms with a bathtub, and a private balcony. You can step right out into the sand from Hotel Tropico Latino’s <a title="Beach Front Rooms at Hotel Tropico Latino in Costa Rica" href="http://www.hoteltropicolatino.com/accommodation/beach-front-rooms.html" target="_blank"><strong>Beach Front Rooms</strong></a>. Comfortable furnishings, open-air private bathrooms and a large wooden deck are main features of the tropical-themed building. <a title="Garden View Bungalows at Hotel Tropico Latino in Costa Rica" href="http://www.hoteltropicolatino.com/accommodation/garden-view-bungalows.html" target="_blank"><strong>Garden View Bungalows</strong></a> are surrounded by abundant tropical gardens under the forest canopy. Each comfortable stand-alone bungalow has a private porch with hammocks and lounge chairs.</p></div>Australia: Diving With Your Life at Stakehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/australia-diving-with-your-life-at-stake2012-10-07T22:30:00.000Z2012-10-07T22:30:00.000ZTraveling Erikhttps://tripatini.com/members/TravelingErik<div><p><span style="color:#808080;"><strong>A CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA , TRAVEL GUIDE</strong>.</span> <br /> <br /> It is not much of a city – but the ocean has the more to offer. With water so blue that photos seem artificial afterwards, <strong><em>Cairns</em></strong> in northeast <strong>Queensland</strong>, <strong>Australia</strong>, attracts divers from all over the world to experience the most magnificent maritime environment nature has to offer.</p><p>Swordfishing and a gold rush built Cairns, looking much as an American small-sized city, but that era is long gone. 50 kilometers from the city’s seafront promenade, the Great Barrier Reef runs northwest to southeast off the Australian coast, and it is from this natural wonder that the town collects its income these days. The city itself, with low buildings and wide, often empty streets, a gigantic shopping mall and a few restaurants, make for no more than one or two days’ idle pleasures if the weather turns bad. There is also a train station and a large parking garage.</p><p> </p><p><strong>And then, to the northeast:</strong> The coast. But those looking for a family-friendly beach should not bother – this is another kind of tourism. Instead of fine sand, visitors who venture down to the city’s shoreline by foot are met by warning signs about poisonous stingers and alligators. Swimmers are referred to a central pool area, indeed well-built and clean, including a man-made lagoon and a guard overlooking the scene. The place is filled with people on weekends, but if you keep your nose just above the waterlevel in the pool and squint towards the sea, you might almost get the same sense as if you are on a swim in the ocean. Barely.</p><p></p><div id="attachment_5255" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://travelingreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cairns.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5255" title="cairns-australia" src="http://travelingreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cairns-620x465.jpg" alt="" width="620" height="465" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"><em>No family fun: Sign warning for alligators in Cairns, Queensland. Photo: Traveling Reporter</em></p></div><p> </p><p><strong>So it is not</strong> for fine buildings, rich culture and arts offerings, or good restaurants that you would come to Cairns. But for nature. Both out on the reef, but also inland, where tour buses can bring you to farms that will take you on a horse through the rain forest, or, if your budget allows, jeep and airplane safaris into the desolate interior of Queensland.</p><p>The <em>Traveling Reporter</em><strong>,</strong> though, headed for the ocean and decided on the sailing catamaran <em>Passions of Paradise</em>, operated by some diving enthusiasts. One of them, Adam, is from New Zealand. “I came here because I like this lifestyle,” Adam says as we embark on the boat.</p><p><span>→</span> <a href="http://www.passions.com.au/prices/"><em>Passions of Paradise’s</em> website</a></p><p> <strong>It is 8 AM and already hot.</strong> 80 passengers are onboard and the <em>Passion</em> sets off northeast from the harbor of Cairns. After a few hours, with the temperature rising from hot to very hot, the vessel anchors up at the first diving and snorkeling location, <em>Michaelmans Cay</em>, a low sand island with a length of a few hundred meters. Sunscreen is applied, factor 30. It is 29 degrees Celsius/84 Fahrenheit in the water. Never has the sea looked so tempting.</p><p> </p><p><strong>But this is where</strong> you will need to stop and think. At the time of the <em>Reporter’s</em> visit, in January, the so-called stinger season is in full swing. These stingers with their long poisonous tentacles can easily land you in a hospital emergency room, or even the morgue. These waters hold some of the world’s most venomous creatures, including the deadly Box Jellyfish, so a protective “stinger suit” is advised. We rent those on board the boat, and, the suits being blue, soon all 80 passengers look like smurfs. All but a few Italian tourists who can not stand having their self- respect hurt by getting into the funny-looking safety dress.</p><p>Because of the dangers, you will have to sign a waiver before getting into the water, putting the responsibility on you.</p><p> </p><div id="attachment_5256" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://travelingreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cairns2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5256" title="cairns2" src="http://travelingreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cairns2-620x412.jpg" alt="" width="620" height="412" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"><em>Adam, left, one of Passion of Paradise’s owners. Photo: Traveling Reporter</em></p><p class="wp-caption-text"><em> </em></p></div><p><strong>When you think </strong>it can not possibly get any hotter out on the calm sea, it does anyway. As lunch is served onboard the <em>Passions of Paradises</em>, the vessel moves on ten minutes to the next location. Here, the sea is deeper. Just aft of where the boat has anchored up, a cliff on the bottom turns downwards in a breathtaking drop 80 meters or so into the blue deep.</p><p>The boat’s sails are set as the <em>Passion of Paradise</em> starts the journey back. The wind often blows from the north here, but today it is so weak that the ship’s both diesels have to work during the whole trip. We are back in Cairns about 5 PM, sweaty and happy. On the jetty, the crew lines up and shakes hands with all passengers: “Cheers, mates”, See ya later, boss!”. Of course, this is mass-tourism and tomorrow they will stand there and say goodbye to another bunch of tourists. But the act of the crew seems genuine and makes the diving tour the more personal. Extra points.</p><p>These diving events are not the cheapest of tours, though. The ground price for a day on this catamaran is AU$139, including transport, lunch, coffee and diving/snorkeling gear. The actual dives cost money, too, and rent of stinger suit, underwater camera and drinks in the bar will set you back another 20-30 dollars.</p><p><br /> <span id="curate-us-tag"><a href="http://s.tt/1nmIH"><img height="11" width="12" src="http://1.rp-api.com/2894915/via.png" alt="via.png" />http://travelingreporter.com</a> (<a href="http://s.tt/1nmIH">http://s.tt/1nmIH</a>)<br /> <br /> <br /></span></p></div>Diving and Spear Fishing for a Fresh Ceviche Lunch in Puerto Vallartahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/puerto-vallarta-diving-snorkeling-spear-fishing2016-01-27T21:12:10.000Z2016-01-27T21:12:10.000ZNicholas Kontishttps://tripatini.com/members/NicholasKontis<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008714287,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008714287,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008714287?profile=original" /></a></p><p><span class="font-size-1"><em>Diving in Colomitos Cove</em></span></p><p></p><p>For the last decade, I have been fortunate enough to live a dual life, residing both in California and in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta is where I call home during the winter months, as well as part of the summer.<br /><br />My favorite month in Puerto Vallarta is the month of July. Many travelers stay away from Mexico in the summer months, as it is hot and humid and these are the months when the rains come. July to me is the perfect month to be on the Pacific side of Mexico. Less crowded with hot weather.</p><p><br />Being a surfer and a scuba diver, I love the Pacific when it is "sauna like." In July it may rain at night, but rarely in the day time. I enjoy the tropical rains. The vegetation is lush and green. It seems that everything grows in Mexico this time of the year.<br /><br />On a overcast day in July I was invited to go diving with Puerto Vallarta Tours and Concierge, a leader in tours to the area. Long time Vallarta natives Sammy and Captain Victor are experts in navigating the seas and planning a dive trip in the waters of Banderas Bay. Local experts of the surrounding area, Sammy and Victor understand every aspect of the daily weather patterns including the ocean tides and the unpredictability in the weather. Finding great visibility in rainy season can be quite a challenge.</p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008714861,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008714861,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008714861?profile=original" /></a><span class="font-size-1"><em>Sammy - Ready to prepare lunch</em></span></p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008714477,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008714477,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008714477?profile=original" /></a><br />South of Puerto Vallarta, where the jungle meets the ocean, tiny coves like Colomitos offer some spectacular day trips, snorkeling and diving.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008714680,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008714680,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008714680?profile=original" /></a><span class="font-size-1"><em>One happy fish I made eye contact with.</em></span></p><p> </p><p>An adventurous traveler is always seeking out unknown places. On this day our destination would be a little known cove called Colomitos. While there are more known diving and snorkeling areas on the south side, including the rocks made famous by Jacques Coustau, Los Arcos. There are many lesser known spots to dock a boat, and have a day at sea.<br /><br />The experience would take on a special meaning that I had never experienced on past dives. I soon found out that I would be spear fishing, collecting scallops off of giant rocks, and even grab a lobster, for a ceviche lunch. This made the day the special.</p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008715661,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008715661,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008715661?profile=original" /></a><span class="font-size-1"><em>Snorkelers at Los Arcos</em></span></p><p></p><p><strong>Los Arcos</strong></p><p></p><p>On the return home we stopped at Los Arcos, Puerto Vallarta's famous granite rock formations, sculpted by nature over thousands of years, sticking straight out of the water - a most spectacular site to see up close. If you have ever been to southern Thailand, these rock formations, although not as spectacular, take on a similarity.</p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008716052,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008716052,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008716052?profile=original" /></a><span class="font-size-1"><em>Los Arcos - Hole in the Rock</em></span></p><p></p><p>The arches and caves are perfect for snorkelers and divers alike. The monolithic rock formations as high as 60 feet attract a vast array of marine life including rays, mantas, and eels.<br /><br />The husband-and-wife team of Alejandra and Simon and their Puerto Vallarta Tours and Concierge staff seek out adventures that most tourist to Puerto Vallarta may never see.<br /><br />A varied selection of different tours including ATV tours, canopy tours, ATV/canopy combo tours, snorkeling and scuba diving, private guided tours, fishing charters, airport transportation, cruise ship shore excursions, sunset cruises, golf, and much more.</p><p></p><p>Find your perfect Puerto Vallarta adventure: <a href="http://www.puertovallartatoursandconcierge.com">www.puertovallartatoursandconcierge.com</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></div>