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Mexico Caribbean Sea
While Puerto Aventuras does not have the dramatic walls of Cozumel, it is a
dive destination worth visiting in its own right. Relaxed pace, lush reefs and
cenote diving make for an enjoyable vacation of a different style.
Our first dives were on Las Islas and Santos, two fairly shallow reefs just
out from the harbor entrance. We thought we would be bored, but far from it.
La Islas featured a mixed structural environment, nothing like the reefs
and walls on Cozumel, and the marine life, while sparse, was nonetheless,
interesting. Our biggest pleasure was in experiencing Loggerhead Turtles for the
first time. We encountered four on Las Islas, two of which I would estimate to
have a shell length of close to four feet, if not slightly longer.
Santos served to give us an example of what we would experience on the
balance of our open water dives, lots of vegetative life, fans, sponges, etc.,
and very few reef fish. Yes, we did see some rather large parrots, and the
occasional school of grunts, a squirrel fish or two, and an occasional juvenile
grouper but, again, nothing like what you see on the typical dive on Cozumel,
and other than the parrots, nothing of any size.
Cenotes Every diver should dive a Cenote at least once. Diving in
tropical waters, I wear a two piece, 1.5 mil long sleeve/long leg wetsuit. The
cenote dive guide, Mario, suggested that I might be a little cold, and handed me
a 3 mil shorty to put on, over my wetsuit. This being fresh water, he also
suggested that I could reduce my weight (the lead I was carrying, not my
physique) by as much as 25%.
We geared up in the parking lot, and carried our tanks on our backs down the
steep steps, visions of my "diving demise" being not underwater, but
due to the severe head trauma of a misstep.
The dives at Chac Mool and Kukulkan would be a typical two-tanker, but
with some new rules. One-third in, one-third out, one-third in reserve. With a
full 3,000 psi charge, we submerged into a small passage way that lead to a much
larger chamber. We experienced the halocline effect of the mixing of colder
fresh water over warmer salt water, which, again, intuitively is incorrect,
until you allow your mind to adjust for relative density differences. The visual
experience of the halocline is similar to diving in oil and vinegar salad
dressing, blurring one’s image during the penetration, but allowing for clear
viewing both above and below this sector.
more info about Puerto Aventuras, Cancun including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Tanzania Indian OceanPemba Island is located 40km north of Zanzibar and is about 70km long. The island is surrounded by beautiful beaches, islands, and pristine offshore coral reefs. The drop off into the Pemba channel is 600 meters deep, and it offers scores of world class diving sites where mantas, hammerhead sharks, groupers and dolphin abound. The island is famous for it's clove production and this is the mainstay of Pemba's economy. Tourism is still in its infancy but several areas are now being developed to take advantage of the amazing world class dive sites of the Pemba Channel.
If you are short of time and have to select the best sites then an itinerary which includes Manta Point, Mesali Island and the Emerald Reef at Panza Point should satisfy even the most experienced and demanding diver. Pemba is best suited to the experienced diver due to strong currents and great depths. There are some sites suited to the less experienced diver but conditions should always be checked first. Drift dives are the most common due to the currents and it is advisable to carry a surface marker buoy.
To get to Pemba there are flights from Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam and a ferry service two days weekly between Zanzibar'sStone Town and Pemba.
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Mozambique Indian OceanIn Southern Mozambique whalesharks gather (especially from October through to March). The biggest tagging programme operates here and they have the most sightings worldwide. Sharks, dolphins, rays and huge bass are common. The sea is warmer here and visibility increases to 20-30m.
- Bass City: One of the best known of Ponto’s dive sites. A series of seven rocky outcrops which are home to 4-6 large territorial potato bass, including Bert, the divers friend, as well as octopus, moray eels and large numbers of lion fish. Electric blue juvenile emperor angelfish are regularly spotted, as well as huge brown stingrays.
- Aquarium: This is a large, hollow coral bommie surrounded by small rocky outcrops that houses delicate black corals inside the cavity. Outside it teems with colourful reef fish. It is also home to territorial white & purple leaf fish that cling onto the rocks with their pectoral fins.
more info about Ponta Do Ouro including maps, reviews, and ratings...
South Africa Atlantic (South) Aliwal Shoal: This immensely popular dive destination is an extensive, submerged reef located approximately 5 kms offshore. One of the main attractions of Aliwal Shoal are the large number of ragged tooth sharks that congregate to await the spring mating ritual. In addition large numbers of shoaling fish may be seen here, as well as a variety of small and colourful tropical fish. There are a number of popular dive sites on the shoal, as well as two wrecks: the Nebo (1884) and the Produce (1974).
Landers Reef: The beautiful Landers Reef is actually an extension of the Aliwal Shoal, about 2 kms south-west of the shoal and about 5 kms offshore. The reef enjoys good visibility and is often more spectacular than the main reef as it is often visited by large pelagics.
Protea Banks: A top shark dive site, visited by hammerheads, zambezi’s, tiger, dusky and great white sharks. During the winter and spring months shoals of ragged tooth sharks are found on the reef. A demanding dive for the more experienced divers!
Sodwana: The world’s southernmost coral reef is a system of parallel reefs and home to over 1,200 species of tropical fish, and is unique in that soft corals predominate over hard corals. With no major rivers flowing into the sea it benefits from near perfect visibility and diving midweek when the locals are hard at work, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had the reefs to yourself!
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Sri Lanka Indian OceanDiving is ideal for beginners. You will find some hard and soft corals and marine life mostly small species. The diving is not very good but it is not as bad as you can think, this is probably the only diving spot in Sri Lanka during summer. go to Trincomalee an then you have to go north to Pidgeon Island. It is better to go in the morning to get the best visibiliy.
more info about pidgeon island including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Papua New Guinea PacificThe reefs here are still pretty pristine, and hard and soft corals are numerous in the lagoons, and around the islands and reefs. There is diving for every level of experience, deep reefs, shallow coral gardens, walls and of course WWII wrecks. The main diving areas are Madang for coral and Hansa Bay where you will encounter many shallow wrecks. Tufi has the fjords of Cape Nelson and Wlindi has sone of the most spectacular pinnacle and reef diving. There are also many live-aboard boats that visit the Islands and coral atolls. A lightweight wetsuit or lycra suit is advisable as protection from abrasion etc. The wet season is from December - April but diving is all year round.
more info about Papua New Guinea including maps, reviews, and ratings...
