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The Best Dive and Snorkel Destinations in Indonesia
Indonesia is renowned for its diverse diving opportunities, so it might not surprise you to find out that the country sits at the epicentre of the Coral Triangle (the heart of marine biodiversity). With a whopping 17,000 islands, Indonesia offers both divers and snorkellers the opportunity…
Species of Manta Ray
Manta rays are some of the most charismatic and beautiful creatures that inhabit our oceans. Together with devil rays, manta rays are collectively known as mobulids, and are closely related to sharks and other rays. While cartilaginous like their cousins (meaning they have a skeleton made of…
A Bonding Holiday in the Red Sea
If healthy relationships are built on shared experiences (spoiler alert: they are), two types of trips are especially good for creating those moments: bonding holidays, where just two members of the same family travel together, and diving holidays.
Everything You Need to Know About Nitrox Diving
Ever wondered what those dive tanks with strange green and yellow stickers on them are? These tanks contain 'voodoo gas' - the nickname given to nitrox when it first began to appear on dive boats back in the 1980s. We're here to answer some common questions about nitrox, so you can impress…
Where Our Team Have Been This Year
Our Original Diving team is a well-travelled bunch, and this year they've been on a mission to discover the ocean's underwater marvels. They've dived with playful dolphins in French Polynesia, navigated the calm waters of the Cayman Islands and come face-to-face with thresher sharks in the…
Just Back: Rachel’s Research Trip to French Polynesia
Our Original Diving expert, Rachel, recently spent two weeks on a research trip in French Polynesia. When she wasn't hiking through lush mountains in Moorea and cycling along the islands of Rangiroa, she was diving with dolphins in the Tiputa Pass and spotting hundreds of hammerheads in…
Our Top Ten Sulawesi Facts
Sulawesi is a huge island. The 11th largest in the world, in fact. Known for its mountainous terrain and lush rainforests, Sulawesi is a treasure-trove of biodiversity with over 450 bird species and 5,972 vascular plant species, 2,225 of which are endemic, alongside dugongs, coral reefs and…
The Traveller’s Gift Guide: For the Diver Who Has Everything (Except These)
Divers are notoriously difficult to buy for. They either own everything, hold exacting opinions on what constitutes the 'right' gear, or prefer to risk it with a rental. Yet there is hope. A new wave of travel-ready, durable and sustainably minded equipment promises to satisfy even the most…
The Banda Sea aboard the Mermaid II
A dive adventure aboard the Mermaid II to the Banda Sea is the perfect diving experience. You can see marine life you might never have encountered before, from mobula rays and sea snakes to zebra urchin crabs and blue whales (yes, more than one). You could even spot hammerhead sharks gliding…
Cold Water Diving: All You Need to Know
With access to elusive marine life, lesser-explored dive sites and scenic underwater landscapes, there are many perks to dipping your flipper in colder waters. But preparation is key - whether it's choosing the right gear, staying warm between dives or navigating unpredictable visibility.…
Our Favourite Ocean Migrations
You've heard of epic land migrations (hello, wildebeests), but what about those that happen beneath the waves? Every year, marine species great and small undertake mighty migratory journeys across the ocean in search of food or a mate, or both. From wandering whales to cruising sea turtles,…
The Best Barrier Reefs in the World
What makes a barrier reef a barrier reef? We're here to tell you. Often referred to as 'rainforests of the sea,' barrier reefs are composed of billions of tiny coral polyps that form living walls, providing food and shelter for an array of underwater life and serving as hubs of buzzing…
Popular posts
Top Ten Sea Lion Facts
Whether you know them as sea lions or 'puppies of the sea', these charismatic and playful creatures share a lengthy history with humans. Sea lions were once worshipped by the ancient Moche civilisation of Peru, before later facing commercial hunting for their hides during the 1800s, so it's…
Top Ten Thresher Shark Facts
At sunrise, if the conditions are utterly perfect - deep water, plenty of cleaner fish and nutrient-rich currents - you might just spot a thresher shark. For many scuba divers, encountering these shy creatures is a bucket list experience - and for good reason. Seeing a thresher shark's long,…
Top Ten Manta Ray Facts
What diver doesn't dream of swimming alongside majestic manta rays? These charismatic and gentle fish, whose relatives include sharks, sawfish, electric rays and stingrays, certainly deserve a place on every diving bucket list.
Top Ten Pufferfish Facts
Picture yourself suddenly ballooning into a spiky sphere whenever you feel a mix of nervousness and curiosity. That's just a typical day in the life of a puffer fish. And while they may be the world's most poisonous fish (when eaten) they're romantics at heart. Ready to learn more about…
Top Ten Hammerhead Shark Facts
Hammerhead sharks are one of the most recognisable ocean creatures and perhaps the most distinctive of all shark species, largely thanks to their strangely-shaped heads - known as a cephalofoil. Found in the warm waters around Central America, Southern America, Africa, Asia, and Australia,…
The 14 Best Diving Films
When you're desperate to submerge, but currently landbound, sometimes a good diving film has to suffice. The ocean has appeared on the big screen for decades, captivating audiences with stunning seascapes, delightful marine characters and thrilling underwater adventures. Whether you want to…
Top Ten Bull Shark Facts
Brutish bull sharks get a bad rep. Despite joining great white and tiger sharks in the 'Big Three' for shark attacks, these formidable fish face far more danger from us than we do from them. As apex predators, bull sharks are pivotal to keeping marine ecosystems in balance. However, like…
Top Ten Mantis Shrimp Facts
Often spotted scurrying across the ocean floor or peering out from their carefully constructed burrows, alien-like mantis shrimp are always a joy to see. These intriguing, carnivorous crustaceans come in a wide range of sizes and colours, and although some live in temperate waters, most…
Top Ten Great White Shark Facts
The infamous great white barely needs an introduction. After skyrocketing to fame in 1975 thanks to Steven Spielberg's hit movie Jaws, these majestic, yet somewhat misunderstood, creatures are one of the most well-known shark species worldwide.
Top Ten Nudibranch Facts
From the bright red Spanish dancer to Hopkins's rose nudibranch, neon green leaf sheep nudibranch - otherwise known as 'Shawn the Sheep' -, and the orange-peel Doris nudibranch, fabulously coloured nudibranchs have amassed a cult-like following among divers. Hailed as the 'Jewels of the…
Six of the Best House Reefs
Coral reefs are some of the world's most colourful and diverse ecosystems, and a hidden treasure to feast the eyes upon for any scuba diver and snorkeller. But why should you wait for a boat trip from your hotel when you can access these underwater Edens straight from the shores of your…
Short Haul Winter Diving Destinations
As we (at least those of us based in Europe) are slowly stepping into the cold of winter and dusting off our winter clothing, here at Original Diving, we've compiled our list of some top short-haul winter-come-spring diving destinations. Here's a selection of places you can get to for a…