Bored of endless Black Friday emails, ads and pop-ups? Irritated about the UK adopting this Thanksgiving-specific consumer culture from our friends in the US in the first place? We are too. Which is why, this year we are boycotting Black Friday in favour of celebrating Green Friday. This…
When it comes to underwater pursuits, there is a whole lot to love about snorkelling - not only is it suitable for all ages and abilities and only requires minimal equipment, it also offers the chance to see a multitude of marine species closer to the surface. From the vibrant coral reefs of…
Divers are really astronauts; gliding weightless through the ocean we observe alien worlds carpeted in vast fields of colourful corals with equally bizarre, enthralling inhabitants - from the foreign clicks of dolphins communicating to minute technicolour slugs (nudibranch). And best yet,…
What with all the recent confusion surrounding air bridges, travel corridors and quarantine, short-term travel is still very much up in the air. Or not. It's hard to keep up, sometimes. Looking further ahead, though, we believe that a year hence travel will have returned to at least a…
Some in the travel industry fear the emergence of virtual tourism; we're not in that camp. We know that seeing somewhere on a screen - even if you are able to turn your head or move your mouse to see more - is no substitute for a real dive in a gloriously remote location. What virtual…
It's fair to say that there has been some confusion surrounding the loosening of the lockdown. We're confident that the Great British public will use their famed common sense to work things out - after all, this is the nation that elevated queuing to an art form - but in the meantime, we've…
Picture the scene. It's the Original Diving office Christmas party, and several members of the team start an impromptu round of the 'Guess the Three-Letter Airport Code' game. One of the interns is overheard to say: 'Wow, you lot really are travel nerds.' Thank you, Fenella - there is…
The world's best dives: regularly topping just about everyone's bucket list, and for good reason. But the world's ocean covers a mind boggling 139,000,000 square miles, and as the world's largest playground (official title), there are endless opportunities for adventures. Whether you're a…
A whopping 14 million viewers were wowed by the groundbreaking docuseries, Blue Planet II, when it first aired in 2017, and people's fascination with all things ocean-related continues to grow, from Ocean Film Festivals popping up across the world to power-house brands creating fashion from…
Raja Ampat has many names; Four Kings; the crown jewel of the Coral Triangle; the underwater Serengeti; the end of the rainbow (okay, that one was us), but no name can quite do justice to the diving in Indonesia's Raja Ampat. Home to the highest marine biodiversity on earth, descending into…
When it comes to diving, it's safe to say that the Philippines offers a bit of everything and on my recent adventure there, I was lucky enough to have a taste of some of the best sites across the country; from thresher sharks in Malapascua to the beautiful coral reefs and walls around Bohol,…
Spring in Blighty: a season typified by daffodils in full bloom, the half-forgotten sensation of warm sun on bare skin and channelling The Sound of Music while frolicking through fields. But lest we forget, the British weather can be rather… unpredictable. Elsewhere, however, some of our…
Divers are really astronauts; gliding weightless through the ocean we observe alien worlds carpeted in vast fields of colourful corals with equally bizarre, enthralling inhabitants - from the foreign clicks of dolphins communicating to minute technicolour slugs (nudibranch). And best yet,…
Whether you're interested in learning to dive or an old hand looking to expand your portfolio of deep sea adventures; a trend-setter among your dive buddies or simply curious on where the best places to dive are this year; discover our definitive list of the best places to go diving in 2020…
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…
Question: do you consider yourself a canny operator (*taps nose and winks*)? Are you willing to buck the trend, go off-piste, roll the dice as it were? Well it's time to channel your inner wheeler dealer, à la Del Boy Trotter (perhaps without the dodgy gold medallions and morally ambiguous…
It's aboat (sorry) time we let you in on a little not-so-secret-secret about liveaboards - liveaboard diving allows you to boldly go to where no day trip has gone before, setting sail to some of the most remote, pristine dive sites in the world. It's the crème de la crème of dive…
Blue belts. Nope, we haven't taken up karate and we're not advertising a new fashion trend, we are in fact referring to the UK Government announcing the expansion of protected coastal 'blue belt' marine areas surrounding the British Isles. Another excellent step on the ladder to conserving…
This year I turn 30. At the start of the year I decided that it was going to be a big year for me; figure out my five year plan, set some challenges, say 'yes' to as much as possible and go on some unforgettable trips. The five year plan is still a work in progress, however I did say 'yes'…
They (read: we) say the best things in life are but a few fin kicks from the beach. And here at Original Diving, we believe there are some pretty marvellous sights to be seen in the shallows. From some of the world's most beautiful coral reefs to magnificent wrecks, marvellous macro critters…
There are few better ways to bond with your children than while diving. Obviously you can't natter away on the dive itself, but when you're back in the boat or on the beach, reliving the dive with a wide-eyed youngster can be a magical experience. The good news (and something a lot of…
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…
Bucket lists are for landlubbers. If you're a diver, and the ocean is your oyster, then you NEED to dive these spots, arguably the greatest dive sites on our blue planet.
Since arriving at Original Diving in 2012, Papua New Guinea has always been at the top of my travel list. Not only did the diving appeal, but the wildlife and culture is so varied that I was eager to experience it all (I have David Attenborough to thank for a lot of this!) Luckily, last…
