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

We’ve all heard of Cozumel as a remarkable scuba diving destination, but very close-by is a lesser known but equally remarkable destination for Scuba diving known as Playa Del Carmen.

Originally an old fisherman village located on the coastal stretch of the Caribbean Sea, known as the Riviera Maya and a short 35 minute ferry journey from Cozumel to the mainland, Playa Del Carmen has transformed into a thriving tourist destination that is popular with not only outside tourist but with the locals as well. You generally fly into Cancun airport then transfer to Playa Del Carmen, which is only an hour’s drive away.

There are two reasons why this destination makes the ideal dive vacation, firstly the sheer variety of scuba diving Playa offers ranging from reef dives to cavern/cenotes enough to interest every kind of diver, and secondly there is so much to do beyond diving which makes it the ideal dive vacation rather than just a dive destination.

Playa Del Carmen is dotted with numerous timeshares, bed & breakfasts, and hotels, some interesting shopping and breathtaking stretches of white sandy beaches. The after hour clubs swing into action after midnight and divers can enjoy not only crystal clear water and stunning reefs, but also engage in numerous on ground activities as well.

Most open water diving here takes place along the Mesoamerican (or the Mayan) Barrier Reef, which is the second largest barrier reef in the world, that extends along the Yucatan Penninsula and include the Belize Barrier Reef. The reefs are so close to the shore that most dive sites are only quick trips in the dive boat and since dives can be easily completed in the morning, it leaves you with the whole day to enjoy the other activities on offer. The reef is home to the most stunning variety of marine life ranging from Manta Rays, Turtles and barracuda to corals and sponges seen nowhere else in the world.

In the months of May to September, one can witness a once in a lifetime experience and dive with Whale Sharks in their own environment near the island of Holbox near Playa del Carmen.

Cenote or cavern diving is a special attraction for those who want to try something different and get away from the open water. Cenotes are caves and underground fresh water rivers formed naturally along the coast line and this stretch of Mexico is renowned for the number of Cenotes it possesses. Diving in a cenote is an unforgettable experience, and those with no cavern diving experience can visit these underground rivers by taking up a cavern diving course. An interesting fact is that the 3 largest underground rivers in the world are all located in Riviera Maya. Read: Cenotes: The Underwater Caves of The Riviera Maya, Mexico

Due to its proximity with Cozumel, divers can spend a couple of days diving around Cozumel which is only a short ferry ride from the mainland to have the complete diving experience.

*Photo Credits: photos by Daquella manera, nonperturbative, Ignatius244, Noticaribe on flickr

Of all the the creatures on this planet Sharks have earned quite the reputation, good and bad. Some admire this fierce predator of the seas while most have a fear of of the creature that even keeps them out of the waters.  For those of you that fall in the second category you may want to read our post on Overcoming The ‘Jaws’ Factor When You Dive cos this post isn’t for the faint hearted. For those of you ready to face your fear or or undertake the seemingly insane pursuit of intentionally taking the plunge in shark infested waters here are the Top 5 Destinations in the World for Diving with Sharks-

1. 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.

2. Nassau, Bahamas
Think cage diving is for wussies? Want a little more thrill and excitement? How about coming face-to-face with tens of reef sharks without the metal protection. Nassau attracts tons of divers every year to witness a swarm of reefies in a feeding frenzy. The difference however is that the sharks are lured by the dive master/operators dressed in chain-mail that feed them while the other divers play spectators down below unnoticed by the hungry sharks.

With no cage or protection the thrill of this high can be described as a powerful dose of prozac. Shark encounters include tens of blacktip or white tip reef sharks circling you feeding on bait and on rare occasion and run in the daddy of all sharks -the great white.

3. Rhode Island, United States
A combination of frigid waters and plenty of sharks makes this one of the top shark diving destinations. Point Judith, three hours offshore of New England may not seem like a great place to dive, especially since the Atlantic’s bone-chilling waters aren’t very inviting. However, the migratory blue sharks have made it their pit stop on a long journey to the coast of South America.

Pulled in by chumming the waters (throwing in bait to lure sharks and fish), the blue sharks are drawn here for the diving which is done from a cage. Their slender bodies and pointed snouts are quite distinguishably different form other shark species. The fearless may opt to go cage-free but this isn’t advisable.

4. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
A must dive site for shark diving enthusiasts, Cocos Island is a unique spot to dive with literally hundreds of hammerhead sharks. Ranked as the 6th Best dive site by the PADI network, it’s a live-aboard only dive destination as it’s situated some 300 miles off the main coast of Costa Rica.

The silhouette view of swirling hammerheads as you gaze up on a dive here is an intense and almost surreal diving experience. The sheer numbers of hammerheads is shocking and makes you wonder if there are any fish left around there. Apart from hammerhead sharks, white tips, bull and whale sharks are frequently spotted in these parts too.

5. Rocas Atoll (Atol das Rocas), Brazil
A lagoon off the coast of Brazil in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Norte, 260 km (160 mi) northeast of Natal is volcanic formed island. This atoll was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because of it’s rich marine and coral life. The warm waters in this area are home to a caucus of brightly colored tropical fishes, coral reefs and it’s predator—the lemon shark.

With a thriving population of lemon sharks here, which pose very little threat to humans it’s possible to dive with a school of about 30 sharks at once making it a tangy experience.

*Photo Credits: photos by manoellemos, Le Grand Portage, underwatertourist, twellsv, AlKok on flickr

One of the best rated and top 10 dive destinations in the World is a tiny dot on the map in the South China Sea- Malaysia’s only oceanic island Sipadan on Borneo. The 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. The most negative thing we can think of and say about diving in Sipadan is with the wealth of marine life and sheer number of things vying for your attention a lot can be missed. The walls are unparalleled and brimming with innumerable macro life and fish species that’ll rival most destinations across the globe. However, the big fish encounters here definitely take the cake.

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!! The current here is strong but then again that’s what brings in the food which duly brings the big fish here. Apart from barracuda species like the chevron barracuda and blacktail barracuda you see huge schools of jacks, tuna, bannerfish, redtooth triggers. plenty of turtles as usual and Grey reef sharks looking for a quick lunch. Another exciting dive site is the “Drop Off” that looks straight down into an abyss of 600 meters (close to 2000ft) or more. If your lucky you may even catch sight of a few giant manta rays playing nearby.

If you enjoy spotting sharks, at the ‘hanging gardens’ another stunning wall dive with a drop off into the deep blue you can encounter a living wall of hundreds of Hammerhead Sharks rising like ghosts from the deep and occasionally the lucky may get a chance to see the extremely rare thresher shark or fox shark.

With 10-14 top notch dive sites on offer Sipadan has truly earned it’s reputation as the best of the best. The close by reefs of Mabul and Kapalai are fantastic for spotting rare mandarin fish, sea wasps and lots of nudibranchs but Sipadan is what a diving experience should be all about…abundant and untouched marine life to be viewed and enjoyed.

Sipadan in our books is fine diving at it’s finest and a must dive destination we hope will live up to it’s name for years and years to come.

*Photo credits: photos by Dave Bluck, JennyHuang, Jared Kelly, Daniel, Daniel Kwok on flickr.

What is it about wall diving that has divers completely enthralled with the activity? The fascination for wall diving is difficult to explain, anyone who has dived a reef wall will rave about the experience and most dive operators will always feature their wall dive as one of their top dive sites and promote them excessively.

A Wall in scuba terms is essentially an underwater cliff face, more commonly a reef edge that runs vertically, usually run from shallow to deep and drops off suddenly into the depths of the ocean. Diving along this vertical reef/rock edge is known as wall diving. Most coral Islands and barrier reefs like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Belize’s Barrier Reef have stunning wall drop-offs teeming with coral and marine life.

So what’s all the fuss about diving along a reef cliff? Well for starters, wall diving is usually reserved for the more seasoned divers, as they can often be rather challenging to dive making them more exciting. A wall dive usually implies a deep dive, as walls drop off suddenly to great depths.

Secondly, diving along the face of a vertical wall requires good buoyancy control because there is no seabed to prevent the diver descending too deep. Constant monitoring and depth control is crucial to diving along a wall, as a diver can easily drop too deep without even realizing it as there is no sea bed as a visual indicator of depth.

Thirdly, reef walls usually have strong upward or downward currents running along the wall as the current from the deep hits the vertical rock face and rises, making it extremely challenging to navigate and swim which adds to the challenge and the difficulty for novice divers.

Fourthly, wall diving meets just about every type of diver preference from spectacular vistas, abundant marine life ranging from smaller reef fish near the top to larger pelagic fish such as Sharks, jacks, grouper and tuna around the depths. Corals grow at interesting angles creating a kind of three dimensional gardens as they struggle for light on the vertical overhangs.  A wall offers a wide variety in dive profiles, exciting visual/physical sensations, and tremendous opportunities for the underwater photographer, as all sorts of fascinating creatures live along a reef wall, and if you are a macro photographer, you will have no end of interesting subjects to capture. Exploring tiny nooks, crevices to larger caves and overhangs is always interesting, and simply observing the change of marine life as you descend along a wall is a real eye-opener.

The sensation of being suspended in the ocean with only one supporting wall while all the larger fish of the ocean and their predators darting below you, will give any diver a rush.

If you’re planning to dive a wall, make sure you plan your dive well, and know the strength and direction of the currents along the wall.  Plan a multi-level or profile dive to maximize your bottom time and observe the different levels of marine life as you change depths. Always remember to watch that depth gage! Wall dives are deceptively notorious for having divers drop below their limits, as currents constantly pummel divers who have no sea floor as a reference. Be mindful of the fragile coral growing along the vertical, and watch where you grab on to, as there are often several creatures hidden in the cracks and crevices along a reef wall.

Photos from flickr by: g-na, underwatertourist, Enje, Caloy and Myra

Of the 8 islands that make up Micronesia, Palau just like Chuuk Lagoon is famous for it’s World class Scuba diving. However, the 70 odd marine lakes scattered throughout the limestone “rock islands” of the southern portion of the main Palau archipelago are a great way for non-divers to get a glimpse of some interesting underwater life by just snorkeling on the surface. One lake in particular, draws a lot of attention as being unique- The Jellyfish Lake also known as Ongeim’l Tketau in Palauan.

In a freak incident of nature over 12,000 years ago, a submerged reef rose from the sea creating a landlocked saltwater lake containing some Jellyfish. These intelligent creatures over the years adapted into the Scyphozoa class of jellyfish called ‘Golden Jellyfish’ and ‘Moon Jellyfish’, they lost their sting and thrived in the new environment. In a matter of years the lake was home to millions of golden and moon jellyfish along with some sea anemone. The jellyfish nurture a symbiotic relationship with algae that live in their tissues in exchange for nutrition and capture zooplankton for more. This algae requires plenty of sunlight to grow and the jellyfish ferry across the lake twice daily from one side to the other providing their internal algae with the sunlight it needs. At night, the jellyfish swim to lower depths where the water is rich in nitrogen that helps sustain the algae population. The jellyfish keep away from their lone predator in this lake, the sea anemone that is capable of stinging, trapping and killing them.

The Jellyfish Lake in Palau, Micronesia attracts a lot of tourists to snorkel in it’s jellyfish infested waters. Tour operators in Koror offer trips to the lake on Eil Malk island which is approximately a 45 minute boat ride from Koror. Described as “swimming in a lava lamp with gelatinous blobs floating all around you, bouncing off your arms, head and feet”, it’s an experience unlike anything you will ever have elsewhere. Scuba diving here is prohibited as the bubbles from scuba regulators tend to collect beneath the bell of the jellyfish, harming them. Wearing fins too is not allowed as a simple fin blade could slice the fragile jellyfish in two with little effort. Another reason for the ban on Scuba diving here is that the bottom portion of the 30 m (100 ft) lake has a giant layer of hydrogen sulfide.

A refreshing experience to anyone who has the privilege of visiting beautiful Palau, the Jellyfish lake is guaranteed to be one of the most astounding moments of your life. Snorkeling in the Jellysfish Lake is a must-do for any water lover!!

* Photo Credits: photos by tobze, aSIMULAtor, anthonioo on flickr

A stunning gem among the French Polynesian islands, Bora Bora is World famous as being a paradise on Earth location and indeed it is justified both below and above the water. This picture perfect island finds itself on many a postcard, posters and desktop with the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks in the center of the island and an enveloping lagoon three times it’s size with it’s crystal blue waters.

The lagoon of Bora Bora like the other French Polynesian islands of Tahiti and Marquesas, is a haven for marine life and the deeper seas just outside the lagoon are mostly known for schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks and amazing legions of gigantic manta rays. With ample dive sites both within and outside the lagoon, Bora Bora is divers paradise especially for a many ray encounter.

Ideal conditions for rays cos of the plentiful plankton, Bora Bora has swarms of a variety of rays including the leopard, bat, eagle and stingrays. But, the crowning glory of diving here is the largest of the world’s rays, the Manta Ray. Dive sites like ‘Anau’ have gained a reputation for consistent manta rays encounters between May to December when the numbers and visibility at it’s highest. Other dive sites like the ‘Tapu’, ‘Muri Muri’ and ‘Teavanui Pass’ are popular for sighting of big fish and sharks like the lemon, grey, black tip, white tip, and hammerhead sharks among other marine life like giant wrasse, rainbow jack fish, turtles, barracuda and even dolphins. The lagoon too has stunning coral growth on walls with giant clams small caves and dramatic swim-throughs.

Diving is excellent all year round which means that there is no “best” season for scuba diving in the French Polynesia. They have both a dry and a rainy season which is during the Tahitian summer which lasts from December until February, and typically involves rain in the morning with sun in the afternoon. The visibility is very good in all locations ; however as anywhere else it is dependent on factors such as weather and currents. Bora Bora is a good dive destination for divers of all experience levels from beginners inside the lagoon to more advance divers outside the reef looking for a thrill.

If you are aquacentric, Bora Bora is definitely the place for you. It’s reputation is well deserved and fully justified. A trip to the Islands will be worthwhile and the diving among the best you have experienced.

*Photo Credits: photos by underwatertourist, agvnono on flickr

Tired of a night gambling at the Las Vegas Strip? Want to get away from those infuriating artificial Vegas lights? Well then Las Vegas has some great dive sites to offer the Scuba Diver an escape from the casinos in the form of Lakes Mead and Lake Mohave.

Both Lakes fall under the Lake Mead National Recreational Area, which comprises of the artificially created lakes/reservoirs formed during the creation of the Hoover and Davis dams. Lake Mead was formed when the Hoover Dam was built to dam the waters of the Colorado river.

Both lakes offer divers a unique freshwater diving experience. Visibility on both lakes fluctuates throughout the year with, October to April, visibility being good at 20 to 50 feet, and during the summer months, May to September, algae growth results in reduced visibility 30 feet to less than one foot, depending on location and depth. During the summer months  there are two distinct thermoclines that are located at 30-40 feet and the second at 60 feet.

Due to the vastness of both Lakes, there is simply no shortage of dive sites to explore with the exception of a few restricted areas comprising of the areas directly above and below the Hoover and Davis dams, and the water intake tunnels. Some interesting dive sites are

The Rock Slide: which is located in the Black Canyon area and offers a breathtaking view of the Hoover Water depth ranges from 30 feet to as deep as 130 feet. Divers can see dam construction remnants, and can wall dive at the Black Canyon drop off.

The Batch Plant: is the site of a circular washing facility for the concrete that was used to build the Hoover Dam. What is left now is a 12 foot high block wall that is approximately 100 feet in diameter at a depth of 70 feet. A railroad track runs by this site which makes it an even more interesting one.

Boulder Islands: the site of a large cement tank used during construction of Hoover Dam to store water, Also, two 45 foot to 50 foot vessels  the Tortaga and the Cold Duck for wreck diving are located here.

Marine life in the lakes comprises of Large Mouth Bass, Blue Gill, Stripers, Catfish, Carp, Shad, Fresh Water Sponges, Fresh Water Jelly Fish, striped bass, channel catfish, crappie, and Rainbow Trout. Other aquatic life includes crayfish and soft shell turtles that make an occasional appearance.

Due to abundant fishing that takes place in these lakes, divers are cautioned to look out for fishing line and hooks snagged underwater, and carry a dive knife or clipper on their dives.

There are dive shops in Boulder City and Las Vegas, Nevada, and Bullhead City, Arizona, which supply Scuba equipment for sale and rental, also provide instruction, and air refills. They also provide you with maps and the best dives sites based on the season and your experience level as a diver.

photos by: JT40D, Sandy & Co., kreg.steppe

You’ve probably heard of Scuba diving in the Red Sea and even in the Black Sea, but have you heard of White Sea diving? I bet, even on  just reading ‘White Sea’ many of you scratched your heads wondering where it was. Well, if the title of this post hasn’t already given it away, the White Sea lies to the northwest of Russia almost on the Arctic/Polar Circle. So Scuba diving in the Arctic? Is anyone crazy enough to do that? you may ask, and the answer is Yes.

Ice Diving is one of the most adventurous and extreme diving experiences you can have in the World of Scuba. While most of the popular and easily accessible ice diving destinations include lakes that freeze over in winter, to enjoy real marine ice diving the best 2 two ice diving destinations are- Antarctica and the White Sea in Russia (Arctic). It’s a whole new world beneath the ice in these places. Since cold water holds more oxygen than warm water, it provides a richer environment  for marine life to thrive and the extreme conditions give rise to species that are specific to these regions exclusively. The cold also makes the water as clear as air with visibility that often exceeds 40-50m (130- 160ft). In McMurdo Sound, Antarctica visibility is an unbelievable 300m (990 ft)!

The White Sea however, is more accessible than diving in Antarctic. The coast of the white sea can be reached by railroad, approximately 27 hours north of Moscow the country’s capital city. Scuba diving here requires all divers to have an ice-diving certification from the PADI and be proficient in dry-suit use with a minimum of twenty logged dry suit dives. Divers head over to the dive sites by snowmobiles and penetrate the ice that sometimes may be 1.5 meters thick, through sawed rectangular holes. Equipped with Scuba gear- lots of it, including multiple layers of clothing worn under a drysuit, rubber outer gloves, neoprene hoods, full face masks plus the regular fins, tank and lead weights divers finally take the plunge. Considering the increased possibility of the regulator valves freezing, either blasting a diver with free-flowing air or shutting off the air supply altogether. So, every air tank for ice diving has two valves and the mouthpiece valve features a special freeze-resistant design.

Divers go down in buddy pairs with with a safety rope tied to the waist of each diver and the divers are meant to hold the rope. A tender person on the surface holds the rope of which the end is fixed by an ice-screw. Once under, the landscape is magnificent with rock walls plunging into the depths, swaying kelp, ice masses towering on the surface and the shimmering sunlight that streams through the ice sheath above as if through a kaleidoscope. On rocks below lie starfish and related brittle stars of every color and description. Dense forests of large round anemones in bright almost psychedelic colors along with sponges and algae line the floors and rainbow-tinged comb jellies, cod, wolf-fish, sea perch and butter fish may occasionally swim by.

The White Sea in Russia is truly one of the most unique dive destinations and one of the best place in the world to Ice dive. Diving here is the perfect way to slip into a winter of diving. It’s bound to take your breath away leave you with an admiration for the severe beauty of the Russian North and marine ice diving.

*Photo Credits: photos by Tidewater Muse and Brad Stabler on flickr. Starfish picture by Vermonter on wikimedia commons.