Friday, December 6, 2013

Cancun Underwater Museum 
www.latimes.com
www.padi.com
One of the coolest, most unique dive sites in the world. It is located off of Mexico's Cancun in crystal clear blue water. It is home to more than 400 life like structures that are located on the bottom of the ocean floor. All of the sculptures are designed to become coral reefs; they are made out of material that attracts marine life and provides a place for corals to grow, therefore promoting marine life. They are located in a National Marine Park in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

www.yucatan-holidays.com
Expect to see:
  • People!
  • Statues of over 400 different people
  • Some are representative of the ancient Mayan people of Mexico  
  • Fishies
  • Coral that has begun to grow on the statues

9wows.com
Type of Dive to Expect:
  • This dive is for everyone
  • It ranges from 9-20 ft 
  • Crystal clear water
  • Snorkels swim along divers 
  • AND IT IS WARM, NO WET SUITS YAY 
 

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Maldives Reefs

The Maldives are a vacationers paradise, they are stunningly beautiful and the water is crystal clear. But the Mal(DIVES) have some of the most beautiful reef structures to look at.
The coral in these reefs provide sanctuary for numerous species of animals, ranging in size. The Maldives are located off the western coast of India and have some of the clearest and bluest waters in the world. 




Expect to see:
www.telegraph.co.uk
  • Parrot fish
  • Sharks 
  • Manta Rays 
  • Soft corals (the ones that sway in the currents)
  • Schools of fish finding sanctuary and feeding off corals 
  • Sweetlips 
  • Sponges 
Type of Dive to Expect:
  • NO WET SUITS IT IS WARM, YAY 70 DEGREE WATER
  • Excellent visability 
  • Depending on where you dive, the depths range from 2 feet deep to 30 feet 
  • Very little current so excellent for beginners 
     

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Great Barrier Reef
Quite possibly the most sought after and most famous dive spot in the world. Everyone has heard a people saying that they wish to dive the Great Barrier Reef. It is the largest reef system in the world, spanning over 3000 kilometers (for those who do not use the metric system, AKA the U.S, its a really big reef...). Fun fact, it is the only reef that can be seen from space; it is located off the coast of Australia. 
 Expect to see:
  • Clown fish 
  • Sea Turtles
  • Dolphins
  • Occasionally Humpback Whales 
  • Small reef fish 
  • A variety of sharks (black tip, white tip, great whites further into open water, nurse sharks)
www.cntraveller.com
 







Type of dive:
  • Depending on what part of the reef you dive, the depths vary 
  • There is something for everyone, beginners through advanced
  • AUSTRALIA IS WARM NO WET SUITS YAY
  • Temperatures range depending on the season but mostly stay in the 70s 
Bunaken In Indonesia 

www.bunakenchacha.com

Located just north of Sulawesi Island in Indonesia, under the surface, lays Indonesia's best dive and snorkel site. This dive site is part of the Bunaken Marine National Park and in a single dive, people are able to see 70% of the Pacific's fish species. Not to shabby for a single dive site.

Expect to see:
  • Fishies! Lots of small reef fish flitting in and out of crevasses 
  • Sea horses
  • frog fish
  • mimic octopus (coolest thing with 8 legs)
  • cuddle fish 

Type of Dive
  • Due to the cooler waters of Indonesia, wet suits are advised, sad :(  
  • There are dive sites around Bunaken that are not beginner friendly - strong currents and deeper waters 
  • But most dive sites here range from 30 - 50 meters deep
  • There are snorkel sites so if the little ones aren't comfortable or certified they are still able to enjoy the wild life
Fun tip:
The closer you stay to the bottom of your dive site, the less current pressure you will feel. 
Similan Islands In Thailand 


Located in the western Andaman sea among 9 forested islands, there are two type of dive sites. The east facing dive sites consist of sloping coral reefs, whereas the west facing dives consist of giant boulders covered in hard and soft corals. Being a marine national park, it is not susceptible to debris in the water and there is no fishing, keeping the waters pristine and full of marine biodiversity.
Cow Tail Ray

Expect to See:
  • Trigger fish
  • Cow tail rays
  • Sand animals  
  • Whale Sharks
Type of dive:
  • dives vary in experience level, beginners might struggle
  • water clarity is excellent 
  • Temperatures are in the mid 70s, yay no wet suits!
 









Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Red Sea Reef 
Red Sea Reef


Location











The Red Sea is one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world. It has a vast landscape of blooming corals and fish that live within them. Located between Saudi Arabia and the coasts of Egypt and Sudan, it is accessible if one were to stay in one of the many resorts that line these coastlines.  
Diving the Red Sea

Expect to see:
  •  Whale Sharks
  • Different species of shark 
    • White-tips, Black-tips, Tigers
  • Different species of rays 
  • Turtles
  • Small reef dwelling fish 
Marine Life of the Red Sea










The Type of Dive to Expect:
  • There are different dive sites for different level divers, accommodating beginners through expert
  • The temperature is defiantly warmer than New England but not as warm as the tropics, low 70s to high 60s - some people wear full wet suits and some where shorties.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Galapagos Dive Sites       


Darwin and Wolf in the Galapagos Islands 



Being among the second largest marine national park in the world, these dive sites are supreme. They are located off the coast of South America. Also, for those who love evolution, these dive sites are at the most famous place of evolutionary discovery by the famous Charles Darwin. The attraction that these dive sites hold are the vast number of marine species. Varrying from different species of shark to hundreds of species of fish.














Ray




Expect to see:
  • Hammerhead sharks 
  • Galapagos sharks 
  • Different species of rays  
  • Sunfish 
  • PENGUINS!
Expect the dive to be:
  • On a dive boat with a dive master 
  • 70 degree water, which can fluctuate with the archipelago currents moving through
  • A drift dive
  • Sharks can be frightening for young children but it is beginner friendly