Posts Tagged ‘Scuba Diving’

Diving in the Bahamas is a must for anyone serious about scuba diving and an incredible treat for any new comers. With more then 700 islands making up the Bahamas and only about 30 being inhabited, there are literally acres of undersea life to explore and you will almost never encounter a crowd. There are a number of tours available for anyone hoping to learn diving in the Bahamas, as well as chartered boats and yachts available for travelers who want to plan their own Bahamas scuba diving trip.

One of the most popular spots for diving in the Bahamas is the water off the coast of Andros Island which boasts the third largest barrier reef in the world. The area is full of tropical fish and other fascinating aquatic life. Freeport, Abacos, the Berry Islands, and San Salvador are also excellent places for scuba diving in the Bahamas and frequently visited diving spots.

In addition to plenty of great locations, there are also a number of different types of Bahamas scuba diving options. One of the most exciting Bahamas scuba diving trips is the shark adventure. Tourists will have a chance to free swim with groups of sharks, monitored by the Bahamas diving company. Participants will also have the chance to help feed the sharks as well as take pictures with underwater cameras.

Classes for scuba diving in the Bahamas are available through any company specializing in scuba diving. In order to become certified to scuba dive on your own, you will need to complete a series of dive classes that will last about five days. Classes for such certification are available through the Bahamas. For anyone who simply wants to dive for the day or afternoon, however, a simple class with instruction on the day of the dive will suffice. You will of course be accompanied by certified dive instructors.

The video below from StefanAveyUK shows Caribbean reef sharks which do not attack unless provoked or they mistake your hand for a fish. Depth was  15ft to 20ft and shark size up to 6ft. This video was  filmed with a Canon s80 and no extra lighting. It certainly gives a crowd a new meaning – enjoy!

We have done several articles on scuba diving around Europe recently, so I thought I’d go off at a tangent today and take you somewhere a lot further away, but somewhere absolutely glorious and completely unspoiled. It also has seriously fantastic diving…

… Mozambique, Mocambique or, simply, Moz.

Most dives in Mozambique are run to South African standards which means, generally, PADI dive centres catering for all levels of experience including the beginner. If you are a true lover of this extreme sport you will be glad to know that Mozambique is an ideal location for obtaining your open water or advanced  diving qualification license.

“I learned to dive here and many of the people I dived with were very experienced and they all agreed that it was the best diving they had ever seen. Better than the Red Sea, better than Australia… the best”, says one contented visitor, and thanks to 2flyndive for this vid. of diving in the Inhambane/Tofu area, surprisingly not as clear as the sea can be but still abounding with marine life.

“Tons of tropical fish, honeycomb eels, parrot fish, turtles, and beautiful coral. I also saw two Humpback Whales up close at this site. There is a great swim through here too.” says Tiffany from the USA, about Paradise Island or Santa Carolina as it is also known – a particular favourite of ours. It is part of the Bazaruto Archipelago, a proclaimed marine national park.

There are numerous sites for diving in Moz. and most of them can guarantee crystal clear and uncrowded waters. It is a very special place. Prices on the whole are great – small change compared to the rest of the world. Friendly people, seriously addictive way of life!

The Bazaruto Archipelago is one area we know well and there are dive sites everywhere – in fact the marine life is so prolific that you can just walk into the sea off the beach and spend many contented hours snorkeling or scuba diving. But 2 Mile Reef is a favourite spot for scuba diving. It is neither 2 miles long nor 2 miles away from Vilanculos on the mainland, but it is the name that has been given to the reef lying outside Benguerra Island and Bazaruto.

The site is actually a long barrier reef that breaks the water at low tide and can be dived at various depths down to around 20 meters. Due to its length there are numerous dive locations offering a variety of different environments, including swim through walls and coral outcrops. There is a great chance of seeing one of the 5 species of turtle that live in the area along with a friendly reef shark, an inquisitive dolphin or a skulking nurse shark. There is a wide abundance of reef fish and big Game fish and Devil Rays regularly swim in from the deep. If you’re very lucky you might even see an elusive Dugong.

The lure of Mozambique are the unspoilt crisp squeaky-white beaches, the warm azure sea, and the vast proliferation of marine life from Nemo to manta rays, from seahorses to whale sharks and dugongs. There is an immense variety of hard and soft corals which provide a diverse and productive ecosystem. Marine life includes many brightly coloured tropical fish, sea anenomes, starfish, crustacians, triggerfish, wrass, Moorish Idols, Parrot, Angel and Butterfly fish and many species of gamefish, sharks and rays – and that’s only a few of the hundreds you will see.

Five of the world’s eight turtle species are found along the Inhambane coast and around the Bazaruto Archipelago. Green turtles are the most common here with leatherbacks and hawksbill being spotted occasionally. They are still relatively common here although their numbers are threatened worldwide.

“Lots of small stuff and big stuff. Nudis, so many, leaffish, Potato grouper, turtles, jacks, shrimps. Everything but sharks……..for them do Pinnacles, but no guarantees,” says Edwin from the Netherlands in 2008.

And he is right. Diving at Pinnacles in 2008, Melinda had this to add: “Pinnacle at 35 m with Shark on every dive; Bull, Tiger, silver tip, Hammerheads, Manta, devil rays.” as did Richard in 2009 “Hammerheads and tons of mantas. 40 m viz and 28 deg C water temperature.”

If this is the sort of excitement you seek, then you can find Pinnacle at Ponta do Ouro in southern Mozambique just 10 kms from the South African border. It is a brilliant deep reef dive at 28 – 40 metres and is renowned for its sharks, and “Bass City”. where “Bert”, a huge Potato Bass, has made his home. It’s about 20 – 30 minutes out from Ponta do Ouro and is a difficult dive to find, so don’t waste time trying to find it on your own. The beauty of this dive, apart from the adrenaline kick of swimming with sharks, is that it is very very uncrowded.

And if you’re wondering what else you can do in Mozambique, get an eyeful of this video from pipasforjaz.

If you’ve got some time on your hands you could do both a dive and a safari tour of Mozambique… now THAT’S something to think about isn’t it! And quite apart from that, check out the wind in the first video – at Tofu… great kite surfing area too.

p.s: I’ve only mentioned a handful of places to scuba dive – the whole coast is a gem… and it’s a very long coast.

And another postscript… most of these beautiful photos come from Odyssea Dive in Mozambique. If you’re looking for someone to organise the perfect diving holiday for you, please contact them directly at: www.odysseadive.com

The Emerald Isle has over 5,600 kilometres of coastline which not surprisingly offers the diver, from the most experienced to the beginner, the opportunity of some fabulous memories. The Atlantic coasts of Ireland are washed by deep, clear oceanic waters, warmed and fed by the Gulf Stream. Unpolluted and full of marine life, this is temperate water diving at its best.

There are more than 70 scuba diving clubs and 30 dive centres spread about the country with many operators offering a complete package including flights, transport, accommodation and a fully serviced dive operation.

The predominant features of Irish diving are dramatic underwater scenery with a myriad of colours that blanket the rock faces, along with many species of fish, shellfish and invertebrates. The marine life is hugely varied, from macro masterpieces such as jewel anemones, to seals, dolphins and basking sharks, in summer.

On the Atlantic coasts, visibility will generally be in the 15 to 30m range, though in good conditions it can reach a staggering 40m. Clean waters mean a healthy environment and indicators such as plentiful sea urchins, crustaceans and fish life are a reassuring sign. It has been illegal for scuba divers to take shellfish since the 1960s, which is probably why a good population of lobster and crayfish still exists.

The kelp forests and richly populated waters make it a great location for photographers. Tides and currents mean local knowledge is often essential, so ask skippers or dive centres before you get in the water. There is an abundance of wreck diving and in the Cork area alone there are believed to some 20,000 wrecks. Due to the winter storms breaking up the shallower wrecks you have to dive a little deeper in order to find a more intact wreck. Wrecks of more than 100 years of age are protected by law and permits may be required to dive theses wrecks.

The most infamous of these is the Lusitania. A victim of a German U boat RMS Lusitania was a trans Atlantic passenger liner – more than 1900 people were killed. She was sunk in 1915 some 10 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Cork. However as she lies in 100m of water it is a specialist dive. There is speculation that she was carrying several priceless paintings when she was sunk.

Temperatures will range from 7°C (45°F) in winter warming up in early spring to a maximum of about 15°C (59°F) in August and September. A drysuit is recommended, although a 7mm semi dry can also be worn.

Below is a video from watchxinxyou of a wreck dive in Loch Garry, Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland.

Some other places to mention follow below but we urge you to do your research to find what best suits your demands.

Tory Island – located 14kms off the north coast of Co.Donegal. There are many dive sites around the island which you reach by ferry. Fabulous marine life including a chance of seeing whales, dolphins and basking sharks. Book well in advance as there is great demand.

Diamond Rocks, Kilkee – superb dive off Ireland’s west coast in a bay sheltered from the prevailing winds – masses of marine life, rocks and gullies

Carraroe and Fanore - fantastic clear water and abundant fish life and reefs

Rutland Sound, Burtonport, Co. Donegal – a drift dive to a maximum depth of 23m which depending on the tide can move you 1 km in about 20 minutes so a good boat man is essential. Be aware that the Aranmore Ferry runs up and down this channel.

This last video from ddniUK shows a dive on the north west cliffs of Rathlin Island.

Yestarday we talked about the Mediterranean number 2 dive spot – which is widely considered to be the Blue Hole off Gozo. Gozo’s bigger sister and neighbouring isalnd Malta is very close behind Gozo when it comes to diving. The government has over a number of years pursued a policy to encourage divers to visit the island. It has scuttled a number of boats which has enhanced the experience of every diver who visits – not only do you now have spectacular topography, caves, wall dives and great visibility – the diver can now explore a number of wrecks.

The fact that Malta is only a few miles from Gozo means that you are able to complete a number of dives off both islands during the same holiday.

We mention below just 3 wreck dives of about 14 to choose from which include two World War II planes.

Probably the main dive site in Malta is Cirkewwa. When diving off Cirkewwa you are likely to encounter spectacular visibility and you will marvel at the colours of the flora and fauna in this crystal clear water. There are impressive wall dives, caves and wrecks including the ocean tug boat Rozi which is safe to explore.

The Rozi was sunk in 1991 and she lies in 37 meters of water in an upright position and is still fully in tact.Near the Rozi is the minesweeper/patrol boat P29 which was scuttled in 2007 specifically as an attraction for divers. The 52 metre ship was originally built in Germany before serving with the Maltese navy as a patrol boat. She now acts as haven for marine life lying in 30 metres of water having been stripped of both engines and all contaminates.

The Um Al Faroud was finally scuttled in 1998 after a bad accident 3 years before had killed 9 men when she was in the docks. The boat was so badly damaged that it was decided to sink her – she now lies in two parts in 30 metres of water and is a haven for a number of different species of fish

This great video from scubavidz shows vividly what it is like to dive on the P29 patrol boat, sunk off Cirkewwa Point. The Med is yielding a rich feast for scuba divers. To dive these sites you will need the appropriate qualifications – open water as a minimum and up to an advanced qualification.

Living not far from the south coast of France we regularly stare out across the azur Mediterranean and wonder where, in this idyllic looking environment, is the best place to scuba dive. There is scuba diving where we live, out of the Bay of St.Tropez, etc. but the islands, Porquerolles and Port Cros, are much more interesting.

Port-Cros has been a National Park since 1963 and the entire island is strictly protected (no cars or bikes) including the sea where there is a magnificent variety of marine life including seaweeds, sea urchins, sponges and grasses, and fish including damsel fish, octopus,moray eels, cardinal fish and rascasse. Swimmers and divers can follow a planned route to see the underwater spectacle.

However, when the east wind blows (which is not often) the sea is dirty and not an inviting environment to don your fins, mask, regulator and bottle. So where else can you go?

Now the Med is quite a big sea -

With no fewer than 21 countries sharing the Med as part of their coastline and many thousands of islands there must be some good places but don’t forget those 21 countries empty into the Med and there is only the 9 mile gap between Morocco and Spain where the sea can drain in and out of the Atlantic. The Med is in effect landlocked and therefore a good flush of clean water is not going to happen. It has an average depth of 1,500 metres and at its deepest point in the Ionian sea (which is between southern Italy and Greece)  it is 5,267 metres.

Where to go – we are researching the subject because our daughter is returning from Boracay where she has been learning to dive and wants to continue her diving education in the Mediterranean this summer. Now Boracay is in the Philippines – warm waters, coral and plentiful marine life. We think the Mediterranean may prove somewhat disappointing after Boracay…….time will tell. Due to the salinity and water temperatures the Med cannot support coral and therefore the marine life is limited.

Our research has come up with some of the better dive sites to visit in the Med – over the next few days we shall try to give you the best – often rated number 1 is the Zenobia , a huge wreck just off the coast of Cyprus at Larnaca.

The Zenobia

The pristine wreck of a huge roll on, roll off ferry which lies in 40 m of water just outside Larnaca harbour in Cyprus.  You reach the wreck at about 15 m which then goes all the way down to 42 m. Fabulous, fabulous dive. Probably the best shipwreck dive in the world at recreational depths. There are some great swim-throughs and you need many dives to see anything like all of it.

The Zenobia is a 178 metre long ferry that went down in 1980 with over 100 large vehicles onboard, giving this dive plenty of exploration.  The ship lies on its port side.  Visibility is usually quite good; some days it stretches to 35m.  Experienced divers can penetrate the wreck to see the interior, including two trucks still hanging upside down from their chains, but visibility can drop drastically in the confined spaces.

The ships engine room is also spectacular but it is difficult to find and you need to be a competent diver to reach this destination

Though the wreck is the main attraction, triggerfish, barracuda and enormous grouper can also be spotted here.

The video from sirelak gives a good representation of what the dive is about.

We shall continue with this series over the next few days.

This is Cut Across Shorty a VS 4c climb, courtesy of The Jersey Rock Climbing Club:

I was going to tackle the British Isles as a group, but Jersey has so much to offer – great climbing, surfing and scuba diving to name just a few of the recommended activities, that I am going to go no further than this jewel of an island where a weekend full of action is waiting for anyone looking for a variety of extreme sports in one small area.

Climbing is a great way to get a body workout, while at the same time challenging your mind, and Jersey has a wide selection for you. The island has some of the best climbing areas in Europe and the variety of rock and unspoilt scenery make it a spectacular experience for beginners and experienced climbers alike.

It’s an ideal place to visit: perfect days, un-crowded cliffs and great climbing, regular dips in the sea to cool off and great pubs to retire to at the end of the day.

From the impressive 50m tower of The Pinnacle to the extensive and confusing buttresses of Grosnes, through the delightful ‘mini-cliffs’ at Corbiere and out to the north coast, there really is plenty here to keep you busy.  Homesick Angle on The Pinnacle is one the the best HVS (hard very severe) routes you could possibly hope for.

All the routes on the island (there are 1100 listed in the book) are trad and most of them are on high quality granite. The island has long been a bolt-free zone – the local climbing club originally had just two rules for the members – abide by the Country Code, and no fixed protection!

If you want to arm yourself in advance with some useful information, ‘Jersey Climbs’ is the first guidebook to be produced for Jersey in twelve years. It has 188 pages with lists, grades, advice and details of the 1100 routes  to be found there.

And then there’s the surfing…

Jersey’s shores are bombarded by waves and not only are they some of the best waves in the British Isles but they are also some of the warmest… always worth bearing in mind.

And there are great scuba diving opportunities here too, whether you want to investigate an old wreck or float amongst black faced pennies, corals and luminous jewel anemones in pinks, blues, greens and oranges. The summer months are even more interesting when the warm waters bring in  exotic marine wildlife  such as sea horses, dolphins and basking sharks. Jersey’s coastal seawater is of award-winning cleanliness and this is reflected in the abundance of sea life to be found there.

Other things you can do in Jersey besides rock climbing, abseiling and surfing are BloKarting on the beach, Sea Kayaking, Caving, Coasteering, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Cycling, Golf, Powerboat Trips, Fishing Excursions, Horse Riding and Zorbing. I’ve probably missed some out.

Not just a banking paradise then…