The Ultimate scuba vacations

1. Rangiroa, Polynesia

Not many islands have captured my imagination like Polynesia, and the amazing islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago, about 250 miles from Tahiti, felt like something special. Rangiroa translates to “Long Sky” and it is the second largest atoll in the world. Two passes, named Tiputa and Avatoru, allow the tide into and out of the atoll twice daily when the tides turn. I remember being carried through by the incoming flow and sharing the ride with scores of dolphins and sometimes large grey nurse sharks, too. It is high adrenalin diving, but on shore, the atoll is one of the most chilled places on the planet.

2.The Cod Hole, North of Cairns Australia

Fist Dived by world famous undersea photographers Ron and Valerie Taylor. Large potato cod are friendly, since they have been hand fed for over 20 years. The fish feeds are done by Dive Instructors. See clouds of cod, emperor and various other species. Drop to the clear spaces area between the reefs, and you can see the fish feeding from above. See 120kg wrasse sucking at the food. Other reef life includes average coral cover, anemones and Giant clams as well as cleaning stations and huge feather stars. Accessed from

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Pat, April 7th 2012 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Destinations

Information On Backpacker Travel Insurance

Backpacker travel cover is not the equal of annual vacation insurance cover, this is often an error many young travelers bring about when buying insurance policies. Annual vacation insurance cover are designed for the normal tourist, who will go abroad once or twice each year typically for just a couple of weeks each time, and usually spends the vast majority of their days relaxing on the beachfront. This is dissimilar to the routines of your average backpacker, if there is such a thing as being an ordinary backpacker. If you are intending on travelling for long time periods twelve-monthly holiday insurance often does not cover ones trip out of the country for over a few weeks at a time.

Backpacker travel insurance initially insures just about any travelling period from a total of ninety days to an a year trip, with a pay as you go advantage helping you to prolong, as frequently as you would like to, the time of a person’s travel cover to as much as 18 months. Online Backpacker travel insurance will take care of people during your longer than typical trips, but will also provide the freedom to fill up this time with thrilling alternatives because you will inevitably be covered for a huge range of dangerous sports that you might get the chance to try out.

With any luck , it will be the experience of a lifetime, however you will end up visiting bizarre spots in places you may not even speak the language. Don’t fret, you’ll cease to feel like some sort of stranger in an unknown world. Find all your info on holiday insurance online. Avail of tour cancellation insurance and holiday insurance. Other features include temporary car insurance, health care insurance, medical insurance and doctor prescribed products and services.It’s a good idea to have a good choice for just about all backpackers and people backpacking worldwide, regardless of whether you have taken a gap twelve months and making time from your school work, business enterprise or simply a vacation, vacations, being employed abroad or even studying overseas as a student. Get special covers on adventurous type of sports, water skiing, and also offering protection for pursuits including diving, paragliding, sailing and snowboarding. Lots of backpacker package deals can include a variety of thrill activities

Luggage as well as Possessions Cover. Be sure that your insurance plan safeguards your belongings or you’ll be unable to claim any reimbursement for stolen or lost things. Your insurance plan also needs to cover any kind of administrative fees accrued in case your passport is stolen and needs to get reissued.

Urgent Medical Cover. This can give monetary protection for any costs you must make in cases where you need medical assistance.

Holiday Termination. If because of unpredicted situations you need to cancel your journey earlier, you may be compensated for almost any monies lost.

Personal Liability. This is legal cover for any kind of accident, injury or harm you may accidentally inflict on another person.

Recovery and Repatriation. In case of a health-related unexpected emergency rescue, your expenses will be paid by the insurance firm. This absolutely should consist of heli-copter rescue.

Travel Delay. Payment for any funds lost because of late departure, although this will usually only be paid for when you have been detained for an established duration given in the insurance plan terminology.

Always learn how to verify the small print of any insurance coverage. Conduct investigation on the net, always do a comparison of the actual Backpacker Travel Insurance package deal price and also be aware of that a low priced insurance policy is not really the best one. Comparing various insurance policy plans is very essential.

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Pat, March 16th 2012 | Tags: ,
Posted in Destinations

Scuba Diving: A Florida Adventure

People consider Florida an actual divers fantasy come true. The reason being that Florida includes around 1,700 islands as well as Keys that extend more than a hundred and fifty miles there are lots of areas to go scuba diving. The seas are generally tranquil, clear, and packed with beautiful and exclusive marine life as well as colourful coral formations. You can go to a lot of the over 5,000 ship wrecks within these waters, or maybe the one barrier reef in the country. Along with coastal scuba diving, Florida scuba diving also provides many of the greatest spring sites you will encounter.

Among the places that ought to be on top of your shortlist to scuba dive will be Sara Pennekamp Coral Reef State National park. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the nation’s very first under water preserve. Found close to Key Largo, the visibility here is practically perfect, making it a popular scuba destination with respect to beginner and more advanced divers as well. One more place which comes highly recommended will be Florida Keys National Sea Sanctuary. This sanctuary begins in Key Largo then runs the whole distance of the islands, providing probably the most sought-after diving on earth.

Statue of Jesus in the Abyss is undoubtedly an eerily magnificent spot to scuba dive. Situated 30 feet below the surface, this statue is definitely dominant and also specific. Scuba Divers also really like this page because it features canyons and ditches to be explored, and a huge selection of large eagle rays as well as marine turtles.

Then there is the Pillar Spot, an enchanted place in which you just might discover superbly colored coral reefs rising upwards from the floor, much like cactus on the desert floor. With regard to shipwrecks, we advise you make time for you to view the Shoulder, also inside the Upper Keys region. The penetration is spectacular plus the general experience unbelievable. All of the aforementioned locations present fantastic visibility, that makes the actual scuba diving experience unparalleled.

Perfectly located at the Looe Key National Underwater Haven is 5.3 nautical miles of sculpted reef, the Stargazer. Just 5 miles away from Key West, this kind of reef contains a group of duplicated star constellations once used for ocean navigation. If it’s scuba diving throughout seas with multi-colored marine life and coral formations, this is the place to always be.

Last, within the central district in the Pot Handle you will find over 1,000 scuba diving springs. Some are located on private property, while some happen to be inside National or State areas and reserves. Lots of scuba divers go to Purple Springs due to an amazing once in a life-time experience: the migration of the manatees. Other favorite dive locations in Florida can include Turtle Reef having a depth of 20 feet, Carysfort Reef featuring a scuba diving variety up to 85 feet, Carysfort Southern area with a scuba diving depth of twenty feet, the Elbow, as stated, which can be around 35 feet deep, and the Dry Boulders within Key Largo, that has a depth of 30 feet. For more qualified divers who choose to scuba dive in much deeper waters, make sure you take a look at Adolphus Busch, which contains water depths anywhere up to 110ft, as well as Out side Coral reefs and Western side Dry Rubble a maximum of 210 feet depths.

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Pat, February 23rd 2012 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Destinations

Finding A Career in Scuba Diving

If you find yourself exhausted by the same monotonous life you need to start wondering where to begin a much more exciting job in addition to life style. If you enjoy Scuba Diving, then the real question is : perhaps you should start a career in the scuba scene. Finding a dive career seriously isn’t very difficult, the magic formula would be to understand what sort of qualification do you require and the ways to find the vacancies all around the planet.

As a specialist diving instructor you need to complete several technical scuba diving (blank) training courses, get a large amount of practical experience as well as scuba dive a lot. It generally assists if you can speak another language or maybe have expertise within additional fields, such as First Aid, Operations, vessel experience, mechanics, and so forth ..

Becoming a dive professional you need to do 2 crucial courses the Divemaster and the PADI IDC . The Divemaster program provides you with a choice of being employed as a guide, this is a good profession, although the wages are normally lower that the actual earnings a scuba teacher tends to make. To become a scuba trainer you have to do a PADI instructors training course.
Once you carry out these kinds of classes, it is advisable to try to find scuba dive jobs around the globe. Before you go right to scuba diving jobsites, try and consider your own aims and about the type of employement conditions you’d like along with the international locations that you’re ready to travel.

You cannot assume all the work is precisely the same and working around australia can be quite different than working in Honduras as well as The red sea. You have to be sensible and think using your head, and work at getting your best scuba diving accreditations that could offer you the maximum chances of discovering that perfect dive employment.

My most sage advice should be to get hold of people by phone initially, you’ll find nothing better than speaking to people, and as soon as you have the correct info then send the application through Scuba jobsites or perhaps straight to the scuba shop.

You must remember that getting a position is not really out of the question, having said that it might take time, and when you get the perfect scuba dive occupation, you need to do your best to hold the situation. Always be conscious that in due course you’ll want to return home,so when you travel to your diving area, have a very good plan B. Health care insurance, employment insurance and current education rank is very important to further improve the likelihood of getting a job.

Try to be patient and do not believe your brand new scuba job will be a vacation, some days can certainly end up being plainly hard, but always remember that everyday scuba diving is way better than any day at the office!

So, I know what you’re really wondering… how to begin? Well, like every different dive employment, start by diving an awful lot, conversing with people and view scuba divers jobs websites, that enable you to get yourself a distinct idea of where are the vacancies around the world. Honduras, the Red Sea, Queensland and Indonesia are excellent destinations to start your scuba job hunting.

Hence good fortune and I’ll see you underwater.

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Pat, February 9th 2012 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Destinations

Cairns’ Reef

The Cairns harbour houses a fleet that features some quite awesome dive boats. The most recent member of the fleet is the Seastar, recently brought out this last week.

This excellent good-looking brand new ship is 80 ft long, and can make the journey out there to Seastar’s dive sites in under an hour. The vessel is going to be swift and stable, together with lots of shaded and air-conditioned interior room.

Seastar Cruises has generally prided themselves on offering an incredibly unique as well as individual tour, and they happen to be evolving the locations to help enhance the smaller group adventure which these people have always delivered.

A lot of people like the main very simple fact that the managers cap the levels onboard to just 45 people, well beneath the actual full capacity of the particular boat; this means there is certainly lots of space on board. With the help of a faster vessel they may leave a bit less early on, but still always be the very first charter boat to go to see Michaelmas Cay, and so snorkelers as well as birdwatchers have it just about all to themselves. This kind of tour will be the A-list escape designed for birdwatchers that would like to mix an outstanding reef cruise with a probability to witness exotic seabird species.

Your speedier trip out there also means that considerably more precious time can be spent on Michaelmas Cay in addition to Seastar’s other scuba mooring within Hastings Reef; visitors may currently spend in excess of 5 hrs out there on the ocean.

Lastly, whenever the Japanese people restart the annual fall/winter research whale hunt, they can be expecting the numerous followers as well as protectors of Migaloo to be protesting the actual research. While the Japanese offer to actually resume commercialized whaling had been knocked back, for the 1st time in a number of years the controversial clinical chase will probably incorporate the taking of fifty Humpback whales, therefore Migaloo is going to be at an increased risk as soon as the guy visits Antarctic locations the following springtime and summer. The Great Barrier Reef was been honored with the universel Travel with regard to Tomorrow award for Top Location at this springs Travel and leisure for The future Awards held in Lisbon, Spain. The prize, distributed by the World Vacationing and Travel Council, is reckoned on the list of “oscars” belonging to the tourism world.

With all the reports regarding the hazards associated with climatic change on the Great Barrier Reef it’s certainly great the fact that the reef has picked up an award with a name that features the phrase “Tourism of Tomorrow” so we hold great hope regarding overseas initiatives increasingly being which are designed to curtail just how much co2 manufactured by peoples behavior. The important decisions, sacrifices, as well as organizing still has yet to come, however many of us continue to be optimists with regards to protection of the reef.

Throughout the past decade fantastic strides were made to take care of the reef, via a coordinated management structure that looks at activity both within the reef such as offshore fishing along with tourisms, along with the nearby coastal areas. Over 30% of the Great Barrier Reef is entirely protected from fishing and other extractive recreation during the past ten years.

The particular honor sported this particular Judges’ opinion: “Enormous improvement has been made to successfully incorporate your really delicate travel and leisure marketplace within the control over incredibly large aquatic preservation region.”

The risk involving global warming extends well beyond the Great Barrier Reef, and it’s causes involve individuals and industries al around the globe, not only Australia. Most of us hope to actually see a solid coalition of countries acting to decrease green house chemicals successfully, as well as note that team include both Australia together with the Usa.

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Pat, January 18th 2012 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Destinations

Where to Find the Best Holiday Packages

Are you in the middle of planning a vacation? If you are and if your holiday will require plane travel, you will find that you have varied options when organising your travel plans. One of the more popular options is to arrange a holiday package deal.

Although Cairns Packages do have their plusses and minuses, there are many tourists who are very happy, as well as recommend them to their aquaintances. There are 2 principal reasons for this. The allure of holiday packages is that you often get a discount and that it is easy to arrange multiple travel arrangements all at the same time, that way eliminating the chance of mistakes. Although you will find some variations, vacation packages should definately include more than just flight reservations. Depending on the package in question, they may include resort accommodations, some day trips and car hire as well.

If you are thinking about in organising your next travel arrangements in the way of a Cairns Package Deal, you may be thinking how you can go about doing so. The good news is that you have a number of different options. Some of the many ways that you can go about searching for and buying vacation packages that include airline reservations are mentioned below for your convenience.

The initial place that you will want to look at is some of the major online travel websites, like Expedia. These are travel sites that focus on large areas, for example both domestic and international travel. Many of the well known vacation travel sites will give you some freedom when looking to purchase holiday package deals. For example, if you already have your overnight accommodation arranged, for example if you are staying with family, you can still book a vacation package deal that only include airline reservations and a hire car.

As well as well known travel websites, you may also want to visit specialty stores. These are travel websites that focus on a certain area, like Cairns or the Whitsundays. Many of these regional travel websites are very trustworthy and reputable sites and many also offer holiday packages. Actually, depending on where you look, you may find a vacation package that includes accommodation at a holiday rental, like a vacation home. These types of vacation packages can sometimes be harder to find, but they are out there.

As a reminder, holiday packages come in all shapes and sizes. Even if you have purchased your flights, you may still be able to book a vacation package. There are some holiday packages that just include overnight accommodation, like a stay at hotel or vacation resort, and a car rental. These types of vacation packages are perfect for those who have found a good price on airfares independently or for those who have already made their airline reservations.

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Pat, December 29th 2011 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Destinations

Mountain Biking Tours For Your Next Vacation

If you love mountain biking and traveling, why not combine the two for your upcoming getaway? There are mountain bike tours for every skill level of biker. All you have to do is choose one.

Mountain bike tours are readily available all over the world. An organized mountain bike tour is wonderful for several different reasons. The first reason is the fact that it will offer you the opportunity to visit places in a fashion that you never have. It will also offer you a way to exercise, have adventure, and have a thrilling time.

The family style mountain cycle tours are designed for the kids. Many of these tours are located in national recreational areas and areas that will families want to enter in the back country as well as explore. Family mountain bike tours are designed to teach and be fun. The companies will most likely bring along games, coloring books and entertainment for the kids during the particular evening hours. Camping with the tours is also an option. Kids can ride their particular bikes, ride a trail-along or be pulled in a Burley movie trailer. The day incorporates a ride for the whole family and then your kids can be taken to the campy site for scavenger hunts, games and some other kid oriented activities. The parents will take additional biking tours or can go back to camp with the kids. This type of mountain bike trips is family centered and a terrific way to incorporate an outdoor adventure for both the kids and the parents.

There may also be mountain bike tours which can be for the more adventurous people. These Cairns Tours are offered in many areas and journey into off road experiences. They can also be set up with camping or even include additional adventures such as white water rafting. The entire package can be put together to represent a vacationers interests and result in an unique and amazing experience. For those that truly enjoy the sport of mountain biking, these can be a memorable experience as a vacation. Mountain bike tours are a booming business, and can be located almost anywhere. Many places even rent bikes for the day and help select routes that will interest the mountain bikers. Mountain bike tours are definitely a fun alternative to the everyday vacation and can bring a whole new perspective to a family trip..

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Pat, December 5th 2011 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Destinations

Some Cairns Great Barrier Reef Boats

The Great Barrier Reef, best visited from Cairns Australia is the world’s largest coral reef and home to an amazing diversity of marine life. There are a large number of cruise vessels that depart from Cairns, I’ve listed the best below.

Sunlover Reef Cruises offers the quickest travel time, longest play time at the Great Barrier Reef. Once tied up at their pontoon on Moore Reef, guests have over 4.5 hours to snorkel, take glass-bottom boat and/or semi-sub trips, enjoy a full hot and cold buffet lunch as well as afternoon tea on the cruise back to Cairns. Full day cruise$186/adult, $66/child or $426/family of 4.

Reef Experience is Cairns newest day cruise, one all inclusive price of $165.00 includes breakfast, lunch afternoon tea, express boat cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, 2 pristine reef locations, 6 hours at the Great Barrier Reef, clients choice of guided snorkel, certified dive or introductory dive, city transfers, wetsuit, glass bottom boat, Marine Biologist Reef Presentation, Local Family Owned and Operated

Vagabond Cruise & Dive is a 65′ luxury yacht designed for diving, sailing and entertaining for a maximum of 11 guests operating out of Cairns. The tour is two days and one night which is spent aboard the boat out on the reef.

Reef Magic moors at a ponotoon on the Great reef with the smallest passenger numbers on the market, giving you 5 hours in which to spend doing what you like. Included in the cruise is semi-submersible tripcruises, an underwater observatory, all snorkelling equipment included and offer scenic helipcopter flights and diving (not included in price).
Prices: Snorkelling only: Adult – $169, Child (4-14yrs) – $84, Family (2A & 2C) – $415. Introductory dive: $85 (additional).

Passions of Paradise is a fast catamaran that goes to the reef and Michaelmas Cay and is another inexpensive option. This company recently won the Cairns Tourism Award for Adventure Tourism. Traveling to two unique uncrowded destinations you can be sure of a personalized high quality experience.
Prices: Snorkelling only: Adult – $149, Child (4-14yrs) – $87, Family (2A & 2C) – $405. Introductory or Certified dive: $70 (additional). These prices include $10 reef levy.

Pro Dive Cairns has boats running cruises non-stop to various places on the reef, catering to divers of all experience levels. They have 3 boats running 3D/2N liveaboard trips to the Outer Barrier reef, as well as expeditions from 3-7 days in various combinations visiting other famous GBR sites such as Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs and the Coral Sea. Great Barrier Reef 3D/2N (leaves every day except Tuesday) prices are $608 for certified divers / $506 snorkelling only. This includes all gear hire, accommodation and meals/drinks whilst on board. Dive courses are available from introductory diving to professional level training, and run in conjunction with the liveaboard tours, check the website for further information.

Reef Quest This is a live aboard vessel that can best be decribed an a floating 4 star hotel. she is incredebly comfortable. She moves around Norman, Saxon & Hastings Reefs; and visits three dive sites a day. There are transfers everyday to and from the boat daily so you can stay for as little as one night or as many as you fancy. A great boat for scuba divers and snorkelling .

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Pat, November 24th 2011 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Destinations

Why Not Try Something Different in Cairns This New Years Eve

Party Bus tours have sprung up in all the popular vacation destinations lately. And so they should. They make a good evening guaranteed. Both party bus tours operate two nights a week. I’m sure they work in similar ways in other places such as Byron Bay and Melbourns, but I have experience of the Cairns one so I’ll describe it.

There’s prizes and party games and of the utmost importance, the owners endeavour to keep the split of boys and girls similar. Many people have found love on a party tour. It probably will only last until the vacations over, but as long as everybody has fun it’s all fun and games isn’t it?

Popular with both backpackers and locals, these tours also attract Hens & Bucks nights, sporting teams and groups from the armed services.

Basically your night runs like this; Everyone meets at the first nightspot at a set time, this is where travel vouchers and money is organised and the all important wristband is given to you. This ID bracelet is what gets you entry to the nights pubs & clubs as all entry fee’s are included in your tour price, both on the tour and even when the tour is finished. This usually saves you money on entry fee’s alone, without counting all the other extras. You get VIP service at all the top niteclubs, pubs and bars. There are also prizes including bungy jumps and rafting trips. Fun and games are the order of the night, with the organisers knowing how to get the party started.

Party Bus tours also operate on special occaisions like Cairns New Years Eve. They’re the best to beat the crowds and avoid having to pay cover charges. You are transfered between each pub by bus and if you are lucky it might even be in an open london style bus. We have 2 similar Party Tours in Cairns,who are doing specdial New Years Eve Parties, Ultimate Party New Years Cairns and Fitzroy Island New Years Eve.

So why not experience a little bit different this New Years. It’s Fun and easy and you’ll meet some great friends. It’s great for solo travellers.

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Pat, November 19th 2011 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Destinations

A Few Australian Dangers And An Unique Way Of Finding Out About Them.

People in Australia enjoy reassuring tourists about the harmlessness of the wildlife and landscape whilst at the exact same time warning of its deadliness. It comes out sounding funny, leaving you undecided whether you should be relaxed or worried for your life. Some Variations I have heard:

“Don’t worry while you’re snorkeling: reef sharks are pretty harmless. Unless you get between them and food”

” There’s no sharks around here………….the croc’s finished them off”

“Stingrays are like pancakes with tails: they can’t harm you. Just.don’t go near them.”

“Go ahead and swim with the freshwater crocodiles. They don’t hurt people.at least, most of the time.”

“Hold this snake! It might bite, but it doesn’t look poisonous, so you’ll be right.”

“No-ones ever been left behind while diving on the Great Barrier Reef, except that American couple, but they faked it.”

“Cairns is a safe city……………..just don’t walk alone .

“Kangaroos won’t hurt you. Well, unless they get angry. Then you’re pretty much finished.”

Oh, and did you know that koalas, despite looking otherwise, aren’t the most cute and cuddly animals. They can in fact get pretty nasty, which is why it’s more difficult than you might think to find a place that will let you pick them up.

I will either leave Australia with a healthy respect for animals or with plenty of food for nightmares. Though seeing as how I have already gone swimming with reef sharks, stingrays and crocodiles, I think I’ll be okay. I even enjoy holding snakes, though I do prefer guarantees that it won’t bite me, even in a non-lethal way. Spiders are where I draw the line. I’m positive my arachnophobia is incurable.

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Pat, November 15th 2011 | Tags:
Posted in Destinations