Tuesday, June 24, 2008

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Wreck Scuba Diving in Florida
Author: ark
Some of the most enjoyable diving you may ever do is wreck scuba diving. Because travel by ship was the main way of going from continent to continent prior to development of air travel, and because the technology used on ships and in weather forecasting was not advanced at all, many ships sank in waters around the world providing dives that are interesting and fun. There are so many wrecks that only the Florida wreck diving will be covered in this article.

In fact, there are so many Florida wreck scuba diving spots available, you'll have plenty of difficulty choosing which ones to dive. Hurricanes, coral reefs, shoals and pirates all help sink the ships that are often quite near the shores.

During the Spanish colonial period, the Florida Straits were the most frequently used passage for ships to access the Gulf Stream to get the boost of these fast-flowing currents for their trip home across the Atlantic Ocean. Some of these ships were never to return safely home but were trapped into one of the many tragedies that happened to the then ill-equipped vessel when challenging Mother Nature. Many of these unfortunate victims of the sea have been excavated and are awaiting your arrival.

One great wreck scuba diving destination is Pensacola in the Panhandle of Florida. There are lots of ships within a small area. In Pensacola Bay, eleven ships were to become victims of a hurricane during 1500. The colonists that were becoming settles on the shore at what is now known as Pensacola Bay were unloading vessels when the massive storm overtook them. Of course, there were no storm warnings like we have today and they were taken unaware. The result of the loss of the eleven ships was to soon become the demise of the colony which only lasted 60 years.

The Trinite is another great wreck scuba diving spot. This French wreck lies off St. Augustine and went down during a storm in 1565 while the Frenchmen were preparing to attack the Spaniards who had colonized this section of the northeast Florida coastline. After the vessel sank, the attack did not occur. Today you can not only scuba dive the wreck at St. Augustine but you can also see other sights like the nation's oldest school house and oldest drug store, tour the fort as well as get in some fun in the sun.

You can do some wreck scuba diving at the resting place of the Tierra Firme fleet. Two ships from the fleet of 27 vessels, the Atocha and the Santa Margarita, went to their watery graves along with 380 sailors during a hurricane in 1622. The fleet had more than $250 million in cargo among them and the Atocha proved to be quite a profitable salvage job once it was located and now you can see it for yourself along with her sister ship in the Florida Keys.

In 1700 the Henneta Marie, a slave trade vessel that had unloaded slaves in Jamaica and was in the Key West to load sugar from the plantations sank. Today you can visit Key West during your wreck scuba diving vacation and see the oldest know wreck of a slave trading vessel that has been identified by name.

While you are in the Florida Keys for wreck scuba diving, go see the San Pedro which was one of the last vessels from the New Spain fleet to cross to what is now the United States. In 1733, this ship was taken victim by a hurricane along with several other ships traveling with her. There are wrecks covering over 80 miles of the Florida Keys oceanscape from this storm. The Spanish salvaged this ship only to find that she had been burned to the waterline so that pirates could not loot her.

In 1713 a vessel named Urca de Lima owned by the Spanish ran aground on a shoal off Florida's Atlantic coast during a hurricane. There were nine other ships lost during this hurricane but because the Urca de Lima was grounded and did not sink like the others, she was used as a supply ship to provide for the survivors of the other shipwrecks as well as the one remaining French vessel that had been accompanying the Urca de Lima. Over 1,000 men lost their lives in this tragic hurricane.

You can find still dive and find shipwrecks under the waters of the Atlantic Ocean on Florida's eastern coast as well as some in the calmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico which run along the western shore of Florida and the southern edge of the Florida Panhandle.

Florida is a great place to go wreck scuba diving and you will find the waters warm enough to dive even in the winter. In fact, the winter is the peak season in this southern state. You can obtain discount rates if you choose to travel to Florida during the off-season which is May through November. You'll also enjoy less crowded areas and beaches with fewer visitors.

As you plan your wreck scuba diving in Florida, be sure to have all your dive equipment checked by a professional so that you won't experience any problems while visiting a wreck. If you do not want to take your own dive gear, there are many dive shops located along the coastlines of Florida ready to provide for your every need.

If you want to ensure that finding the wrecks, scuba diving with a charter boat that specialized in wreck diving is practical. These captains know exactly where to visit quickly and easily locate the wrecks you want to visit. These locals can also point out other places of interest to see and things to do in the area during your holiday.

While wreck scuba diving, remember that safety must always come first when in the water. Don't take unnecessary chances. Be sure to stay with your dive party and your trip will be a great success.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Wreck Scuba Diving and other Diving Vacations

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Monday, June 16, 2008

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Costs to Purchase and Maintain Scuba Diving Equipment
Author: Rehan Husain
The costs of scuba diving equipment can easily run over
$1,000 dollars. Although renting is always an option, for
a diver that is developing a long term interest in this
sport, purchasing is worth your while, not just in money
but also in the quality of your scuba equipment.

Without going into the pros and cons of renting vs buying
the scuba diving equipment, let's talk about the various
types of scuba equipment that you should consider buying
and how much you should budget for spending on them.

Mask: a mask can range from $20 to $150.00 dollars. A mask
has relatively little travel inconvenience compared to other
scuba equipment so packing it in a suitcase and walking
around in it will not be a big challenge.

Snorkel: They should not run you more than $50.00, and the
lower end will be around $17.00

Fins: Although they are not as easy to pack as a pair of
snorkels, they range from $30 to $150.00 and are more
affordable than many other scuba diving equipment.

Regulator: They range from $150 - $500, sometimes even more
and are at the higher end of the price range than other
scuba equipment.

Exposure suits: They vary according to type (ie wetsuit vs
drysuit). Check here for types and prices.

BC: Typically from $150 to $500.00 and like regulators, are
also at the high end of the price range than other scuba
diving equipment.

Weights: $1.70 a pound.

Tanks: Between $100 to $400.

Remember, the last two are heavier to carry around than the
others. We recommend buying tanks and weights last, and the
others before as they are less expensive, and easier to pack
and travel with.

The maintenance for scuba equipment is astonishingly the same.
Although there is specific preventative care that is required
for only for dive suits, tanks, or BCs, there are some things
you can do to all your scuba gear that will insure a long life
for them.

After every dive, make sure to give your all of your scuba
gear a good rinse with fresh water.

After rinsing the scuba diving gear, allow it to dry, but not
in direct sunlight. Most of the scuba equipment that you carry
is made of neoprene rubber, which can be broken down when
exposed to direct sunlight. Extra care should be taken between
dives, when they are most vulnerable to the sun, especially in
tropical climates

Whether you have a wet or a dry suit, neoprene exposure suits
should be hung on a non-wire hanger to dry. Wire hangers can
cause unnecessary creases.

All your scuba diving equipment should be stored in a cool,
yet dry place.

Separate your neoprene related equipment from your other scuba
gear, especially if they are damp. Over time, they can stick
together and tear when pulled apart.

After you return from your dive trip, make sure to unpack as
soon as possible to prevent any compression or flattening of
the scuba equipment that you paid good money for.

About the Author

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http://www.1-Scuba-Diving-Gear.com offers Scuba Diving Gear,
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Sunday, June 15, 2008

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Scuba Diving Travel
Author: ark
Scuba diving travel can be one of the most enjoyable vacations you ever take. With thousands of destinations to choose from, there is always a destination that is jam packed full of activities for both above and below the water.

Package destinations are the best choice for those just starting out. You can have the air fare, accommodations and diving all included, planned and all you have to do is pay a one time fee. Some of these are all inclusive, which means all your meals and beverages are included as well, which can limit your dining options a little but can save you're a lot of cash. The biggest benefit of taking a total scuba diving travel package is the friends that you meet. These packages are usually filled with individuals like you that enjoy the sport among other common interests. Besides, diving with a group is always much more fun then diving alone.

If traveling far distances is not for you then most anywhere you live there are usually interesting diving locations. By taking your boat on your getaway, you can hit the water any time you wish and stay on the water as long as you and your family wish. You might want to take some friends along so that you can dive as a group and still have someone in the boat timing the dive to ensure safety. If your boat is large enough and has sufficient sleeping accommodation for the group, you can even stay aboard the vessel and simply pay dockage fees.

If your local destinations are not interesting enough but you prefer a more private scuba diving vacation, then you can always work with your travel agent to find those hidden away destinations that do not have packages available. There are plenty of charter dive boats that you could reserve in many dive vacation spots around the world. The beauty of renting a charter is you get someone that knows the waters and has a crew that can help in case an emergency situation happens.

The reality is that the options for scuba diving travel are for the most part limitless. Just remember to have fun planning your scuba diving holiday and even more fun taking it.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Water Sport Gear for all your water sport activities.

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Saturday, June 14, 2008

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Scuba Diving, Best in the World
Author: Arran Rabel
Scuba Diving is one of the most popular water sports in the world. The concept of exploring the mysterious underwater world is a huge draw for many people. Exploring wrecks of boats, swimming with exotic fishes and even sharks is too tempting for many to resist. Getting certified is relatively easy, and even though the equipment is quite expensive to purchase there are many rental shops available, especially near places known for their excellent scuba diving.

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is bar none the best place in the world to scuba dive. There are hundreds of fascinating species of tropical fish, marine mammals, and the reef itself is truly breath taking. The weather is beautiful year-round and there are many accommodations in the area. If you are a novice scuba diver or require certification there are many companies that offer expeditions and lessons in the Barrier Reef area. If scuba diving isn't your thing, you can always give snorkeling a try. The Great Barrier Reef is a natural phenomenon that should not be missed, be sure to explore this protected underwater oasis on any trip to Australia.

Another amazing reef lies off the coast of Mexico on its eastern coast. It's the second largest scuba diving area in the world. This reef is in the Caribbean Ocean, which is warm water. There you will view tropical fish of numerous varieties, living coral reef, and if it's your lucky day you might even run into a sea turtle or two. Sadly, the reef has sustained terrible damage from recent hurricanes. Since this area thrives on tourism, you will find a number of adventure tours to transport you to the best diving locations.

If you stay at an all-inclusive resort in the Mayan Riviera, as it is known, most resorts offer certification and guides to take you out to spectacular scuba locations. Several hours are spent learning how to scuba dive in the hotel pool, and when everyone is ready off you go on a scuba adventure. Many people are leery of being scammed or taught by someone who is not a professional, going through your resort almost guarantees your safety and that proper techniques will be taught.

There are many other locations throughout the world where you can enjoy great scuba diving. Coral reefs are not the only thing that draws people into the water's depths. Many people enjoy diving for wrecks. Florida and the Spanish coast are two great areas for wreck scuba diving.

Please remember not to touch a coral reef if you dive near one. It is a living organism that is extremely sensitive. Even a soft touch can kill it. When that happens it takes years to reproduce itself, so please be very careful.

Scuba diving is an exciting activity that just about anyone will enjoy.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Aaron Noble is the owner of You Scuba , the #1 source on the internet for information about Scuba. For more articles on Scuba visit: www.youscuba.com/articles

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Friday, June 13, 2008

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Naked Scuba Diving
Author: ark
Okay, for some people, the feeling of diving in nature with nothing on is relaxing. For that reason, you will actually find a number of naked scuba diving clubs consisting of people who enjoy being free while in the water. Diving in the nude is very exhilarating, allowing the water to caress the body naturally. The number of people who enjoy naked scuba diving would probably surprise you.

In addition to the great feeling that you get while diving nude, there are also the safety considerations. For instance, some subtropical and tropical waters have problems with sea lice that become caught under clothing. The problem is that sea lice sting and it hurts. However, sea lice do not cling to exposed skin, which means people can scuba dive naked and not have to worry about these annoying creatures. Keep in mind that it is recommended body hair be trimmed or shaved.

Additionally, naked scuba diving also helps the diver to become better aware of the underwater environment, which actually teaches better diving skills. For instance, underwater, there are rocks, cliffs, coral, and other items that when brushed up against with a wetsuit can do damage to expensive gear or even create a safety hazard. By feeling the environment on the body, you become more aware of your diving and the environment, which means being more careful.

Just as there are many benefits of naked scuba diving, there are some risks too. In this case, male divers should avoid the process of feeding fish. The reason is that some fish cannot tell food from a male's appendage, thus causing a bite. In addition, men should protect themselves when in large schools of fish. While this might sound funny, it can be a problem and bites do occur. Therefore, just be aware of the environment when diving without a wetsuit or bathing suit so you take the right protective measures.

Interestingly, many divers are now trying naked diving and finding they love it. The following are some sites that accept nude diving should you decide to try it for yourself:

St. Maarten - Orient Beach French

Mexico
§ Cozumel - San Francisco Beach
§ Yucatan, Mayan Corridor - Playa Del Carman
§ St. Barts

Honduras
§ Half Moon Bay
§ West End Bay

Antigua
§ Hawksbill

Bahamas
§ Nassau (Breezes)
§ Cat Island (Cutlass Bay)

Bonaire
§ Sorobon Beach Resort

Dominican Republic
§ Hispaniola (Eden Bay Resort)

Florida
§ Key Largo (Jules Undersea Lodge)

Jamaica
§ Runaway Beach (Breezes)
§ Braco (Grand Lido)
§ Nigro (Grand Lido)

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Naked Scuba Diving , Scuba Diving Travel and More at www.getscubadiving.com

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

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Scuba Diving
Author: Eddie Tobey
Scuba diving is an advanced form of diving. Fundamentally, it is the same as simple under water diving but aided with a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. Scuba diving requires the use of an air tank that allows one to breathe underwater.
A number of scuba divers take pleasure in diving in lakes, while a few prefer to dive in river waters. However, the most exciting version of scuba diving involves diving into the unknown depths of ocean waters. Scuba diving is a daring sport usually pursued for recreational purposes. Professional scuba diving involves diving for commercial, military and scientific purposes.
As an amateur, a scuba diver may not be allowed to go beyond 18 feet under water. If a diver is professionally trained, then conventional scuba diving techniques will increase the diver's ability to dive deeper and longer. Technical scuba diving methods allow one to dive deeper than 130 feet. Surface supplied diving and saturation diving techniques may also be mastered.
Scuba diving should always be attempted with at least one other person present. Associates should stay together through the duration of the dive. The perils of scuba diving lie in wait for an inexperienced diver, who may ascend very quickly to the water's surface, resulting in a rapid loss of body temperature. This could result in vomiting and paralysis, and even cause death in extreme cases.
A trained diver can attempt this adventurous sport in a lake, sea or ocean but a clear water body is recommended for beginners. While diving for recreation, a diver must take extreme care not to harm or jeopardize marine life. In recent years, scuba diving has been gaining in popularity as an adventure sport, and Australia, Thailand and Hawaii are some of the more popular scuba diving destinations. Scuba diving organizations provide intense training at tourist destinations and organize special events to allow amateurs to enjoy the complete experience of diving.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Scuba Diving provides detailed information on Scuba Diving, Scuba Diving Equipment, Scuba Diving Vacation, Scuba Diving Lesson and more. Scuba Diving is affliated with Scuba Web .

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

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How To Get Certified In Scuba Diving
Author: Clint Leung
The first two steps in getting certified in scuba diving is to make sure that you are a reasonably proficient swimmer and you get medical clearance from your doctor to take up the sport. As for the swimming, you don't have to master every type of stroke. Scuba certification only requires that you are able to swim about 200 yards using any stroke you want and to be able to float or tread on water for about 10 minutes. If you are in good general health and are comfortable in the water, then you should be able to scuba dive without any problems.

There are about 1,900 professional scuba dive centers in North America alone and your local ones should definitely be checked out. Most will run basic certification programs on a regular basis. These centers or shops should be listed in the yellow pages and you can also check with websites of some of the major scuba diving certification agencies such as PADI or NAUI as they will also have listings. Sometimes scuba diving courses are offered at universities too.

Make sure that the course you are interested in taking as well as its instructor are certified with one of the major scuba diving training agencies. This will ensure that you get proper, safe training for both the technical background knowledge and practical skills required for certification as a scuba diver. You also want to end up with an internationally recognized certification card if you want to go scuba diving at various locations around the world.

Some vacation resorts offer 'resort' courses lasting a day or two which offer beginners some very basic training in order to try out scuba diving. These are not certification programs. Full certification programs involve classroom work, exams, practical skills sessions at a pool and usually about four open water dives in the sea (lake or ocean). The duration of the classroom work and pool sessions vary from a very intensive weekend (with advance reading) to once a week over several weeks. The open water dives will usually take two more days. Dive centers located in the tropics also offer basic certification programs that last several days to a week. Although the intensive weekend programs are quite feasible, many feel that basic scuba diving courses spread out over a few weeks will help beginners learn the skills better. Scuba diving does involve new skills and to learn them all during one full weekend may be too much for some people.

As for which scuba diving certification training agency is the best, there isn't any one recognized organization that is better than another. PADI is the most popular in the world but not necessarily better than NAUI or SSI. NAUI course are often more technical in the classroom than those offered by PADI but both will adequately train you to be a scuba diver. The more important factor would be the individual instructor and your own effort during training/studying. In fact, many scuba diving instructors have certifications from several training agencies.

For people living in the more northern regions, there are a few possible routes to take in order to obtain certification. One can travel down south to the tropics and do the entire basic certification course down there in warm weather. However, this will take up a good portion of a vacation since reading, classroom, pool sessions and open water dives all must be done during that time period. A second option is to take the entire course including the open water dives back in home territory. This usually offers beginners the most time since courses can be spread out over a few weeks. However, the water up north is not as warm as in the tropics and the scuba diving could be seasonal. A third option is to take all the classroom and pool sessions back home and then go down south to do the open water dives in warm waters. Many people have taken this route. Your instructor back home will give you a referral letter to bring down to an instructor located down south who will oversee your open water dives. This is a good combination of taking ample time back home to practice the skills in the pool plus getting the classroom work out of the way followed by having nice warm water to dive in for the open water dives. One thing to be aware of if considering this option is to make sure that your travel to the tropics for your open water dives is not too delayed after finishing up with your pool sessions at home. If too much time has elapsed, one could easily forget the skills learned in the pool by the time a vacation comes along.

The underwater world has so much to offer and only a small percentage of the world's population will ever have the privilege to see it in person rather than on television. Become one of these individuals who will have the honor of exploring the oceans by getting certified in scuba diving.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Clint Leung is a NAUI certified Master and Rescue Scuba Diver. He is also owner of Free Spirit Activewear www.FreeSpiritActivewear.com , an online retailer and designer specializing in premium quality activewear with specialty sports themes including scuba diving, skiing, snowboarding and martial arts. Free Spirit Activewear has numerous information resource articles on scuba diving and other selected specialty sports as well as free eCards.

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Sunday, June 8, 2008

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Choosing Your Scuba Diving Gear
Author: Matt Shupe -
Someone once said that scuba diving is like going back to Mother Nature's womb albeit temporarily because every scuba diver would like to rise above deep waters no matter how cool the scene down there may be.

Scuba diving is a complicated sport that requires training and endurance. Scuba diving is not for the faint of heart, or for those who would shrink at the though of being submerged in water for a long time. This is not to say that scuba diving chooses its players because almost everyone can be a scuba diver, provided they do not have the age and health limitations.

Children as young as fifteen years old and in good health can train on scuba diving to prepare themselves for certification. However, all those interested to undergo training should fill up a health questionnaire and undergo medical checkups to determine their physical conditions.

While scuba divers have more opportunity to admire the fishery resources of the world, divers also dive for other reasons such as for scientific, commercial, military or recreational purposes.

Divers cannot go scuba diving without a certification even if they are doing it for fun. Majority of scuba divers do so for recreational purposes but they still have to undergo certification. Recreational divers can choose from a variety of specialization like underwater photography, search and rescue diving or night diving. Once they become experts in diving they can turn it into a career and become dive masters or underwater photographers.

There are however divers who dive for commercial purposes like for the purpose of salvaging sunken ships, constructing bridges and dams or to build underwater structures. Scientific divers focus on diving for the purpose of research.

A scuba diver must necessarily be a good swimmer who can float on water and swim fairly long distances. Basic swimming skills plus good health will make you eligible for certification as a diver.

A diver must tale note of his safety all of the time not only by getting proper training but also by making use of basic scuba diving gears like masks, fins and snorkels. A beginner can just rent the basic diving gear but if you intend to make this sport a long-term commitment then it would be best to buy the equipment. These three basic diving gear are every affordable and can be bought anywhere.

However, there is other diving gear that are more expensive like wet or dry suits, regulators or buoyancy compensators and scuba diving tanks. To make the most of your scuba diving gear, make sure to rinse them with fresh or tap water after using them. Allow them to dry but not in direct sunlight since they are made of rubber and can easily break down and deteriorate.

The basic diving gear is the same for most divers but specialty divers may have use for more sophisticated gadgets and equipment. But whatever kind of diving you do, always make sure to use the safety gears to protect yourself from the dangers of diving.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

The author is a regular contributor to Scuba Pal where more diving information is available.

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Saturday, June 7, 2008

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A Caribbean Scuba Diving Vacation
Author: ark
Looking to partake in the warm, clear waters of a Caribbean scuba diving vacation? The warm tropical salt waters, year round warm weather and beautiful white sandy shores of the Caribbean a perfect vacation destination any time of the year for scuba diving.

There are over 30 possible destinations for you to choose from and every one of them has wonderful year round scuba diving available. The main difference between all the choices is if you want to experience the vacation with lots of other tourists or do you prefer to skip out on the tourist attractions and go for more of the local resident feel.

One of the lesser known Caribbean scuba diving vacation destination is a beautiful island called Antigua. With gorgeous hot, white sandy beaches plus plenty of historical attractions, make this destination very memorable. Most of the scuba diving here in Antigua, other then the southern shores, is not deep; but with the stunning coral reefs, most divers do not mind the shallow waters.

A once spectacular Caribbean scuba diving vacation destination is the island of Montserrat. Sadly in 1996 an inactive volcano that is situated on the island became active again and devastated many scuba diving locations along with the main town including homes, hotels and attractions. It is not fully understood how much damage occurred to the coral reef and in fact local residents claim the volcano has not affected the diving nearly as much as is rumored and besides when will you ever get an opportunity to witness an active volcano from a safe distance like you can in Montserrat.

Another incredible Caribbean scuba diving vacation is the British Virgin Islands. Made up of a group of smaller islands, these islands are very popular tourist destinations. Scuba divers can take advantage of amazing caves, sinkholes, canyons and ledges. Probably the most visited dive sites in the British Virgin Islands is the Painted Walls where you will experience all the wondrous colors of the rainbow while you dive. If Wreck Diving is your preference then the R.M.S. Rhone is available to you as well.

Nevis, due to a lack of tourist promotion is a largely unknown Caribbean scuba diving vacation spot, with plenty of fascinating scuba dive sites stretched along the east of Nevis to the west end of St. Kitts. You really must plan to travel around the entire island to appreciate the complete assortment of sites accessible. There are plenty of both inshore and offshore diving with an astonishing natural coral reef that is home to numerous species of corals and some amazing sea life such as sea turns maybe even some sleeping turtles.

Obviously there are dozens of other islands to discover during a Caribbean scuba diving vacation, so enjoy trying to decide on the destination for you.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Scuba Diving Accessoriest , Scuba Diving Equipment and Gear at www.SportsAndOutdoorStore.com

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Friday, June 6, 2008

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Going For a Scuba Diving? Understand First the Real Safety Issue of The Underwater World
Author: Robert Langdon
Scuba diving is one of the great adventures that one can take to explore the vast wonders of the underworld that cannot be seen on the surface of the water. This is an underwater activity where the diver utilizes breathing equipment or scuba apparatus to be able to stay underwater for longer period of time. To those who are less knowledgeable about scuba, the name was actually derived from its acronym of "Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus". Scuba diving can be both a recreational and professional diving activity.

Scuba diving activities are present where open waters and reefs are located. It is mostly ideal in clear tropical oceans where you can gaze from a long distance and see the sea life that inhabits it. Although there are many famous scuba diving spots around the world, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to limit your adventure to these vacation destinations. There are still multitudes of oceans, lakes, and seas that are perfect for scuba diving. The only thing that you should remember is the right scuba equipment, the proper scuba diving suit, and other scuba diving accessories, and how to survive underwater.

You can experience all the fun that scuba diving promises provided you are able to understand what safety is all about underwater. Although scuba diving activity can be most exciting and thrilling to think, once you confront the seascapes beneath the seawater the experience could be a lot different. If you're not experienced enough in the activity, you might find yourself lacking the ability to embrace the true essence that diving should suppose to provide you with. Even professional and experienced divers do not think they have enough knowledge. In fact, they never contradict the idea of continually equipping themselves with a new knowledge or two.

The sea world is not for humans, but rather to sea creatures. Humans are not like these creatures that have full understanding on the world underwater which accounts on how they survive on their own. The sea masks a very deceptive façade. It may be captivating to look at on its surface but when you descend into its real world you will find its true inhospitable nature where sea creatures that inhabit it can be traitors to humans. It is for this matter that divers should be able to learn of the unreceptive sea world because safety is the real issue here.

If you think you are not capable yet to carry on with underwater activities, it would be best for you to take scuba diving lessons. You can enroll in scuba diving schools and there you can acquire all you need to know about the seawater adventure. Classes will tackle everything starting from the proper wearing of the scuba diving gears such as the air tanks, gauges and facemasks to jumping into the water with full gear on. If you're a neophyte in the activity, you may feel weird and strange swimming with those suits and gears on but you will outgrow this feeling.

Scuba diving schools typically use pool dives as their facilities from which scuba diving students are trained first. This is the part of the lesson from which you can discover if you got the potential to become a professional in the industry. The average starter scuba diving course will usually take four to eight weeks of training. During this time, you should be able to learn enough to take your first recreational scuba diving activity. Failure to do so would mean taking another course of the lesson.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

freenetpublishing.com is a free information site that offers articles and resources. If you want to read or share information on Travel&Leisure , you're always welcome!

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Thursday, June 5, 2008

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Scuba Diving For Beginners
Author: Rick Abbott -
Scuba diving is an exciting water activity for almost all ages. It involves using special gear to stay underwater for extended periods of time. That simple definition, though, belies the true excitement of this recreation - scuba divers enjoy seeing marine life up close and even see underwater shipwrecks, coral reefs, and caves, all from a unique perspective. Scuba diving has become extremely popular because it offers unparalleled excitement, a good workout, and a chance to see nature's wonders up close.

If you want to join other scuba divers, it is important to find the best scuba diving instructor – one who is certified by a professional body like NAUI (The National Association of Underwater Instructors) or PADI (The Professional Association of Diving Instructors)– since scuba diving has some risks. Getting good instruction ensures that you learn scuba diving safely. Both PADI and NAUI can also provide you with the facts about scuba diving, and dive certification is required to dive at most resorts and dive operations.

When selecting an instructor, it is important to select someone with the right certification levels. Levels include Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver, DiveMaster, Assistant Instructor, Boat Diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Multilevel Diver, Night Diver, Search & Recovery Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigator, Underwater Photographer, Underwater Videographer, Wreck Diver, and others. It is important to select a scuba diving instructor with the credentials and certification that most meets your needs.

When you are just starting out as a scuba diver, you may be interested in travelling to one of the scuba diving hot spots –The Red Sea in Egypt, Malta, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, and others. These popular scuba diving destinations offer beautiful dives and plenty of instructions for the new scuba diver. These destinations also allow you to easily rent all the gear you need for scuba diving – including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, exposure suits (wetsuit or dry suit), buoyancy compensators, weights, and tanks. All this gear allows you to stay safe and control your decent into the water. For beginning scuba divers, it can make sense to rent this equipment, as scuba diving gear can cost more than $1000. For new scuba divers, renting also makes sense because it ensures that the gear is properly maintained and kept.

However you decide to approach scuba diving – whether locally or at an exotic destination, whether as a pleasant pastime or a regular hobby – joining the ranks of scuba divers worldwide is sure to be an eye-opening experience – and one that will create a life time of memories.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

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Wednesday, June 4, 2008

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Planning Your Dive and Diving Your Plan – Trading!
Author: Harald Anderson

A colleague of mine just returned from a scuba diving trip in Cozumel, which just happens to be one of my favorite places to dive. Anyway, she was telling me about an unexpected difficulty she encountered while swimming around the corral reef down about 85 feet. It wasn't anything serious but her story reminded me of something my scuba instructor used to say over and over again. "Plan your dive, and dive your plan".

When you're down about 90 or 100 feet the nitrogen acts on your body in a way that's not too dissimilar to having one dry martini on an empty stomach. It's called Nitrogen Narcosis, Rapture of the Depths, or Martini's Law. So the thing to do is get your planning done while you have a clear head, (i.e. on the surface). And then when you're deep into it, and you're feeling a bit euphoric, or nervous, you don't have to make any decisions about 'what' to do. You just follow your plan.

This holds true for trading as well. When you're feeling the euphoria or nervousness set in, remember to follow your plan. And, uhm yeah,, also have a plan to follow. Clear heads will prevail.

Years ago I had the good fortune of talking with a trading guru for several hours. This individual is world renowned for his trading saavy and skill. What he elaborated in that conversation had a tremendous impact on me. HE said that when he learned how to trade that his family enforced only one rule that he had to follow. KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GET OUT BEFORE YOU GET IN. He felt that the problem that most traders had was that they felt that this simplicity did not apply to them. I remember sitting and speaking with him and thinking about my own mistakes, primarily letting hope take over in my decision making.

Many traders think that crying "UNCLE" on a trade and taking a loss is unacceptable. Since that conversation I have taken numerous losses on trades but it's funny how they don't have the STING that they used to because I PLAN MY DIVE and DIVED MY PLAN.

This is really simple and incredibly workable. Apply it to your own trading and investing.

-Downjonesfully,

Harald Anderson
http://www.eOptionsTrader.com " http://www.eOptionsTrader.com

Harald Anderson is the founder and Chief Analyst of eOptionsTrader.com a leading online resource of http://www.eOptionsTrader.com " Options Trading Information . He writes regularly for financial publications on Risk Management and Trading Strategies. His goal in life is to become the kind of person that his dog already thinks he is. http://www.eOptionsTrader.com " http://www.eOptionsTrader.com .

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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

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Scuba Diving At Disneyworld's Epcot Center
Author: Clint Leung
There is an interesting dive option for certified scuba divers who are vacationing in the Orlando area especially with family members who are non-divers. The Living Seas at Disneyworld's Epcot Center is home to a marine tank that measures over 200 feet in diameter and 25 feet in depth. This tank contains a sample of Caribbean marine life in an artificial salt water and reef environment. Through the center's Divequest tour, certified divers can take a special three hour program that includes a forty minute dive in this marine tank.

The current price is $140 US with advance reservations required. Divers meet at the Guest Relations office just outside the main Epcot gates. Epcot park admission is not required or included. However, I was let out in the main area of The Living Seas after the tour so I ended up seeing other parts of Epcot for free anyway. Twice per day at 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm, a maximum of twelve divers per time slot are taken on a behind the scenes tour of the facilities at The Living Seas. All scuba equipment is provided. In fact, divers are not allowed to bring their own equipment for the fear of contaminating the marine tank. Even jewelry must be removed prior to the dive. Scuba wetsuits (shorties), BCs, regulators, fins, booties and masks are provided. Divers are allowed to bring and use their own masks and bathing suits but these are the only exceptions to the rule.

After the facility tour, wetsuits and towels for each diver are already waiting in private stalls that include private showers in the change rooms. The setup is well organized but a bit odd because after changing into wetsuits, the divers are paraded through the public areas where the other Epcot guests are before going into the main level of the marine tank. Once at the marine tank, divemasters are waiting with tanks and BCs already assembled for each diver. The BCs are weight integrated with more weight than needed and the only gauge attached is an air pressure gauge. There isn't even a depth gauge or octopus second stage as they are not considered necessary for this shallow dive. After the dive briefing, the divemasters help the divers with their equipment on and everyone moves to a descent line at the middle of the tank.

The dive itself is usually beyond most divers' expectations. There is a lot of marine life in this tank including sharks, rays, turtles and lots of Caribbean fish of all sizes. In fact, the staff claims that divers will see more variety of Caribbean marine life during this one dive than many dives combined out in the open sea. One of the neat things that divers can do on this dive that they can't do elsewhere is interact with the public Epcot guests. There are sixty observation windows all around the marine tank including views from the main restaurant. The divers become part of the attractions at The Living Seas as the public behind the windows wave and snap photos. Some divers made arrangements with family members to be on the other side of the windows while a designated divemaster videotapes the entire scene. Even though I was skeptical at first, I have to admit that I had fun interacting with the public behind the glass. I had forgotten that the vast majority of people out there are not certified divers and we are somewhat of a curiosity for them.

For scuba divers who dive mainly to see marine life, the Divequest at Epcot will not disappoint. It's an opportunity to swim through a few large schools of fish and see some creatures like the sharks and turtles up close which as most divers know, is a real hit and miss out in the open water. It is also a very unique opportunity for non-diving family members and friends to see divers in the underwater environment. Divequest is certainly a special dive that is worth doing at least once.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Clint Leung is a NAUI certified Master and Rescue Scuba Diver. He is also owner of Free Spirit Activewear (www.FreeSpiritActivewear.com ) , an online retailer/designer specializing in premium quality scuba diving activewear. Free Spirit Activewear has numerous information resource articles on scuba diving as well as free eCards.

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Monday, June 2, 2008

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How to find your SCUBA diving holiday - Part I
Author: Youri Vlag
I will be writing a series of articles about finding the perfect holiday. This is the first part.

Finally! So you have saved a whole year for your diving holiday, finally... time off from work. And you want it to be worth it, right! It can be hard nowadays to find the right holiday, especially when you get all these offers on your table. If you haven't been on a diving holiday before than use these tips te get you on the right track.

So, how do you know where to look? If you don't know where to look for diving holidays then a search engine like Google can get you started. Type in keywords like "diving holiday red sea" and you probably find what you are looking for. However....

It is probably a wise idea to look for independant websites that provide you with information about diving destinations. Most of the time those sites have reviews about dive centers and resorts. That's what you are looking for: reviews from customers. It is a good idea to look for diving forums and ask around about dive centers and resorts in certain areas. Make sure that the reply doesn't comes from the owner of the dive center himself :). Be careful with reading though guestbooks because site owners are likely to have removed all the negative feedback.

A good site for example is the site from padi.com. PADI stands for Professional Association for Diving Instructors and is the market leader for diving education. On their website you can find dive centers listed by regions. You can be sure that those dive centers are checked by PADI which means that they will have to stand up to certain standards. PADI also has the PADI travel network which is quite a good tour operator.

Where to go? It depends on what you are looking for! There are many aspects that make a diving holiday your perfect diving holiday. The first thing that you probably will have to decide is whether to do a live-aboard or not. Live-aboard diving means a lot of dives, and usually not much activity on land. They usually offer the best diving and can be a bit more expensive than traditional boat/shore diving.

Also think about boat diving or shore diving. Both types have their ups and downs. Shore diving can be more adventurious with exciting entries and exits. It can be a little bit more work than on a boat though.

Boat dives can be very relaxing but for some people the surface interval is too boring. Renting a whole boat with a dive club could be great fun!!

If you are looking for more excentric holidays then think about camel dive safaris, yoga diving holidays, freediving and diving holidays etc. Their are companies out there that combine land excursions with SCUBA diving, offering a more complete package.

What to look for at offers The best offers are usually the ones with flights, transfers and tax included. Make sure that you are aware of any additional costs. What you are looking for are offers that provide you with as much information as possible.

Don't forget your research... Make sure that before you book your holiday, you have done the necessary research. Give the dive center a call, send a few emails. If you want to do a course, then talk to your instructor if possible. Get reviews from other customers. Simply get to know as much as possible and follow your instinct.

On the next article I will go deeper into finding your perfect diving holiday. I will discuss the regions of Asia, the Red Sea and the Caribbean.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Youri Vlag (from the Netherlands and living in the United Kingdom) is an experienced PADI instructor and EFR instructor and has worked as a dive guide and dive instructor in Thailand and Egypt. Youri writes articles about SCUBA diving for several sites and is the owner of www.divinganswers.com .

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Sunday, June 1, 2008

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Scuba Diving Basics
Author: Kelly Broome -
There is nothing quite like scuba diving. I remember my first scuba dive. I was visiting Tobago with a friend and I decided on the spur of the moment that it was something I wanted to do, so I went to the local dive shop and signed up for the class. There were only three of us going on the dive, and the two others accompanying me were fully PADI certified, so they didn't need any instruction. That particular dive required that I have classroom lessons that lasted 4 hours. There was a lot that the instructor explained to me during that time like how to use the equipment, what decompression is, what to expect, how to use the buddy system, etc. We did a confined dive first, the afterwards went out to the reef for the open dive.

The dive itself was amazing and exhilarating for me even though it was what is called a non-decompression dive, only to 40 feet. I had been a snorkel for years, but had never been that close to a reef and fish.

For those who crave more diving adventure such as deep sea diving and wreck diving which would take them much deeper in the water they would need much more training, and PADI certification.

It's easy to learn to dive. Not as hard as you might think. PADI certification can be obtained fairly easily, and at your own pace. There are books and videos that you can obtain to help you through the course. Your instructor will give you a short test at the end of each course. After you have completed what is called knowledge training you start diving. You first experience confined dives and then open water dives. Confined dives take place in a pool or a shallow body of water. The first time I put on the equipment and went in the water we were just waist deep. Once you have mastered confined dives and proven yourself to your instructors you will have the opportunity to go on open water dives with the instructor.

Where you will be diving will make the decision for you as to what type of equipment you are going to need. As my dive was in the warm Caribbean waters I didn't need any type of wet suit. I wore a BC vest. However, on deeper cold water dives you will want to make sure you are equipped with a dry suit that will handle cold.

You'll need a good mask. One that seals against your face well. A pair of booties and fins. You'll need a snorkel, a buoyancy compensator vest and a regulator with a gauge and a second mouthpiece.

You'll want to do a lot of research on equipment before buying. As with most things technology is constantly changing scuba equipment. You'll want to talk with friends and instructors as to their recommendations. There is a fairly large initial investment and you want to get the best you can for the money you spend. You also want to make sure that you're comfortable in all the pieces of your scuba gear. If your mask isn't tight enough and leaks, or if your fins are too tight and rub your heels that is what your mind will be on instead of the wonders of the sea.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

To learn more about scuba diving please visit www.scuba-solution.info

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