Diving, Airlie Beach

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest and longest coral reef system, stretching for 2,300km from the tip of Cape York in the north to Bundaberg in the south. Comprising 3,000 separate reefs and some 900 continental islands and coral cays, it’s one of the world’s great natural wonders. Home to over 1,500 species of fish, abundant marine life and over 200 types of birds, it’s also one of Australia’s greatest conservation successes. A World Heritage Area since 1981 (the world’s first reef ecosystem to be recognised by UNESCO), it is highly protected and one of the best-managed marine areas on Earth https://www.queensland.com/en-au/explore-queensland/great-barrier-reef

Fitzroy Island is one of the most unspoilt islands adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. Fitzroy Island National Park is a mountainous rainforest oasis surrounded by fringing reef formations. Enjoy the resort facilities and rainforest walks to white coral beaches and spectacular lookouts. Fitzroy Island also offers a wide range of water sport activities as well as snorkelling, introductory and certified diving and a learn-to-dive school. The island is 339 hectares in size, 324 of which is protected as Fitzroy Island National Park. The island is on the continental shelf and is within sight of the mainland; in fact, it’s a peak in a mountain chain which lies south of Cairns. The reef surrounding Fitzroy Island is a “Fringing Reef”. Fitzroy Island is located on the Inner Barrier of the Central Region of the Great Barrier Reef. It is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/islands/fitzroy-island/

Say hello to Fraser Island - also known as the largest sand island in the world. You can gaze up at towering ancient trees in astonishing rainforests growing out of sand on this World Heritage-listed wonder, be amazed by the incredible sapphire blues and emeraldene greens in the stunning freshwater lakes and float down Eli Creek https://www.visitfrasercoast.com/Destinations/Fraser-Island

You're spoilt for choice when it comes to Manly Beach. Whether you want to spread a towel out and enjoy the soft white sand all day, surf its waves or explore its depths while snorkelling or diving, there's something for everyone. For those that prefer to look at it, it also makes a great backdrop for picnics or walking and cycle tracks. Manly is where the world's first surfing contest was held in 1964, making it one of Australia's most famous beaches. The iconic beach curves from South Steyne to North Steyne and Queenscliff, where a submerged reef, or bombora, creates the waves that inspire the world's best surfers to travel to our shores. https://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-north/manly/beach-lifestyle

Wombarra Beach is a narrow 250 m beach fronting the slopes that lead up to the small town of the same name. The sand and cobble beach is located immediately south of the southern Scarborough rocks, with rocks and boulders backing the beach. It is fronted by rock platforms, leaving only a narrow break to provide direct access to the sea. A road provides access to the southern beach with a small car park and picnic area, however, this is more for the southern rock pool, than for the beach. https://beachsafe.org.au/beach/nsw/wollongong/wombarra/wombarra

The Phi Phi islands are some of the loveliest in Southeast Asia. Just a 45-minute speedboat trip or a 90-minute ferryboat ride from either Phuket or Krabi, these picture postcard islands offer the ultimate tropical getaway. Featuring classic tropical beaches, stunning rock formations and vivid turquoise waters teeming with colourful marine life, it is paradise perfected. Phi Phi is a group of six islands. The two main islands are Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. The larger and inhabited Phi Phi Don attracts hundreds of visitors to stay on its lovely shores while the smaller uninhabited Phi Phi Leh hosts stunningly beautiful bays and beaches, including the world-famous Maya Bay, which was the set where The Beach (with Leonardo Dicaprio) was filmed. http://www.phiphi.phuket.com/

Everything for an exciting day out whether you want to climb a rock, surf, swim or just relax in the sun. Check out the nearby restaurants for full sit-down meals with great views over the sea. Hike the ridge, or watch the Dolphins and Seals. It's all hear at your beach, Zuma Beach! http://www.zuma-beach.com/

Point Dume State Beach features headlands, cliffs, rocky coves and vast beach access. The beach is presently operated by Los Angeles County, which also operates Zuma County Beach. These facilities are noted for swimming, surfing, scuba diving and fishing. Point Dume is a perfect place to watch for California gray whales during the December to mid April migration period. At the end of Westward Beach Road, access to Point Dume Nature Preserve begins from the cul-de-sac. A gradual ascending trail leads to an ancient coastal bluff sand dune. Visitors are asked to stay on the trail in an effort to help reserve this unique sand accumulation. An incredible view encompassing the entire Santa Monica Bay, north Malibu Coast, inland Santa Monica Mountains and distant Catalina Island may be enjoyed from the top on a clear day. A boardwalk, just below the summit, leads to a viewing platform - it tends to be more sheltered on a windy day. A stairway from the east side of the bluff-top preserve allows access to a more isolated beach and fine tidepooling opportunities. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=623

The Dolphin Reef in Eilat, on the shores of the Red Sea offers a magical and unique opportunity to observe and swim alongside some of nature’s most magnificent sea creatures. The Reef is home to a colorful array of tropical fish, beautiful coral and, most significantly, a school of bottle-nosed dolphins including babies born on the site. It was established over twenty years ago with the vision of bringing humans closer to animals in a sensitive and respectful way. The dolphins are not kept captive. They live in their natural habitat and have free access to the open sea should they choose to leave. Human intervention in their lifestyle is minimized solely to the prevention of endangerment to their existence. The Reef’s floating piers and observation points allow visitors to watch the dolphins as they maintain their daily routine – play, hunt for food, mate and care for their younger ones. Alternatively, for a more intimate encounter with these friendly and playful creatures, there is the option of guided scuba diving and snorkelling. Scuba diving is available to any confident swimmer aged between 8 – 88 years old. Previous experience is not required. A session lasts for one hour: Half of this time is devoted to fitting the scuba diving gear, signing the medical statement, and listening to a briefing; the other half is spent in the water with a personal instructor whereby divers will descend to a maximum depth of 6 meters. https://www.touristisrael.com/dolphin-reef-eilat/13499/

Scuba diving in the Red Sea started in the 1950s when Greek and Italian workers began spear fishing while residing in Egypt. Explored by the Austrian zoologist Dr. Hans Hass, a well-known underwater movie maker, and the famous French diver Jacques Cousteau, the Red Sea has amazing coral reefs that are a magnet for thousands of species. Diving has matured since then, today you'll find fully equipped facilities, liveaboard diving, a myriad of programs and internationally certified instructors. The Red Sea resorts of Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, Marsa Alam, El Gouna and Taba are wonderful destination that offer diving holidays packages and facilities all year round because of their moderate temperature. It doesn't matter if you have never dived before, if you're a beginner or a veteran, you'll find the right program for you and you'll surely be coming back for more. http://www.egypt.travel/en/products/sun-sea/diving-in-egypt

Damlataş beach in the eastern part of the Cleopatra beach situated just under the peninsula with the It is suitable for snorkelling and there are daily diving boats coming to dive in the area as well. The Damlataş beach is quite wide with golden fine sand. There are several beach bars, restaurants, volleyball courts, open-air fitness centre, huge children playground, tennis and basketball courts and wonderful green parks with fountains along the beach. There is the Damlataş Cave just a few steps from the beach. The Damlataş beach is currently the only fully wheelchair friendly beach in Alanya offering easy access, wheelchair sunbeds and showers for disabled people. It is famous for its clear water and possibility to swim along the rocky shore of the peninsula with several caves. http://www.visitalanya.com/damlatas-beach-in-alanya/

The southern tip of Ambergris Caye is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Hol Chan is Mayan for 'little channel." This sanctuary was officially established in 1987, and since then the return of all species of fish has been quite dramatic. Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley is approximately 6.4 km south of San Pedro Ambergris Caye. It is the single most popular day trip from San Pedro, perfect for snorkeling or diving. The reserve covers approximately 7.8 sq km and is divided into three zones. Each one is clearly marked by buoys. The entire reserve focuses on a cut through the reef which is little more than 23 m wide and 9 m deep. You must hire a boat and guide out of San Pedro or Caye Caulker. The costs depend on the services offered. It is easy to mix diving and snorkeling. Trips usually run once in the morning and again in the afternoon. https://ambergriscaye.com/holchan/

Playa Jibacoa area, mostly chosen by Cubans, is located on the north coast of Mayabeque. It has resorts and several camping sites of good quality. The area is notable for the beautiful typical landscape with a deep blue sea, surrounded by cliffs, on the side facing the land, and rocky hills where are located the hotels. The excellent beaches are famous for their clear and shallow water and is a local and tourist favourite for snorkeling from the beach. It is worth noting the scuba diving area opposite the shore, where you'll find coral reefs and a good amount of fish and shellfish. There is a wide range of activities to practice in the area, from small hiking to horseback riding or it may be good to rent paddle boats https://www.tripcuba.org/playa-jibacoa-beach-mayabeque

Beach Balzamake just after Kurent cape, Small and Big Scaraba bay divided by cape Scaraba are reachable by foot with a thirty minutes walk from Rovinj town center or by bicycle. The nearest car park is just after Monvi Entertainment Center and is free of charge but it can also be very crowded in July and August. From the car park, Scaraba beach is a few minutes walk like any other beach within the Golden Cape Park Forest. The coast is rocky with a few inlets covered with pebbles. The rocky beach Balzamake is suitable for sunbathing because of big flat stones. Scaraba cape offers more privacy and less people on a rocky coast not recommended for elderly people or families with small children. This kind of beaches are frequently visited by naturists that are not a rarity in Rovinj. The pebble beach in Big Scaraba bay with its pier is a favorite place for swimmers and divers. http://www.rovinj.co/en/meet-rovinj/beaches/scaraba/

On the west side of the Old Town core lies the Monte beach. For those who find accommodation in the Old Town, this beach will only be a few minutes walk away. This is also the ideal place for visitors who start touring the Old Town – they can find relief from the heat in the Rovinj sea. Although the beach is about 150 meters long, the locals divided it into several parts. The Big and Little Guguliera are small beaches, suitable for bathing small children, while Baluota (or Balota) and Lanterna are beaches favoured by the older population (you get into the sea by climbing down or diving from the rocks). Many cafes and restaurants are a few dozen meters away from the beach, while the XL café and Monte restaurant are situated at the foot of the St. Euphemia church (about 50 meters from the beaches). The beaches are rocky, with no natural shade, so we recommend bringing along some refreshing beverages and headcovers. When the gale gets strong, the waves will make it even more difficult to get into the sea or out of it, so it is better to go for the beaches in one of the numerous Rovinj coves when it is windy. https://www.inforovinj.com/eng/rovinj/plaze/monte.asp

Red Island (Crveni otok), one of the most renowned tourist locations in Rovinj. Actually, it consists of two artificially connected islands: St. Andrew’s Island (Otok Sv. Andrije) and Maškin Island (Otok Maškin). Red Island is a fifteen-minute sail away from the town center. Taxi boats arrive from and depart for Red Island every hour, from a small pier on the main town square, and from Delfin pier. The sail to the island is very pleasant, passing by Katarina Island, Lona and Zlatni rt bays that will surely enchant you with their beauty. Dense Mediterranean underbrush and old coniferous forest are predominant on the island, and there are cultivated flower parks with paths near the hotels and annexes. In 2002, Red Island was hit by a heavy storm, almost entirely destroying the 100-year-old pine forest, which has been providing shade and shelter from summer heats for numerous tourists. The biggest damage was caused on Maškin Island. A lot has been done towards cleaning and renovating the island since last year so that you could enjoy its beauty and intimacy again. You can find a really large number of beaches on the island. They are mainly stony beaches with typical coves covered with pebbles. The most frequented beaches are the ones situated on the south side of St. Andrews Island, near the hotel and the annexe. Numerous services are offered nearby, namely: a restaurant, a pool, miniature golf courses, a diver centre and others. A small part of the shore near the little port has been covered with gravel, making it suitable for children and seniors. https://www.inforovinj.com/eng/rovinj/plaze/crveni-otok.asp

Paradise Cove offers direct access to Deadman’s Reef on the island’s southwest side, which is rated the best reef on Grand Bahama Island. The reef is within swimming distance of the beach and teems with tropical marine life. You can explore the reef in a glass-bottom or ocean kayak. A snorkel tour is available that includes transportation, equipment and floatation belts. Available Equipment: Snorkel Gear, Wet Suits, Ocean Kayaks, Glass-bottom Kayaks, Sea Scooters, Floats with window, Lounge Floats. Amenities: Volleyball, Lounge Chairs, Beach Umbrellas, Covered Deck, Games, Bar and Grill, Gift shop, Rest Rooms, Fresh-water Shower. Site is available for exclusive functions. https://www.bahamas.com/vendor/paradise-cove

The Guardian Blue Hole is said to have the second deepest cave in The Islands of The Bahamas, with a maximum explored depth of 436 feet (133 meters). The surface pond is fresh water, with a layer of hydrogen sulfide sometimes present at the halocline. The cave was named for a solitary barracuda that at one time inhabited the main entrance pond. Some of the walls of the cave are highly decorated with stalactites and stalagmites. Several deep pits within the cave drop from 45 m depths to more than 130 m. https://www.bahamas.com/vendor/guardian-blue-hole

One of the oldest and most historic regions of the country, Port Royal has maintained much of its independence as well as its heritage. Once the enclave of pirates and other outlaws, there is still a strong seafaring tradition. Much of the old city, described in the 17th century as the "wickedest city in the west", lies underwater beside the town, the result of an earthquake that in 1692 swallowed about two-thirds of the then-living space. Since then, another earthquake in 1907, numerous hurricanes, fires, and various population-decimating diseases have plagued the town. Despite all, the waters around Port Royal are a virtual archaeological gold mine, filled with pieces of history that tell of everyday life in the earliest days of English occupation. Port Royal is also home to the Archaeological Division of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), which recently completed a sonar survey of the underwater city, revealing a sunken pirate ship in the Kingston Harbour. To date thousands of artefacts have been recovered, and there are plans to develop a local museum to showcase these items once the research on them is complete. https://www.visitjamaica.com/listing/port-royal/452/

Porto Seguro has numerous tourist attractions, and one highlight is the Recife de Fora Marine Park, one of the largest concentrations of marine biodiversity of Brazil. It shelters rare species of corals, fish, turtles and other animals with impressive beauty. Recife de Fora is a large natural pool stretching over 17 square kilometres in the midst of the sea. Only one part is open to tourists, the remainder is a preservation area. You can practice different types of diving, such as snorkelling and diving, in places with a depth of up to 15 meters. To get there, we must take a schooner ride of about 45 minutes and during this journey, you can rent a snorkel to dive. To ensure your safety and make the tour more enjoyable and the dives possible, the schooners leave for the Park during low tide. https://www.visitbrasil.com/attractions/recife-de-fora-marine-park.html

La Caleta Underwater National Park, one of the first in the region, is a popular dive site located close to Santo Domingo. It’s known for its multiple shipwrecks, but also for its abundant marine life ready to be explored by all levels of divers, from beginner to advanced. Depths go from six meters (20 feet) to 180 meters (591 feet), over an area stretching 10 km² (four square miles) from Las Golondrinas Cave to Punta Caucedo. La Caleta’s irregular topography includes three defined terraces, underwater caves, and well-known shipwrecks. A variety of corals and schools of colorful critters thrive here, using the reefs as shelter and food source, including grouper, balloon fish, rays, lionfish, octopuses, and turtles. Among the more popular shipwrecks is the Hickory, a 1984 ship located at about 18 meters (60 feet) deep, submerged in 1984 by a group of submarine researchers to create an artificial reef for the proliferation of marine life. Additional wrecks include El Limón and Capitán Alsina, located about 30 meters (100 feet) deep, and the Don Quico at about 58 meters (190 feet) of depth. Nearby, an impressive system of karst rocks creates a meandering network of underwater caverns and tunnels over 100 meters (328 feet) long—an ideal place for technical diving. https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/poi/excursions/boca-chica/parque-nacional-submarino-la-caleta/

Lamorna is the place where the 2013 movie Summer in February was filmed. The cove has a small pebble beach beside the harbour and quay with lots of large boulders, especially at low tide. The cove is on the South West Coast Path between Porthcurno and Mousehole. A nice quiet spot for swimming and a good spot for scuba diving, though no lifeguard cover provided. https://www.visitcornwall.com/beaches/west-cornwall/lands-end/lamorna-cove-beach

Conveniently located in Marina Botafoc, in Ibiza Town's yacht harbour, Scuba Ibiza Diving Centre is the only diving centre on Ibiza to be qualified to level PADI 5 Star CDC (Career Development Centre) the highest qualification to be given by the PADI organisation. With friendly and highly qualified instructors who are able to teach in seven languages, Scuba Ibiza Diving Centre offers every type of diving activity for holiday makers and Ibiza residents alike, from absolute beginners all the way through to instructor level. Private lessons and dives are available, as are IAHD courses for handicapped divers. Scuba Ibiza Diving Centre takes advantage of Ibiza's ideal climate by remaining open all year round, and the modern facilities and complete dive shop will satisfy even the most demanding of divers. https://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/activity/scuba-ibiza-diving-center

Balneario El Escambron is the most picturesque beach in San Juan protected by a coral reef with soft golden sand and perfectly landscaped with tall palm trees providing cozy shaded spots. Be sure to block off much more than beach time, you’ll be walking into a recreational park with enough activities for a fun-filled day the whole family will enjoy. Escambron Beach is located in Puerta de Tierra within walking distance from Old San Juan and Condado. Escambron is the best public beach in the metro area offering much more than a great beach experience. Here you can snorkel, scuba dive, take a romantic walk along the scenic oceanside trail, visit the historic Bateria El Escambron, find quiet spots just for two, enjoy the green area at Parque Tercer Milenio (Third Millennium Park), eat great food and more. The city is vibrant, full of energy but once you get here, you’ll experience the relaxing and invigorating allure of this tropical city. https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/balneario-el-escambron-beach/

Garrofa beach is the last on the westward coast of the city of Almeria. It is a cove of just over 100 metres long pebbled with normally clear water. It is located between cliffs and next to the camping of the same name, through which one must pass to access the beach. This beach has a diving club and own camping facilities that are prepared for both tents and caravans. https://www.turismodealmeria.org/en/playas/garrofa/

Popular beach of the state of Paraíba, where the sunrise first in Brazil! Ponta do Seixas is 14 km from downtown of João Pessoa, capital of Paraíba. Ponta do Seixas is the easternmost point of the Brazil and the Americas continent. It surrounded by 1.5 km length white sand. The beach is marked by a lighthouse, showing the way. It has rustic stalls for visitors to enjoy better the blue sea and the fine sand. The best time to visit the place is during the morning because cliff makes shade in sand early afternoon. Just 500 meters from Ponta do Seixas; it is possible to reach large coral banks which become visible when tide is low. They are the largest warm and clear water coral pools on the coast of Paraíba. It is a perfect environment for free diving practice. https://www.visitbrasil.com/attractions/ponta-do-seixas.html