Sep
2
2010
Une excellente façon de faire de votre plongée sous-marine plus agréable lorsque vous êtes en vacances par le biais de parler la langue locale.
Donc, si vous êtes peu à la tête de l’étranger, pourquoi ne pas prendre un foyer soutien scolaire pour apprendre les rudiments de la langue et être capable de parler aux gens du pays? On pourrait ajouter beaucoup de plaisir à votre voyage!
Sep
1
2010
I love to look at different uses of technology and can quite often find new uses. Sadly, I do not always have the contacts to use them. And here is a use of Software Estate Agents might want to try out.
We have all seen the For Sale boards out side people’s houses. Well it is very simple to add to these a unique number and a shortcode SMS phone number.
Anyone who is interested then sends a text to the number, containing the reference number, and can instantly get back brief details, including the price, in a short text message.
I’ve not seen it done often, which is a shame, as it can even be reverse billed!
Aug
28
2010
If you are wanting to visit South Africa for a diving experience, but not wanting to go to Cape Town, then there still remains an excellent choice of places to visit. Here are some of the highlights.
If you are diving this region then further around the east coast from Cape Town is Plettenberg Bay, which is where you will probably end up if you are not diving Cape Town. And this is for a good reason, the reason being Raggedtooth Sharks. These waters are temperate and so the sharks are present in good numbers. These are fearsome looking beasts with loads of visible teeth, but in actual fact they are fairly passive animals. Although no dive operator can guarantee a Raggedtooth Shark experience, they can be found on both Whale Rock, which is a pinnacle with its base at 40m and raising up to just 5m below the surface, and also in the Playground, which contains a variety of overhangs and gullies.
Travel northwards from Plettenberg Bay up to the Wild Coast and you will start to feel the warming effects of the Agulhas current in their summer months, merging tropical and temperate species in the water. In their winter months the Benguela current instead pushes cold water into the region, which is the start of the famous Sardine Run. This spectacle is caused by the sardines following the spread of the cold water that they inhabit and they can spread as far north as Rocky Bay. Then the warmer southbound current narrows the water space available to the sardines, forcing the fish into the huge shoals that make the sardine run so famous. This huge mass of fish acts as bait to draw in the Common Dolphin who follow the sardines in huge pods, ready to feed on an easy snack of sardines. Sharks and seabirds also join the feeding frenzy to complete the picture.
If you are not visiting the Wild Coast for the sardine run, then venture out to the 2 large reefs, which are known as Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal. Both reefs offer a good choice of dive spots, but Aliwal Shoal is probably the more wide ranging, offering dives from between 5m and 30m plus. This area attracts the female raggedtooth sharks in their winter, who explore the overhangs and small caves. In their summer months, the fearsome Tiger sharks move in along with oceanic pelagics such as manta rays. There are also a few wrecks in the area.
Protea Banks are deeper and have stronger currents washing through them and this gives it the title of the shark capital of South Africa. The reef of fossilised sand dunes attracts hammerhead, raggedtooth, thresher and tiger sharks to name but a few. The downside is that the area is affected by river run off, but is still remains at the heart of South African diving.
Lastly, the Sodwana Bay area further north offers yet more large sharks and fish. Bull sharks, silvertip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, tiger sharks and even the occasional great white will appear in this area.
If you want to know more about diving in South Africa and the South African shark diving experiences on offer, have a look at the information and reviews available at godiving.org.
Keith Lunt owns and writes for godiving.org, a supply of worldwide diving reviews and information about diving gear.
Aug
24
2010
Diving in South Africa is best known for the cage diving to witness the close approaches of the famous Great White shark. With a reputation of the ferocious killer beast, they are exciting to meet, even if they are often maligned. But they are neither the only shark in the area nor the only attraction for divers to experience.
Sited at the very bottom of the continent of South Africa, the country of South Africa benefits from a range of water temperatures, from the chilly region around the Cap of Good Hope where water temperatures only just creep into double figures, if you are lucky, to a much more comfortable mid 20s in the more northerly locations. What you wear to dive in is not the only worry you will have on a South African diving trip, speak to your doctor before you go to arrange the necessary inoculations in good time!
The diving experiences of South Africa will give you a mix of habitats from coral reef to temperate waters and the huge assortment of marine life as well as animals that will pass through the area on their annual migrations mean that there is plenty to see. Your problem will be trying to plan your trip to coincide with a choice of visiting marine life. Just which annual migration will you be wanting to chance the opportunity to witness is what you will be spoilt for choice for. There are so many that at most times of the year there is a special visiting marine guest.
And the diving gets even better. As though it is not enough to be able to almost have your choice of annual migration to watch, there is also the excellent choice of wrecks to visit and explore. Diving can also take place from both boats and directly from the shore if you feel like a quicker trip. And if you really want to, there is even tank diving available in an Aquarium. With loads of fish and perfect visibility, diving in this tank is a totally different experience. What is more, non divers accompanying you can stay dry and watch your adventures from the safety and warmth of the dry outside of the tank! No need for them to get wet or experience the roughness of a boat journey out to sea.
Many of the diving visitors to South Africa will also venture into the neighbouring Mozambique to see what this country has to offer. Much of the diving in Mozambique is arranged by South African dive operators from either Ponto do Ouro in the south or Tofu in the north of Mozambique. A while ago the whale sharks that once frequented the area had seemed to disappear, but they do seem to be making a recent comeback.
There is a huge variety of diving and marine life to explore if you sample South Africa. From simple shore dives to adventurous cage diving with the Great White shark, South Africa has a lot on offer for the visitor.
If you are ready to find out more about the operators diving in South Africa and find who to dive with, pop over to godiving.org. There are plenty of South African diving reviews about the operators in the area.
Keith Lunt owns and writes for godiving.org, a supply of worldwide diving reviews and information about diving gear.
Aug
20
2010
There is a lot to offer on a diving trip to Kenya. From shallow drift dives, wreck dives and reefs just off the beach. Find out what the different areas have on offer.
If you are heading out to Kenya for some diving in the Indian Ocean, then you will be looking at one of the main four resorts. In the north of the area the main diving resort is Lamu and in the south you have Mombasa and Diana Beach. In between these two areas you are looking at going to dive at Watamu.
Sadly for the area, poor diving techniques and years of lack of care of the diving areas has historically resulted in damage to the reef systems, but fortunately there are marine parks in the areas now that are providing good diving experiences for visiting divers.
Lamu in the north of the area is an archipelago of seven islands. It is not a popular diving destination and this is actually a benefit to the area. There are not that many operators operating out of the area, but track down a suitable diver centre and they can then help you to experience some quality reefs.
In the middle region, the Watmu-Malindii Marine Park is the place where you will find the best diving experiences. In this region most of the dives will be drift dives, so suitable training or at least knowledge of the required techniques can be an advantage. The reward can be to see large pelagics during your dive. For the lucky you will witness Manta Rays and the even more fortunate will get to see the huge Whale Sharks on their dives in this area.
Most of the dive sites around here are actually surprisingly shallow, allowing for quite long dives. Most fall into the 20m and less region with only a few going beyond the 30m mark. If you want a change from the drift dive, you can also experience the Shakwe wreck, which is an old prawn trawler. It has been taken over by a reef and has plenty of rays, groupers and lionfish for you to admire.
Away from the Marine Park in the central region is Watamu itself, further south. There are a good number of dive sites in this area, which are buoyed to protect the coral. As well as the manta rays and whale sharks already mentioned plus the usual reef fish, you might also see dolphins, turtles and sharks.
Dropping down to the south of the Kenyan diving area we look at the bustling town of Mombasa where sadly the reefs have not been as protected as they could have been. This means that most divers will use the area as a staging post to reach Tanzania’s Pemba Channel and the Kisite-Mpungiti Marine National Park.
Most of the diving within this region therefore concentrates on the huge sandy coastline down to Gazi Bay. Benefiting from good facilities and a reef system just offshore, the diving can be one long experience of the same experience at all of the dive sites. But Turtles, grouper and sting rays commonly visit the area, a worthy site for visiitors that are probably more called to the area for the beaches than for the quality of the diving.
If you want to find out more about the dive centres in Kenya or more about Kenyan diving, there is loads more information on the website. Do call in to share your experiences with other visitors for free.
Keith Lunt writes for godiving.org, where you can read and share dive centre reviews with other divers for free.
Aug
17
2010
If you are venturing to Tanzania for some diving this year, then the chances are that you are heading towards Pemba Island for our diving. This island is where most of the diving in Tanzania takes place even though the boats and crews that are operating from this area typically come from the neighbouring country of Kenya.
The sea between the mnainland of Tanzania and the island of Pemba is current swept and, therefore, a great spot to witness pelagics in the water, including Manta Rays and Whale Sharks with also dolphins visiting the area,
Most of the dive sites of this region are on the western edge of the outlying islets where the favourable depth and current mean that the diving environment becomes perfect. Although, as with some of the diving in neighbouring Kenya, most of the dives are drift dives so experience or basic knowledge of the techniques would be a help. But you are rewarded with well fed corals to enjoy. You can find a few permanent dive centres operating in this region, but the majority of the diving is from the liveaboards that operate in the area.
One of the lesser known diving gems of the area is Mafia Islands. More of a group of islands than an individual island the diving in this region takes place within a sheltered a sheltered bay and, as tides permit, the channels leading in and out of the bay. The are diverse reef systems with spectacular underwater scenery. They may not be easy to reach, but the effort can be rewarded once you arrive there. You could be lucky enough to see the large oceanic pelagics, plenty of reef fish and even turtles.
In 1995 part of the southern side of Mafia Island was made into a marine park to protect the area thanks to the voluntary effort put in to protect the area by a group of British divers. Also worth visiting whilst diving in Tanzania are Chole Channel, Kinasi Pass and Chole Wall. And if you need a rest from the water, there are also the land safaris to try to track down a different range of predators on the land. There are also a few other places to explore, although if you are trekking up volcanoes do remember to allow plenty of time from diving to exploring as you might be going to altitude.
There is a lot to see and do on a trip to Tanzania, either on the land or in the water. If you are there in the March to August months then you might see turtles nesting and about in the water, although diving is not the best at this time of year. Some recommend December to March for the best diving conditions, whilst certain areas such as the island of Zanzibar is best experienced in October or November when the diving is much better, even if the best diving is on the ocean side and the channel facing Dar Es Salaam is silty and can be full of boats.
To find some suitable dive centres in Tanzania and to contact them to check about the best time to visit, pop over to our website where we list plenty of Tanzanian diving centres and other dive centres around the world.
Keith Lunt writes for godiving.org, where you can find and share a lot more about worldwide dive experiences.
Aug
14
2010
Sitting on the beach, waiting for the next boat and dreaming of an excellent dive.
Bouncing out on the rib to the dive site, watching the sparkle of the sun off the water.
Wonderful day dreaming of these times, but in both you need quality sunglasses to protect your eyes from the harsh effects of the sun. The problem is that you also want to look good, possibly in designer wear, whilst if you normally wear corrective prescription glasses then a pair of shade plucked off the counter at your local chemist shop are not going to do the job for you.
So, where can you get designer prescription sunglasses without spending all of your holiday cash before you even set off? Well, instead of going to your local opticians, why not just take your prescription to someone who makes glasses, such as Zenni Optical?
Take a look at their website and you will se a huge range of designer frames to choose from, almost certainly at a lot lower price than you will find in your local friendly opticians. If you want to make yourself a saving, possibly enough for another dive (or two!), then do check out their website before buying your new glasses.
Aug
14
2010
One of the most popular diving destinations in my experience must be the Red Sea resorts of Egypt. Go at any time of the year for wonderful weather and an excellent experience. Many of the hotels benefit from their own diving centres and the hotels run back to back in the area.
But why is Egypt so popular? With some of the hotels going as far as having their own marines, diving is easy to be found in the area. The dive centres have staff from all over the world so language should not be an issue in Egypt and many can offer the qualified diver extras such as nitrox and even rebreathers.
And it is not just qualified divers that can benefit from Egypt. Many non qualified divers go there to either undertake or complete the PADI Open Water course. Others go out as qualified divers to complete instructor courses. There is big business in Egypt in sending people to the swimming pools to complete those parts of the courses and the shallow reefs that are not too far from the coast to complete the open water part of the course.
Most UK dive centres will offer learners the choice of the full course so that you arrive in Egypt ready to dive, or take your diving to the next level, or you can do the study and pool sessions, get these signed off and complete the course on arrival in Egypt, in the comfort of the warmer weather and avoiding the need to complete the course in a dry suit.
For the qualified diver heading out to the Red Sea resorts of Egypt, you can either stay in a hotel and jump aboard a day trip to take you diving each day, or if you want to be able to explore further away during your trip you can spend the entire holiday on a live aboard boat. The advantage of the live aboard is that you can dive the sites that are slightly further out quite early in the day, before the tourist train of divers from the hotels arrive on the dive site. But with the expansion of the hotels along the coast, all of Egypt’s popular dive sites are now accessible from the day boats.
Sadly, the volume of divers venturing out to the Red Sea and Egypt’s dive sites does mean that some of the popular spots are becoming over used. If you are visiting the area for the first time or going with non diving family then you are probably going to use the hotels and venture to sea on the day boats. But the more experienced Red Sea diver might prefer one of the more luxurious liveaboards for top quality service and access to possibly some of the best dive sites in the world.
Whatever your purpose and intent for visiting the Red Sea, you are certain to have an enjoyable and memorable experience. Whether you want to watch sharks or admire the wrecks, there is a lot on offer to the visitor to the Red Sea.
So, if you want to experience diving in Djibouti, pop over to our web site to read more about dive operators that are working in the region.
Written by Keith Lunt, owner of godiving.org, where you can read a lot more about Djibouti diving and a lot of other world wide diving destinations.
Aug
11
2010
There is a wide choice of diving experiences on offer to the visitor to South Africa, from shark diving in the colder water to shark diving in the temperate water regions. Escaping over the border to Mozambique is also a possibility to extend the diving possibilities and there is a huge calendar of visiting marine animals to South Africa. So where in the country are you going to visit?
Diving is possible along most of the South African coast, from Cape Town and the Cape of Good Hope along the east coast on the Indian Ocean all the way up to Mozambique.
Starting with Cape Town, the diving is cold as the next stop southwards is the Antarctic! You have the choice here of diving either the Indian Ocean, as with the rest of the country, or trying the Atlantic Ocean, which can offer cold water with rocky reefs and kelp beds. On the Indian Ocean side the water can be slightly warmer and filled with slightly more choice of marine life.
Both shore and boat driving is available from Cape Town with many excellent reefs and wreck sites available to choose from. Have a look at what is on offer around the Cape Point Nature Reserve, which includes many wrecks such as the Portugese Lusitania liner (which shares its name with the famous World War 1 ship). Tell people that you have dived on the Lusitania and forget to tell them it is only a namesake and watch their jaws drop! The wreck is well broken up, but there is still plenty of the wreck to explore.
There are also some intentional wrecks in this area, sunk to form an artificial reef for the area. These are a diamond dredger names the Rockeater as well as Elizabeth, Oratava, SAS Transvaal and SAS Good Hope. Also sunk to form an artificial diving reef in the area is the SAS Pietermaritzberg, which in its surface life acted as a minesweeper.
There is also an accidental wreck in the form of the British steamer the Maori, which was sank in 1909 after running aground after leaving Hout Bay. Even though it is over a century since the ship sank, it is in a sheltered position and still remains fairly intact to dive and explore.
There are also natural reefs to explore. Try the Outer Castle Reef where you might be able to find the unusual and strangely named Pyjama Cat Shark plus the usual reef marine suspects on offer. Or you could try diving with the Cape Fur seals at Duiker Island.
Of course, discussing diving in South Africa would not be complete without talking about the White Shark cage diving experiences. From the town of Gaansbaai you can embark on one of these experiences to Shark Alley between Dyer and Geyser islands. Unfortunately, there are so many tourists and operators that a sighting of the sharks can is not only an excellent thrill, but also like a conveyor belt of divers and you have to wonder with the sharks free and the humans in the cages, who is watching who.
If you are ready to find out more about the operators diving in South Africa and find who to dive with, pop over to godiving.org. There are plenty of South African diving reviews about the operators in the area.
Keith Lunt owns and writes for godiving.org, a supply of worldwide diving reviews and information about diving gear.
Aug
7
2010
Divers heading towards South Africa for a bit of diving are probably considering entering the water with one of the many fearsome sharks on offer. Here is our roundup of what to dive with and where.
There is a hassle free and guaranteed way of diving with sharks in South Africa, one which even your non diving friends can come along and watch you enjoy. For those visitors heading towards Cape Town, there is an indoor predator tank at an aquarium in which you can dive with the marine animals on offer.
For those wanting the more traditional shark diving experiences, leaving Cape Town on a regular basis are the shark diving experiences. These head out towards Shark Alley, which lies between Dyer and Geyser Islands. This is an excellent opportunity to get close up and personal to these fearsome predators with an even more fearsome reputation, though there are likely to be many other divers on similar experiences in the water at the same time. This experience is not just open to experienced divers either, as the rushed route can take you from try dive to white shark experience in no time. Although many are not sure that this is such a good idea.
The raggedtooth shark is also a common visitor to South Africa. These are often found in the Plettenberg Bay area, to the north of Cape Town, as well as Aliwal Shoal, which is an offshore reef. More raggedtooth sharks can also be found further up the coast at Protea Banks, which has so many varieties of sharks visiting it that it is known as the shark capital of South Africa.
Tiger sharks are also a visitor to the area, visiting the Aliwal Shoal area in their summer months. This offshore shoal is about 50 miles away from Protea Banks and is also home to summer visitors such as manta rays and winter visitors such as more raggedtooth sharks.
Back to the Protea Banks and the range of sharks that can be found here throughout the year is huge. As well as those also mentioned, hammerheads, threshers and bull sharks are also regularly found in the area. A spectacle for the shark hunting diver, maybe those not too comfortable with sharks should pre warn their dive operators!
Lastly, in northern KwaZulu Natal is the Sodwana Bay area, home to many large species of sharks. Yet more bull sharks and tigers can be found here, along with grey reefs and silvertips. Even the odd great white shark will appear in the area from time to time.
If you want to experience the sharks, the Bull sharks tend to be in the area from September through to May, whilst hammerheads are typically found September to April. The Tiger Sharks are to be found for just a few months between January to May, whilst the raggedtooth sharks can be seen May to September. Lastly, the Whale sharks make an appearance between November and March. There are also other regular visitors such as a variety of whales and turtles.
If you want to find a suitable diver centre to arrange your about shark diving in South Africa, call in to godiving.org, where there are plenty of about South African Shark Diving operators listed as well as reviews of various diving operators.
Written by Keith Lunt, for godiving.org, the source of diving articles, equipment ideas, diving reviews and much more.