The ocean is a photographer’s playground. From the rich marine life and captivating movement of the waves, to the deep blue hues and corals — you’ll never run out of things to shoot. However, underwater photography is a completely different style that requires its own equipment and technique. And before you take your camera with you on your next dive, you should ensure that you’re completely comfortable in the water. The better a diver you are, the better underwater photographer you can be as well. Ready to get started? Here are some tips to get the best underwater photographs!   Control your buoyancy To take clear photos, you need to…

The sardine run in South Africa is one of the most phenomenal annual events you can experience! During the months of June and July the largest animal aggregations on our planet takes place. It happens when thousands of ocean predators and birds chase billions of sardines. Images from the sardine run take up most of the introduction in the first edition of BBC’s Blue Planet. This just shows how exceptional and significant this event is. All photos and videos in this post are by Helene-Julie Zofia Paamand   Everyone is chasing the same thing The month of July in South Africa equals winter. When you sit in your wetsuit on…

The Bali dive sites are some of the most exquisite in the world. This Indonesian island has it all – wrecks, drift diving, rare macro critters, pelagic, volcanic sandy bottom excellent for muck diving, coral reefs and wall diving. You will find stunning biodiversity here. No wonder the dive spots are on the bucket lists of many scuba divers. Photo by Gonzalo Apesteguía   Thanks to tourism, Bali is the most popular island of Indonesia. Many tourists come and go on a honeymoon, on a backpacking trip, on a yoga trip, and often on a scuba diving trip. The island of the gods has a lot to offer! Photo by Claudine Daigneault…

The one-of-a-kind diving at Anacapa Island will undoubtedly blow your mind away! Read on and be prepared to rearrange your scuba bucket list. When you think of a diving destination, what do you envision? Colourful reefs? Friendly fish? Shipwrecks? Clear water? Spectacular reefs with walls and drop offs? All these probably came to mind. How about a diving destination where you had all of these, plus majestic kelp forests, frolicking sea lions, and a variety of depths and activities for all levels of diving? Sound too good to be true? Divers who spend time at Anacapa Island in the Channel Islands National Park quickly become believers!      Channel Islands –…

The scuba diving in Mauritius holds more wonders than you could expect! The tropical waters of this paradise island are home to amazing sea life. Be prepared for mind blowing encounters with sperm whales and dolphin pods on your surface interval. The reefs are teeming with hundreds of bright-coloured fish and you will literally feel like in an aquarium. And the heaven is not only underwater! Above the surface Mauritius has everything you need for the perfect vacation. Photo by Vitamin Sea   The Pearl of the Indian Ocean “Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven was copied after Mauritius” – Mark Twain This quote by the famous American…

You probably already have an idea of what animals live in seashells. Surely, you have seen the shells of mussels, oysters, scallops, pipis and clams. Washed out on the beach you will often also find pretty gastropod shells (from sea snails). But the animals that live in seashells are not only their original owners. You will be fascinated to know what critters inhibit empty shells!   Animals which live in seashells in the kelp forests of Southern California Many divers started out as children who enjoyed walking along beaches in search of empty shells. In Southern California, the kelp forests are rich will shell bearing animals. The Norris top snail…

Searching for the best place to learn scuba diving? We have everything you need to know about starting your underwater journey! During the COVID lockdown, we have found there is a renewed enthusiasm in people wanting to do more bucket list adventures and discover exciting places. Are you thinking about learning to scuba dive? Now, are you wondering where do you begin? There are so many options and we would like to give you an easy breakdown of everything you should consider when choosing for yourself where the best place to learn to scuba diving is. Firstly, you will see there are many reputable dive centres offering courses from different…

Marine conservation and eco-diving have become popular buzzwords in the last few years, and for good reason. Our oceans are in trouble and ocean lovers, and divers, have found ways to use their skills and insights to take action.   What is marine conservation? Marine conservation, also known as ocean conservation, is defined as the protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas through planned management in order to prevent the over-exploitation of these resources. This may sound complicated, but through simple actions and knowledge, everyone can become a marine conservationist and make strides towards our ocean’s protection. Marine conservation as a concept is relatively new. In the 1960’s,…