Travel

The 1000 Islands area is known as one of the world’s best freshwater diving destinations. Many local divers call it the “Caribbean of the North”. Like its southern cousin, the crystal clear waters around this 1864-island archipelago in the Saint Lawrence River are the final home for ships from around the world. Over 200 shipwrecks, some dating back to the War of 1812, are preserved beneath the surface here. So let us look at a few of the best dive sites in the 1000 Islands area, as well as the conditions and underwater life you are likely to encounter there.

Swimming with sharks is a heart-pounding adventure and a bucket-list experience for many divers. If you are one of them, be sure to add these five amazing destinations to your must-dive list for the best shark encounters in the world.

Embarking on a diving adventure with a loved one is an incredibly rewarding experience - you get to feel the thrill of shared discovery, work as a team and support each other, strengthening your mutual trust, honesty, and respect. Besides, many of the world’s best dive sites are found in tropical idylls that lend themselves perfectly to romance. So, with Valentine’s Day upon us, let’s take a look at five of the most romantic dive destinations that will be perfect for a getaway with that special someone.

When we think about a winter diving trip, exotic destinations with sun-draped beaches is often the first thing that comes to mind. However, instead of escaping the cold on a tropical getaway, you may want to try and embrace it, opting to visit the true winter wonderland - wild and otherworldly Iceland.

Costa Rica is a true nature lovers paradise. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea in the heart of Central America, Costa Rica is a prime ecotourism destination that boasts some of the world’s most biologically diverse habitats. The country’s rainforests, mountain paramos, cloud forests, savannah, dry forests, ancient cave systems, and river gorges give refuge to more than 500,000 animal species.

Most people associate scuba diving with crystal clear waters, schools of colorful fish and tropical destinations. In reality though, there is much more to the sport than that. The numerous lakes, springs, rivers and sinkholes often available to divers right at their doorstep offer some fantastic sites with amazing landscapes and cool critters to discover. The WNY area, for instance, is famous for its world-class shipwreck dives. Two of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, touch state boundaries and had ship traffic for nearly 400 years. That’s 400 years of wrecks, many of which are perfectly preserved having sunk in fresh and relatively cold water.

Planning a dive holiday is often a big investment in time, money and effort, especially if you decide to take kids along. Factoring a child’s needs into your travel arrangements can be difficult, however, a family diving vacation will create some amazing bonding opportunities and give you a chance to introduce your loved ones to your hobby. So here are a few things to remember when going on a dive vacation with kids.

Dive vacation is a unique chance to experience both topside attractions and the wonders of the underwater world. Avid scuba divers can optimize their adventure by planning ahead, reading up on popular dive sites, researching trip options and preparing their equipment. However, sunburn, bug bites, stomach aches and tangled hair can undermine even the best laid plans. So here are a few health and beauty tips that will help you avoid unpleasant surprises during your scuba vacation.

Dive travel can be expensive, especially if you don’t live near any good dive sites. However, appropriate planning and some flexibility will help you get the most out of your money while on vacation. So, we have composed this list with some general tips as well as scuba specific advice that will hopefully save you a few dollars when planning your next trip.