If diving with sea lions is on your bucket list, then you must plan a visit to Los Islotes! There are several sea lion colonies around Baja California, the Mexican peninsula separating the Gulf of California / Sea of Cortez and the North Pacific Ocean. Here you are basically guaranteed to have great encounters and lots of fun!  Photo by Tobias Friedrich – BELOW SURFACE In the national marine park of the Espiritu Santo archipelago is the southernmost reproductive sea lion colony in the Gulf of California. Known as “La Lobera” or “Sea Lion Colony,” the small island of Los Islotes has more than 200 sea lions living there year…

Nestled off the coast of Baja California, Magdalena Bay is a remote destination that comes alive during the annual sardine run. This incredible natural phenomenon, though less renowned than South Africa’s sardine run, offers unforgettable for snorkelers and freedivers seeking adventure and a front-row seat to nature’s drama. To many, Mexico offers the more rewarding experience, as the event is more compact.   Witness nature’s feeding frenzy Magdalena Bay transforms into a hotspot of marine activity each year, where vast schools of sardines attract an impressive array of predators, including marlins, sharks, sea lions, and dolphins. Swimming alongside millions of shimmering sardines as they swirl in dense bait balls, evading…

Scuba diving in Hurghada is often underestimated by seasoned divers, who visit Egypt to dive the Red Sea from a liveaboard. But sometimes the most beautiful dive sites don’t need to be far!  With fabulous local daily diving, Hurghada has become one of the leading diving locations. Most dive sites are within 30-60 minutes cruising time from the town. The dive boats here are comfortable and purpose-built for divers. The colourful shallow reefs are the ideal attraction for anyone, who wants to learn how to dive. There are also those deeper, more advanced sites where the current is stronger and experienced divers will be in their element. Every year, thousands…

Scuba diving in Haa Alifu atoll is very special because there is virtually no tourism development in the far north of the Maldives. This means that the reefs are mostly untouched. All the dives are private and the only other people in the water will be your fellow divers. Being isolated and secluded from the major environmental damages that come along with building resorts and big island cities, here you can get a glimpse of what it used to be like in the Maldives before it became one of the world’s leading tourist destinations. Haa Alifu, the northernmost atoll in the country, boasts a mix of sites suitable for all…

There are a ton of diving apps on the market with which you can book and log your dives, find resorts, liveaboards and dive centers, plan scuba holidays or research areas and specific sites. Here, however, we are going to share with you a bunch of great diving apps, which you can use underwater. Yes, you are going to have to take your phone along, but no worries, we have a perfect solution for that.   Diving apps for explorers LED Banner For those of us who don’t have full-face masks communication underwater can be challenging due to the inability to speak. When complex messages cannot be conveyed through diving…

Silfra is definitely amongst the top 10 dive sites in the world and the only place where you can snorkel between tectonic plates. Imagine exploring a fissure created by the dramatic movement of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, right in the heart of Iceland. Here, crystal clear glacial water, filtered through underground lava rocks for decades, grants you over 100 meters of underwater visibility. This is a sight you won’t find anywhere else on Earth. All photos by Tobias Friedrich – BELOW SURFACE   At Silfra, the astonishing clarity of the water unveils a mesmerizing underwater landscape, brimming with colors and wonders unseen above the surface. This natural marvel,…

Much like its awe-inspiring ancient landmarks, the underwater world of Egypt is equally enchanting. Scuba diving vacations in Egypt are renowned for their stunning reefs, intriguing wrecks, and a remarkably diverse marine life. To top it all, visibility is exceptional. Egypt’s dive sites boast an array of experiences, from exploring wrecks and walls to drifting along captivating pinnacles. Catering to both beginners and advanced divers, the dive sites offer easy access to deep waters, making it an ideal destination for those aspiring to become a dive professional and refine their technical diving skills. With a plethora of historic attractions on land, Egypt offers a well-rounded vacation, seamlessly blending local culture…

As smartphone photography has been gaining extreme popularity even among professionals, taking it to new depths is simply the next best thing! In this post we will discuss how you can take your iPhone photography underwater and enhance the quality of your images. Delve into a mesmerizing universe captured through the lens of your iPhone underwater camera. The underwater world is a realm of whimsical inhabitants, sinuous sharks, and majestic mammals, captivating the fascination of people for a lifetime. As a photographer venturing into this unique territory, adapting to the underwater conditions becomes crucial. The lighting nuances and use of light(s) differ significantly from traditional land photography, demanding learning and…

Scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands you will encounter some of the planet’s rarest and most captivating sea creatures, in an environment virtually unchanged since prehistoric times. For many, exploring the extraordinary underwater world of the Galapagos Islands is the ultimate bucket-list adventure. Nestled in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America, these volcanic gems redefine the diving experience. Galapagos scuba diving unveils a realm of unparalleled natural beauty, teeming with life found nowhere else on Earth, and an invigorating wilderness that will enchant outdoor enthusiasts. All photos by Tobias Friedrich – BELOW SURFACE   As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Galapagos National Park is a sanctuary of pristine…

Say Hello to the most robust waterproof phone case out there! DIVEVOLK has revolutionised the smartphone housing market with the SeaTouch 4 Max case and after more than a year of testing, we have put together a comprehensive product review, answering all your questions! In the pursuit of adventure and exploration, our smartphones have become indispensable tools, providing us with navigational aids, communication, and the ability to capture cherished memories. However, the fear of water damage has always loomed over these pocket-sized wonders, limiting their use in aquatic environments. With most of the waterproof phone cases merely being plastic pouches, no wonder nobody comes to the idea of actually taking…