Author: jack

 

Anyone who is going to take up diving as a hobby will need to purchase the right gear for the job. When taking lessons, it is possible to use the schools equipment but not in all cases. Once certified then every diver will need their own equipment that is a personalised to ensure the best fit. Any local PADI dive shop can help with this.

The basic equipment for exploring the underwater world is

• Snorkel
• Mask
• Fins

For open water diving the equipment needed includes

• Regulator
• Dive computer and/or planner
• Buoyancy control device
• SCUBA tank
• Wetsuit and/or Drysuit
• Weight System

The equipment used also depends on the conditions of the dive site, this can vary between

• Cold water SCUBA diving equipment
• Tropical SCUBA gear
• Temperate SCUBA gear
• Technical Diving SCUBA equipment

It is important for divers to use their own equipment as soon as possible as it is fitted especially for them, therefore it is more comfortable to use. Comfort also helps with confidence. If a diver is more confident when diving, they are less likely to panic and get into trouble if something should not go according to plan.

 

Adventure holidays sound great but for those who have children they can be very difficult, particularly when planning activities. However, there are some adventure holidays that have activities that are suitable for all the family.

Kids can learn about animals and conservation on a safari. Consider a trip to South Africa but opt for a smaller national park than Kruger. In Kwazulu Natal there are a number of different parks where kids can get close to animals without dealing with the crowds.

A camping trip in America’s south-west is also a good option. Kids love the basic nature of camping as it is a very different way of living. Taking the trip in a small group gives the opportunity to visit no less than five national parks. Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon and the Valley of Fire could all be on the list of destinations. Water sports and horse riding are options when it comes to activities.

Embracing another culture is a great way to stimulate a child’s imagination and this can be done in Sri Lanka. Kids get to visit World Heritage sites as well as elephant orphanages. Trips can be taken with a personal guide and sites that are worth a visit include the tea plantations and the national parks.

A trip to Iceland is one that no member of the family will ever forget. Winter is a great time to visit. The thermal hot springs, geysers and mud pools are a big draw for tourists but not as big a draw as the Northern Lights. This natural light show is spectacular and once seen, it is never forgotten. Iceland also has plenty of museums where the kids can learn more about the history of this fascinating country.

 

A trip to the USA is always an exciting one but there are plenty of ways in which it can be made more exciting. Adventure holidays are a good way to explore the country and get that all-important adrenaline rush at the same time.

Rafting in the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of the must-see sites in the USA and the breath-taking views are one of the things that feature high on the bucket lists of many people. A rafting trip down the Colorado River is a fun-filled adventure. The starting point is at Lee’s Ferry and those who take part in the five or six day trips will be camping at various points along the way. Some people will terminate the rafting trip after spending the night at Phantom Ranch so that they can hike for around 10 miles to get out of the canyon or continue along the river and raft all the way down to Diamond Creek.

Hiking in the Zion National Park
This Utah national park is filled with options for those who want to go hiking. One of the most popular trails here is the 16 mile trail along the Virgin River Canyon. The canyon walls can be as high as 2000 feet here and at some points the walk is actually through the river. In some places the water can be waist high. Getting an up to date weather forecast is a must for those who want to avoid getting caught in a flood.

Cycling Glacier National Park
Cycling in Montana’s Glacier National Park is something that should be planned very carefully. Cyclists are not permitted on the highway until the evening. The road sticks close to the cliffs. The best views come from the points on the highway where people are actually above the tree line.

Climbing Mount Rainier
In the state of Washington stands Mount Rainier, a mountain that stands more than 14,000 feet high. It can be seen from more than 100 miles away. It is highly recommended that those who want to climb it do so with a group. It is also recommended that it should be done over a period of several days, to give the climbers the opportunity to adapt to the altitude. This is definitely one for the more experienced climber.

 

A trip to Europe is always an exciting time, particularly for those who choose to do something a little difference instead of the usual tourist activities. From hiking to white-water rafting, there is something for every adrenaline junkie here.

Horse-riding in Turkey
The region of Cappadocia in Turkey was once referred to by the Persians as ‘the land of beautiful horses’. The region is home to wild mountain ponies and the landscape is ideal for those who want to spend a little time exploring on horseback. Tourists who want to explore this way can find themselves cantering along the valley floors and exploring the remote villages. On a horse-riding holiday here, tourists can find themselves camping in tipis and spending hours each day in the saddle.

Walking the Via Dinarica in the Balkans
The Via Dinarica is a 1000km trail that runs from the Dinaric Alps in Slovenia through Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania, finally finishing up in Macedonia. There are different rails that can be used. The White Trail runs through the high mountains while the Green Trail is considered to be ideal for cyclists. The Blue Trail takes in the Dalmation Coast and is thought to be the easiest of the three. Tourists can follow the trail alone or take one of the guided tours.

Sea kayaking in Estonia
The Baltic coast of Estonia is a very unspoilt part of the country. There are more than 1500 islands here and many of these were used for military testing in the 1950s by the Russians. These days they have become wildlife havens and visitors can go from one to another by kayak. Group trips are often the best option as they come with a guide. There is also the option to do a little scuba diving on some trips.

Mountain hiking in Slovakia
Mountain hiking is not for the faint-hearted but it makes for a great adventure holiday. There are lots of different mountain ranges in Europe but for those who want to avoid the expense of areas such as the Alps, the High Tatra mountains in Slovakia are a great option. These mountains create a border with Poland and there are many impressive peaks as well as green valleys and calm lakes. Trips here can be taken independently but there are guided tours that could prove to be a great option for those who want to meet new people. However, the walking is for a minimum of eight hours each day and everyone has to carry their own backpack!

 

There comes a time when everyone is looking for a holiday with a difference and this is why adventure holidays could be the answer. Asia is a continent that is fast emerging as a great place for activity holidays and here are just a few that should be on anyone’s wish-list.

Kayaking in Papua New Guinea
Officially Papua New Guinea belongs to Australasia but it is very close to south-east Asia. Head to Tsoilik, a place that can only be reached with the help of a sea kayak. You set out from New Ireland and this is a place where visitors will truly feel as though they on their own. There are some guides but they aren’t available all the time. The kayaking trip covers 30 miles and when visitors arrive they find that there are only a few locals on the island. However, once here there is plenty to see and do. The wreck of a Japanese battleship lies just off the coast and this is a big attraction for snorkelers.

Monsoon snake-hunting in India
While this may not sound like everybody’s dream holiday, there is a guided trip in India to spot snakes. Lead by an expert in reptiles and amphibians, the trip takes visitors through the Western Ghats in southern India. The trip involves trekking through the mountains and jungle to see a wide variety of the creatures. The tour is part of the conservation work that is being done to save many of these rare creatures.

Cross-island Cycling in Sri Lanka
Any cycling enthusiast will love the sound of this trip to the island of Sri Lanka. The route will take you right across the island, through jungle and paddy fields as well as through the Knuckles Mountains. Stop at one of the tea plantations along the way or visit a temple or two. Spend the last couple of days relaxing at the beach before heading home.

Hiking in Nepal
Walking holidays are always a great choice for those who want to be active without risking life and limb. They are also a great choice for those who want to take the environment into consideration. Try a trip through the Sailung Valley just to the east of Kathmandu. These trips are designed to meet the needs of the walker so at times when only a short walk is needed that can be arranged.

Cruise along the Ganges in India
There are now more options for cruising along the Ganges thanks to the use of new boats that can cope with the shallower waters that are seen in parts. Now tourists can cruise along sections such as Varanasi. The trip will visit sites such as palaces and Moghul forts. There may also be the opportunity to spot one or two of the river dolphins.

Photography can be an exciting experience, especially with the modern developments in technology which have led to the designing of high-resolution cameras. Avid and experienced lensmen and documentarians have pushed the quality bar a notch higher, with cutting-edge photography pieces that capture the amazing underwater environment for you. Underwater photography can be done when someone is scuba diving, or with specialised cameras while on the surface of a large water body, like a lake or an ocean. In some instances, there are remotely operated vehicles which have been designed to take photos of underwater surfaces. The advancement in the photography profession has also seen the designing of automatic cameras, which can be mounted on lower water surfaces, to capture the needed pictures.

Getting The Best Underwater Images

Underwater photography is of exceptional importance to different categories of people. It could be historians, archaeologists, investigators, or curious paparazzi out to satisfy their spirit of adventure. For the scientists interested in new or unique breeds of fish and the gamut of marine mammals, underwater photography provides a much-needed learning opportunity. In some instances, investigators also rely heavily on underwater photography to study shipwrecks, such as the ones that resulted from the Maersk Lima accident in Buenos Aires. Visit movon.com for some of the spectacular images that have been captured in underwater experiences.

Barbara Cole Fine Underwater Photography

If you are a fashion or photography enthusiast, perhaps you have heard about Barbara Cole, who started her impressive career as a leading fashion photographer for the famed Toronto Sun Magazine. From the early 1990s, Cole has diversified her photography collection and has now permanently settled on underwater photography. This amazing ‘wet world’ photography by Barbara Cole
covers collections which range from sportswear captions for top brands like Gravis to fine art pictures.

When considering taking up SCUBA diving as a hobby there are several things that need to be considered.

• Research dive school, reviews, safety standards, student to instructor ratio, instructor accreditation, is training in warm or cold water, is training in a swimming pool or sea/ocean and the cost.
• Yoga is thought to help with the breathing techniques used in diving, taking a few lessons may help to boost confidence. Swimming lessons for those who are not strong swimmers may also help confidence.
• ALWAYS check equipment before a dive. Never dive if there is the slightest concern about a fault.
• Feel free to ask the instructor questions, even they were beginners once and should answer any concerns sympathetically and in a way that makes it easy to understand.
  NEVER dive with a sinus infection or cold or any sort of open wound – this can be dangerous.
• To avoid dehydration drink plenty of water. It is a well-known fact that urination frequency is more common while buoyant.
• Stay close to the instructor.
• Keep a close eye on the air gauge, alert the instructor if it goes low.

Most importantly, in case of mishap or issue don’t panic, keep breathing steadily!

Have you booked your diary for that epic, and adrenaline pumping holiday escapade for 2018? If not yet, the year is still young and we are promising to cover the possible list of unusual and memorable holiday adventures. From uplifting hikes to fear-instilling swimming caves and the famed Active Galapagos series of walks, amazing boat rides, and incredible biking experiences, the choice is all yours. We are also going to update you on epic sailing adventures like the awesome ‘around Britain Sailing Adventure’ an event scheduled for April and August 2018. Treking on mystical, mountainous and vast remote areas can also be exciting. Well, this is what the much-hyped Bhutan expedition is all about. These are just a few of our 2018 holidays to take you away from that boring office or lab work. Keep reading and get to unravel the whole packages as you hobnob and globe-trot this beautiful universe.

Discover The Virgin Under Water Caves

World over, expeditions around water bodies have attracted an immense following. The beautiful aquatic flora and fauna add to the thrill of such adventurous trips. These explorations have led to historic discoveries some of which are finding a space in the archaeological Guinness Book of World Records. For instance, most recently, explorative scientists discovered the World’s longest underwater cave in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula around the Tulum City. Christened as an archaeological milestone, this flooded cave is massive and stretches an unimaginable length of 216 miles along subterranean caverns while bifurcating in magical, yet natural patterns. More to its beautiful nature, this cave presents a lot of historical learning points according to Guillermo de Anda, a lead researcher at the Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico. He argues that the cave is home to some extinct animal remains which can be traced back to indigenous Maya culture. Nevertheless, this huge discovery was not a mere coincidence, it was a reward for the concerted effort by a group of explorers from the Great Maya Aquifer Project (GAM) led of course, by the director Robert Schmittner and specialised cave divers.

Impressive Deals At Accommodation Engelberg

If you want to satisfy your spirit of adventure by visiting such underwater caves, you can get in touch with Accommodation Engelberg and enjoy a share of lifetime convenience and deals. Not only do we limit our services to the Yucatan Peninsula but we are also spread to all corners of the globe. In case you want to be part of explorers in the much awaited mountainous trek in Eastern Himalayas Bhutan expedition, we are here for you. Our services are available in almost all major global languages as evidenced in our foot-hold presence in more than 200 countries. We will hook you up with the most sought-after hotel rooms, guest houses, motels, and more. As part of the deal, we will also arrange for some of best car rentals and even flights around Switzerland and the rest of the World with guaranteed value for every coin. In case you choose to stay around Switzerland, some of our best-recommended hotels include the likes of The Angels Lounge.