Scuba diving in the Red Sea with Camel Dive

The latest dive centre to join our Dive Centre Database is Camel Dive, a 5* PADI Gold Palm Instructor Development Centre who are based in the centre of Naama Bay in Sharm El Sheikh. Camel Dive offer PADI training from beginner (PADI Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver) right up to instructor level at their superb facilities in Naama Bay. Camel Dive also have branches at 5 hotels in Sharm El Sheikh including the Iberotel Grand Sharm Resort, Calimera Royal Diamond Beach Resort in Ras Umm Sid, the Grand Rotana Resort in Sharks Bay, the Radisson SAS in Nabq and the Laguna Vista in Nabq.

Camel’s daily boats visit sheltered local sites, the Straits of Tiran and Ras Mohammed National Park. Trips are scheduled regularly to world-famous wrecks like the Thistlegorm Wreck and SS Dunraven, and to Dahab. TDI technical diving courses and guided technical dives are also available.

For more information on diving in Sharm El Sheikh, and the various dive sites in the Red Sea, why not visit our main site at Scubaworld.tv.

Scuba diving in South Africa - Specialist Tours With Immerse Yourself Safaris

Immerse Yourself Safaris, a specialist scuba diving safari tour operator from South Africa are the latest company to join our rapidly expanding diving holiday program. True experts in their field, Immerse Yourself Safaris provide a number of safaris in some of the worlds most exciting and challenging scuba diving destinations.

We have listed below the itinary for both their luxury 10 day and 14 day safaris, which take in the dive sites in Aliwal Shoal and Sodwana Bay, as well the Hluhluwe Game Reserve and Southern Mozambique. A true once in a lifetime experience, we at Scubaworld.tv are genuinely pleased to start working with Immerse Yourself Safaris as we seek to provide our users with the ultimate in scuba diving holidays and destinations.

South African East Coast Safari – Luxury 10 day safari
The magical Sodwana Bay, the untamed Hluhluwe Game Reserve, and the adventures of the dolphin coast i.e. The Aliwal Shoal, wait to be explored on this 10 day safari.

Accommodation in Sodwana Bay is in a luxury Bush Lodge; at the Ubizane Game Reserve, adjacent to Hluhluwe, the luxurious Tree Lodge; and on the South Coast you will stay in the luxurious Selborne Hotel & Spa with private beach and a world class golf course.

We will tailor your quote to your personal preferences!

Day 1

On the morning of your arrival you’ll be picked up at the Durban International Airport by the Immerse Yourself crew and from there make our way to the Zululand Tree Lodge, which is situated in the Ubizane game reserve bordering the Hluhluwe game reserve. Upon arrival you will be showed to your stilted cabin after which you’ll have lunch and a look at the itinerary with introduction to our staff, with the early afternoon to spend at own leisure. You’ll enjoy two game drives on your visit, one that afternoon and the other early next morning. Dinner is served and we invite you to join us for an idyllic ‘meal in the bush’ experience.

Day 2

After your morning game drive followed by breakfast, we will head off to Sodwana Bay for a three day visit. We will do five dives over this period which will take place in the mornings, leaving afternoons open for some leisure time as well as a late afternoon activity. Upon our arrival you’ll be showed to your cabin, after which lunch will be served with the rest of the afternoon to spend at own leisure.

Day 3

Early morning, after a small breakfast, we will make our way to the beach for the first dives of your dive safari. We’ll do two dives today with brunch in between, and afterwards make our way back to the lodge with the early afternoon open to spend at own leisure. You’ll be picked up again late afternoon for a trip to Lake Sibaya where we will enjoy sundowners. Dinner will be served at the lodge once back from Sibaya.

Day 4

Early morning, after a small breakfast, we will make our way to the beach for the second day’s diving at Sodwana Bay. We’ll again do two dives today with brunch in between, and afterwards make our way back to the lodge with the early afternoon open to spend at own leisure. You’ll be picked up again later for a horse-back outing through the nature reserve which will end up on the beach, where you will be met by the rest of the Immerse crew with sundowners ready.

Day 5

After a small breakfast we will head down to the beach for our last dive at Sodwana, after which we will make our way to Zululand Tree lodge OR Hilltop camp in the Hluhluwe game reserve. You will have lunch and the early afternoon open to spend at your own leisure. You will have two game drives once again, late afternoon and early the next morning. Dinner will be served after you had time freshen-up after your game drive.

Day 6

There will be an early wake-up call to get ready for our second game drive, after which we will enjoy a full breakfast and make our way down to the Kwa-Zulu Natal’s south coast. Once at the Selborne hotel you will be booked in and have the rest of the afternoon to spend at own leisure, followed by dinner.

Day 7
Early morning, after a small breakfast, you’ll be picked up from the hotel and we’ll head down to the dive center and get ready for our first dives on the Aliwal Shoal. We will then enjoy a brunch before we do our next dive. After our second dive we’ll head back to the hotel where you’ll have the afternoon at own leisure, followed by dinner.

Day 8

Early morning, after a small breakfast, you’ll once again be picked up from the hotel and we’ll make our way to the dive center for our second day’s diving on the south coast; the only difference is that we will be diving with the Tiger Sharks today! Depending on the conditions, after the Tigers we will either do another dive on the Aliwal Shoal or take a trip to Croc-World where we will have lunch and a guided tour through the park. You’ll then be taken back to the hotel to spend some time at own leisure and enjoy dinner. Day 9Early morning, after a small breakfast, you’ll be picked up from the hotel and head off to do our second Tiger Shark dive. Depending on the conditions, we will do a second dive for the day which will be on one of the interesting dive spots not yet dived. Afterwards you will be taken back to the hotel to enjoy an afternoon at own leisure, followed by dinner and last evening drinks.

Day 10

Along with the arrival of day ten, comes the end of our East Coast Safari. You’ll enjoy a late morning with breakfast at own leisure, and the rest of the day to just relax and get yourself packed for your afternoon flight back to JHB and from there your connection flight back home.

Safari includes:
Highly experienced and qualified staff i.e. Guide, Divemasters, Skippers etc.
All transport while on safari
All accommodation (Sodwana Bay, Zululand Tree lodge and Selborne hotel)
Breakfast, Dinner and soft drinks (lunch and alcoholic drinks are for your own account)
8 dives at Sodwana Bay and the Aliwal Shoal/Rocky Bay
2 Tiger Shark dives
Horseback tour at Sodwana
Afternoon trips i.e. Lake Sibaya, Croc World etc.
Selected gear rental i.e. cylinders (12l or 15l steel) and weights
Excludes:
Flights (Can be arranged)
Lunches
Alcoholic drinks
Personal Insurance
Tips

Retail - R22 900.00 p/p/s
R26 500.00 single sup.

Southern Africa Safari – Luxury 14 day safari

The magical Sodwana Bay, the untamed Hluhluwe game reserve, mystic Southern Mozambique and the excitement of the Dolphin Coast wait to be explored on this 14 day safari.

Accommodation in Sodwana Bay is in a luxury Bush Lodge; at the Ubizane Game Reserve, adjacent to Hluhluwe, the luxurious Tree Lodge; the beautiful beach resort in Ponta Mamoli; and on the South Coast you will stay in the luxurious Selborne Hotel & Spa with private beach and a world class golf course.

We will tailor your quote to your personal preferences!

Day 1
Arrive at the Durban International Airport and be met by the Immerse Crew, from where you’ll be transferred to the Zululand Tree Lodge. Upon our arrival you will be showed to your stilted cabin, and we invite you to enjoy lunch with us and afterwards run through the itinerary on the rest of you safari. You will have the rest of the afternoon to relax before we get ready to head out for a late afternoon game drive and sundowners at a watering hole. Upon our return dinner is served and we invite you to join us for an idyllic 'meal in the bush' experience!

Day 2
You'll have an early wake-up call to get ready for our second game drive, after which we will enjoy breakfast. You'll have some time to relax and get ready for your transfer to Sodwana Bay. On arrival at Sodwana Bay we'll have welcoming drinks, and showed to your cabin where you will have the opportunity to freshen up and have lunch at your own time, with the rest of the afternoon to relax and lounge around the pool. Dinner is served and we invite you to come and sit down, relax and enjoy a 5 star meal with some of the best wines SA has to offer.

Day 3 & 4
The next morning we'll be off to the beach for an introduction to Surf launching, and our first dives on some of the most tropical reefs in the world. We’ll make our way back to the lodge where you can enjoy lunch at your own time and have the early afternoon to spend at own leisure.

Later you will be picked up and we'll venture on a horseback tour through the beautiful Sodwana Bay Nature Reserve, this also leaves us with the perfect opportunity to enjoy sun-downers on the beach. We'll head back to the lodge and everybody then has the opportunity to prepare for Dinner. After dinner we will have a quick look at what is planned for the next day.

We'll once again do two dives, with the early afternoon open to spend at own leisure before we head off for a trip through the African bush to Lake Sibaya, where we'll enjoy a sun-downer next to this spectacular wetland.

Day 5
On the morning of the fifth day we will leave Sodwana Bay and head back to the Tree Lodge for another night in the African bush, where you will enjoy another two game drives.

Day 6 - 8
After our early morning game drive followed by breakfast, we'll jet off to the Kosi Bay border post about 2h30 hours away. Once through the border we will make our way to the resort in safari style, as the terrain doesn't allow us to get to the camp with the tour bus.

On arrival at the camp you'll be shown to your cabin so that you can start to settle in for our three day stay in Southern Mozambique. After everybody got settled in nicely and had some time to relax we will have lunch at one of the local restaurants.

The rest of the afternoon can either be spend relaxing at the lodge/camp or we can arrange to take some refreshments down to the beach if you maybe just want to catch a little African sun. Dinner is served and afterwards we will have a dive briefing and have a look at the itinerary for the rest of the two days.

Like at Sodwana Bay you'll have the opportunity to do two dives a day, with afternoons open for either just relaxing or taking a trip with us to one of the many interesting places in the area.

Day 9
On the morning of the ninth day we will leave Southern Mozambique and make our way back to the Tree Lodge for a last evening in the African bush, where you will enjoy another two game drives.

Day 10
There will be an early wake-up call to get ready for our last game drive, after which we will enjoy a full breakfast and make our way down to the Kwa-Zulu Natal's south coast. Once at the Hotel you will be booked in and have the rest of the afternoon to spend at own leisure, followed by dinner.

Day 11
Early morning, after a small breakfast, you'll be picked up from the hotel and we'll head down to the dive center and get ready for our first dives on the Aliwal Shoal. We will then enjoy a brunch before we do our next dive. After our second dive we'll head back to the hotel where you’ll have the afternoon at own leisure or we could take a trip to one of the many places of interest.

Day 12
Early morning, after a small breakfast, you'll once again be picked up from the hotel and we'll make our way to the dive centre for our second day's diving on the south coast; the only difference is that we will be diving with the Tiger Sharks today! Depending on the conditions, after the Tigers we will either do another dive on the Aliwal Shoal or have the rest of the afternoon at own leisure, followed by dinner.

Day 13
Early morning, after a small breakfast, you'll be picked up from the hotel and head off to do our second Tiger Shark dive. Depending on the conditions, we will do a second dive for the day which will be on one of the many other interesting dive spots. Afterwards you will be taken back to the hotel to enjoy an afternoon at own leisure, followed by dinner and last evening drinks.

Day 14
Along with the arrival of day fourteen, comes the end of our Southern Africa Safari... time to leave paradise and get back to reality. You'll enjoy a late morning with breakfast at own leisure, and the rest of the morning to just relax and get yourself packed for your afternoon flight back to JHB and from there your connection flight back home. We'll say our goodbyes and count the days to your next visit!


Highly experienced and qualified staff i.e. Guide, Divemasters, Skippers etc.
All transport while on safari
All accommodation (Sodwana Bay, Ponta Mamoli, Zululand Tree lodge and Selborne hotel)
Breakfast, Dinner and soft drinks (lunch and alcoholic drinks are for your own account)
12 dives at Sodwana Bay, Southern Mozambique and the Aliwal Shoal
2 Tiger Shark dives
Horseback tour at Sodwana
Afternoon trips i.e. Lake Sibaya, Croc World etc.
Selected gear rental i.e. cylinders (12l or 15l steel) and weights
Excludes:
Flights (Can be arranged)
Lunches
Alcoholic drinks
Personal Insurance
Tips

Retail - R28 100.00 p/p/s
R33 400.00 single sup.

For more information on the opportunities for scuba diving in South Africa, why not visit the main Scubaworld.tv website, where we cover diving in Cape Town, Sodwana Bay and Aliwal Shoals.

Scuba diving in Cozumel with Pro Dive Mexico.

We would like to officially welcome Pro Dive Mexico, the first dive centre in Mexico to join our new dive centre database! Pro Dive are a multi-base dive operation, located in numerous hotels located on the diving paradise of Cozumel in Mexico. They are a PADI 5-Star Gold Palm IDC Center, and have recently been awarded the prestigious NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIVE CENTER award.

Offering a full range of scuba diving courses, from Discover Scuba up to professional IDC Training, Pro Dive can cater for the requirements of all visitors to Cozumel. They offer trips to some of the most popular dive sites in Cozumel including the famous Palancar Reefs, the Santa Rosa Wall, Paso del Cedral, Columbia Reef and the Tortuga Reef.


Click here for more information on scuba diving in Cozumel.

Go scuba diving in Mauritius with Liquid Dreams!!

This morning has seen our first ever Mauritius dive centre sign on to our rapidly expanding dive centre database. Liquid Dreams, managed by Omi and his team are based in the La Plantation Resort in the Balaclava region of Mauritius, and they offer a wide range of diving services including leisure dives and diving courses.

Liquid Dreams visit all of the main dive sites in Mauritius focusing on the region around the north east coast of Mauritius off the shores of Balaclava including the sites at Whale Rock, Flat Island and the Silver Star Wreck.

For more information on scuba diving in Mauritius, or to find out more about the Liquid Dreams dive centre, why not visit our main site at Scubaworld.tv.

Palm Garden Resort In Khao Lak

The latest resort to join our Dive Resorts Program is the Palm Garden resort in the beautiful surroundings of Khao Lak in Thailand. Located just an our north of Phuket, Khao Lak offers easy access to some of Thailands finest dive sites including Koh Bon and the Similan Islands. The Palm Garden also offers trips to the Richelieu Rock and Boonsung Wreck.

The resort itself is surrounded by a beautiful tropical garden in the centre of which is a purpose built 3m deep scuba training pool complete with jacuzzi and waterfall. Each bungalow is comfortably furnished with air conditioning, TV, minibar, safe, charging station, ensuite bathroom with hot water shower and specifically designed for the needs of divers. The private terrace is a peaceful place to enjoy your breakfast, and savor the morning sun. An ADSL internet connection is available for those who want to keep in touch with the rest of the world.

The Palm Garden is a part of a small group of resorts which are located in specialist scuba diving destinations and includes the Palm Garden Resort in Phuket, which can also be located on our database.

If you would like to find out more about scuba diving in Thailand, including destinations such as the Similan Islands, Phuket and Richelieu Rock, why not visit our main Thailand scuba diving pages, where we cover all the major dive sites in Thailand.

Living Up to the Reputation - Scuba Diving in the Phillippines

To give it its full name, The Republic Of The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 separate islands, and covers an area of just over 300,000 square kilometres (115,000 square miles). Its population of 77 million people makes it one of the larger South East Asian countries, but recent political unrest, and sporadic outburst of militant activity have resulted in the tourist figures for the Philippines being lower than for many of their South East Asian neighbours. The main island groups in the Philippines are Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and the capital city is Manila, where over 10 million of the Philippino population live.

Due to the size of the Philippines, the weather patterns are relatively diverse, however they can be roughly divided into the dry season, which runs from September through until May, and the wet season, which runs from June to September. The average temperature across the Philippines is 78 degrees F (25 degrees C) ranging up to 90 degrees F (32 degrees C) in the drier months.

Diving in the Philippines is possible at any point in the year, although it may be wise to avoid the monsoon months which run from July to September. When considering whether or not to go diving in the Philippines, the figures are very compelling. 34,000 square kilometres of coral reefs, and over 400 species of fish means the Philippines undoubtedly holds a great deal of potential for novice and expert divers alike. The unique location of the waters of the Philippines, means that they are constantly enriched by the currents of the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Celebes Sea.

The diving in the Philippines can be split into five main regions, Luzon, Palawan, Puerto Galera, the Sulu Sea and Visayas. The diving ranges from fresh water cave dives in the inland lakes, through to some of the best drift diving available along one of the Philippines numerous coral reef walls.

The best diving in the Philippines is considered to be at the Visayan Islands, which are towards the centre of the archipelago. Popular dive sites within the Visayan Islands include Bohol and Moalboal. The is also excellent diving to be in the multitude of dive spots around Puerto Galera, where the Canyons is rated is widely rated as a 'must do' dive. Drift diving through the three deep canyons, accompanied by a multitude of barracudas, tuna, jacks and trevally, make this a truly enthralling dive. Add to this the comman sightings of giant manta rays, hammerheads and white tips, and you'll see why many people dive the Canyons more than once.

Overall, the diving in the Philippines is of the highest standards, and the difficult travelling between the various sites is more than compensated for on the actual dive sites. It caters for all standards of scuba diver, from novice up to the most experienced pro's, and undoubtedly leaves all wishing they had booked their stay in the Philippines for longer.

About the Author

Mark Burns is Director of Scubaworld.tv, a specialist scuba diving web site proving extensive information on scuba diving in the Philippines and scuba diving holidays throughout the world.

Scuba Diving in Sharm El Sheikh - the Gateway to the Red Sea

Sharm El Sheikh is located at the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula, and given its ease of access to the Red Sea has grown over the past twenty years into one of the worlds best and most popular scuba diving locations. Large amounts of scuba divers travel here each year to sample the delights that the Red Sea has to offer.

It offers a good variety of diving, from shore dives, to reef dives all the way through to one of the most developed liveaboard industries to be found anywhere. Each year, thousands of divers flock to Sharm El Sheikh to sample what is truly fantastic diving is exceptional conditions.

The main reason for the success of Sharm El Sheikh, as a diving destination is the Red Sea, which is one of the worlds richest marine environments. With over 400 recorded species of coral and over several hundred species of fish, coupled with warm waters and exceptional visibility, the Red Sea has everything that a diver will be looking for. On top of this, Sharm El Sheikh, due to its position on the south of the Sinai Peninsula, has easy access to some of the worlds greatest dive sites, including sites such as Ras Mohammed Marine Park, and the famous Thistlegorm wreck. The diving in Sharm El Sheikh tends to be focussed on a few big dive locations, including the Straits of Tiran and Ras Mohammed Marine Park. Both areas, rich in plant and marine life, tend to have something to satisfy even the most experienced of divers.

The Straits of Tiran lie 7 kilometres north east of Sharm El Sheikh, and is actually a series of four major reefs which form the top of an underwater bridge, and which support large amounts of hard and soft corals. The Straights of Tiran also offers divers an excellent opportunity to spot some of the large pelagic marine life that inhabit the area. The four reefs, Jacksons Reef, Woodhouse Reef, Thomas Reef and Gordon Reef all offer excellent dive sites, and it is certainly worth taking the time out to explore the Straights of Tiran in detail over the course of a few days.

The Ras Mohammed National Park is located on the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula, and its nutrient rich waters from the Gulf of Aquaba consistently bring large levels of marine life into the area. Steep coral encrusted walls, sloping down to depths of over 1000 metres tend to dictate the nature of the diving in Ras Mohommed, however there are a number of beautiful shallow reefs which are also worth spending time at. There are a number of good dive sites in the Ras Mohammed area, including Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, Eel Garden, Anenome City, Jackfish Alley and Shark Observatory, all of which are covered in greater detail in our dive sites directory.

Of all the dive sites accessed through Sharm El Sheikh, undoubtedly the most popular is the Thistlegorm Wreck, a World War II supply ship which sank in 1941. The wreck itself still contains two large Rolls Royce armoured cars, along with crates of Lee Enfield rifles. Within the holds of the Thistlegorm wreck, you can also see the Morris cars, Bedford Trucks, and the BSA military motorbikes, as well as other supplies such as wellington boots and ammunition.

It is possible still to dive through parts of the Thistlegorm wreck, giving divers access to the wheel house, the chart room, and the bathroom salon and the various holds that contained so much of what was sunk. The Thistlegorm is usually a two dive day, with the first dive following the outer curcuit of the wreck, observing areas such the Locomotive (which was blown clear of the wreck), and the propeller towards the rear. Nowadays, a large variety of marine life has made it's home at the Thistlegorm Wreck, and you are likely to see large shoals of Batfish alongside good numbers of Barracuda here. Even a couple of Crocodile fish seem to have made their home on the decks of the Thistlegorm!

Overall, Sharm El Sheikh presents scuba divers both novice and advanced with a multitude of interesting dives. For people looking to learn to dive, Sharm El Sheikh has a particularly strong offering, with numerous established, and professionally run operations. Each year, large numbers of people, especially Europeans, come to Sharm to learn to dive, and to enjoy the various other attractions that the area has to offer. In particular, it is worth while taking the time to visit the St Katherines monastry and climb Mount Sinai, both of which are a short drive away.

About the Author

Mark Burns is Director of Scubaworld.tv, a large scuba diving site specialising in scuba diving in the Red Sea and a leading provider of Red Sea diving holidays.

Scuba Diving in Krabi and the Koh Phi Phi Islands

The stunning scenery of the Krabi and Koh Phi Phi regions of Thailand have long ensured that the area is a firm favourite on Thailand's well trodden traveler and backpacker trails. Dramatic limestone cliffs, beautiful beaches and the low cost of living in the area have ensured that large numbers of tourists flock to the region every year.

Recent years however have seen the region develop a reputation amongst the scuba diving community, attracted by the stunning underwater topography which easily rivals the dramatic cliffs and pinnacles found above the water. Today, the popular resort areas of Ao Nang, Koh Phi Phi and Railee Beach are as likely to be filled with scuba divers as the traditional 'horizon-gazers' of the 70's and 80's.

The scuba diving in Krabi and Koh Phi Phi seems to be concentrated into four main regions. The local islands and reefs just south of Krabi, the various dive sites at Shark Point Marine Sanctuary, the sites surrounding the islands at Koh Phi Phi and the two world class dive sites at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.

Just a few miles south of Krabi lie the small islands of Ko Ha, Ko See and Ko Yaw Bon. The dive sites here are an interesting mix of tunnels, swim through's, coral heads and large boulder formations. With the exception of the tunnel at Ko Yaw Bon, the dives here are accessible for novice divers and provide an excellent opportunity to see marine life including Black Tip Sharks, Banded Sea Snakes and Leopard Sharks.

The dive sites of Shark Point Marine Sanctuary are home to an incredible array of marine life, and although the diving here tends to be dominated by the dive sites at Anenome Reef and Shark Point, the King Cruiser Wreck provides an excellent dive and is now home to a good amount of coral and marine life. Large barracuda and tuna are regularly spotted here, attracted by the large amount of nutrients swept up from the nearby deep waters.

Continuing further south are the stunning islands at Koh Phi Phi, an area characterized by the dramatic limestone cliffs and pinnacles which rise dramatically above the sea, before plunging down into the dark depths below. Once a quiet Muslim fishing village, the region now has a developed diving industry, and today there are at least ten dive centers operating out of the Ton Sai area on Koh Phi Phi.

Underwater, the islands of Koh Phi Phi are a mixture of coral gardens, steep walls and swim throughs, and the islands have a number of excellent dive sites in close proximity. In particular, the dive sites at Ko Yung Pinnacle and Ko Bida nok consistently deliver excellent scuba diving and are widely acknowledged as being the best dive sites in Koh Phi Phi.

Last, but certainly not least are the two world class dive sites south of Phi Phi at Hin Muang (Purple Rock) and Hin Daeng (Red Rock). These sites, a mixture of steep walls and pinnacles are both in close proximity to deep water, and as such the larger marine life are attracted to the large amounts of nutrients that can be found here. The two sites at Hin Muang and Hin Daeng represent the best opportunities for people wishing to see either whale sharks or manta rays, and both are regularly sighted at these dive sites.

The scuba diving throughout the Krabi and Koh Phi Phi region is undoubtedly of the highest standards, and a number of the dive sites offer genuinely world class diving. For divers looking to go scuba diving on Koh Phi Phi or in Krabi, the majority of the dive centers in the region can be found in the resort of Ao Nang or on the beach area at Ton Sai in Koh Phi Phi.

Article Source:
111Articles.info

About the Author

Mark Burns is Director of Scubaworld.tv, a scuba diving website providing a wide range of Thailand diving holidays and information on scuba diving in Thailand.

Scuba Diving on the Great Barrier Reef

Larger than the whole of Great Britain, and comprising of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 separate islands, the Great Barrier Reef is not only the worlds largest organism, it is one of the worlds best scuba diving destinations.

For the sheer diversity of marine life, the Great Barrier Reef is unrivalled. Alive with over 2,000 separate species of fish, as well as 400 separate species of coral, the Great Barrier Reef ensures that every dive is an adventure and that no two dives are the same. Described as one of the natural wonders of the world, and now protected under its status as a World Heritage site, the Great Barrier Reef has long captivated the imagination of scuba divers from all over the world.

The jump off point for scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef is the city of Cairns in Queensland. Once a laid back coastal town, today Cairns is one of Australia's premier tourist destinations, complete with a large number of dive centres and liveaboard operators. Every day, large numbers of scuba divers travel here to sample the underwater splendour that is the Great Barrier Reef. The scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef is itself split into four key areas, which are home to the vast majority of the dive sites on the reef. Though these regions are spread out over a large geographical spread, diving can be arranged across all via day trips or liveaboards from Cairns.

The Inner Reef Gardens, as their name suggests are located in close proximity with the Queensland coastline. Easily accessible by day boats from Cairns, the shallow and somewhat sheltered nature of the sites here mean that the Inner Garden Reefs are popular areas for diver training and diving courses.

Slightly further offshore lie the aptly named Outer Reefs, characterised by the large series of canyons and gorges that can be found throughout the reefs here. There are a large number of smaller reefs here including Thetford Reef, Paradise Reef and Agincourt Reef, and throughout all of the sites there is prolific marine life, including one of the largest colonies of clownfish you are ever likely to see!

The Far Northern Reefs include the famous Ribbon Reef system, a strong of ten coral reefs which stretch over 100 miles to the north of Cairns. At the top of this remarkable reef system lies the most famous dive site on the Great Barrier Reef, the Cod Hole. Here a large family of resident Potato Cod will amaze you with their friendly antics as well as their sheer size. Due to their more remote location, the dive sites of the Far Northern Reefs are usually taken in on one of the many three day liveaboard trips that operate out of Cairns.

For more experienced divers, the dive sites of the Coral Seas prove a huge attraction. Located around 200 kilometres offshore, the Coral Sea is considered to be one of Australia's best dive sites. Throughout the year, large numbers of liveaboards travel here from Cairns to sample the superb diving that can be found at dives sites such as Osprey Reef and Bougainville Reef.

Overall, the Great Barrier Reef is fully deserving of its legendary status as one of the worlds best diving locations. The range and diversity of marine and coral life is barely rivalled anywhere else on earth. Thankfully, the considerable conservation efforts of the authorities will ensure that this natural wonder is experienced by many generations to come.

About the Author

Mark Burns is Director of Scubaworld.tv, a large scuba diving holidays website, and a comprehensive source of information on scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

Scuba Diving in Phuket - the Pearl of the Andaman

Located on the western coast of the Thailand Peninsula, with its shores on the warm waters of the Andaman Sea lies the beautiful island of Phuket. The largest island off the coast of Thailand, the island of Phuket covers an area of just over 300 square miles, and is connected to mainland Thailand via a bridge at the north of the island.

For the past 25 years, the island of Phuket has catered for a large number of tourists from all over the world, a large percentage of whom are scuba divers looking to dive on some Asia's finest dive sites. Today, scuba diving in Phuket is big business, and the island has a large number of excellent dive centres offering a number of diving services ranging from leisure dives through to the most advanced courses.

The Racha Islands, located off the Southern tip of Thailand are one of Phuket's best dive sites, and the two islands offer excellent diving in crystal clear waters as well as the opportunity for big animal encounters. In particular, the smaller island, Racha Noi, offers some breathtaking underwater scenery, and is renowned for both whale shark and manta ray encounters.

The dive sites off Ao Phang-Nga, including the famous Shark Point and King Cruiser Wrecks, are widely acknowledged as being the best dive sites in the Phuket region. The waters around in and around Ao Phang-Nga are notable for the profusion of marine life, offering divers access to a range of marine life and coral which is unrivalled elsewhere in Phuket.

Phuket is also home to one of the worlds most developed liveaboard industries, with a large number of liveaboards offering diving in destinations such as the Similan Islands, the Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks. For scuba divers wishing to dive these more remote destinations, a Phuket liveaboard is the only realistic option for access. As such, the liveaboard industry in Phuket is a thriving and competitive business, with an increasing number of liveaboards operating from Phuket.

Further east lie the islands of Ko Phi Phi Don, and Ko Phi Phi Lae, a region characterised by the stunning topography of the amazing limestone cliffs. These islands are fringed with a number of hard coral gardens, as well as some excellent examples of soft corals, orange sea fans, sea whips and black coral.

Phuket is well deserving of its title as the 'Pearl of the Andaman,' and undoubtedly the region boasts some of Thailand's best dive sites. As environmental issues such as marine conservation slowly work their way up Thailand's political agenda, the future for scuba diving in Phuket looks a healthy one.

About the Author

Mark Burns is Director of Scubaworld.tv, a large scuba diving site specialising in scuba diving in Thailand and a leading provider of information on Scuba diving in Phuket.

More Than Just Sharks - Scuba Diving in South Africa

Traditional perceptions of holidays in South Africa conjure up images of vast open plains, roaring lions and beautiful game lodges, names of regions such as the Kruger National Park immediately come into people's minds.

What is less well known is the incredible diversity of scuba diving that is on offer for visitors of all levels of experience. From the cooler waters around the Western Cape, up to the tropical waters around Sodwana Bay near the Mozambique border. South Africa undoubtedly offers some of the finest scuba diving throughout Africa, and in sites such as Protea Banks, Aliwal Shoals and Sodwana Bay, arguably some of the best in the world.

The nature of the scuba diving in South Africa tends to be dictated by its unique geographical location on the southernmost tip of Africa, the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The area around Cape Town and the Western Cape tends to offer diving in cooler waters, typically with lower visibility. Whereas further up the coast towards KwaZulu Natal, an increase in the water temperatures and visibility tends to offer diving more in keeping with more tropical locations.

Understandably, the large variation in the water temperatures, have resulted in a variety of different marine life inhabiting the coast line of South Africa, ranging from the notorious Great White Sharks found around the Gansbaai and Cape Town areas, through to the dolphins and manta rays of tropical Sodwana Bay.

The scuba diving in South Africa tends to focus predominantly around two main regions, the Western Cape and the Garden Route, and the almost legendary sites in Sodwana Bay, Aliwal Shoals and Protea Banks which are found further north within KwaZulu Natal. Whilst there is a great diversity of diving on offer throughout South Africa, it would be safe to say that the standard of diving here is of a consistently high standard, with each site having something to offer the majority of divers.

Located within the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, Sodwana Bay is arguably the pick of the fantastic dive sites in South Africa. Its warm, clear waters, and stunning reefs and rich variety of corals act merely as a veneer to what rich rewards lie within these beautiful waters. Huge Potato Bass, morays and manta rays are all regular inhabitants of sites such as Nine Mile Reef, Three Mile Reef and Antons.

Despite this rich variety of marine and coral life in the waters of Sodwana Bay, it is the opportunities for scuba diving with the large populations of sharks, and particularly the Ragged Tooth Sharks that people visit the region. Here in Sodwana Bay, as well as Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoals, are some of the finest shark diving locations in world. Alongside the Ragged Tooth sharks, large populations of Bull Sharks, Thresher Sharks and Hammerheads regularly inhabit the waters off the coast of KwaZulu Natal.

Diving in South Africa is available all year round, although the majority of visitors to the region tend to visit during the summer months of late November through to February. Water temperatures vary greatly with location, with the Atlantic Ocean cooling the waters off the Western Cape to around 10 - 14 degrees Celsius whereas the more tropical waters around Sodwana Bay tend to average around 20 - 21 degrees.

Throughout South Africa, large numbers of dive operators offer a variety of scuba diving courses across all the major accreditation agencies, and overall, the standard of dive operator tends to be relatively high. Good local knowledge, well maintained equipment and boats tend to be the norm in a region that is looking to attract an increasing number of scuba divers to its waters.
Overall, South Africa offers a wide range of unique diving experiences, and has something to offer scuba divers of all experiences. With South Africa becoming increasingly aware of its rich wildlife heritage, on land and in the water, it only bodes well for future visitors to this beautiful country.

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Scuba Diving in Thailand - the Secrets of One of the Worlds Most Popular Diving Destinations

Thailand has one of the world's most diverse marine habitats, with more than 300 major reef groups covering an area of over 4,500 square miles. From pinnacles and submerged rocks, through to stunning coral gardens and sheer walls, the scuba diving in Thailand has something to offer scuba divers of all levels of experience. It is this diversity in marine habitats and diving environments which attracts so many divers to the waters around Thailand every year, and today the region is one of the world's most popular scuba diving destinations.

There are a number of major diving destinations in Thailand, all offering a wide selection of diverse dive sites. Throughout all of these major destinations is a network of well equipped, knowledgeable and experienced dive centres, offering a range of diving from leisure dives through to a selection of scuba diving courses.

It would be impossible to discuss Thailand, without looking at the scuba diving in Phuket and the surrounding areas. Without doubt, the diving in Phuket is of the highest standard, and the waters surrounding the 'island' host a number of excellent dive sites. However, the real underwater treasures of Phuket lie slightly further afield. Dive sites such as the Burma Banks, The Similan Islands and the Mergui Archipelago are often found high on the wish list of many discerning scuba diver and offer some of South East Asia's finest dive sites.

The scuba diving on the Western Gulf of Thailand sees a different emphasis, and the small islands found here have become one of the world's most popular areas to learn to scuba dive. In fact, the island of Koh Tao has developed a complete tourist industry from scuba diving, and today large numbers of would be scuba divers travel to Koh Tao every day to begin their diving education. Other islands within the Western Gulf of Thailand are also home to developed scuba diving industries, and destinations such as Koh Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan are both home to a large number of dive centres and excellent dive sites.

Throughout Thailand there are a number of exceptional dive sites, and sites such as the Richelieu Rock and Chumpon Pinnacle are widely acknowledged as being world class dive sites. However it is the sheer volume of excellent dive sites that makes Thailand such a popular destination. Destinations such as Pattaya, Krabi, Ko Chang and the Surin Islands are all home to a number of exceptional dive sites and dive centres.

Today, Thailand is one of the world's most popular scuba diving destinations, and large numbers of scuba divers travel long distances to dive in the waters surrounding this stunning country. The sheer diversity of the diving on offer here ensures that there is something to cater for all tastes and levels of experience. From vertical wrecks, through to submerged pinnacles, from the largest sharks, through to the smallest nudibranches, the diving in Thailand has something for everyone.

Article Source:
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About the Author

Mark Burns is Director of Scubaworld.tv, a large scuba diving site specializing in scuba diving in Thailand and a leading provider of information on Scuba diving in Phuket.

Dive Point Hurghada Joins The Dive Centre Database.

Established in 1992, and located at the Rotana Coral Beach Resort in Hurghada, Dive Point in Hurghada have become the latest dive centre to join our ever expanding dive centre database. A PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre and TDI Middle East Training facility, Dive Point are one of the most experienced and well equipped dive centres in Hurghada.

Offering the complete range of PADI, DAN, DSAT, IANTD and TDI scuba diving courses from introductory to professional, Dive Point are able to cater for the training requirements of all divers. Their dedicated and service oriented team is one of the most experienced in the training of PADI Professionals in the Red Sea, consisting of 3 PADI Course Directors and 6 IDC Staff as well as Master Instructors working full time in the field of scuba Instructor training.

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Scuba Diving In Hurghada With Ilios Dive Club

As of this morning, Ilios Dive Club in Hurghada have become the first dive club from the Red Sea resort of Hurghada to officially join our new Dive Centre Database!




Based out of the Steigenberger Al Dau Resort in Hurghada, Ilios Dive Club offer a wide range of diving services and courses (PADI from beginner through to professional) in English, German, Russian, French and Arabic. Their fully equipped dive centre has two multimedia classrooms as well as well as their own workshop and filling station (nitrox available). They own two of their own boats in the Al Dau 1 & 2, which visit all of the main dive sites in Hurghada.

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Scuba Diving In Hurghada In The Red Sea

The Red Sea resort of Hurghada is one of the regions most rapidly expanding tourist destinations, and an increasingly popular destination for scuba divers wishing to go scuba diving in the Red Sea. Superb coral and marine life, coupled with some of the most interesting wrecks in the Red Sea have made Hurghada into one of scuba divings key tourist destinations in recent years.

The scuba diving in Hurghada is of a high standard, with good dive sites throughout the region including the wrecks of the Giannis D and the Carnatic, both of which can be found in the shallower waters off the coast of Hurghada. Further south, the dive sites around Carless Reef and Abu Ramada (The Aquarium) are also of the highest standard, and although their more exposed nature makes them susceptible to the elements, the experience here can be truely fantastic.

The water temperatures in Hurghada are relatively warm, especially in the warmer summer months, when the average water temperature is around 26-27 degrees. This does tend to dip somewhat in the cooler winter period, when the water temperature will fall to around 20-22 degrees.

The marine life on the dive sites in Hurghada, as with most Red Sea dive sites, extensive. A vast array of reef fish can be found throughout, with a large population of pelagic marine life also being found in the region. Throughout the dive sites in Hurghada can also be found numerous species of shark, and grey, whitetip and even oceanic whitetips are regularly sighted here.

Today, there is a developed, and rapidly expanding scuba industry in the region, and at last count there were estimated to be over 70 dive centres in Hurghada itself. The vast majority of these are well equipped, and will offer access to the major dive sites in the waters surrounding Hurghada as well as the sites further afield including the Thistlegorm Wreck and the Dunraven.

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Alona Beach - Scuba diving in Bohol with Genesis Divers.

The latest dive centre to join our Dive Centre Database are Genesis Divers from the beautiful Alona Beach in Bohol in the Philippines. Established in 1994, Genesis Divers are one of the most established dive centres in Alona Beach, and they offer a wide range of scuba diving courses and day trips throughout the Bohol waters. The dive guides at Genesis are fluent in English, German, French, Dutch and Filippino.

Genesis Divers offer access to a wide range of dive sites in Bohol, including Cabilao Island, Pamilican Island and the numerous dive sites of Balicasag Island. If you would like to know more about the opportunities for scuba diving in Bohol, why not visit our main site at Scubaworld.tv, where we cover all the major sites in detail. More information on Genesis Divers.

Chaloklum Divers In Koh Phangan joins Scubaworld.tv

The latest dive centre to join our rapidly expanding Dive Centre Database is Chaloklum Divers, from the beautiful island of Koh Phangan in Thailand.

Established for over 15 years in the village of Chaloklum in Koh Phangan, Chaloklum Divers offer access to some of the best dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand including Sail Rock, the Angthong Marine Park and Chumphon Pinnacles through their own 25 metre, fully equipped boat.

Chaloklum Divers offer the full range of PADI diving courses, from beginniner through to professional, with the courses being taught in English, French, German and Thai. For more information on scuba diving in Thailand, or to learn more about Chaloklum Divers, why not visit the main Scubaworld.tv web site.

Atlantis Dive Joins Scubaworld.tv DCD

We would to welcome Atlantis Dive on Alona Beach in Bohol to our Dive Centre Database, who have become our first dive centre from the Bohol area in the Philippines. Atlantis Dive are located in Alona Beach, the major destination for scuba divers in Bohol, and one of the most popular dive destinations in the Philippines.

The scuba diving in Bohol is undeniably world class, offering a huge variety of dives, and some opportunities to see the real giants of the ocean. For fans of diving with sharks, the dive site at Hammerhead Point on Calibao Islands provides divers with one of the few opportunities to dive with large shoals of hammerhead sharks which can be seen here from December through to June.

For people looking to dive with Manta Rays, the diving at Pamilican Island (Resting Place of the Manta's) provides an excellent opportunity to dive with the giant manta rays which inhabit the reefs here. Diving with the large manta here is arguably one of the most impressive sights in diving, and without makes the longer trip out here worthwhile.

As well as the two 'big fish' dive sites, there are a number of other excellent dive sites scattered throughout the waters surrounding the island of Bohol. In particular, the dive sites in Panglao Island and Balicasag Island provide superb diving consistently, and offer a huge variety of marine and coral life.

Scuba Diving In The Philippines

As part of our revamp of the site, we have recently launched more information on scuba diving in the Philippines.

In this, we take an in-depth look at the various popular diving destinations in the Philippines including Bohol, La Union, Anilao and Subic Bay, as well as some of the new destinations such as Southern Leyte, where the opportunities to see whale sharks is comparable to other more well known destinations throughout the world.

In the blog, we will be taking a closer look at all the major diving destinations and dive sites in the Philippines, and as ever we would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on the information we publish. If you feel that there are other dive sites or locations in the Philippines that we have missed out on, please feel free to drop us an email and let us know.

Perhentian Islands Scuba Diving

Here at Scubaworld.tv, we regularly look at the content on site, and take on board users suggestions on how we could possibly improve our offering. So when a number of you starting requesting more information on the opportunities for scuba diving in Malaysia, we thought we would initiate a major overhaul of our Malaysia scuba diving channel.

As part of these changes, we have launched our new Diving In The Perhentian Islands page, which will provide you with what you need to know about diving in the Perhentian Islands.

The Perhentian Islands are located in Terengganu, on the north eastern coast of peninsula Malaysia. A true glimpse of paradise, these islands were surely made for the postcard industry! Palm fringed white sand beaches, coupled with turquoise clear blue waters ensure that the Perhentian Islands are the sort of destination that make the longer journey time worthwhile.

The scuba diving in the Perhentian Islands is of a good standard, and today the island has managed to develop an established diving industry which attracts a large number of scuba divers to its shores each year. Dive sites such as the Temple of the Sea, the Sugar Wreck and the Vietnamese Wreck all provide opportunities for divers to see some excellent coral formations, as well as an abundance of marine life.

Scuba diving in Phuket with Scuba Cat Diving

Scuba Cat Diving are a PADI 5 Star CDC Centre in Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand and are the latest dive centre to join our rapidly expanding database of dive centres throughout the world.

They have a fleet of 4 boats which are individually kitted out for day trips and liveaboard cruises to cater for the whole family with dives all around the Andaman Sea including the world famous Similan Islands.

Scuba Cat visit all of the major dive sites in Phuket, including the Racha Islands (Racha Yai and Racha Noi), the King Cruiser Wreck and Anenome Reef on a regular basis. For those interested in a liveaboard diving holiday, Scuba Cat offer a range of liveaboard packages to the Similan Islands and Surin National Marine Park.

An extensive range of scuba diving courses are also on offer at Scuba Cat, ranging from PADI Open Water courses for those looking to take their first steps in diving, through to PADI IDC for those seeking a professional career in diving.

So if you are thinking about scuba diving in Phuket, why not visit the Scuba Cat page on the main Scubaworld.tv web site, where they explain their dive services in greater detail.

Scuba Diving In The Philippines - Destination Of The Week

Over at the Scubaworld.tv web site, our latest destination of the week is the Philippines. Home to some of the best dive sites in South East Asia, the Philippines have long been a popular destination for scuba divers from around the world.

With over 7,000 islands in its waters, it is easy to see why the scuba diving in the Philippines is of such a high standard, and in destinations such as the Visayas, Moalboal, Luzon and Puerto Galera, it is easy to see why some many divers travel to the Philippines each year.

Scuba diving in Rogoznica with Dive Centre Pongo

The latest dive centre to join the Scubaworld web site is DC Pongo, who offer scuba diving in Rogoznica, in the beautiful Adriatic Sea. Underwater cliffs, stunning wreck dives as well as superb Gorgonian corals are only some of the sights you will see whilst diving in Rogoznica, all of this in some of the best visibility in the Adriatic.

For more information on diving in Rogoznica, and more information on the Dive Centre Pongo, why not visit our main Scubaworld site, where we provide extensive information on scuba diving in Croatia.