Archive for Recreation and Sports
Top Diving Sites in the Middle East – Dahab, Northern Red Sea, Egypt
Posted by: | CommentsThe coastal town of Dahab in southern Sinai is ringed by mountains and desert. The inhospitable landscape is in striking contrast to the splendid reefs and coral formations to be found just offshore— among which is the infamous Blue Hole.
Desert Hamlet
Dahab lies on the Gulf of Aqaba, in the northeast of the Red Sea. only 50 miles (80 km) north of the busy dive resort of Sharm El Sheik. Clinging to the shore in a harsh, arid landscape, the town has a faintly frontier feel to it. There are several dive centers in Dahab, offering training to all levels of ability.
Diving In Dahab
Within a short drive of Dahab are main excellent sites accessible from the shore, including the Canyon and the Bells. Both of these sites are dramatic examples of the twisted coral formations that seem to characterize this stretch of coastline, with deep gullies, impressive overhangs, arches, and swim-throughs. The legendary Blue Hole site is actually the top of a massive shaft that sinks 985 ft (300 m) into the reef. The lure of diving through a long passage to the outer reef at a depth of 165 ft (50 m) has caused many divers to perish in the Blue Hole, and the conventional wisdom for diving this deep arch is that it should only be attempted using technical dive techniques and equipment.
Top Diving Sites in the Middle East – Seychelles
Posted by: | CommentsThe clear waters of the Seychelles teem with abundant marine life, and offer those prepared to travel a bit farther a range of gentle reef dives on the inner islands. The outer islands have big walls, wild drifts, and large animal encounters.
A Pattern of Islands
The Seychelles archipelago numbers 115 islands in total, although these are spread over a vast area of ocean hundreds of miles off the east coast of Africa. The Seychelles is divided into the inner islands and the outer islands, with the two groups over 680 miles (1,100 km) apart. The inner islands — including Mahe, the main island in the Seychelles—sit on a huge natural platform rising from the deep ocean around them. As such, diving here tends to be within the 30-100-ft (10-30-m) range, and takes place on shallow-protected reef systems. Farther afield are the outer islands, including the Aldabras, a group of islands known as the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean” due to their isolation and diversity of marine life. The diving here is more intense and suitable only for experienced divers. The reef cuts and walls create opportunities for tremendous drift-dives, in which divers are carried along by underwater currents.
Top Diving Sites in New Zealand – Wreck of the Mikhail Lermentov
Posted by: | CommentsThe gloomy passageways and silty spaces of the Mikhail Lermentov are mute witnesses to one of the great mysteries of modern sea travel. Sunk under the strangest of circumstances, it now lies in the cold waters of Marlborough Sound, New Zealand.
Enigmatic Wreck
The 20,000-ton Russian cruise liner Mikhail Lermentov was driven hard onto rocks by an experienced local pilot on February 16. 1986. It was a clear, calm day, and theories abound as to the factors behind the sinking—bribes, alcohol, and espionage have all been blamed at one time or another. The mystery remains to this day, but the wreck represents a tremendous diving experience, although perhaps not one for the faint-hearted.
Diving the Lermentov
It lies on its starboard side in 121 ft (37 m) of water, although the sheer size if the vessel means that its port side can be reached at only 66 ft (20 m). Dives on its external superstructure tire recommended, with highlights including the magnificent bow, the bridge, and the stern. For the more adventurous there is the famous ballroom, although this dive should only be undertaken by those with appropriate training and equipment. Marine life on the wreck includes scorpionfish, conger eels, and blue cod; occasionally pods of orcas hunt in the Sound itself.
Top Diving Sites in Oceania – Palau
Posted by: | CommentsDivers constantly argue about what they consider to be the ultimate dive destination, but Palau will always be a strong contender. Consisting of 307 scattered islands. Palau has it all—wrecks, caves, and some of the busiest coral reefs on Earth.
A World of Variety
One of the great draws of Palau is the vast range of diving available. Like other island groups in Micronesia, it has colorful reefs cruised by large predators and impressive oceanic species. What gives Palau the edge over other sites in the legion is that the geology and recent history of the islands have combined to create a diver’s paradise. Caves and caverns honeycomb walls and reefs throughout the island chain: and fierce battles between American and Japanese forces during World War II mean that aircraft and shipwrecks abound.
Palau also has a number of rare natural phenomena, the most famous being Jellyfish Lake. This is a large volcanic crater filled with brackish water containing the pulsating forms of over 20 million mastigia jellyfish. To snorkel there is a surreal experience.
Diving Palau
Perhaps the most famous of all dive sites in Palau is Blue Corner. Jutting into deep water at the western edge of the island chain, this site has it all: swirling schools of barracuda, patrolling sharks, elegant eagle rays, and bustling Napoleon wrasse. Close to Blue Corner is another highlight, showing off Palau’s renowned cavern diving – the Blue Holes. Here, divers enter a vast chamber illuminated only by pillars of light streaming through great gaps in the reef above. The Temple of Doom chamber, found at the rear of the Blue Holes, is a more serious dive that requires considerable experience and skill. The floor here is littered with the shells of sea turtles that were unable to find their way out of the chamber and perished. Chandelier Cave in Malakal Harbor is a more sedate alternative for those wishing to explore an easy cave system.
Relics of Conflict
In addition to the great natural diversity on show at Palau, there are many fascinating relics from World War II.
One of the best shipwrecks from that era is that of the Japanese fleet tanker Iro. At 475 ft (145 m) in length, the Iro is large and exceptionally well preserved. It lies in moderate depths in a lagoon near the central town of Koror. Visiting divers should also see the wreck of the Aichi E13-A1 (codename “Jake”) seaplane. Discovered a decade ago, this wonderfully intact aircraft lies in shallow water, and is an easy dive with many layers of interest.
Top Diving Sites in Central Pacific – Bikini Atoll
Posted by: | CommentsBikini Atoll vies with Truk Lagoon to be the finest wreck diving location on Earth. This tiny collection of coral islands and lagoons is the site of spectacular and dramatic wrecks, with a truly extraordinary story behind their sinking.
Atomic Test Site
As World War II ended and the Cold War began, the US chose a tiny atoll at the northern end of the Marshall Islands to conduct a massive program of nuclear weapons testing Ships of varying size, nationality, and vintage made up the 84 vessels of a dummy fleet, the vast majority of which were sunk in tests running from 1946 to 1958. Included in the fleet was the US aircraft carrier Saratoga -weighing 33.000 tons and now die largest shipwreck accessible to divers anywhere on Earth. Also at Bikini is the Nagato, the flagship of the Japanese fleet, and the first warship in the world to be armed with 16-inch guns. The last active Japanese battleship, the Nagato saw action as late as July 1945, when it was attacked by US torpedo bombers.
The ships lie in deep water, with depths averaging 160-180 ft (50-55 m), but with 1,500 or so fish species swarming over the stunning remains, the rewards are well worth it for divers with sufficient training and experience. No dive site can offer a more dramatic insight into history.
Best Diving Sites in North Pacific – Truk Lagoon
Posted by: | CommentsRegarded by many as the finest of all wreck sites, Truk Lagoon is the resting place for an eclectic mix of Japanese vessels sunk in a single raid by American aircraft in 1944. With many wrecks still in good condition, Truk Lagoon offers unforgettable diving.
Witness to War
Truk Lagoon is a massive natural atoll almost 40 miles (65 km) across; it is ringed by 140 miles (225 km) of reef and small coral islands, forming one of the largest natural harbors of this type on Earth. The presence of 15 larger islands in the center of the lagoon made it an ideal base for military operations, a fact not lost on the Japanese Imperial Navy, which amassed a vast number of warships, merchant vessels, and fleet tenders here in the latter stages of World War II, in readiness for further deployment.
Such an assembly of enemy vessels proved irresistible to American forces, which carried out a daring raid on February 17-18, 1944, launching 450 aircraft from nine aircraft carriers beyond the horizon. The raid was a complete success, with over 60 Japanese vessels sunk in a savage 48 hours.
Diving Truk Lagoon
Wreck diving in Truk is deep, with the majority of the wrecks lying in depths of 100 ft (30 m) or more. Local operators are, however, well set up to cope with deep air diving, and have established effective drills and techniques to cope with repeated deep dives. Nonetheless, a certain level of qualifications and experience is advisable before diving the fascinating wrecks of Truk Lagoon. Contact local operators for details.
Secret Sites
The “ghost fleet” of Japanese ships lies on the seabed in Truk Lagoon, although only 38 of them have been charted. The others have been left unmarked for fear of looting and illegal diving (to dive the wrecks in Truk, a local guide is a legal and practical necessity). Highlights include the Fujikawa Maru, complete with Zero fighter aircraft still in its holds, and the San Francisco Maru—a huge freighter with an array of cargo including two tanks on its deck, so outstanding it is known as the “Million Dollar Wreck.”
Best Diving Sites in South Pacific – Fiji
Posted by: | CommentsSimply hearing the name “Fiji” summons up images of an exquisite tropical paradise. With 800 islands sprawling over 80,000 sq miles (207,000 sq km) of ocean, the reality is just as exciting. Fiji offers a wealth of different experiences for the diver.
Idyllic Islands
Perhaps one of the most notable features of Fiji for the visiting diver is that only 12 percent of the islands in the archipelago are inhabited— and 75 percent of the entire population lives on just one island, Viti Levu. Fiji truly offers a wealth of different diving opportunities around a huge variety of reefs, channels, and islands. Coral reefs cover a staggering 6,000 sq miles (15,540 sq km); they include at least 398 species of coral and are home to over 1.200 species of fish.
Undersea Gardens
Fiji is particularly famous for its beautiful soft-coral gardens, the most renowned of which is the White Wall in the Somosomo Strait. The region’s rich waters mean that filter-feeding invertebrates thrive in the coral lagoons. Sea fans, whip corals, and a myriad of other species vie for space on the brilliantly colored reef walls.
There are also many spectacular fish species in Fijian waters. For the thrill-seeker, there is plenty of large-animal action. The best-known shark dive here is known as “Aqua Trek 3-D.” after the operator that runs it, and offers the opportunity to see up to seven species of sharks on a single dive, including bull, black-tip reef, white-tip, and lemon sharks. The dive is one of 100 recognized dive sites in Beqa Lagoon—an indication of the sheer variety of diving in this beautiful tropical archipelago. Happily, the area has been designated a Marine Park and enjoys protection from overfishing: the small fees asked of divers who experience its underwater environment are used to help fund conservation measures. Such careful stewardship ensures that Fiji’s diving will remain outstanding for years to come.
Places to Dive – The Americas
Posted by: | CommentsAs befits a landmass that spans virtually all latitudes of the globe, the Americas boasts a staggering range of dive sites. Great ocean currents beset both North and South America, combining with local conditions to create something for divers of every level of expertise.
Coastal Divide
The coasts of the North American continent offer very different, but equally thrilling, diving environments. To the west, you can enjoy magnificent wild diving in the fjords of Alaska and British Colombia, explore vast kelp forests off the California coast, and experience glorious encounters with humpback whales and whale sharks in the Gulf of California.
The eastern coast features wrecks and raggedtooth sharks on the Outer Banks off North Carolina—the region where technical diving made its greatest leaps forward. The Florida Keys provide reef diving of the highest quality, and are popular as a training ground for thousands of divers who try the sport while on vacation.
The Caribbean offers classic coral reef diving. With its well-developed diving infrastructure, it has long been a favorite dive destination. To the south, in Central America, is the Belize barrier reef—the longest in the Northern Hemisphere. Off the coast of Venezuela lies Bonaire, in the Dutch Antilles, a beacon of marine conservation. Farther south still is the island of Fernando de Noronha off Brazil, perhaps the finest dive site in the whole of South America.
Best Diving Sites in Florida – Crystal River
Posted by: | CommentsThe Crystal River in northwest Florida is parent to a network of channels and tributaries snaking through the swamps. What draws divers to the region is the chance to swim with manatees—one of the great animal encounters in the underwater world.
Web of Waterways
The Crystal River stems from a series of inland upwellings through porous rock, creating a natural filtering system that results in some of the clearest water on Earth. What this meeting of rock and water also creates is a honeycomb of caverns, cases, and tunnels. Although these are frequently occupied by huge catfish (a draw in themselves:, the real attraction for the diver is the presence of the West Indian manatee.
Gentle Giants
These huge and placid animals— measuring up to 14 ft (3 m) long and weighing up to a ton and a half—have been using the shallow pools and warm streams of the Crystal River to feed and breed for thousands of years. Speedboats and habitat destruction have exacted a terrible toll on the manatees, which arc now on the endangered list. Diving with the manatees is not permitted, but nonetheless, snorkeling next to one of these huge animals in crystal-clear water is a tremendous experience.
Top Diving Sites in Caribbean – Bonaire
Posted by: | CommentsFor conservationists, Bonaire is a beacon of hope in the Caribbean. More than 40 years ago, the island’s authorities realized that good reef management could promote tourism and boost the local economy. Bonaire is particularly noted for fine shore diving.
Forward Thinking
Bonaire is the most eastern island in the group that makes up the Dutch Antilles. It has always demonstrated an enlightened attitude toward conservation, with protective laws first passed in 1961 (to protect turtles), followed by a steady stream of additional measures over subsequent years that eventually resulted in the establishment of a marine park that now encircles the island. This extends down to 200 ft (60 m).
Sandy Shores
Bonaire offers a wealth of shore diving-possibilities. Many divers simply turn up on the island, rent a car, and go exploring. The spontaneity of this kind of diving has a charm all of its own. As well as splendidly pristine reefs, Bonaire also has two notable wrecks in the Hilma Hooker, a freighter King at 100 ft (30 mi. and the Reel Slave. Diving under the Town Pier at Kralendijk, and Salt Pier on the other side of the islands, is also very rewarding