As soon as you arrive it’s easy to see why it is the most photographed beach in Australia and has been named ” Queensland ’s Most Beautiful Beach” by ‘Keep Australia Beautiful’, a title that has never before been bestowed upon a beach in Queensland , and may never be again.Read more here .

Whitehaven beach, a beach ill never forget, not only for its beautiful white sand, clear waters and serenity but the fact that that’s the place I was proposed to! What more could i ask for! The beach is so pristine and untouched that the sand just makes you want to lay in it all day. Definitely worth a trip to the whitsundays just to see this beach, dont let life go by without seeing it! Thanks to Kassi.

Nature has always kept within itself a charm and attraction. It could either be the sky, the sun or the moon or the oceans and the rivers which are the perpetual source of figmentation of your imaginations and illusions. People tend to be less resistive about spending time at beaches and bays because they want to take the most out of the sight and splendor which remains craved on the windows of their memories until after a long time. If you are one of those people who love splattering around the romantic sea shores and islands, you should know the possible places where you can seek the utmost joy.

Your imaginations and expectations are even enriched when you go and visit some of the best creations or you can say the best diving destinations of the world. If you are crazy about swimming, diving and water boarding you should be aware of the ten best places you don’t want to miss carrying that out. If it important for you to know about these ten best places so you can gather as much information and facts about them as possible.

1. The Bahamas, Western Atlantic

Touf with Sharks / Photo from therocketscientist

The Bahamas are an archipelago consisting of 700 islands extending over 100,000 square miles of the Western Atlantic Ocean. It is characterized by its formation through the sinking of a plateau resulting in the shallow seas you find in the shore area. The average depth of the sea is of 20 feet except where a deep underwater trench called ‘The Tongue of the Ocean’ cuts through the submerged plateau.

Bahamas – Stuart Cove’s shark feeding / Photo from remainingoceansart

A warm ocean current influences this islands and is responsible for the vivid marine life particularly the extensive coral reefs. You can have endless scopes of adventure in the longest cave and cavern network found on the Grand Bahama Island.

A complete vacation package is very advantageous for you can get diving, accommodation and transportation facilities. There are separate charters for snorkeling, exploring the caves and wrecks and plunging into the Blue Holes. You must not miss the Biminis, Abacos, Eleuthera, Cat Island, San Salvador and Inagua if you want to make the most of your diving vacation in the Bahamas.

2. Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Sea

Nakajima Kate / Photo from Murray Cornish

The coastlines of Papua New Guinea are marked by rugged mountainous terrain that is difficult to cross. Papua New Guinea stands at the confluence of three seas namely the Bismarck Sea, the Solomon Sea and the Coral Sea and hence a rich site for marine flora and fauna.

Pez Escorpion / Photo from Squalo Divers

Triggerfish / Photo from Boogies with Fish

You can get both live-aboard and land-based diving facilities in these islands that you can take up to explore the marine life and World War II wrecks found in the Bismarck Sea. Chartering the neighboring area in local boats leaving from Alotau is also a great way to explore the place. However, if you are bent on a diving spree, you must visit Kimbe Bay, Madang, Rabaul and Kavieng to have an unforgettable diving experience.

3. Galapagos Islands

Whale Shark / Photo from PedroAlberto98

Galapagos Islands archipelago is a real paradise for scuba divers because of its wide array of gorgeous marine life and challenging geographical conditions. You must take the advice of the dive shops to know which areas for diving should suit your level best and get the right diving gears for the varying temperatures. You must know how to tackle the marine creatures, currents, shape and depth of the dive spots to enjoy the experience.

Green Turtle. Chelonia mydas. / Photo from hsacdirk

Wolf island / Photo from hsacdirk

The Pacific water of Galapagos is clear as a glass and as such, there is nothing to impede your vision of the colored fish through 15 to 25 meters depth. In some places, you can find bright rich waters due to the presence of green algae phytoplankton. Most of the islands of the Galapagos group are suitable for drift diving, night diving and deep diving.

If you like, you can take up the offers of dive trips, day trips and shore diving classes.

4. Rangiroa, Polynesia

Rangirora – Green Lagoon / Photo from JulienNarboux

The vast coastline of Rangiroa will tell you that it counts among the largest atolls of the world and definitely the biggest one of the Tahiti Islands. Its intricate network of islets and coral rings are the home to various species of sea animals. Rangiroa consists of two different dive locations located near the lagoon Paio motu, namely Ava Toru and Tiputa pass. Both these spots offer fantastic glimpses of marine wealth of French Polynesia.

Under the sun / Photo from Autopsea

The average temperature of the seawaters remains around 70 F in winter and 80 F in summer, and hence Rangiroa is a year-round diving destination. You can take a dive for 45 minutes at a stretch in the clear underwater region. The maximum depth is around 80 feet and you must take a boat dive to look at the dolphins, sharks, manta rays and jack fish floating around.

5. Riviera Maya, Mexico

Cenote – Yucatan, Mexico / Photo from okinal

Photo from macrisbruse

Riviera Mayo or the Mayan Riviera is located beside the Highway 400 running parallel along the Caribbean coastline of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The reef formations of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System along the coasts attract tourists and divers alike. The best way to explore this underground river network is to dive through sinkhole collapses. You can see the wonderful natural phenomenon in the formation of the carbonate caves due to the commingling of fresh and saline waters.

Cavern diving in the Chac Mool cenote in Quintana Roo. / Photo from brad77

In fact, Riviera Maya contains the two longest underwater cave systems in the world called Sac Actun and Ox Bel Ha. These offer rare sights to divers like fresh water creatures swimming atop the saline water floods. If you are a novice in diving, go for snorkeling in the reefs of Playa del Carmen and Tulum. More seasoned divers can enjoy the incomparable experience of cave diving in the sinkholes of Dos Ojos. You can access a range of diving facilities including live-aboard between every resort.

6. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Queensland, Australia / Photo from !snednas!

Consisting of more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system sprawling over 2,600 kilometers in Coral Sea. This World Heritage Site is the home to several wonderful species of marine creatures and hence, divers are rewarded by the sight of an astounding bio-diversity. You could also enjoy staying at its live-aboard as a tourist or a scuba diver.

Heart of a Giant Clam / Photo from Kälaino’ono’o

While you take the plunge into warm seawaters, you can catch sight of over 400 coral species and other endangered species of sea animals. You must do the necessary paperwork, planning and preparations before undertaking a diving expedition here.

7. Little Cayman, British West Indies

Grand Cayman 9ft Bronze Mermaid / Photo from Sam Cathey

The Little Cayman Islands is a UK dependency situated in the Caribbean Sea just to the south of Cuba. This is an abode for rare species of birds as well as aquatic animals. If you choose Little Cayman Islands as a diving destination, you must make your visit between June and August when the water temperature remains favorable and the calm sea permits maximum visibility. The north part of the island containing a protected marine park is best for diving. You could sail here in boats though anchoring is forbidden.

Silversides Spawning / Photo from courtneyplatt

If you are looking ahead to wall dives, come to the Bloody Bay Wall on the northwestern side of the islands. You can go down to more than 3000 feet underwater and observe the undisturbed oceanic world up to a distance of 100 feet. Jackson’s Bay is another hot diving spot in Little Cayman Islands from where you can wade off to the Big Blue. While exploring the underwater crevices and tunnels, you can encounter a Gray Reef Shark over the wall, Nurse Shark, Sting Rays, Eagle Rays and Turtles adding to the fun of diving.

8. Bonaire

Farewell Bonaire / Photo from Kälaino’ono’o

The geographical location of Bonaire is perfect for the flourish of aquatic flora and fauns. Its perfectly calm waters and natural shelter from trade winds encourages the growth of corals and makes a beautiful location for family vacations. As a diver, you will enjoy exploring its marine parks full of the vivid richness of the Caribbean waters. The spot has been preserved as a virgin diving locale and its crystal clear waters with a visibility up to 150 feet offer a toast to underwater photographers.

Turtle / Photo from edpdiver

9. Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands / Photo from Povilas Redko

Situated amid the Micronesian Islands of the Pacific Ocean, Bikini Atoll is counted as a part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. This group of 36 islands is located midway between Australia and Honolulu and one of the best spots for divers to view shipwrecks. Among the most famous wrecks are the former warships like USS Saratoga and the Japanese Nagato. Bikini Atoll has also remained an experimental ground for nuclear tests conducted around the 1950s.

Nagato Battleship / Photo from rjdiver

USS Saratoga Aircraft / Photo from rjdiver

Today Bikini Atoll and lagoon is one of the prospective sites for diving, fishing and other water sports. Though this island is barely inhabited because of the radiation pollution, it is an abode for an amazing variety of fishes. It recently came into the limelight as a diving destination and only a handful of divers have been venturing forth because of the extravagant $5,000 charged for a weeklong diving holiday.

10. British Columbia, Canada

Orca / Photo from pranjal2008

British Columbia is the most amazing diving destination of North America, thanks to its extraordinary variety of sea-life. As a diver, you will be rewarded by the sight of prawns, Dungeness crabs, Orca whales, sea lions, large octopuses, lingcod or any other creature belonging to the 5,000 species of invertebrates or 400 species of colored fish. Its coastline is protected keeping the divers’ safety in mind.

Orca Breeching / Photo from christinamcraft

Although British Columbia is characterized by some of the strongest currents of the world, its mild mid-40 degree water will perfectly suit long diving expeditions. You can start by testing the slack tides near the underwater rock walls and gradually go into deeper waters. As you swim round the myriad straits surrounding Vancouver Island, you can see the beauty of the colorful algae that add to the beauty of the marine world.

]]> http://www.travelet.com/2009/09/diving-10-places-you-dont-want-to-miss/feed/ 15 http://www.travelet.com/2009/06/travelling-to-ayres-rock-some-important-tips/ http://www.travelet.com/2009/06/travelling-to-ayres-rock-some-important-tips/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:39:00 +0000 travelet http://www.travelet.com/?p=410

The World Heritage site of Uluru, which is also known as the Ayer’s Rock, has been an inspiration and fascination for people around the world. The sunrise glorifies its appearance at dawn and the sunset just sets it in a red fiery glow that fantasize a lot of people. You would see remnants of erosing around the place that started about 500 million years ago. There are visible tips of gigantic slabs that could extend as far as six kilometers in the ground!

The area has a lot of Archaeological sites around it, and they suggest that people have been living in this beautiful area for about 22,000 years. The Anangu’s were the traditional custodians of the place, but the famous monolith is known as Ayer’s Rock, named after the premier Sir Henry Ayer, and it was named by the famous European explorer William Gosse. He first sighted the rock in 1873. Urugu has been returned to the ownership of the Anangu people again in 1985, and they now jointly manage the famous national park of the place with the venture of Parks Australia.

The history of the place is sacred. Every responsible traveller must know about the local history, people and customs of the Ayers Rock in order to make sure they dont meet with unpleasentries during their stay there.

Everyone can help support their culture and heritage by visiting the local Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Center and buying a local art there. This would benefit them by helping them out to maintain their cultural values. You could also join a tour with a local Aboriginal guide to provide them with a chance to earn.

If you want to travel there, I have a tip for you. The local Anangu people prefer if you don’t climb the Uluru because the site is sacred to them. Many visitors pay heed to this, and respect the site by choosing to do the 9.4 Kilometers Uluru base walk instead. I would recommend the full walk to everyone, because of the wonders the place holds for you. Ayer Rock wall is divided into sections, but the visitors can choose to walk the entire circumference of the rock. The walk takes about three or four hours to complete.

The unsealed Mereenie Loop is considered one of the greatest desert drives in Australia. The stretch of dirt track is an exciting and interesting alternative to the Explorer’s Way. You can have a lot of happiness from visiting the place, and if you choose to go there as part of your next vacation, you wouldnt regret it.

Ayers Rock is one of Australia’s most recognisable natural icons. It stands 348 meter but most of its bulk is below the ground, and measures 9.4 km in circumference.