If you think you’ve heard of all the unusual diving there is, think again! Although we’ve covered some pretty unusual dive sites and offbeat dive destinations in the past that include, diving between continents in Iceland, Ice diving in Antarctica and the Arctic White Sea, diving in Blue Holes or the Eagle’s Nest sinkhole in Florida and even diving in a Crater in Utah, this particular dive site just outside of Abilene, Texas takes the cake. Well if you haven’t already figured from the title, we’re talking about diving in a decommissioned (obviously!) Nuclear Missile Silo in Texas.

Dive Valhalla as the missile silo is known, gets its name from Norse mythology and is the largest indoor deep-diving training facility in the World. Decommissioned just after two years of completion in the early 1960’s during the cold war, the silo which used to house a 82-foot- (25-m-) long nuclear-tipped Atlas missile before was left to fill up with groundwater when abandoned. The 1,288 ton (1,159 m tons) concrete and steel cylindrical “pool” is 60-foot (18-m-) wide and drops to a depth of 127 feet (38 m) with nearly 2 million gallons (7.6 million liters) of clear dive-able water in it.

Owned by the Hannifins (of Family Scuba Center in Midland, Texas) who bought the silo on 11 acres of land, curiosity got the better of them and they wanted to dive in the silo to see what was in the water. It wasn’t long before fellow instructors thought it was a cool site to teach students doing their deep-diving certification and other training which prompted the Hannifins to convert the silo from a residential property to a commercial one. Today this flooded former missile silo is a unique site that conducts a number of certifications including deep, night, altitude, rescue, mixed-gas and rebreather specialties.

While there’s not much to see when you dive in this missile silo except some debris that crisscrosses the shaft at around 110ft beyond which you can’t go deeper, diving here is more for the thrill factor and the fact that it’s a bit of an oddity more than anything else. Besides, how many people can say they got to go diving in a Nuclear Missile Silo?

The Silo however makes a great training site which is what it is primarily used for. For one it’s an altitude dive (2,420 feet above sea level) and a deep dive and secondly, it’s a controlled environment making it easy for instructors to keep a close eye on everyone. The visibility is great which is more that can be said about lakes in the area and the silo’s depth is ample enough for conducting technical training. It’s even been used for freediving classes as the conditions are more than favorable.

For more details and to organize a trip to Dive Valhalla contact Family Scuba Center in Midland, Texas, at (866) 217-2822, (432) 686-7333 or at www.familyscuba.com. You can dive here only through reservations with a minimum number of divers in a group needed to secure the reservation if not part of a scheduled class.

Cancun’s National Park West Coat of Isla Nujeres is currently the site of the world’s largest underwater museum, which when completed will feature more than 400 concrete sculptures of figurines.

Cancun’s Marine National Park facing the increased pressure of the 750,000 tourist that flock to its coasts each year combined with the devastating effects of climate change, has been the cause of its dying and declining coral reefs. In an effort to lure away some of the tourist from the reef, the Mexican Government commissioned the creation of the underwater museum at a cost of  US Dollars 350,000 featuring sculptures created by  renowned British underwater sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor.

Jason de Caires Taylor is the underwater artist who created the world’s first underwater sculpture park at Grenada in the West Indies, and draws on both Mayan and Contemporary influences to design his masterpieces. Using a PH Neutral concrete to design each of his 400 sculptures, the intent is to encourage algae and coral to freely grow on the concrete which will cause these sculptures to change appearance over time and form an artificial ecosystem where tiny fish and marine creatures can thrive.

Each sculpture has been carefully lowered at varying depths around the National Park, the first installation taking place in November 2009 when the museum opened with just three sculptures. By April 2010 it is expected to have over 250 sculptures ready and installed with the target of 400 to be standing by by 2011. Authorities say that after the target is reached, the museum will be opened up to other artist that will be allowed to contribute to the collection.

The Marine Park Museum is a stunning place to dive and a unique experience to move around from sculpture to sculpture. Both Scuba divers and snorkelers can visit the museum, and experience the eerie human almost lifelike forms submerged in the blue.  With age these sculptures will constantly change in appearance drawing people back to them just to see how they’ve progressed with time.

With literally thousands  and thousands of dive sites across the World, each with a unique underwater landscape and marine life, not to mention sites yet to be discovered, it’s near impossible to say with absolute certainty that a particular dive site is No.1! Plus, everyone has different ideas about what makes “the best” dive site. However, there some dive sites that always seem to come up in conversations about best dives and have a built reputation among the diving community as the cream of the crop. So while diving experiences anywhere depend on personal perspective as well as a number of other factors like type of dive, weather conditions, visibility, currents and luck as to what you see that day, there are some dive sites definitely worth a visit.

Here’s a look at some of the top rated and most popular dives (in no particular order) to dive before you die -

1.Best Cave/Cavern Dives – Cenotes of the Riviera Maya, Mexico

The freshwater-filled limestone sinkholes known as Cenotes situated in the state of Yucatán, Mexico lead to some of the most beautiful and intricate underwater caves and caverns in the World. The natural beauty of these cenotes and caves, with its crystal clear turquoise waters, sunlight reflecting stalactites and stalagmites are truly enigmatic works of art drawing divers the world over to explore its waters. With over 3000 Cenotes, 1400 of which have been studied and recorded it’s impossible to pick just one as the best. The Riviera Maya has the World’s three longest running underwater Cave Sytems – Ox Bel Ha (146.7Km.), Nohoch Nah Chich (61Km.) and Dos Ojos (57.7 Km.). Cenote Dos Ojos, Cenote Tajmahal and Gran Cenote are some of the notable cenotes here. (For more read: Cenotes: The Underwater Caves of The Riviera Maya, Mexico)

2. Best Wreck Dive – SS Yongala, Ayr, Australia

Rated 6th on our list of the World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives, but possibly the most popular wreck dives of all times and highly rated by thousands of divers the world over is the SS Yongala at the Great Barrier. This enchanting Australian passenger ship lying within the Great Barrier Reef Park lay undercover for over half a century since it sank in a cyclone in 1911. Today home to giant groupers, schools of trevally, cobia, turtles and sweeping rays among plenty of others, the ship is only a 30minute journey from the shore. The incredible array of marine life that accompanies the wreck is unmatched. From eagle rays, tiger sharks, bull sharks, giant grouper, turtles to swarms of giant barracuda and schools of bait fish that covers more than the eye can see, the SS Yongala is a Wreck dive site teaming with more life than many a coral reef! (For more read: World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives)

3. Best Wall Dive – Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia

Palau in Micronesia is diving hot spot and unarguably one of the best dive destinations in the World! The 200 islands of Palau are surrounded by breathtaking fringing coral reefs, crystal caves and WWII wrecks. Of all attractions on offer to diver’s delights though, the drop off’s and wall dives are in a class of their own. Recognized as one of the best wall dives in the world due to its concentration of marine life, the Blue Corner Wall at the northwest end of Ngemelis Island.This dive site features a shallow coral shelf that projects out into the ocean and has vertical walls on both sides. Not for the faint of heart, this is an advanced dive with sometimes very strong and unpredictable currents which brings in schools of fish and large pelagics to the top edges of the walls. The wall drops from 30 to 1000 feet (10 to 330 meters) or more and is covered with large variety of giant Gorgonian sea fans, hard corals and soft corals.The flat coral plateau on the top extended between the two walls and drops gently on the west to about 45 to 60 feet (15 to 20 meters). Covered in colonies of cabbage corals as well as many varieties of hard and soft corals make the wall a fantastic place for some underwater photography. But, it’s the large schools of fish that makes this site as famous as it is. Sharks, Wahoo, Tuna, Hawks Bill and Green turtles, Eagle Rays, Giant Groupers, and Barracuda, to name but a few species. Two resident Napoleon wrasses often accompany the divers throughout their dive. Diving here almost guarantees you great stories to tell friends and and marine encounters you’ll never forget!

4. Best Manta Ray Dive- Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii

The Kona Coast is one of the best places in the world to get up close and personal with manta rays. Often described as an experience of  lifetime when one chances on one of these magnificent creatures, dive operators in Hawaii plate up this experience with night dive twist making it just spectacular. Divers are given underwater flashlights and are directed to point their beams towards the surface.  The bright lights attract hordes of plankton which in turn bring the mantas as well as a ton of other fish to the vicinity. Much to the delight of divers and snorkelers even the manta rays often swoop, turn and even somersault towards the light where the plankton is plentiful displaying the surprising agility of this creature. More than 60 individual Mantas identified by spots on their underside, have been photographed, cataloged and named as regulars on the Manta Ray Night Dives. (For more read: Must Dive Sites: The Manta Ray Night Dive in Kailua Kona, Hawaii)

5. Best Deep Dive – Lighthouse Reef Blue Hole, Belize

More for an adventure dive rather than for the reef or marine life, the Belize Blue Hole is a World famous deep dive site. The almost perfectly circular Blue Hole was created by what was a dry cave system in the Ice Age and is an amazing sight from an areal view as it’s over 1000ft (300 meters) in diameter and 450ft (135 meters) deep. The caves have stalactite formations where the reef is at 110 feet and you can often see hammerhead sharks lurking in the shadows. More a thrill for it’s inky blue depths and upward view of a passage to the sky, the Blue Hole is a hotspot for divers. When it comes to Blue Hole Diving, the Belize Hole is the most well known of the lot. (For more read: Blue Hole Diving and The Most Rewarding Dive Spots In The Caribbean)

Continued in Best Dive Sites: Top 15 Dives to Experience Before You Die -2 includes…

6. Best Drift Dive – Santa Rosa Wall, Cozumel, Mexico
7. Best Ice Dive – Mc Murdo Sound, Antarctica
8. Best Night Dive - Maaya Thila, Maldives
9. Best Kelp Dive – San Clemente, Channel Islands, California
10. Best Coral Reef Life Dives – Sulawesi, Indonesia

Best Dive Sites: Top 15 Dives to Experience Before You Die -3 which includes…

11. Best Big Fish Encounter Dive – Sipadan Island, Borneo, Malaysia
12. Best Shark Dive - Gansbaai, South Africa
13. Best Whale Shark Dive – Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Thailand
14. Best Shore Dives – Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
15. Best Liveaboard Dives – Sharm El Sheik and Ras Mohammed, Egypt

*Photo Credits: photos by dMap Travel Guide, stuandgravy, Daniel, Daniel Kwok, cwilso, catherinetodd2 on flickr

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If you missed our previous post of…

1. Best Cave/Cavern Dives – Cenotes of the Riviera Maya, Mexico
2. Best Wreck Dive - SS Yongala, Ayr, Australia
3. Best Wall Dive – Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia
4. Best Manta Ray Dive- Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii
5. Best Deep Dive – Lighthouse Reef- Blue Hole, Belize

…Click Here

6. Best Drift Dive – Santa Rosa Wall, Cozumel, Mexico

Ranked no. 1 by PADI as a top dive destination and featuring on almost every divers must-dive destination list, the island of Cozumel off the Mayan Coast of Mexico is a feast for any divers eyes. Famous for its drift diving, Cozumel is a lazy diver’s paradise with currents that range from gentle 1/2 knots near some dive sites to fast, strong currents only for experienced and adventurous drift divers.The Wall at the Santa Rosa Reef begins at 50 feet and drops straight away into the deep blue. The Santa Rosa Wall is an expansive reef filled with huge coral mounds and covered with giant sea fans, beds of tunicates, immense sponges, huge overhangs of stony corals and impressive caves and tunnels. The massive richly colored sponges line the wall that drops off to infinity. Visibility here is stunning and with the current doing most of the work all you need to do is fall into the water and let the currents carry you away, past a Technicolor reef scene that boasts a rainbow array of sponges and scads of unique fish. Look in cracks and crevices for the whiskered Splendid Toadfish, found nowhere else on Earth. (For more read: Paradise Reefs: Diving in Cozumel, Mexico)

7. Best Ice Dive – McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Antarctica Scuba diving? Antarctica conjures up images of lots and lots of snow, ice, glaciers, penguins and very little to see, but one thing you would never imagine doing here is Scuba diving. Well, think again! In extreme temperatures that often drop below -40°C (-40°F), where no insects, plants nor major life exists here above the ground, people do the unthinkable and plunge into it’s icy waters! McMurdo Sound Antarctica is where divers break through the 1.3-3m (4-10ft) thick ice to enter the freezing cold waters, only to be rewarded by stunning visibility of about 300m (990 ft) and a rich marine life like no other anywhere else in the World. (For more read: Extreme Diving: Ice Diving in Antarctica)

8. Best Night Dive – Maaya Thila, Maldives

The Maldives has no shortage of dive sites and always has a spot in the Top 10 dive destinations in the World. Maaya Thila off the Ari Atoll, is often singled out as the Number 1 site in the Maldives and at is rated one of the best spots in the World to experience at night. This one- of-a kind dive is most notable for its inspiring profusion of life including White Tip Reef Sharks, Turtles, Octopus,Moray Eels, Stone Fish, Cleaner Shrimps and the seldom seen Ghost Pipe Fish. The caves, overhangs and even a swim-throughs make the dive even more exciting with the vibrant colors of the soft coral coverage and the tubastrea coral. If you’re lucky you could even spot a guitar shark,a few hammerheads or spotted eagle rays.

9. Best Kelp Dive – San Clemente, Channel Islands, California

Sometimes called ‘the North American Galapagos’ or ‘the Fiji of America’, the Channel Islands made up of a chain of eight islands is one of the richest marine parks of the world. The southern most island of San Clemente absolute diver’s Mecca with it’s redwood- like Kelp forests teeming with sea lions, with the opportunity for divers to swim with them and observe the playful sea lions up close. Garibaldi in their bright colors contrasting against the kelp and Giant curious Sea Bass are common to these waters offering scuba divers a spectacular sight. Underwater photographers will have no dearth of subjects to snap away at in these clear waters. (For more read: Dive The Channel Islands California)

10. Best Coral Reef Life Dives - Bunaken National Marine Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia

The diving possibilities around Sulawesi island are virtually limitless with 6,000 miles of coastline, however, the Bunaken National Marine Park off the north east tip of Sulawesi alone will keep most ardent divers happy. Often quoted among the world’s top ten dive destinations as the reef is in mint condition and houses almost everything there is in marine life. Pick any of group of interest – corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges – and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high here. The wall dives here are simply out of this world, you can’t help but notice the high concentration of schooling fish from drummers, fusiliers to brightly-colored anthias that you pass along the edge of the reef top and the clouds of pyramid butterflyfish and bannerfish underneath. The variety of reef fish is astounding: you could pick out over 20 species of butterflyfish alone if you so desired. The big fish too are not to be left out and one can encounter sharks , napoleon wrasses, bumphead parrotfish, giant trevally, jacks, batfish, giant barracuda and turtles out in the blue off the wall. Many inspirational underwater photos have been taken here, full of curious looking creatures. Dive here and you’ll be spoilt for the remainder of your diving life.

*Photo credits: photos by ultrahi,  wikipedia.org , findiver, Ed Bierman, Tom Weilenmann on flickr.

Continued in Best Dive Sites: Top 15 Dives to Experience Before You Die -3 which includes…

11. Best Big Fish Encounter Dive – Sipadan Island, Borneo, Malaysia
12. Best Shark Dive - Gansbaai, South Africa
13. Best Whale Shark Dive – Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Thailand
14. Best Shore Dives – Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
15. Best Liveaboard Dives – Sharm El Sheik and Ras Mohammed, Egypt

Now Travel to your favorite Dive Destinations and plan your Scuba Holidays with LeisurePro.com

If you missed our other posts …

Best Dive Sites: Top 15 Dives to Experience Before You Die

1. Best Cave/Cavern Dives – Cenotes of the Riviera Maya, Mexico
2. Best Wreck Dive - SS Yongala, Ayr, Australia
3. Best Wall Dive – Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia
4. Best Manta Ray Dive- Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii
5. Best Deep Dive – Lighthouse Reef- Blue Hole, Belize

Best Dive Sites: Top 15 Dives to Experience Before You Die -2

6. Best Drift Dive – Santa Rosa Wall, Cozumel, Mexico
7. Best Ice Dive – Mc Murdo Sound, Antarctica
8. Best Night Dive - Maaya Thila, Maldives
9. Best Kelp Dive – San Clemente, Channel Islands, California
10. Best Coral Reef Life Dives – Sulawesi, Indonesia

11. Best Big Fish Encounter Dives – Sipadan Island, Borneo, Malaysia

The tiny island of Sipadan which is a limestone pinnacle rising from 600 meters from the seabed in the Celebes Sea was described by the famous late French underwater explorer and diver Jacques-Yves Cousteau as “…an untouched piece of art.” A legendary dive destination, Sipadan is a magnet and bio-diversity hotspot of Southeast Asia drawing in big fish like barracudas, large schools of trevally, horse-eye jacks, reef sharks and bumphead parrotfish. It’s coral reefs housed in turquoise blue waters are also home to dozens of breeding hawksbill and green turtles that have become accustomed to divers making it a great spot to get up close and person with these gentle reptiles.Rated the 3rd best dive site in the world by ScubaTravel and most favored dive site in Sipadan is ‘Barracuda point’. While there are no guarantees the chances are you’ll find yourself in the center of a swirling vortex of…any guesses?…yes, Barracudas!! Apart from barracuda you’ll see species like the chevron barracuda and blacktail barracuda, huge schools of jacks, tuna, bannerfish, redtooth triggers and plenty of turtles as usual along with Grey reef sharks looking for a quick lunch. (For more read: Diving at Sipadan Island, Borneo – An Untouched Piece of Art)

12. Best Shark Dive – Gansbaai, South Africa

For what nightmares are made of, there’s no where in the World like South Africa to encounter the so called ‘man-eater’ Great White. 12kms offshore from Gansbaai (160km from Cape Town), there are two islands Dyer Island and Geyser Rock where all the action takes place. The islands covered with seals and jackass penguins are like a ready to eat fast food meal for the sharks who patrol the shallow and narrow channel that runs between the two islands, as if they were at a McDonald’s drive-thru. Jump in a cage here an all that’ll separate you from the most feared shark in the sea is a few metal bars. It’s a front row seat to watch the dinning frenzy and maybe a closer encounter with a curious great white when it checks out your cage. You’re guaranteed you’re moneys worth and an experience of a lifetime. (For more read: Top 5 Shark Diving Destinations in the World)

13. Best Whale Shark Dive – Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Thailand

14 km east of the Mu Koh Surin marine park is the dive site of Richelieu Rock in the famous stretch of Andaman Sea lying between the Similan and Surin Islands renowned as whale shark territory. Although there are many sites in Thailand for diving with whale sharks, Richelieu Rock is your best bet. The nutrient-rich water makes for excellent diving where plankton blooms attract many fish including the whale shark. Manta Rays too frequent the site.The huge central pinnacle of this dive site is surrounded by smaller jutting rocks every inch of which is covered in soft corals, anemones, barrel sponges and sea fans making it a picturesque setting for a whale shark encounter.

14. Best Shore Dives – Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

Bonaire of the Dutch Antilles located in the southern Caribbean near Aruba is world renowned for its excellent scuba diving and is consistently rated among the best diving and locations in the world. The island itself is actually the peak of a submerged mountain, so deep sloping reefs surround most of the island. Just a walk down the beach and you can plunge into any one of the 86 spots and find spectacular coral within a few hundred yards. The Bonaire Marine Park protect the environment from the high water mark to a depth of 200 feet maintaining this reef’s integrity. (For more read:Bonaire – A Divers Paradise)

15. Best Liveaboard Dives - Sharm El Sheik and Ras Mohammed, Red Sea, Egypt

Sharm El-Sheik on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt is one of the most popular dive destinations of the Red Sea and has the best of what the Red Sea has to offer. With lush sandy beaches, tropical climate and exciting nightlife it’s a tourist destination with beautiful dive sites to explore. A couple of dive sites worth noting here are ‘the Light’ and ‘the Point’, where there are 130-foot drop-offs and multitudes of reef and pelagic fish. A 196 feet wall drop off into the depths just off shore, just south of Na’ama Bay called ‘The Tower’ is another popular site and is frequented by sea horses and ghost-pipe fish. All these plus the 20 dive sites within the Ras Mohammed National Park, including the famous Thistlegorm wreck, rated among the World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives are best visited by liveaboards of all price ranges operating here. (For more read: The Best Red Sea Dive Spots)

*Photo Credits: photos by findiver, manoellemos, Annie-Lou, Dan Hershman, mattk1979 on flickr

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The Island Republic of Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean Sea just south of the Italian island of Sicily and north east of Tunisia on the African continent. Malta’s three largest islands — Malta, Gozo and Comino are inhabited.  The wreck of the MV Karwela rests on the sea bed just off the coast of the Island of Gozo, and is a fascinating wreck for scuba divers.

The MV Karwela forms one of the two most recent wrecks in Malta, the MV Karwela and MV Comino Land, were scuttled as recently as August 2006 to increase scuba tourism in Gozo. The MV Karwela is a 50 meter (162 ft) passenger ferry, built in 1957 which used to carry up to 800 passengers before it was decommissioned and the authorities decided to scuttle just off the coast of Xatt-L-Ahmar in Gozo in 35-40 meters of water to be used as an artificial reef and attraction for scuba divers.

The Sinking of the MV Karwela and the MV Comino Land made headlines across dive communities around the world, as buoyancy tanks and lift bags were used to ensure that the wreck landed upright in the water settling exactly 35 meters below on the seabed.

As the ship was scuttled only few years ago, the wreck is still very intact with very little coral growth as of now, but should soon become a brilliantly preserved reef in a few years’ time.  The wreck is so near the coast that this wreck has become one of the most popular shore dives in the region. As the ship was fully stripped down and all doors and glass have been removed for divers safety, wreck penetration is easy, however divers need to keep in mind the depth, and may require a deco stop, so wreck penetration is reserved for more experienced divers. The Ballroom of the Karwela is simply an amazing swim through, and gives off an eerie feel.

The strangest attraction of this wreck is the VW Beetle  parked on the stern deck of the Karwela, which makes for a great photo opportunity. As the story goes, after the ship was scuttled, some local divers swam it out on floating on barrels that they let air out of to sink it directly onto the deck where it now rests.

The wreck of the Comino Land is very nearby, and although it is possible to go over both wrecks in one dive, it isn’t recommended.  The Comino Land is slightly shallower resting on even keel at 32 meters, however it has sustained some damage to its bow during sinking, and additionally unlike the Karwela it was scrapped of all its paint to see if marine growth attached to it faster, which along with the damage, makes it look more like an actual wreck.

If you’re ever planning to visit Malta, and experience a fabulous wreck that’s very intact, with an easy shore swim in unspoilt Mediterranean waters, then you must visit the wrecks of the MV Karwela and the Comino Land.

photos from flickr by: Scotdiver, Michael Aston

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If you are looking for an interesting and unique diving experience in the UK, then look no further than the Farne Islands just off the coast of Northumberland.  Never heard of them before? Well the Farne Islands are a group of 28 or 30 islands located between 2 to 5 miles off the north-east coast of England’s Northumberland province, which is merely a 30 minute boat ride from the mainland. The number of islands varies with the tide that often submerges a few of them.

At first this seems like a rather unusual spot to go scuba diving, but these islands contain some of the richest scuba diving waters in the United Kingdom, and also play host to one of the largest colony of Atlantic grey seals in the North Sea.

The waters in this region provide divers with surprisingly great visibility, enabling divers to dive along plummeting underwater Cliffs and islands submerged during high tide. The receding North Sea tides and currents offer divers some unparalleled drift diving along the reef which is undercut in several places offering an almost cave diving like experience. There are sites where divers can encounter colorful sponges, soft coral, anemones, sun stars, plenty of sea urchins and even chance upon the occasional octopus. Smaller crustaceans such as spider crabs, lobsters and even nudibranch can be spotted at many sites and Cod and other large shoaling fish are plentiful in the waters around the Farne Islands. With the large colonies of resident seals, a chance encounter with a curious seal underwater is almost guaranteed and if lucky they will put on an underwater ballet for you. Divers have often encountered a playful tugging at their fins by a seal during their dives here.  Aside from the Seals and frequent sighting of pods of Dolphins visiting the Farne Islands, It has also been reported that Humpback whales and Basking Sharks have been known to visit this area to feed in these plankton rich waters.

For those who love wreck diving, many wrecks are littered around the seabed in this region. The most popular one being the ‘Somali’ a passenger-cargo steamer that was bound for Hong Kong in 1941, when it was bombed by the Germans in WWII.  The Somali now rests upright in 30 meters of water just off Beadnell Point and is a highlight of scuba divers. The Antiaircraft guns on her stern, the propeller shaft, engines and steam pipes are all relatively intact and divers will require numerous dives here to fully appreciate this 450ft vessel. Other diveable wrecks include ‘The Britannia’, The Acclivity, the Abessinia and several others all of which are in the 30-35 meter range, open to recreational scuba divers, but in varying stages of in good physical shape.

The Farne Islands not only provide Scuba Divers an unforgettable experience underwater, but also house a spectacular variety of seabirds including Puffins, Guillemots and Kittiwakes, with tens of thousands of these birds nesting along the cliff faces during May, June and July. Despite the water being cold, diving here in the summer months is something anyone interested in diving in the UK must try.

* photos from flickr by: tobester_4, Daveybot

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While the eastern fringes of the Andaman Sea have now become the playground of the rich and famous in Phuket and Langkawi, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, nicknamed the ‘Emerald Islands’ still retain the original wild and untamed character of this pocket of South East Asia.It’s undoubtedly one of the few undiscovered gems in India, that has escaped the clutches of mass tourism.

Of the 572 islands of the Indian archipelago that make up the Andaman & Nicobar Islands most are swathed in over 86% primary rainforests and only 36 islands are inhabited to the day.The glistering clear, warm waters a step of the pristine white sand beaches offers some of the largest variety of coral and fish life anywhere on the planet and conceals within it many unexplored wonders yet to be discovered. With colorful and healthy coral that escaped the coral-bleaching effects of the El Nino, a mind-boggling array of fish ranging from tropical reef fish of the Indo-Pacific region to big pelagics like graceful manta rays, different species of sharks, schools of barracuda, tuna, jacks and travellay or even an elusive dugong, it is truly a diver’s best kept secret!

Opened up to tourists around a decade ago, most of the diving takes place 38 Kms. from the capital city of Port Blair at Havelock and Neil Island. Havelock is the most visited of the islands and the most developed (although still minimal). The coastal water surrounding these islands is an abode of one of the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world. Home to the main Dive Centers- DIVEIndia and Barefoot among many others, the diving here takes place in small groups of 4-8 divers.

Notable dive sites around Havelock include the wreck of a 30 year old cargo ship the INS Inchkett, laying on it’s side in two parts, ‘the wall’, an underwater ledge going down to 55meters, with stunning growth all along it, ‘South button’ a small rock island with interesting overhangs and strange-shaped rock formations around it and frequented by Manta rays in season. For big fish lovers- large pelagics, schools of barracuda both chevron and great barracuda, big eyed jacks and stunning bluefin tuna schools are often spotted at dive sites like ‘Johnny’s Gorge’, ‘Jackson’s Bar’ and ‘Dixon’s Pinnacle’ among others. Large marble stingrays, eagle rays and of course the every popular manta rays are regular sightings at many sites around Havelock. Large turtles, giant groupers, napolean wrasses, giant clams along with reef regulars like titan triggers, parrotfish,pufferfish, unicornfish, murray eels are some of the delights of diving here.

Dive Safari trips are organized to other remote North Andaman Islands like Long Island and Mayabunder. However, the infrastucture here is very primitive, there’s very little information about it and the diving is still in the exploratory stage, but shows great promise. Whales sightings are quite regular and the abundance of fish unmatched as it is un-fished territory.

A unique feature of diving in the Andamans is it’s one of the few places in the World you can encounter a Dugong. Looking like a cross between a walrus and a whale, dugongs are one of the most unusual sea creatures you can ever encounter.

As the DiveIndia slogan sums it best, the Andamans can best be described as Undived, Undiscovered, Unbelievable!

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Rays are among the top things divers like to see on dives along with turtles, sharks, schools of barracuda, whale sharks and so on. With a wide variety of rays from the stingrays, whiptail stingrays, eagle rays, marble sting rays  and manta rays, it’s always a thrill to see one. There are just a handful of spots around the World are hugely popular for sheer number of rays and a chance to swim, snorkel and of course scuba dive with these creatures.

To truly experience this ancient creature almost untouched by time, the best site worth mentioning and the most popular is…Stingray City in North Sound of the Grand Cayman Islands.

A natural channel passes through the barrier reef here in the shallow waters in the corner of North Sound of the Grand Cayman Islands. Filled with a string of sandbars the stingrays were drawn here over the years as they became accustomed to feeding off of unwanted fish parts thrown overboard by the local fisherman cleaning their daily catch. Soon they became a permanent fixture and got used to humans feeding them and climbing into the water with them.

Today, thousand of tourists particularly as part of a cruise ship attraction visit Stingray city to swim, feed and interact with the Southern stingrays. Rated one of the “best snorkeling experiences in the world”, snorkeling is one way of rubbing elbows with one of the potentially dangerous animal. However, these stingrays are a friendly bunch gathered for an easy meal and aren’t dangerous if not threatened. The snorkeling here takes place in the heart of the sandbar where the water is only 3 to 5 feet deep. The crystal clarity of the waters and numerous stingrays on the sandy bottom is just a treat not to mention when they rub up against you or even wrap their wings around you.

For the ultimate stingray experience however, the best trip to stingray city has to include diving with them. The scuba diving at stingray city is on the deeper part of the sandbar where the water is 12 to 20 feet deep and is sans fins. Groups of ten to twenty divers gear up with no fins (to avoid hurting the rays by accident) and extra weights to stay down on the sandy bottom. Instructed to form a circle, the divemaster hands out pieces of fish and squid to feed the rays. In no time the intelligent creatures have sensed their meal and swarm around the divers caressing them with their bodies and wings, urging you to give them the grub. They’re not aggressive so as to say and the chances of being stung are very slim as it’s mostly a defense mechanism and they don’t have teeth to bite, so it’s relatively safe. They suck up the food through their mouth, located on its underside and if you happen so see one from its underside you can actually see right through them.

Taking a glass bottom boat ride is also an option at Stingray city but if you’re game for it the up close and personal experience of snorkeling or better still scuba diving with the ray we feel is the thing unforgettable memories are made of!

* Photo credits; photos by petersbar, vixendoll13, Paul-W, ebatty on flickr

The Islands of St. Kitts and Nevis are often termed as the jewels of the Caribbean and have this tropic paradise feel to them with lush tropical cloud forests to golden beaches the islands are more like the islands of the south pacific than a typical Caribbean island.

St. Kitts and Nevis are two separate islands often referred to together as they are separated by a narrow channel that is only two miles apart making it easy for tourist to visit both islands in one trip. Both the Islands have their own airports offering connections to both the US mainland, Europe and South America making them easily accessible.

The Island of Nevis is just 36 square miles and its center rises upwards to a dense cloud forest. At the center of St. Kitts the larger of the two sister islands, stands the spectacular, cloud-fringed peak of Mount Liamuiga a dormant volcano that also covered by dense tropical forest.

As a dive destination both Islands offer stunning unparalleled dive sites, with over 70 dive sites around Nevis alone. Famous for its enormous Pillar coral, tube sponges,  all kinds of diving is available here enough to please even the most choosiest divers, from wrecks, wall diving, coral reefs, thermal vents, cave diving to watching whale migrations from up close.

‘The Thermal Vents’ is a must visit dive site for anyone visiting St. Kitts or Nevis, and comprise of a reef that begins at 35 feet and plunges to 95 feet, covered in black volcanic trees. Divers can visit this underwater thermal vent where 100 F/38C water spews from the bottom which is a unique experience in itself. Some of the largest lobsters and arrow crabs inhabit this site

‘Devil’s Caves’ is another spectacular 40 foot dive located at the southernmost point of Nevis. Divers can navigate through caverns and overhangs teeming with marine life such as, Nurse Sharks, stingrays, lobster and Blue Tangs.

“River Taw Wreck” is a the remnants of a 144 foot long, wreck of an inter island freighter sunk  in 50 feet of water in 1985 and has been split into two by hurricane Hugo. Encrusted in coral this dive site is home to scores of turtle, squirrel fish, snappers and rays, and makes an excellent night dive.

The Narrow channel, which is the two mile stretch of water that separates St. Kitts from Nevis is also a spectacular dive site to see nurse sharks, white tips and other marine life that inhabit ‘the waters around ‘Booby Island’ which is a tiny island in the channel. Turtles are simply abundant around the island, and if you dive at night you’ll probably see them fast asleep tucked somewhere along a wall.

During the months of January to April Nevis is visited by humpback whales and dolphins.  Several Dive Operators offer Whale & Dolphin Safaris where you get a chance to snorkel or dive with these magnificent creatures.  Often hydrophones are dropped in the water to listen for the clicks, whistles and singing of the whales.

If you’re looking for a Caribbean dive holiday that includes stunning rain forests, mountains, secluded beaches, pristine coral reefs and two Islands for the price of one, look no further than the Island of St. Kitts and Nevis, and we’re sure you’ll not be disappointed.

Leisurepro Travel now offers scuba packages at both St. Kitts and Nevis at attractive prices

* Photos from flickr by: J. Stephen Conn , Nick Hobgood, Márcio Cabral de Moura