Blog

Latest posts

Read more Latest Posts

Sulawesi

How To Spend Your Dry Days in Sulawesi

Having visited Northern Sulawesi last year, our resident marine biologist and dive expert, Emily, knows the appeal of the dreamy wall dives filled with turtles in Bunaken and the critter hub of Lembeh, and knows that a diver can happily be occupied for hours on end underwater here. But what…

Diving underwater next to coral

Top Tips for Muck Diving

Most divers look for variation in their diving, and muck diving is something that provides just that. If you are looking for more than pretty reefs or pelagics, try your hand at muck diving, as these apparently 'baren' underwater landscapes are home to an endless supply of critters and…

Macro Diving in Bali

Top Ten Macro Critters in Bali

Indonesia's 'Island of the Gods' boasts some of the most diverse diving around, and it's quite possible to spot (or have pointed out by your eagle-eyed guide) a new cryptic critter each time you venture below the waves. Bali's bountiful dive sites, slap-bang in the middle of the Coral…

Black-Tipped Reef Shark in Bali

Top Ten Reef Fish in Bali

The waters of Bali are awash with reef fish of all shapes and hues. From the warm and gently sloping reefs in the north to the current-swept shores of Penida and Lembongan in the south, the diverse diving will ensure you will not be short of encounters with bizarre, beautiful or even…

Summer of Giants

How do you decide where to go on your next diving holiday? Do you return time and again to a place that welcomes you as an old friend, where you annually reconnect with the same dive guides who have watched your children grow and learn to dive as well? Or, do you methodically tick off bucket…

Bali beach

Best Diving in Bali

The Indonesian Archipelago lies at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the world's hotspot for marine biodiversity, and Bali sits halfway along this sprawling archipelago, receiving warm currents from the Java Sea to the north and colder currents travelling up from the south. These unique…

Underwater Symbiotic Relationships

Symbiosis is defined as 'any type of close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms.' There are several types of symbiosis in the natural world (and not all are reciprocal), so in honour of Valentine's Day, we've put together a list of our favourite…

Whale shark

Cocos vs. The Galapagos

Choosing between Cocos and The Galapagos is one of the diving world's biggest questions. It's like comparing a glass of Sancerre with a glass of Malbec, both immensely enjoyable and both, rightly, have their time and place.

Mototi Octopus

Critters of Dauin

Dauin, located on the south coast of Negros Island, is known for being a 'critter hub' of the Philippines, and the area offers plenty of opportunity for divers to tick off a huge variety of wonderful creatures from their bucket lists. The Dauin area is possibly one of the best macro…

Diving Equipment

Must-Have Diving Equipment

If you're reading this, then the thought of purchasing your own set of diving equipment probably crossed your mind during your last dive. Either you're a new diver who's just finished their Open Water course and caught the diving bug (welcome to the club), or you're a seasoned diver who's…

macro diving clown fish

Best Macro Diving in the World

Every diver is different. There are divers who travel far and wide in search of the next best wreck to explore, those who can't get enough of megafauna or 'the big stuff', then there are those of us who can't keep our eyes off the seafloor, searching for the extraordinary, tucked away within…

Man on sailboat

Philantourism: The Best Dive Spots for Doing Good

Often, when catastrophe strikes, or a community falls on hard times, we watch and wonder 'how can I help?' Some people choose to donate money, participate in food/clothing drives, volunteer their time or open their homes. Short-term relief is just the beginning though. To truly extend a…

Popular posts

Mandarinfish

Over the Rainbow: The Most Colourful Sea Creatures

The ocean realm is home to sea creatures of many shapes and sizes, but it is the kaleidoscope of colour that resides within the oceans that is the most striking characteristic to remind us of its awe-inspiring beauty. Colour can be used as territorial warnings, for mating purposes or it can…

Diving lesson

The Top Five Places To Learn To Dive

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,…

Angsana Ihuru aerial

Five 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…

Yellow, White and Black Nudibranch

Nudibranchs - Facts About The World's Prettiest Slugs

Nudibranchs, sometimes more commonly known as "sea slugs" are some of the hardest creatures to spot on a dive. Although related to snails, these colourful little creatures have ditched the homes they carry on their backs as they have evolved. Similar to land snails, nudibranchs also leave a…

whale shark ningaloo reef

Top 6 Places to Dive and Snorkel with Whale Sharks

As the ocean's largest fish whale sharks are found in tropical seas around the planet, making for some pretty comfortable dive conditions - unusual when diving, or snorkelling, for some of the ocean's bigger beasts. Yet despite being one of the most recognisable marine creatures, these…

Hammerhead

Top Six Places to Dive With Hammerheads

One of the most iconic of all species, hammerhead sharks should be swimming near the brim of any diver's bucket list. The fact that - unlike most sharks - scalloped hammerheads usually swim in huge schools only amplifies the spectacular experience of seeing them.

liveaboard diving at sunrise

The 10 Best Liveaboard Destinations

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…

diving seal

Diving The Galapagos

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'…

Wakatobi house reef, Indonesia

Top Nine Destinations for Shore Diving

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…

red sea in egypt reef

Family Diving

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…

Blue shark

The Azores Best Dive Sites

Unique underwater topography characterised by big boulders, caverns and canyons; crystal clear visibility; mantas and mobulas; sharks and ship wrecks; macro life and much, much larger whales… and all in Europe. Yes, you heard right. Located a mere four hour flight from London, we think the…

diving in egypt

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…