Turtle Island, or Koh Tao (pronounced “goh daow”) as it’s known to locals, is well known in the diving community and has a very widely discussed reputation. Koh Tao is located on the South-west side of the Gulf of Thailand. Nearly every diver has something to say about Koh Tao (often without having ever been there), and the island’s standing as a diving hotspot and learning institution is often debated. I’d like to discuss the real Koh Tao, as impartially as I can. I’ve dived there and completed a course while on holiday there which gave me a good impression of what the island can offer, and what it lacks.

The Island

Accommodation

First off, even the most committed diver will have to spend some time on the surface so it’s important to look at Koh Tao in its entirety (after all, what’s the point in going somewhere on a diving holiday and being miserable every time you come home from a dive?) Well, Koh Tao is unlikely to make anyone miserable being as it is a small, tropical island with many long, white sandy beaches and a plethora of bars and accommodation choices.

Nobody Will Ever Call Koh Tao Ugly...

Despite this choice and a recent push towards more upmarket resorts, the island is still very much set up to cater for backpackers and divers on a budget. Most of the accommodation is still in the form of  cheap beach huts and basic bungalows that provide adequate amenities but are unlikely to impress even the least discerning of guests. Often accommodation is offered free or heavily discounted when booking diving (or courses) with the attached dive school. There are some attractive mid-range hotels that provide higher end amenities than the huts (air con, pool and wifi) though you do find there is a steep price hike when you go searching for these perks. There are also a few scattered elite resorts that come fully equipped for the more financially flush diver. Most mid-sized and large dive schools have their own accommodation and these will probably be where most divers will end up resting their heads of an evening.

A Simple Bungalow - cheap, basic but often in excellent locations!

Nightlife and Food

The island is not short of night-time activities with a healthy selection of beach bars and clubs being scattered across the island’s shoreline. The island is not as hardcore party based as neighbouring Koh Pha Ngan (home of the infamous Full Moon Party) as the bars tend to go for chilled, sunset grooves rather than all-night raves. The restaurants are similar to the bars; the settings are usually spectacular, the atmosphere is relaxed and casual and the food is cheap but tasty. Obviously, being an island, the fish is excellent and the standard fare is barbecued fish with rice, though there is a big range of Thai food on offer and there is a decent selection of Western food (burgers, pasta and pizza) if you need a break from green curry and rice!

A Familiar Sight In Any Koh Tao Restaurant - BBQ Fish And Western Food.

Transport

Getting To The Island

The island has no airport though there are two close by in Koh Samui and Surat Thani. There is rail access from Bangkok to Chumphon – the mainland port where the ferry starts its route (the route includes Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan, Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and the mainland). It takes about 3 hours on the ferry from mainland to Koh Tao, though if you fly to Koh Samui then it’s more like an hour and a half on the ferry to Koh Tao.

Getting Around

Once you’ve arrived on Koh Tao you may choose to explore the rest of the island, which I heartily recommend being as there is an excellent range of flora and fauna to see if you are willing to leave the shoreline. I also highly approve of the quality of snorkelling available off some of the more secluded beaches (Hin Wong Bay has some great shallow reefs, though the road to the bay is seriously intense!) In this case you will almost certainly hire either a small motorbike or a quadbike. There are very few cars on the island due to the extremely poor road conditions, most of which are dirt roads with deep water gullies carved into them and they often sit at extreme angles and slopes that make them formidable even to the most experienced bike rider. While I’m on this topic it is important to know that the primary cause of accidents and fatalities on the island is motorbike crashes. If you’re not confident on a bike then this is a terrible place to learn. At night you also have to contend with the lack of street lights along the road. There is also the sad fact that a large number of stupid people will drink copious amounts of alcohol and then go for a midnight ride on a bike they barely know how to ride sober! Watch out for these idiots, and for goodness sake, don’t join them! The hangover will ruin your dive the next day anyway.

Make Sure You Know How To Ride One Before You Go All Evil Canevil!

There are two schools of thought on what is better when driving on the island: bikes or quads? I took a bike and set off into the wilderness with my girlfriend and we found that the bike was great for navigating the worst of the potholes and dips, but we managed to burst two tires in one trip. We were very lucky to be near a Thai resort which had spare inner tubes, especially being as we were on the other side of the island! On the other hand a quad-bike will probably not get a puncture, but they require a different riding technique and if they topple then they can be very dangerous. I tried both and found the quad was more capable in the really bad terrain but they are usually considerably more expensive to hire and are often in a poor state of repair because the parts for a quadbike are scarce on the island which makes them pricey compared to the cheap and abundant moped parts. Think about this when looking into hiring a vehicle, because if you crash it or even lightly scratch it you will be paying the full cost of repairs.

More Guts, More Skill Needed And More Money To Rent Or Repair!

Getting to the Dive Sites

When you’re leaving for a day’s diving your school may use either the main public pier, their own personal pier or a longtail boat from the beach that meets up with a larger boat anchored further out from shore (a longtail is a long, slim boat with a very long propeller shaft coming from the small outboard motor, this is a traditional Thai fishing vessel). It may be worth asking your diving school what method of transport they use if you are in anything less than excellent health because transferring from the unstable longtail boats to the high-sided dive boats is really very difficult, it is also hard work to climb from boat-to-boat as you may be required to do if they leave from the busy main pier.

A Longtail Is Not The Most Stable Vessel To Embark Or Alight From...

The Schools

The Situation

Well, it’s safe to say that there is disproportionate number of divers out there who lost their diving virginity to Koh Tao’s blue waters. Koh Tao’s many dive schools train and certify more divers than anywhere else in South-east Asia. There are many schools, with many instructors and they are constantly working at near maximum capacity to churn out class after class of new divers. This doesn’t seem like a bad thing, especially being as the capitalist model states that demand dictates supply, thus many people demand diving in Koh Tao and the resident dive schools do all that they can to supply their needs. Surely this is good for the dive industry as a whole? New, passionate divers are entering the market, pouring their money into dive companies, dive organisations and dive equipment.

There's No Doubt That Koh Tao Is Responsible For Training A Heck Of A Lot Of Divers!

The issue arrises when we look closely at what this torrent of new students has done to the standards of the dive schools and the instructors on the island (and what this means for the students that have trained under them). There has been such a high flow of divers for such a long time it has (in some cases) eroded the once rigid and strict PADI standards, that the schools and instructors were trained in, to a much less formal style of teaching.

I don’t blame the instructors or schools on Koh Tao for slipping under the immense quantity of divers they have to process, in fact I am really amazed at how well they manage their students. There is no doubt in my mind that some of the most talented and experienced dive instructors in the world are based in Koh Tao, it is just such a shame that they are not given the space and time needed to give a fully engaging dive course. It is symptomatic of the way the industry works out there; first there are many schools with many instructors (some of the schools are massive) which created a competing marketplace and a price war. The price war drove the cost of the average PADI course down to its bare minimum which resulted in smaller percentages for the dive schools and pitiful wages for the instructors. The way they compensate for this meagre profit margin is by bringing in a vast quantity of divers per class, I’ve heard many stories of classes as big as twelve students to one instructor, with no assistants (this is gross violation of PADI standards). The instructors, in an effort to make a reasonable salary and appease their boss, will also undertake up to five dives a day (two trips and a night dive) and will occasionally dive for weeks without a break. This extreme workload is both exhausting to the instructor and potentially dangerous because of the gradual nitrogen buildup in their slow tissues.

The dive schools in Koh Tao are usually fairly good at what they do, this is apparent from the fact that Koh Tao is still one of the top diving spots in the world. Despite this there are certain things that I feel they do poorly:

• Customer care – although they might be professional in their manner, the schools and instructors often struggle to make your diving experience personal. This is simply because of the numbers of individual divers that they must take care of. I don’t berate them for this aspect, but it’s something to consider when choosing where you wish to learn.
• Boats – Some of the boats on Koh Tao are in excellent condition, though there are many boats that, just like the instructors, desperately require a break and an overhaul. There is a large quantity of boats that leak oil and spit fumes into this perfect natural environment which just seems so foolish to me.
• Standards – It is well known that Koh Tao instructors cut corners, this isn’t usually much of an issue – shifting skills from one dive to another is no big deal in the grand scheme of things; but taking a DSD to twenty meters is, as is hitting thirty meters on your first night dive, or one instructor leading a group of four Open Water students and two DSDs in poor visibility (all true stories…).
• Environmental Conservation – in addition to the tired boats there is a real problem in the area with coral damage from diver contact. This is especially the case with dive groups that are led by poorly trained or blatantly ignorant Divemasters, who don’t brief their divers about the rules on not wearing gloves or taking pointer sticks, nor do they have the skill to guide their group in a route that reduces the risk of breaking coral.

The Solution?

When I say “solution” here I don’t mean to suggest that I am capable of righting Koh Tao’s poor image, what I mean is how do YOU ensure you have a good dive or course when you go to the Turtle Island?

• When you are looking online for the cheapest course/accommodation combo, give yourself ten minutes to look at a few of the millions of posts that discuss the best schools on the island.
• Once you’ve arrived on the island, if you’ve not already picked a school then make sure you ask questions: how do you get to the dive site? How many divers to an instructor/DM? Do you get nitrox complimentary? Is my DM fully qualified? (some schools use DMTs to guide dives which is not acceptable when you are paying for a DM).
• It has been said by many divers that they’ve booked a dive for a particular site and the boat crew have “changed plans”, for some reason or other, to a local site. Usually this sort of thing is because the crew simply don’t want to travel the extra half hour to the site, but it is unacceptable, so ensure that your company will take you where you want to go.
• If you are already qualified then ensure that you pay attention to your own certification and your own abilities – if the DM briefs a deeper dive than you are qualified for or comfortable with then make sure you get him to change the plan, don’t lower yourself to poor standards. If your not trained then it’s not OK.

The Diving

Now that I’ve finished bashing the island’s over-worked infrastructure and the tragedy of seeing so many excellent instructors get pushed to the limits of safety and effectiveness, I can begin talking about the real reason that anyone goes to Koh Tao in the first place – the diving! Some of the dive sites on Koh Tao are truly world class diving destinations and deserve to be dived on by passionate and careful divers. Make sure that when you dive on these sites that you set a good example by using refined buoyancy, being aware of your surroundings and keeping your hands to yourself.

Some of the following names will be familiar (Japanese Gardens and Chumphon Pinnacle are the headliners) and some wont be. Each site has its own gifts to offer, enjoy them!

Red Rock (Shark Island)

This site is deep enough to give experienced divers a mild thrill, though there won’t be much need for decompression stops as the average depth is around fifteen meters with the deepest point being twenty-eight meters. The site is a drift diving hotspot which means the visibility can vary from struggling to read gauges right up to thirty meters and more. There are turtle, great barracuda and a pesky titan triggerfish or two darting through the soft coral.

The Island's Namesake Is Making A Comeback To The Island After Recent Charity Conservation Efforts.

Hin Wong Pinnacle

This tabletop rock is situated on one of the deepest sites in Koh Tao at forty meters deep. There are some snappers, pufferfish and hawksbill turtles in the area and a variety of hard and soft coral.

Mango Bay

Mango Bay is a beginner spot because there is an attractive shallow reef and sandy bottom which is ideal for practicing skills. There is a deep spot at sixteen meters so it’s perfect for Open Water divers who lack confidence. Being a bay the visibilty can be a little poor, though its usually in excess of ten meters.

Mango Bay Is An Excellent Place To Start Diving - Its Sheltered and Shallow.

White Rock

This is another shallow site with an average depth of around twelve meters. The viz is usually good, topping out at about thirty meters. This site is a showcase of corals, both hard and soft. In addition to the coral you are likely to see wrasses, butterflyfish, angelfish, moray eels, clownfish, and triggerfish.

Nang Yuan Pinnacle

This is a great site for those with good buoyancy and want to enjoy easy cavern penetration and swim-throughs. The depth is mediocre at nineteen meters but the water is often very clear and there are whiptail rays and reef shark to observe.

Twins

This is a fairly mixed site with sand, coral and rock formations to grab your attention. It is an easy dive with good visibility likely. You’re probably going to see a range of animals because of the different types of habitat; blue-spotted rays, scorpion fish, clownfish and angelfish.

Green Rock

A very exciting dive site because of the maze-like quality of the rock formations. There are swim-throughs and caverns hiding cobias, triggerfish and travellies. The site gets pretty deep at twenty-eight meters.

Japanese Gardens

A famous dive site that requires little introduction, not because it is particularly extreme in any respect, just because it is a very beautiful dive that is easily accessed by even the most novice divers due to its shallow reefs and consistently average visibility. The soft coral formations create something resembling a manicured Japanese style garden that is home to myriad different small reef fish and other colourful invertebrates.

Chumphon Pinnacle

If the Japanese Gardens is the crowd pleaser then the Chumphon Pinnacle is a major rock and roll band. It’s the joint-deepest site with a depth of forty-five meters. The four anemone-coated granite pinnacles are often obscured by poor visibility but the water has been seen as clear as thirty meters. When the tides are going up or down the currents can be formidable – when I last dived Chumphon we found it necessary to cling to the decent line purely so we all ended up in the same spot! It is a site for experienced divers but it will reward that experience with a (small) chance of spotting a whale shark, with a good chance of seeing some big open-water fish like giant groupers, bull shark, tuna and bat fish.

A Possible Chumphon Dive Buddy?

South-west Pinnacle

Another deep site with some peculiar rock and coral formations. It reaches a depth of thirty-three meters and, on a good day, you can see the giant fan-corals from the surface. There’s more open-sea fish here with the likes of giant grouper, possible whale shark sightings, barracuda and maybe the odd leopard shark.

Sail Rock

Sail Rock is the name of the other forty-five meter site around Koh Tao, and this one has a very special feature: a huge underwater rock chimney that offers a swim-through ascent from eighteen meters to eight meters…an absolutely excellent piece of diving! The visibility can be quite remarkable too, ranging from fifteen to thirty-five meters. On display at this awesome dive site are large pelagic, king mackerel, kingfish, tuna, whale shark and manta which gives it a very different atmosphere from the other Koh Tao sites.

Final Thoughts

I have said some scathing remarks about Koh Tao and its diving industry throughout this article and I meant every word I’ve said. However, what I’ve not said enough is that a holiday on Koh Tao is a wonderful experience, the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming and the diving is superb. Some of the schools do lack the integrity of the European, Australian and American institutions and all the instructors are overloaded but if you are careful and use your own common sense then you will have a great holiday and you will experience some phenomenal diving!

Do you have a Koh Tao story to add? Was your experiences there positive, or did you find the quality lacking? Either way, I’d love to hear your comments, just leave them in the section below.

By Jamie Campbell

Cod Hole has time and time again been cited as one of the top internationally renowned dive sites of the world. The dive site is located on the north end of the reef in Queensland, Australia near the ribbon reef number 10. Esteemed Australian shark and underwater experts Ron and Valerie Taylor put this place on the map twenty years ago and ever since, the potato cods have been regularly fed by tourist scuba divers.

Cod Hole is in Ribbon Reefs, which is a coral reef network of ten large reefs stretching almost 100 km near the border of Australia´s continental shelf. The reefs are full of lush coral gardens, multiple bommies and pinnacles and a vast mixture of different aquatic wildlife. Large pelagic fish often patrol the soft coral formations, walls and flats.

Divers at Cod Hole are at arms length from fat, friendly Potato Cod and Maori Wrasse who have grown plump with contempt after twenty years of generous feeding from open-handed divers. Cod hole is perfect for Kodak moments so definitely bring your underwater camera and have a wide-angle lens; the fish are massive, weighing up to 150kg! Other marine life includes anemones, whitetip reef sharks, giant blue lip clams, butterfly fish and feather starfish. If the wrasse and cod aren’t big enough for you, check

Feed me

out the reef during the Aussie winter. Dwarf Minke Whale are found around this part of the reef during the months of June and July. They are known to investigate snorkelers and hover about scuba divers, sometimes for hours.

The cods have brought fame to Cod Hole, however the never ending flow of tourist are starting to take their toll on the plump fish. Skin problems such as canker sores and other skin diseases are symptoms that local cod and wrasse share. The medical problems could be due to the poor food types they are fed combined with excessive handling by divers. Injuries noted to potato cod and other big fish at the Cod Hole are due to conflicts that arise between fish during feeding frenzies. In fact, the average number of cod sightings is decreasing annually. Operators are well aware of this and Divemasters tend to be the ones who feed the fish.

The area is fairly remote but easily accessed and companies carry out dive trips from the St. Douglass and Cairns ports. Here are a few dive operators for anyone interested in feeding the underwater giants:

Divethereef- 1 800 101 319

Divingcairns- 07 4041 7536

PhotoCredit:

Map- divethereef

Cod Feeding Frenzy- Towtown Mafia

Cod- Richard Ling

Article by Michael Dawson from Diving Discoveries

This article is written to provide an unbiased factual information source based on the reaction of hundreds of divers that I have had the opportunity to speak to after diving the Blue Hole.
Since I was a dive operator in Belize for many years and love the country, there will be some readers that say, of course I will promote the Blue Hole in a positive manner but the real truth is I personally think for 90% of divers it’s a great experience a great dive and a great addition to diving Belize.

The Great Blue Hole of Belize is 1000ft across and 460ft deep and forms an almost perfect circle. It has been a favorite fishing ground for Belizean fishermen for hundreds of years and in 1970 it was introduced to the public by Jacque Cousteau whom on his boat the Calypso charted the Blue Hole for the first time and highlighted its wonders in a TV documentary.

Blue Hole underwater
The Belize Blue Hole is unique in many ways, one being that it is the only Blue Hole in the world that can be seen with the naked eye from outer space. It is a fact that thousands of years ago the Blue Hole was a cave that was above sea level, the reason we know this is because Stalactites and stalagmites cannot form underwater, and can only grow with the constant drip drip that can be seen happening to the stalactites in many above ground caves systems today.

When you consider that it takes more than 100 years for a Stalactite to grow just one inch, it’s a spectacular sight to see a 40ft stalactite that has taken literally thousands of years to reach that size.
The Stalactites can be found in the Blue Hole starting at 100ft, hanging suspended from the ceiling some more than 40ft long.

The Blue Hole and the surrounding area has been designated a World Heritage site due to is uniqueness and is another one of Belize’s many protected areas.

(Did you know that almost one third of the country of Belize is designated as protected reserves?)

Many people don’t realize it but there are only 2 dive able spots in the Blue Hole, The north side which is the more popular side for the larger boats, due to fairly easy access to that side, and then their is the south side which generally only the smaller boats can access due to wind direction and the fact that it has to be dove from within the circumference of the hole itself.

Each has only about 300ft or so of Stalactites hanging down after that is just a flat wall of basically nothing.  On the North dive-site you only have Stalactites (those that hang down) with nothing but the abyss below you, on the South side it has both Stalactites and Stalagmites which can be found at around 145ft where there is a small ledge that has some Stalagmites, this is the side you are more likely to encounter the resident Shark population. In many message board posts you will read that some divers see lots of sharks while other divers see none and there is a simple explanation for this.

I dove the Blue Hole for more than 12 years and while today the Blue Hole has a large population of Caribbean Reef Sharks it will depend on how you dive the Blue hole and whom you dive it with whether you will see the resident sharks or not. Many years ago before this large population became a near daily occurrence, we did on occasion see sharks in the Blue Hole but always on the South side, and almost NEVER when we dove the North side which was 99% of the time, because as mentioned the size of the boat we were using only allowed us to dive the south side when winds were favorable.

Bull Shark in Belize’s Blue Hole

So why do some divers see sharks and other do not? Here’s the scoop

Nearly all the boats that dive the Blue Hole from San Pedro see the sharks on many occasions, and the reason for this is that they get to the Blue Hole FIRST before the Aggressors and other large boats, resorts etc that are located in the area. (Make a mental note here that normally it’s the very experienced divers that usually book the liveaboards and stay at the remote Atoll resorts because that is where the best diving in Belize can usually be found)

Being the first to dive the Blue Hole affords them better visibility since the first group to dive the Blue Hole gets the best vis, the reason for this is, as you descend it causes the silt to dislodge as the bubbles rise and releases the silt causing visibility to become reduced. (these days due to the large number of boats and divers visibility is nearly always quite bad compared to the other fantastic dives at Lighthouse Reef)

When you consider that San Pedro sends many boats a day to the Blue Hole you can understand why those that dive it later in the morning under the pretext (Lets wait till the san pedro boats leave so its less busy) dive a site that has had probably 50 divers through it already before they get the chance to dive it.

This puts them at a distinct disadvantage as to the quality of the dive especially in the area of visibility since 40-50 divers and there bubbles will reduce visibility by up to 50% in some cases, in addition there are the Sharks.

The Sharks will sometimes follow you throughout the dive but are mainly utilized at the end of the dive since you have an extended safety stop of 10 minutes or so and while waiting out that time on the sandy ledge located at 15ft you are buzzed and entertained by up to 30 Caribbean Reef Sharks.(Not Guaranteed)

The sharks are induced to come to the surface by baiting the water with sardines this will bring them to the surface from the depths of the Blue Hole and give the diver the opportunity to view these magnificent creatures during the safety stop.

The liveaboards do not bait the water or the local resorts and if this is not done the likelihood of seeing any sharks is reduced by 90% so you can clearly see that most divers that dive the Blue Hole from a liveabord or an Atoll resort will have a far inferior dive due to these reasons. Baiting is now not allowed however some operators still do it to try and get the sharks up from the depths.

It is normally the very experienced divers that are usually the ones that are on the liveaboards because this normally affords them the best diving opportunities in Belize and that is absolutely correct with the EXCEPTION of the Blue Hole dive based on how they are currently running that dive.

Over the years a repeated question is posted on the various diver message boards is the Blue Hole Worth diving? And you will see the same answers time and time again from don’t bother it’s a waste of time to it’s a great dive well worth it and everything in between.

Why is there such a vast difference in peoples opinions, my answer is that most regulars on message boards, that is those that post at least once a week etc are normally very active divers and have lots of experience and have had the opportunity to dive multiple places around the world and give there advice freely to others.

This however can do an injustice to a fairly new diver that happens upon a message board and asks the question is the Blue Hole worth diving ?

Most of the answers I have seen on message boards are negative when asking this question, mainly I believe because its a very experienced diver that maybe has 1000’s of dives under his belt and when he dove the Blue Hole it was probably from a liveaboard after a bunch of other divers had dove it and because of his worldly experience he was less than impressed with the Blue Hole, so he makes his experience heard to this fairly new diver that has only dove cozumel since certification and has 20 dives under his belt, he of course thinks this expert diver knows exactly what he is talking about so decided NOT to dive the Blue Hole because of what he has been told.

When this fairly new diver gets to Belize and is asked do you want to dive the Blue Hole I receive the answer OHH no I have heard its not that good I then I ask who told you that, and I receive an answer of I read it on a message board, or my friend came to Belize and he told me, so I ask did he dive the Blue Hole while he was here then?? and I receive an answer Oh no but he had heard it was not worth it either so did not dive it when he was in Belize. I hear this time after time after time.

I then explain the Blue Hole trip and hopefully I had some guests in house that have just come back and then I don’t have to say a thing they will sell them a trip for me but if I do not have divers in-house then I will tell them about the trip and encourage them to go and I usually add that if they don’t think it was worth it I will refund there money, needless to say to this date I have never refunded anyone’s money normally they are extremely appreciative that I talked them into it and let them make there own mind up and I am happy to break the cycle of the OH No I heard it was not worth it mode. Why do I do this if I made more money keeping them in house? the reason is that I am the first to say that Belize has many different areas to dive and each unique in what it has to offer, based on what a specific diver is looking for in a vacation (that’s another Belize article to follow soon) I want the visiting diver to go back with a positive impression of diving Belize and anything I can do to increase there enjoyment of diving Belize then I will do that.

The Blue Hole is a unique dive that if dove correctly can be an excellent addition to any divers logbook it will be less impressive to those divers with thousands of dives under there belt but the other 95% of divers will really enjoy the dive and view it as a positive DIFFERENT enjoyable dive.

So next time you see a question posted on a message board asking about the Blue Hole be sensitive to the experience of the diver asking when you answer it. Divers whom have been lucky enough to travel all over the world with thousands of dives under there belt will find it less of a thrill however the average diver will enjoy diving the Lighthouse Reef and The Great Blue Hole of Belize the possibility of sharks the eerie feeling and sheer difference, it will be a memorable diving experience for them, give them the chance to make their own judgments.

Dive Safe
Gaz Cooper -  Dive Belize

This island was declared a patrimony to humanity in 1986 by UNESCO, effectively protecting the waters that surround the island as well as Garajonay, the island’s national park found in the interior. This is the only island in the archipelago that has no modern volcanic activity; there are no volcanoes, craters or lava fields here. Instead, green valleys, mountains and forests give the island a wonderful green landscape.

An airport was built on the island no too long ago and the maritime services were also recently updated; you can travel to and from Tenerife, El Hierro and La Palma. The island has become a central travel hub, allowing divers to hop between islands.

The world renowned waters of La Gomera are teaming with all types of marine fauna and it is very common to end up amidst huge shoals of pelagic fish such as barracuda, seriola rivoliana as well as various types of tuna.

There are currently 22 dive sites on the island and all of them are worth checking out. The dive site, “La Baja Del Secreto” (The secret descent in Spanish) is ideal for night dives. The dive site is accessed via boat and is right in front of Charco del Conde. What makes the dive site unforgettable is the presence of an underwater rock formation which rests on top of a black sand bed about 12 metres beneath water. Much of the rock formation has eroded but the local inhabitants do not seem to mind. Here you will find octopi, sponges, sea anemone and spider crabs scurrying about the structure. Swim inwards and you’ll come across a rock covered field where redhead cichlid, bream and roncador frequent.

Here´s the contact information for the dive centres located on the island:

Fisch & Co + 34 922 805 688

J. Tecina Dive Resort +34 922 895 902

Gomera Divers +34 696 219 398

Photo taken by santi martin

Article by Michael Dawson from Diving Discoveries

Often times when people think of Spain bull fighting, tasty paella, tinto de verano and lots of sun and beaches comes to mind but the Iberian Peninsula also offers a plethora of diving locations that are worth checking out.

Take Lloret de mar for instance. This Mediterranean coastal town located in the north eastern part of Span in coastal Catalonia which is known for being one of the most popular holiday resorts in Costa Brava. It´s also a prime location for Scuba divers since the city is consistently awarded the EU Blue Flag status due to the cleanliness of the beach.

Water, symbol of life, is the essence of Lloret since the entire villa is practically a marina. Crystal waters surround the golden sand beaches and culture, history, gardens, fine shopping and a vibrant nightlife turned this sleepy little fishing town into a unforgettable tourist hotspot, especially those geared for outdoor activities.

The grand splendour of nature courses throughout the entire villa turning it into an idyll location for outdoor lovers full of beautiful trails, long sandy beaches, gorgeous natural bays and small coves such as Cala d´en Trons, Sa Caleta, Cala Banyes, Cala dels Frares…

Many of these locations provide for great dive spots. Cala Canyelles for instance is a natural bay in Lloret that remains practically virgin, unspoiled by men´s hand. Cold, crystal clear waters attract lots of wildlife and guarantee long visibility beneath water. A diversity of wildlife exists here thanks to the massive, sprawling underwater meadows of Neptune Grass. These fields are a great indicator for high biodiversity and pre-coral reefs are common and easy to find; fish like groupers, moray eels, congers, scorpion fish, and other large sport fish frequent this spot. Tuna fish, barracudas and plenty of cetaceans are commonly seen throughout the area.

This bay is situated between the coastal villages of Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar. Travel plans can be arranged by contacting any of the following dive centers. A few dive centres exist here and offer various services such as daily guided boat excursions, PADI, ACUC, FECDAS courses, rental of Scuba equipment, diving insurance, etc. You can easily get to Lloret de Mar by flying into Barcelona and taking a bus or train into the city.

Photos made by David Domingo

Lloret de Mar is the largest and liveliest resort in the area. It offers unforgettable sights and historical monuments as well as pristine beaches that offer Scuba divers wonderful diving opportunities. There are five beaches located in this villa, all of which share a palm shaded promenade on the boarder. Lastly, if divers prefer to have fun in the water other than Scuba diving they could always check out Water World, the largest water park on the Costa Brava which is found in Lloret de Mar.

Dive Centres in Lloret de Mar

Sa Caleta Diving Centre: + 34 972 370 819

International Lloret Diving Centre: + 34 972 34 61 69

Canyelles: + 34 626 14 23 71

Article by Michael Dawson from Diving Discoveries

Multiple shades of vivid blues surround the island “El Hierro,” which means iron in Spanish, attracting all sorts of aquatic life and scuba lovers. Hierro Island forms part of the Canary Archipelago off the North West coast of Africa and is a hidden diving wonder waiting to be discovered. It is the least populated island and more than half of the island is a protected wildlife reserve. Politics have focused on sustainable development which ensures that the flourishing surroundings waters withstand the presence of man. El Hierro is a small stick of dynamite, offering incredible cliffs as high as 1200 meters and a warped lava molded countryside with stark contrasts of green valleys.

This unique island was once known as the end of the World, or at least in Roman times, being that it exists on the most western perimeter of the island chain. Expect to find a little bit of everything in Hierro except for nice long sandy beaches. Like the rest of the chain, Isla Hierro exists as the result of volcanic activity. The Canary Islands formed about 65 million years ago when a large mantle plume became active, allowing for the islands to form overtime. This is not hard to deduce since the island is full of vast lava fields, fertile valleys, wind-warped thousand year old trees, rocky cliffs and thought to be extinguished reptiles.

You have to go the extra mile in order to enjoy this Scuba diver´s haven. The waters at Hierro island are fairly warm throughout the year. In order to visit el Hierro, you can fly to Tenerife or Gran Canaria, switch flights at the airport or take a 15 minute bust to the ferry station of Los Cristianos from Tenerife-S airport and take the ship to La Estaca port in the Northern part of el Hierro. Plentiful hostels and lodging exist on the island and the multitude of dive centers provide ample Scuba diving equipment for rent. Here´s a short lost of the available dive centers with contact information:

• El Hierro S.L. Phone: +34 922 557 023
• El Meridiano Phone: +34 922 557 076
• Arrecifal Phone: +34 922 557 171
• El Submarino Phone: +34 922 557 075
• Fan Diving Phone: +34 922 557 085
• El Tamboril Phone: +34 922 557 184
• Buceo La Restinga Phone: +34 922 557 167
• Taxidivers Phone: +34 922 557 142

The inhospitable rocky island terrain has kept the number of inhabitants to a mere ten thousand but this should be considered a benefit if anything since the island is in a pristine state; the waters and forests on Hierro have been maintained in tip top condition, so much so that UNESCO designated it a Biosphere Reserve, ensuring the protection and safe enjoyment of the island’s natural resources.

El Hierro might not sound that impressive since it is essentially a rock of an island that has a small population but the well preserved natural resources transform Hierro Island into a diver’s dream. Don’t let the small population fool you; the island is home to twelve different dive centers so you won’t have any trouble finding any place to dive.

The small island is still fairly underdeveloped so don´t expect throngs of tourists here. Enjoy it while you can is all I can say because the rest of the islands already present themselves as major tourist destinations. El Hierro is the youngest volcanic island in the chain so the rock formations are very well preserved and are pulsating with life. Underwater rock formations are known to attract all sorts of marine life. The island is located smack dab in the middle of the Gulf current which constantly blows from north to south, transporting plentiful amounts of underwater life. The winds are both a blessing and a curse since the water is usually freezing cold, but Hierro Island is the furthest west and has the warmest waters in the Canaries.

The island makes up for the lack of sandy beaches by offering incredible underwater scenery. The coast is riddled with steep cliffs, reefs and pillow lava, providing perfect homes for trumpet fish, spiny globefish, black coral, sea bream as well as many other types of sea life. The continental shelf is practically nonexistent near the island which allows for fish to thrive in the surrounding great depths.

Most of these beautiful sites are located in the marine reserve Mar de las Calmas, which translates into calm seas, since its waters are constantly calm, offering great visibility to scuba divers and snorkelers. Commercial fishing is not permitted in these protected waters so large specimens of grouper and jacks are commonly spotted near the island. What many people don´t know about the reserve is that a WWII sunken submarine sank near by, but it rests at such deep depths that we cannot enjoy it.

The island has an intriguing past and a bright future ahead of it. Hierro Island could become completely energy self-sufficient by using the constant steady Trade wind breeze to harvest wind energy. It’s great to see the nation turn to alternative energies but the idea of a huge wind farm surrounding the island makes it less appealing for me, as I diver anyways (the wind farms could destroy ecosystems, cause large amounts of turbidity, affect marine wildlife, close dive sites, etc.)

The Canary Islands is also known as the Happy Islands and this come as no surprise should you grace the rocky coasts of el Hierro. She offers an array of diving activities in a unique environment making the island a perfect destination for an unforgettable scuba diving holiday.

This article was contributed by one of our friends , Michael Dawson from Diving Discoveries . Several photos have been used from collection of Philippe Guillaume

Mention diving in Thailand to any reasonably seasoned diver and he will most likely burst into some tale of his exploits on a live-aboard in the Similan Islands or regale you with an awesome wreck in Pattaya, stun you with the images of a Krabi dive or simply bore you with intricate details of his open water course on Koh Tao. He is likely to mention almost every dive site in the country with the exception of Koh Chang and the diving found there. I have had the great pleasure of diving Koh Chang and felt that I’d be selfish to keep it a secret for any longer.

Koh Chang, the largest island in the Koh Chang archipelago and the second largest island in Thailand (Phuket being the largest), lies in the East of the Gulf of Thailand, only an hour from the border of Cambodia. It can be reached by air (cheap flights from Suvarnabhumi airport fly throughout the day), road or sea. There are three ferry services that operate out of Koh Chang and run hourly. The island’s pace is surprisingly relaxed considering its size, this is mostly due to the geography of the island which splits the West coast into sand-fronted valleys with large mountains separating the villages. There is only one road that runs the perimeter of the island and connects the villages together with some of the steepest and bend-ridden tarmac I’ve ever been witness to! The vast majority of civilization hugs the West coast and tends to become less commercial as you drive from the North, where the ferry docks, to the South, where most of the diving boats leave.

The sea on the beaches of Koh Chang itself is great for swimming in (shallow, sandy, warm at 32 degrees Celsius and calm) but offers poor diving. So diving is done from boats, usually fishing boats that have been fitted for diving. They are slow but offer space, easy access to the water from diving platforms and stability in rough seas. There are also some schools that work from faster but less comfortable speed boats. The visibility is extremely unpredictable as there are so many islands and different currents that make reading the water almost impossible until you are at the dive site. The visibility at one dive site might be as low as six meters but if you move to another site, only ten minuets away, you will be presented with fifteen meters of clear water. The flora and fauna on offer is also unpredictable though a glance through any fish book of South-East Asia will give you a very good idea of what to expect. Whale sharks are annual visitors (March-April is the best bet) and there are often sea turtles, bamboo sharks, octopus and all the other usual suspects.

The dive sites on Koh Chang can be broadly separated into two locations; Koh Chang (or “local”) and Koh Rang (or the National Marine Park). The first locale has three major dive sites that are located in the sea about a half hour boat ride from the south of Koh Chang (from the fishing village Bang Bao which stands on stilts in a bay). The other dive site category is Koh Rang, this is a large island which can be accessed in about and hour and a half by boat, this has around seven dive sites of note which all posses different characteristics. The main difference between the two dive areas is that the local sites are in open sea and tend to support larger fish but have less rich reefs whereas the Koh Rang sites are more densely packed with coral and smaller reef fish. You could liken the local sites to a savannah and the National Marine Park to a jungle.

Local Dive Sites

Hin Raap

A bare piece of rock twenty meters long breaks the surface to mark Hin Raap. It is about thirty minutes by boat from Bang Bao pier. The depth ranges from around five meters to sixteen meters and supports a visibility that can be anywhere from five to fifteen meters. The reef is rocky with a large base of stag-horn coral and barrel sponges. The site is home to an abundance of smaller reef fish and crustaceans.

Hin Luk Baht

One of the most visited dive sites in Koh Chang because of its close proximity to the main island and because of its impressive rock pinnacle structure that stands over twenty meters tall and only just breaks the surface. The visibility is similar to that of Hin Raap but tends to support larger schools of fish and some larger, solitary fish such as Great Barracuda and Titan Trigger Fish. This is a personal favourite of mine when the visibility is good.

Koh Rang (or the National Marine Park)

Koh Yak & Koh Lon

These are two completely separate dive sites that are split by a large enough expanse of water that it is impractical to swim between them, but I have grouped them together as they share many of the same characteristics in reef formation, geography and fish population.

Both islands are small, lightly vegetated and relatively unremarkable on the surface. What makes them special is their shallow reefs that are rich with hard and soft coral and dense with reef fish. They are both surrounded by a surprisingly active sand fringe that is home to Blue-Spotted Stingray, Octopus and Stonefish

In the coral reef itself you will be treated to a veritable carnival of Clownfish as they play in their anemones. You are also likely to see Moray Eels, Scorpion fish, Bat fish and Angel fish.

Hin Gaduang or “The Pinnacles”

The Pinnacles is one of the deepest dives in the area, it consists of two large rock pillars that stand around thirty meters tall and sit just centimetres below the surface. They support a mixed reef and large schools of Barracuda and other reef fish. There are usually Crown-of-Thorn Starfish to observe and a multitude of camouflaged aquatic life such as Stonefish and Scorpionfish clinging to the rock face. Once on the sand (at around twenty-five meters) it is possible to spot Lion fish and Sand Rays.

Hin Guak Ma

This dive site is often afflicted with strong currents but it is often worth braving the torrent so that you can witness the healthy reef and abundant life that dwells within. There are Yellow-tail Barracuda hiding from the force of the current behind Brain and Mountain coral and there is a spectacular patch of soft yellow coral on the corner of the reef that marks the turn around point for a one-hour dive.

Diving in Koh Chang is a relaxed and unchallenged affair for the most part with very little current in most sites and a generally shallow average depth. The reefs are healthy and the fish are abundant. There is no need for Nitrox or Tec gear but you’d kick yourself if you didn’t bring a camera. The sites are ideal for teaching in and the dive schools are above average in the quality of instruction. The prices might tend to be a little higher than in Koh Tao for diving or instruction but the quality of service is generally much higher. I have dived Koh Chang many times and I look forward to diving it much more…

Saipan is the second largest in Archipelago of Mariana Islands located in the Pacific Ocean and also is the capital of Northern Mariana Islands. Being located within tropical climatic zone Islands of Saipan  have very mild climate with constant temperature +27, +29 ° C . Average  temperature of the sea is +25 ° C. This destination is perfect for diving all year round.

You’ll not be mistaken to call Saipan “pearl” of Mariana Islands .  Sandy beaches and offshore reef form a large lagoon which is located in the western part of the island. The eastern side of Saipan is rocky, with lots of mysterious caves and picturesque places.

The visitors of the island can not only swim and sunbathe on the beach, but also arrange interesting tours with survey uninhabited parts of the island, caves and natural attractions. The most beautiful place located in Saipan called Grotto, which is a natural cave with underground lakes and tunnels to the open sea. Many master divers have an opinion that underwater part of Grotto is the second best in the world with its beauty.

Saipan presents particular interest for divers because of rich underwater world, coral arrays at a short distance from the shore, underwater caves, sunken Japanese ships and fighters. In other words ” everything“  which every scuba diver is eager to see.

Dive Sites of Saipan

Eagle-Ray City

Eagle-Ray city is one of the most unique places for diving in Saipan. At a depth of 10m on a sandy soil there is a stone formation. Under favorable conditions, you can meet more than 40 rays, floating around it. Divers dive around a stone pyramid, and cling to the rocks. They watch as stingrays swim just a few centimeters above them. Photographers have a great chance to make unique images there.

Dimple

Dimple is underwater rock in the western part of Saipan. When you enter the water you can see a large crowd of red snapper and sank to its base, and meet hundreds of different representatives of marine life: moray eels, stingrays, turtles, etc. Taking along a feed for fish, you will get a lot of impressions from their feeding. Thousands of small fish, like colorful butterflies begin to swarm around you. The depth of the site varies from 12 to 32 m, making it accessible to divers of all levels.

Ice Cream

Underwater rock called Ice Cream, is located in the western part of Saipan. This haven dozen small moray eels, anemones and clown-fish. This is a shallow dive. The base rock is at a depth of 15m, while its upper part is about 6m. Slopes swim at the top of the rock when there are currents. The name is given to the rock for its form, similar to the portion of ice cream.

Lao Lao Bay

This bay is one of the most popular dive sites. It is located on one of the largest reefs in Saipan. This place is recommended for beginner divers. Fauna is represented by numerous bright tropical fish. If during the dive you are careful to look around, you’ll see octopus and fish-stone.

Naftan

One of the best dives on the wall in the Mariana Islands with fantastic visibility and marine life is located in the southern part of the island. The upper edge of the wall is at a depth of 15 m, and the base at 50 m. At the top there are some beautiful coral formations, which is home to many fish. Swim along the wall and rou’ll be enchanted with colored paints underwater kingdom. At the base of the cliff you can see the fish, napoleon and octopus. This site is accessible to divers of all levels, but it is preferable for the more experienced.

Chinsen

Chinsen is a large Japanese freighter that sank more than 50 years ago. It is lying in shallow waters in the lagoon. It is home to many thousands of fish and corals. Flocks of red snapper patrol vessel. Reef sharks are not rare guests here as well. The history of the wreck is very interesting, so you should probably ask your guide to tell it.

Banzai Cliff

Banzai Cliff is a beautiful wall, located in the northern part of the island. The summer period is the most favorable time for diving in this place. While diving you will find sharks, rays, dolphins, turtles, floating among the spectacular coral and anemones. This place is preferable for advanced divers, due to strong currents and a decent depth.

Mariana islands offer world-class scuba diving. Mariana islands are washed with the warm waters and full of coral reefs, caves, strange rocks and sunken ships. Saipan has more than 18 unique dive sites. During the first dive at 5:00 am you can usually find turtles, sharks, manta rays and tuna in Grotto. Other diving sites are not less interesting: at Wing Beach you can see a large settlement octopus, site B-29 is the place flooded with Japanese seaplane bombers, and Black Coral is a site with stunningly beautiful colony of black coral.

Sharm El Sheikh – one of the most popular tourist destinations in Egypt – makes the perfect base to start your diving adventure in.  Many of the most spectacular wrecks and reefs are but a short boat ride away

Some interesting facts you should know; the Red Sea – a large saltwater inlet from the Indian Ocean – is bordered by Asia and Africa and occupies a surface area of some 170,000 square miles.  Debate still rages as to how the name was arrived at and there are several theories which include; a red seasonal algae bloom (Trichodesium Erythraeum), the name of the surrounding mountain ranges in Egypt and alternatively the name translating into a directional indicator (Black Sea is also thought to translate to north).

The Red Sea has been labeled as a marine eco region and conservation area by the Worldwide Wildlife Federation.  The patchwork quilt of vibrant colours and weird and wonderful formations formed by the 200 different varieties of hard and soft water corals are home to some 1,200 varying species of fish, 1,000 invertebrate species and around 44 different sharks (not good news for those who have to watch the Jaw’s films from behind the sofa).

The average water temperatures in summer range from 26°C in the north and 30°C in the south.  Interestingly it is also one of the most saline bodies of water in the world due to a high level of evaporation.

With over 1,200 miles of coral reef stretching around its coastline the Red Sea is a perfect diving destination for 2 reasons; firstly, the reefs and the lagoons make for the perfect environment for abundant marine life and secondly; the reefs that make life here possible are treacherous to ships navigating through and around them which has led to some truly amazing wreck sites, more often than not in depths of only 20-30 metres of crystal clear water.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 Red Sea dives off the Egyptian coast:

1: The SS Thistlegorm wreck; a military vessel built in Glasgow in 1940, sank in the area of Sh’ab Ali in the Gulf of Suez in October 1941 after suffering fatal damage from a German bomber.  An awe inspiring dive site with the original cargo of armored gun carriers, jeeps, trucks, rifles and ammunition still to be seen.  An explosion hole in the 120 meter hull of the wreck allows easy entry to see the cargo, schooling Barracuda and Giant Tuna that now call her home.  It’s easy to see why this wreck is one of the most popular in the world but hurry as she is deteriorating fast.

2: The Giannis D wreck: a 100 metre long cargo ship built in Japan in 1969, sank in April 1983 in the Straits of Gubal after sailing off course and striking a reef.  A spectacular and mostly intact wreck (resting in 3 sections on the ocean floor) with the interior spaces still accessible.

You can still enter the engine room and the accommodation quarters can be seen along with all manner of marine life that has made the wreck its home; including the rather prickly and very aptly named “Crown of Thorns Starfish”.  A reef nearby has a spectacular array of corals and fish that should not be missed (many of which have also now crossed over to the wreck).

3: The SS Dunraven wreck: built in 1873 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, an 80 meter long steamship, sank in 1876 whilst carrying a cargo of spices, cotton and timber.  Various stories surround the fateful night she sank but perhaps the most interesting is that she was set alight during an alleged drunken row between the Captain, his wife and his first mate (draw your own conclusions here).  It seems more likely that in reality the cause of the sinking was mis-navigation which was to be the reason his license was later revoked by the British Board of Trade.

The ships cave-like hull is open to exploration owing to it being excavated by archaeologists in the 1980′s.  The remains of the boilers and metalwork (since collapsed) can still be seen along with the Giant Morays and Yellow Goat that now call the wreck home.  You’ll find all manner of marine life outside too including the rare Ghost Pipe fish and perhaps schools of Bat fish which makes for superb photo opportunity.

4: The Carnatic wreck: built in London in 1862, a P&O passenger ship (sail and steam) 90 meters in length.  She sank carrying cotton bails, wine and Royal Mint gold to the tune of £40,000 after a 36 hour battle on the Sha’ab Abu Nuhas reef.  Amazingly the Captain had issued the order that the passengers and crew remain aboard being confident of rescue by a sister P&O ship on her return journey.  Unfortunately no such rescue was affected and the ship broke in half as the seas became rougher and began her 24 metre descent to the ocean floor.

You would be hard pressed to find any gold (every last piece was recovered shortly afterwards during a British salvage operation) but this wreck site certainly doesn’t disappoint when it comes to a remarkably preserved example of a19^th century passenger ship.

Amazingly the fore and aft sections of the ship are still accessible and have been colonized over time by Glass fish along with an indigenous reef fish population, making the “wine wreck” a dream come true for underwater photographers.

Should you fancy a tipple whilst you’re exploring the wreck, intact bottles of wine can still be seen littering the hull and ocean floor; although drinking them is probably not recommended…

5: The Ras Mohammed National Park: Finally, no diving experience could be complete without visiting the beautiful reefs within this area of protection.  The reefs offer a surprisingly stark contrast to the barren desert that borders them on land, with tapestries of striking colour and marine life in abundance.

Located in the Gulf of Suez (a short boat ride from Sharm El Sheikh) the national park incorporates the spectacular vertical coral walls of the “Main Beach” along with a recently opened reef called Marsa Bareika that contains an array of superior coral specimens.  Here you will find Barracudas, Snappers (along with the odd shark or two) along with a population of 20 metre long eels.  The calm sheltered water makes this an easy dive for the beginner and an overall must see experience.

This is but a short selection of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring Red Sea diving hotspots.  No visit to Egypt should be complete without experiencing one of the most beautiful diving destinations the world has to offer.

Written by Chris Rowlands of the travelsupermarket.com Holidays in Egypt team.

Diving is allowed only on Wednesday and Thursday . Prices for these type of diving vary , but I’ve checked the official website and it says

The Dead Sea diving experience cost is US$ 1,200 per diver.

Price include:
1 night accommodation in high class hotel
3 meals – Evening, Breakfast, Lunch
Transportation from / to hotel to diving site
Supply of air tanks, full face diving masks, weights
Issue of Dead Sea Divers certificate +sticker + Polo shirt

For more information please visit:   Dead Sea Divers