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

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

Costa Rica, located off the coast of Pacific Ocean in Central America, can be tagged as one of the world’s most admired and sought after place for vacationing in Central America. Enriched with its rich Eco-Diversity in terms of climate, topography, flora and fauna, this place can be labeled as a tourist’s dream. The presence of sultry beaches, rain forests and the ever brilliant cloud forests supports the idea of being a perfect vacationing spot. Hundreds of species of animals and the birds are a treasure to this country. Apart from that, this place is also supportive for various fun related activities like Scuba Diving. Another noteworthy fact is that this place has an abundant connectivity to the outside world. Also the tourists have the privilege of staying in various well managed hotels and rented houses, which are available in abundance, in accordance to one’s convenience and choice.

This activity, namely Scuba Diving, offers an altogether rich experience to the visitors due to the presence of rich aquatic life in the Caribbean Sea and the pacific side. The primary spot of this activity is at the western coast of Pacific Ocean. Although it is little discovered and still uncrowded, the Scuba divers travel here from all parts of the world to see thousands of hammerhead sharks and enormous schools of innumerable fish in tropical, plankton rich water. The waters offshore also teem with marine life. The conditions are very conducive for this activity. The waters are generally calm and very transparent here. The best time for the same purpose is September-November. The main areas for this activity are Isla del Cano, northern province of Guanacaste. The popularity of the Guanacaste region is its proximity to some of the country’s best terrestrial and aquatic ecotourism. Sites, such as Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, and several national parks, feature abundant wildlife and excitement making this area a great destination for divers and non-divers. Canoeing and kayaking are the other best low impact ways to enjoy these amazing areas and sea kayak and canoe tours are designed with an educative emphasis that seeks to assure preservation of the environment for years to come. The warm, rushing rivers which sweep through Costa Rica’s lush countryside offer world class white water rafting. But still, this place is more inclined towards the activity of Scuba Diving.

Deep Blue Diving is another popular diving site located on the main street of Playas del Coco on the Gulf of Papagayo. This gulf, widely recognized as the premiere diving destination in Costa Rica with its sun swept beaches and rocky offshore islands, is an area that offers a variety of diving adventures for all levels of scuba divers. The diving on volcanic pinnacles offers white-tipped reef sharks, bull sharks, giant Manta Rays, eagle rays, diamond stingrays, octopus, and huge schools of tropical fish. The rich waters of Costa Rica provide a habitat for a large variety of marine life from the large pelagic to the delicate nudibranchs. With over 40 dive sites from which to choose, the place offers such a treat which the divers can only dream about. In one word, abundant Humpback, sei, pilot, and false killer whales, over five species of dolphin, white tipped reef sharks, bull sharks, giant pacific manta rays, mobula rays, southern sting rays, spotted eagle rays, green sea turtles, snappers, king angels, moorish idols, trumpet fish, scorpion fish, various types of eels, spiny lobster, octopus, huge schools of barracuda, jacks, grunts, and much more are available for the Divers.

Costa Rican water temperature ranges from 21 to 29 C (70 to 85 F). The dry season runs from November to May but can be very windy. From June to November is the rainy season when hammerhead sharks are more frequent. May is a good time to go as it not too windy or wet. The average depth is 15- 100 ft and average visibility is 30 -90 ft approximately. This place with all its features and life is a must visit place for the Scuba diving. Divers, please note….

General Info
Belize is a small Central American country that has the good fortune to have a true natural marvel off its coastline. The Belize Barrier Reef is the longest in the Northern Hemisphere, and offers a vast range of diving possibilities for all skill levels.

Secluded Country
Belize covers around 8,880 sq miles (23,000 sq km) and has only 220,000 inhabitants. The country is renowned for its marine life, and due to the efforts of various voluntary organizations and its government, over 40 percent of Belize has been classified as a nature reserve.

The Barrier Reef
Belize also boasts a World Heritage Site—the Belize Barrier Reef. Extending for 174 miles (280 km) and ranging from 9 miles (14 km) to 19 miles (30 km) offshore, the reef offers a huge variety of divable sites to explore. Three of thefour atolls in the Caribbean are found along the length of the reef. An atoll is a circular island that surrounds a lagoon, and is formed when coral reefs grow around the perimeter of a collapsed volcano. Linear sand and coral islands —known locally as cayes—also run along the length of the Barrier Reef, and provide a base for much of the area’s dive activity. Of these, Ambergris Caye is the most popular location.

Diving Highlights
Around 500 fish species swarm over the reef, including five different species of butterfly fish. Some larger animal species can also be seen, including huge jewfish and manta rays on the outer reef, and stingrays and nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley. There are also healthy populations of reef sharks, as well as manatees in the shallow inshore waters and estuaries of the country. While the most famous site in Belize is undoubtedly the Blue Hole, the area has a great deal more to offer, with classic reef dives, magnificent spur and groove reef formations, and some notable seasonal gatherings of big animals. At Gladden Spit in the south of the country, large numbers of whale sharks meet in feeding aggregations during the early part of the year. These huge ocean-going plankton-feeders grow to as much as 60 ft (18 m) in length.

The Blue Hole
Perhaps the most famous site in Belize is the Blue Hole. Famously explored by Cousteau in 1972, this vast cavern lies 50 miles (80 km) off the east coast of Belize in the middle of Lighthouse Reef. Its perfectly circular entrance measures some 985 ft (300 m) in diameter, with the
cavern plunging to a depth of 410 ft (125 m) beneath. The resident population of bull and lemon sharks in the interior of the Blue Hole is an eerie sight for divers visiting the stalactite formations found 130 ft (40 m) below the surface.

Essential information

• Water Temperature 77–82°F (25–28°C)
• Ecosystem Tropical
• When to visit Diving in Belize takes
• place year-round, but the hurricane
• season begins around October.
• Must-sees Whale sharks at Gladden
• Spit, Blue Hole, Shark Ray Alley.

Roca Partida mean Broken Rock in Spanish. This stark volcanic pinnacle rises from the depths of the Pacific 200 miles (320 km) off the tip of the Baja Peninsula. This is truly wild diving, with powerful swells, big currents, and large marine species at one of the most isolated dive sites in the world.

The most remote outcrop of the Archipelago of Revillagigedo (a group of four islands), Roca Partida rises starkly from the wild surface of the Pacific Ocean, its rugged silhouette reflecting the characteristics of the reefs beneath. Steep walls plunge into deep, dark water, with very little life encrusted on their barren surfaces.

The rock is gorgeous and I’m sure you’d be happy to watch it as longer as you can , however the smell of guano usually force you to make your immersion as soon as possible. Roca Partida is not big and its achievable to swim around it several times (the current and surge) during one dive.

There are several small caves on one side of the rock where whitetip sharks are usually sleep until being disturbed by divers. Large lobster can be seen quite often in this place. Going further away from the Roca Partida hammerhead sharks can be spotted in large numbers. Incidents where the hammerhead sharks approach very close to divers have been recording in past. The rich upwellings from deep water around Roca Partida provide plentiful nutrients and oxygen for circling fish shoals, including huge black jacks and dense schools of barracuda. These in turn attract silky, white-tip, silver-tip, and hammerhead sharks in great numbers. What makes this dive site so special, however, are the manta ray encounters, which are among the best to be had anywhere; these magnificent animals almost seem to seek out divers, resulting in some extraordinary interactions. It’s very likely that divers will meet this amazing creatures. It seems that they can be attracted by some divers,  sometimes they are even playing with divers , swirling around  and swimming directly toward them . Some people believe that mantas can identify you by looking into your eyes and will remember you when you’ll be back. Diving center SolmarV  video in which Manta Rays are playing with divers.

Whale sharks have also been spotted at Roca. Humpback whales are stopping in this place during their migration to and from Alaska. Roca Partida is a great diving destination and quite often is being compared with Darwin and Wolf dive site in the Galapagos islands.

The reputation of Roca Partida is spreading, and it is rapidly becoming
an iconic site in the diving world. Divers willing to make the journey to this remote and wild location will find themselves amply rewarded.

Water Temperature: 66–77°F (19–25°C)
Ecosystem:  Subtropical
Visibility: up to 30m
When to visit:  Roca Partida has good, year-round diving, but cooler winter water is best for shark diversity.
Expected to be seen:  Manta rays, sleeping whitetip and silver-tip sharks, black jacks.

Some Good Resources:

SolmarV Luxury live-aboard dive vessel
Provides good articles , photo gallery , video materials and much more

Nautilus at Sea
I liked this divers blogpost about Roca Patrida , mainly he is describing his dive at Roca Partida

Wracked by decades of civil war, Mozambique was once a forgotten destination in world diving. The end of the conflict in 1992 prompted the gradual return of divers, and revealed the riches that lie in the blue waters off one of Africa’s wildest coastlines.  Scuba Diving in  Mozambique one day will be as famous as diving in Thailand.

Nurturing seas
The fast-moving waters of the Agulhas Current, which passes through the gap between the east coast of Mozambique and the island of Madagascar, are the source of much of Mozambique’s great marine diversity. The reefs in this region are teeming with life, and although the entire coastline has dive sites of merit, there are certain regions that stand out, including Inhaca Island, Ponta do Ouro, the Bazaruto Archipelago, and Cabo San Sebastian.

Far-flung location
Mozambique is by no means an easy dive destination to access. Many of the sites to the south of the country require a sturdy four-wheel drive vehicle to cope with the dirt and sand roads, and the isolated operators and resorts are tucked in behind long stretches of deserted beach. However, Mozambique’s dive sites offer ample reward. The southern region of the country has become well Mozambique known for encounters with huge potato bass and ragged-tooth sharks, whereas farther north, encounters with bull and tiger sharks are a distinct possibility. Humpback whales move through the area in the summer months, and the occasional dugong is sighted in the shallow estuaries along the coast. The Bazaruto Archipelago on Mozambique’s entral coast is an excellent place to see whale sharks, while nearby Vilnaculos is an excellent site to encounter manta rays and dolphins.

Wave-swept wilderness
Mozambique has over 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of coastline, much of it sparsely inhabited. The southern stretches of coast are dominated by sandbars, estuaries, and swamps, while the wilder north is characterized by long beaches and cliffs. The entire coastline is tremendously dramatic and wild, and even the capital Maputo has the famous Inhaca Island—a site famed in the diving world for its large animal encounters—directly offshore.
Dolphins, whale sharks, and manta rays all frequent this site.

Bright future
Mozambique still has a primitive tourist infrastructure, particularly in the northern regions of the country. Malaria is also a significant factor, with most of the country affected at certain times of the year. Nonetheless, Mozambique is making tremendous progress as a tourist destination, with the country’s diving rapidly establishing itself as truly worldclass. Diving here can present challenges for the intrepid traveler, but the isolation and low tourist traffic can be seen as a real advantage in one of Africa’s most
rapidly developing dive destinations.

Scuba Diving in Quirimbas Island

When we’re planning our dive trip we always hoping for unforgettable diving experience.  All divers around the world are dreaming to dive in unspoiled ( by humans ) dive sites .  I want to talk about Quirimbas Archipelago (also referred as Querimbas) this archipelago of 27 coral islands is relatively unknown , but it just matter of time as it is becoming the most attractive travel destination in Mozambique. Many of these islands are uninhabited, and Quirimbas accommodation is limited to a handful of luxurious lodges and romantic beach bungalows,  that is why it’s quite easy to locate an empty stretch of beach or virgin reef  and all this just for you.

Huge diversity of marine wildlife in  these tropical area will amaze even the most experienced divers  in this colorful spot in Indian ocean. Amazing diversity of soft and hard corals can be observed , water temperature almost never drops below 25° by Celsius , thus the condition for diving and snorkeling is excellent almost whole year . Tiny reef fishes and huge game fishes always patrol coral walls . Quite often divers are able to spot big green turtles, reef sharks , leopard moray eels. I’m not even talking about triggerfish , angelfish, potato-brasses which are expected to be seen in each successful dive. But the most joyful part of such travel destination is that there are large number of areas which are unexplored yet and you’ve a good opportunity to discover a new stunning dive site.

Scuba Diving in Bazaruto Archipelago

Transparent waters in this area with dark blue signs on them  are markers of existing incredible coral reef ecosystem in the area.  Scuba diving is suitable both for beginners and experienced divers in this area . Most dives are being conducted at range of depth 5m-20m . In warm waters of Indian ocean an abundance of underwater life;  both big and small is expected to be seen.

What can be expected to be seen

• Hard and Soft corals
• Diversity of exotic fishes ( small and big )
• Giant turtles
• Groupers and Moray eels
• Sting rays
• Black-tail reef sharks at the Potholes
• Manta rays and Whale sharks  at Cabo San Sebastio (20-40m) – for experienced divers

Please note that Padi or NUAI certification is needed to be allowed to conduct a dive , if you’ve no certification there are some centers in where you’ll be able to pass accelerated certification and will be allowed to explore the underwater life of Bazaruto Archipelago.

Andaman sea, Indian ocean

Stone and sea
The Similan Islands consist of nine large granite outcrops sitting 40 miles (64 km) off the coast of Thailand. They rise from the depths of the Andaman Sea, and run for 15 miles (24 km) north to south. Although the islands do have individual names, they are commonly known simply by numbers, starting in the south with Number 1 (Koh Huyong), and continuing to Number 9 (Koh Bangu) in the north. They are characterized by steep granite undersea cliffs on their western shores, with more gentle slopes to the east, where, sheltered from the summer monsoon winds, the coral growth is particularly lush. Over 1,000 fish species swarm over reefs colonized by a dazzling array of soft corals. Brightly colored species, such as coral grouper, sweetlips, snapper, and blue triggerfish are present in great numbers and, from October to May, whale sharks and manta rays are frequently encountered.

The thriving reef systems around the islands were once threatened by overfishing as well as “dynamite fishing”—the use of explosives to kill and collect large numbers of fish—but the islands were declared a national park in 1982, and commercial fishing is now banned. The sweeping coral fields of Christmas Point are particularly spectacular, although they were slightly damaged in the tsunami of 2004. Other notable attractions include a dramatic maze of huge boulder formations at Elephant’s Head Rock. Similan Islands dive sites remain well worth every hour of sea crossing required to visit them.

Conditions

Water Temperature: 79–84°F (26–29°C)
Ecosystem: Tropical
When to visit: Visit the Similan Islands between October and May.
Must-sees: Whale sharks and manta rays; boulder formations at Elephant’s Head Rock; Christmas Point

Diving centers in Muscat:
• DIVECO – 602-101
• Oman Dive Centre – 950-261, 799-600, www.diveoman.com.om
• Moonlight dive centre – 931-7700, www.moonlightdive.com
• Sera divers – 611-314
• Ras al-Hamra Sub Aqua Club – 677-577
• Capital Area Yacht Centre (CAYS) – 737-712, 737-070, 560-345
• Sunny Day Tours Watersports – 700-712
• Muscat divers – 736-402
• Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel (Recreational Department) – 600-500
• Bluzone Watersports (Marina Bandar al-Rowdha) – 737-293

Diving centers in Barka:
• Al Sawadi Beach Resort – 895-545

Diving centers in Musandam:
• Khasab Dive Centre – 830-464

Diving centers in Salalah:
• Samharam Divers – 948-1265, 235-333

It is impossible to independently conduct a dive in the waters of Oman without prior registration in the Oman Diving Federation or in the local dive centers.

The best time for diving is in May, but best season is considered to be from October to May , during this time water is very clear and on islands visibility can reach as high as 25-30 meters. In the July-September the water warm up and visibility drops a lot due to rapid reproduction of plankton. In winter strong winds exist which make diving possible only in sheltered bays.

Some interesting places dives

Damaniyat Islands are located about 90 km to north of Muscat. Damaniyat Islands are chain of nine islands, which are the national bird sanctuary. From a dive center DIVECO, which is located at the hotel Al Sawadi Beach Resort, speedboat will take you to the place of immersion in 30-40 minutes.

Note: since the beginning of May to the end of October diving around the Islands Damaniyat is limited. Permit is being issued by Directorate General of Nature Reserves – 602-285, fax 602-283. But if you’ll pre-arrange this problem with your diving center prior arrival, they will take care about all the problems with the resolution.

Landing on the island is prohibited, and the boat will never come close to shore. But between dives you can get where by swimming. On island you may walk on the sand, but as soon as you’ll try to climb the rock or go deeper into the island, you will be immediately stopped because of shouting of your boat personal: “Please, no enter!”

During our dives in the islands visibility under the water was about 15 meters and water temperature was 25 degrees. Untouched coral gardens, flocks of fish which do not afraid you at all – these are characteristic of diving in Damaniyat islands.

During one dive at these islands you can see such a diversity of fish , which you’ll not be able to see in the Red Sea during whole week. Butterfly fishes, radiant samara, zebra-samara, clowns, groupers in large numbers inhabit the reefs. Honeycomb, list, yellowfin , moray eels sitting under every second stone, and huge whiskers of lobsters protrude from all the crevices of the rocks. During one dive I saw three types of rays, octopus, giant cuttlefish and a rare poisonous fish which name I can’t remember .

At the time of swimming along the coral walls occasionally you’ll be distracted by flocks of batfishes and South Tropical mackerel. It is unusual spectacle, when the flock of mackerel swims along the reef, with widely opened mouths for filtering plankton. I would rate Diving at Damaniyat as Outstanding!

Bandar Jissah
Large number of dive sites in 3-10 minutes from the dive center of Oman Dive Centre. This is one of the best dive centers in Oman. It is very conveniently located about 10 km from the center of Muscat and 10 minutes from the most fashionable country hotel – Al Bustan Palace Hotel. On the beach near the dive center located six double reed bungalows in the Arab style, they can be comfortably accommodated as they are, despite the simplicity, and they are equipped with air conditioners, refrigerators and ceiling fans. At evening barbecue on the beach awaits you with sound waves under the lights of stars.

The cost per person in bungalow with double accommodation is 20 OMR (Oman Riyals) in low season (June to September) and 25 riyals in peak season (from October to May). The price includes only breakfast. There is a good restaurant in territory of dive center and full board will cost you additional 12 Omani riyals.
The price for 12 dives in the presence of the equipment is 90 riyals. This price includes the container, cargo, boat, guide services, mineral water, coffee and biscuits on board. If you’re going to conduct a night dive you’ll have to pay another 3 rials, for the cylinder with Nitrox 32 and 36 – to 3 rials and Nitrox on demand will cost you 5 riyals.

Oman Dive Center also organizes trips to the islands Damaniyat, at least 6 people should agree. The cost of such travel is 9 riyals per person. Diving close to the dive center will be interesting for fans of video and photography, as there are a lot of scenes for macro photography. In this dive center on the wall, we saw a photo of a whale shark with a thankful signature of its author, the Hans-Hassa, famous Austrian underwater photographer who was pioneer in underwater studies about sharks.

The possibility of meeting a “giant animal” in the waters of Oman is one of the highest in the world. It inhabits 13 species of whales and dolphins. Dolphins can be seen everywhere. In year 1996 near the coast of Muscat at the Gulf Rod rare blue whale (the numbers in the world has 5 thousand individuals) had been noticed. The last time blue whale was seen in 1800 off the coast of Al-mouth and Dofara

Visa permit

If you’ll come to Oman by air, a visa can be purchased at the international airport in Muscat for 6.5 Omani riyals. If you are crossing the border by car, take care to obtain visa prior. For 25 dollars and in the presence of photographs and passport and after completing the questionnaire you will receive an entry visa.

To describe whole beauty of scuba diving adventures ( and not only ) in Oman is not possible to do in simple blog post. I did not tell you about the interesting history of the country, with wars, naval battles, pirates, and great rulers and chiefs. There was no opportunity to show the beauty of its exotic nature and wildlife. Better to come to Oman and see this wonderful country with your own eyes.

Tip: Plan your trip in advance. There are not many hotels in Oman, but number of people who want to visit this country rising every day. So book your hotel prior

Scuba Diving in Bodrum, Turkey: General Conditions

• Water temperature:   18°C (65°F) in May to 30°C (86°F) in August
• Suit:   7mm semi dry suits recommended cool months, 3mm-5mm wetsuit during hot months
• Visibility:   20 to 40 meters (70 to 129 feet)
• Diving types:   Wrecks, reefs, walls, drop-offs, caverns and tunnels
• Flora and Fauna:   Octopus, stingrays, groupers, barracuda, morays, sea bream, nudibranchs, seahorses and sponges. There is chance to see dolphins and turtles, but it’s not common.
• Best time to visit:   The diving season runs from April to November at most centers
• Visa permit:   Visa  can be obtained on landing and cost  of it is about  $20.  Hold ups are common during departure , so be patient.

Now I’ll describe famous diving sites. On the picture below I’ve marked diving sites on the map ( with names )

All main dive site are located near to Kara Ada ( Black Island )

Kurt Burun   (KÜRTLER BURUN )
An ideal place for diving both for experienced and novice divers. Rock formation begins with three meters and reach up to 30 m. Almost every time you dive you can see morays, octopus, and many other inhabitants of the underwater world of Aegean.

Buyuk Reef  – Büyük Rif    – Big reef
It will take only 20 minitues to reach here from Bodrum. Otopuses, eels (Moray eels), small fish, huge groupers, barracudas and many other varieties of marine life expected to be seen in Buyuk reef (Büyük Rif ) . This dive site is suitable for experienced divers as often there are currents. The drop-off descends up to 50 meters.

Kucuk Reef  Küçük Rif  – Small reef
Kucuk rif – Small Reef – practically does not differ from the Big Reef. Only dimensions are distinguished. Under favorable weather conditions and with certain desire divers can make diving in both reefs during one day. Large and small reefs are the most vivid and colorful dive sites of Bodrum

Fener
Just around the corner of  Kára  ( Kara ada or Black island )  is located a dive site which is called Fener (Lighthouse). Rock formations begin at 5m depth and descend to 20 meters. Here you can find morays, octopus, dragon-fish and other inhabitants of marine life.

Pacoz Koyu  -  paçoz koyu
Located between Fener and Kacakci. Approximately 8m wall falls up to 24 meters. If you’re lucky – you can see octopus and barracuda. At a depth of about 6-7 meters deep, you’ll see a wall covered by different vegetation. At a depth of 14 m there is a sunken yacht. So this dive site is also good for wreck diving.

Kacakci Koyu  -  Kaçakçı koyu
Located at a distance of 30 minutes from Bodrum. Kacakci Koyu is an ideal place for diving both for professionals and beginners. There are two places in this dive site for diving: the left part and right part of the bay. Slowly until the depth of 26 m fall breed education. In rocky cracks moray eels are hiding. Also, many orfozes  and colorful sponges can be seen.

Delikli Magara – DELİKLİ MAĞARA
At a distance of 40 minutes from Bodrum is located a Cave with approximately 14m depth. The entrance to it is out of the Black Island (Kara ada). This place is convenient for diving both for experienced divers and novice divers. Purple and yellow minerals within the cave surely worth your attention. During immersion you may meet orfoz, morays, Lagos, octopus and other small colorful fish. Entrance to the cave is very wide. Experienced divers can swim inside the cave and swim through the hole-pipe in its ceiling. In the cave there are a large number of rock fish. On  the ceiling of the cave, a hole with diameter of 1 m and height  6m from where you can emerge to surface. The most interesting thing is that air bubbles which are going up out of regulator gathering all together on the top of the cave. Having a camera with you should not miss the chance to capture it.

Poyraz Koyu – Poyraz Köyü
Located behind the Black Island (Kara Ada) about  45 minutes from Bodrum. Considering the fact that in Gulf always persist blowing wind, thus in the hot summer this place have cool freshening effect. Poyraz Koyu is an ideal place for diving both for experienced and novice divers. This place is suitable even for divers who are going to dive first time. Rock formations begin at depth of 5m and descend up to 20 meters.  Orfoz, moray eels, starfish, octopus and various other small fishes met on your journey. Fragments of ancient amphorae can be found in this dive site.

Yassi Ada
Yassi ada – an island formed from volcanic lava. This diving site is suitable for immersion only for experienced divers and professionals, as there are strong currents. This place is famous because sometime Rays with up to 3 meter of length can be seen.
Aksona Ucu
Far  from Bodrum  beyond the  Black Island  there is a small island called Aksona ucu. Wrecks of Ottoman ship which sunken in ancient times awaiting its visitors. The area was explored by fisherman of sponges «Mehmet axons».Great variety of small fish, octopus, several species of sea stars, colorful sponges, etc.

Orak Adasi   ( orak island )
Orak Island in the east of Bodrum is a true paradise for divers with its’ unusual caves, colorful sponges and 100m natural wall. Stone formation in shallow water gives Orak island special beauty. Perfect place to dive both for novice and experienced divers, natural wall starts from 6m and descend up to 90 m. We encourage all divers to see this wall. This place is located a bit far from Bodrum 1.5hours to reach.

Tilki Burnu
Located to the south of Black Island. Distance: 50 minutes from Bodrum. Suitable only for experienced divers. Immersion takes place among the rocky ledges, ups and down the slopes of rocky formations, large quantities of algae and seaweed giant shells. In this area, many small caves and on depth of 26m there is a semi-cave.

Image Gallery from diving sites of Bodrum

If you’ve some good images about this topic please help us as we’ve not enough photos of Bodrum dive sites . Please send your photos to admin(at)dailyscubadiving.com ( with dive site name ) – Thanks in advance

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