Dive into Life

You have surely already heard that the diving in Bunaken is one of the best experiences in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. But did you know that in the same area are Bangka island and the Lembeh Strait? Those are two more great diving destinations that supplement the Bunaken National Marine Park with their biodiversity. Together they make North Sulawesi purely and simply a world-class diving spot. In this post I would like to tell you about how different these locations are and why you should extend your holiday from just diving in Bunaken and have your mind blown away below and above water.     Spectacular wall diving in Bunaken National…

If you are a muck diving addict then behold! The Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, is a treasure chest packed with the most peculiar creatures.   Established as the critter capital of the world, Lembeh has a remarkable biodiversity. The black lava sand and rubble in the strait reveal a crazy concentration of unique and exotic marine animals. Macro lovers will fall head over heels with the muck diving here! You can be sure to tick off a huge chunk of your bucket list on a single holiday and even see species you didn’t know existed.  Every dive is a marine biology workshop, observing bizarre creatures you would only see…

If you are planning to go cavern diving in Mexico, you are up for some of the most surreal underwater experiences in the cenotes by Tulum.  Literally thousands of sinkholes dot the entire Yucatan peninsula. They connect to form a complex chain of underwater tunnels. Some cenotes are like ponds, with large openings, others with just cracks for an entrance. You can explore richly ornate chambers with delicate stalactites and stalagmites, which is like a travel back in time. Swimming through the thick layers of hydrogen sulphide is one of the most eerie and illusory experiences you can get while diving. And an absolute highlight is just watching the sunbeams…

When it comes to diving, the Maldives is such a diverse country. From north to south each of the atolls has its own characteristics and highlights. If you are planning on exploring this piece of heaven from a local island and indulging in some ravishing diving, then you’d love the idea of going to Vaavu atoll. It is only 1.5 hours from Male by speed boat, which makes it an easy getaway. In this post we share with you the best dive sites of Vaavu together with some tips on staying on a local Maldivian island, all through the eyes of an expat and a local insider. Enjoy!   Submerging…

For almost everyone returning or planning a trip to Cozumel diving is the magnet that pulls them to this lush Mexican island. Cozumel is undoubtedly the best place to dive in the Riviera Maya and we also have the best dive center for you. The island is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which is the second largest in the world. Endless visibility, massive coral blocks stacked on top of each other, creating a maze of swim-throughs, dramatic walls and different species of sea turtles, nurse sharks and rays as you drift along some of the healthiest and most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Some of the best scuba…

There is one area in the Indian Ocean where you can dive with up to 10 species of sharks. When taking the Maldives Deep South route you can encounter tiger sharks, hammerheads, thresher sharks, whale sharks, silvertip, zebra, tawny nurse sharks, grey reef, white tip reef and black tip reef sharks. In the southern atolls you can also spot different species of rays: reef and oceanic mantas, spotted eagle rays, marbled stingrays, and the rare guitarfish (often mistaken for a shark)! You might see the infrequent oceanic sunfish (mola mola) around too! The Maldives Deep South comprises of the 3 southernmost atolls – Addu, Fuvahmulah and Huvadhoo. Due of its relatively…

Azure sky, turquoise water, white sand beaches and lush green palm trees – this must be paradise. Hundreds of islands bunched in 26 atolls, their emerald lagoons dotting the Indian Ocean like chains of pearls. This absolutely dreamy holiday destination can only get better when you submerge in the ultramarine waters. Many people visit the Maldives to swim with the giants – whale sharks and mantas, but for divers this is a mecca for shark diving. Why? Because of the unique location of this archipelagic nation. Situated right on the equator and literally in the middle of nowhere, the atolls are the tips of huge underwater mountains which are constantly…

So you’re going on a liveaboard! Have you ever been so excited about a holiday that you forgot to take the obvious? Or stressing out at work to finish all your deliverables before you go on vacation that packing is the last thing on your mind? Or maybe this is your first scuba safari and you are wondering what to pack for a liveaboard dive trip? I am a master in packing and I have still managed to go on an exotic holiday to a remote island without my sunglasses or to realise on the day of departure that I don’t have the cable to charge my camera. And usually…

Happy Hour at Hanifaru Bay! “A shrimp cocktail for all the mantas, please.” Hanifaru bay is the biggest manta feeding hotspot in the world. However, the underwater bay is actually quite small. While the uninhibited island Hanifaru, like many other islands in the Maldives, is just a tiny sand patch. The grandness comes from the number of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) that show up just in time for plankton happy hour and have a lavish feast together with some fellow filter-feeding whale sharks. The site is a protected marine park and the whole Baa Atoll, where Hanifaru bay lies, has been declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve. This remote atoll…