For some divers, surface intervals are strictly reserved for sacred relaxation time. But, if the thrills of exploring the ocean depths haven't quite satisfied that wildlife-watching itch, we reckon they're also prime time to fine-tune your binoculars and enjoy the quieter charms of good old-fashioned birdwatching. Luckily, plenty of destinations cater to both passions, whether you're spotting hammerheads and penguins in the Galapagos or manta rays and birds-of-paradise in Indonesia. So, ready to give both hobbies a whirl on your next getaway? Read on to discover our top five birdwatching and diving duos...
The Galapagos
You're in for a wildlife extravaganza in the Galapagos, where Charles Darwin's animal observations helped shape his theory of evolution. With migratory birds flocking ashore and converging ocean currents supporting a bumper haul of marine life, around 20% of which is found nowhere else on Earth, it's little wonder this archipelago is a favourite haunt of pioneering naturalists.
Speaking of revolutionary discoveries, your wildlife wish list might just be in for a breakthrough of its own - both above and below the surface. Take the plunge at Wolf and Darwin Islands (no prizes for guessing who inspired the latter's name), where manta and mobula rays swoop in a plankton-fuelled feeding frenzy. And, should your dive buddy fire off an emphatic flurry of hand signals, chances are a hammerhead shark just cruised into view...
Back on dry land, why nurse the inevitable post-dive blues? Enjoy a birdwatching stint along the coast, where blue-footed boobies strut their stuff, magnificent frigatebirds glide overhead and flightless cormorants torpedo through the shallows.
Then, head over to Isabela Island to spot cute penguins waddling along rocky shores and basking in the equatorial sunshine. Only in the Galapagos...
Papua New Guinea
For those whose 'been-there-dived-that' list is growing rather long, set your sights on Papua New Guinea, whose remote reefs and rainforest canopies remain wonderfully off the radar.
Base yourself in New Britain, in the Bismarck Archipelago, where reverberating birdsong promises a flying start to each day (pun intended). These tunes are enough to bring out anyone's inner bird nerd, so sling your binoculars into position and follow the tweets, whistles and chirps deep into the rainforest. Among the feathered ensemble, you'll find eclectus parrots squawking their hearts out, kingfishers darting between branches and blue-eyed cockatoos flaunting feathery crests (and rocking a statement eyeshadow look).
After a few hours spent searching for exotic birdlife, it's time to take the plunge - we're divers, after all, and there's only so long we can resist a controlled descent. Roll backwards off the boat into Kimbe Bay's azure waters, where carnivalesque coral reefs and sunken Japanese fighter planes play host to shimmering shoals of fish, reef sharks and eagle rays.
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
An escape to Indonesia poses the rather delightful dilemma of 'feathers or fins first?'. Nowhere is this predicament more pressing than in Raja Ampat, where jungle-draped islands and kaleidoscopic coral reefs seem locked in a rather spirited competition to outdo one another.
For the ocean's case? Well, Raja Ampat sits slap bang in the middle of the Coral Triangle, the world's epicentre of marine biodiversity, making it something of a bucket-list pilgrimage for dive devotees. Think rainbow-hued reefs, pygmy seahorses hiding among sea fans and wonderfully weird wobbegong sharks lounging on the seabed. With such a magnificent marine menagerie to capture, take one of our GoPros along for the dive. And trust us, you'll need every last gigabyte of storage...
Back on dry land, the local birdlife has been rehearsing a rather unusual repertoire of dance moves. A crack-of-dawn jungle jaunt across Gam and Waigeo islands reveals red birds-of-paradise flaunting vivid feathers and Wilson's birds-of-paradise meticulously clearing leaves and twigs from their makeshift dance floors before wooing a mate. Now that's a sighting destined for the field journal.
Lord Howe Island, Australia
If there's one destination avid twitchers and diving fanatics should have pinned on the map, it's Australia's Lord Howe Island.
This castaway speck in the Tasman Sea is something of a treasure trove for divers. Have an advanced diving certification under your belt? Ball's Pyramid deserves a spot in your logbook. Glide around the submerged slopes of the world's tallest volcanic sea stack, watching shoals of amberjack and rainbow runners weave between rocky outcrops, plus the occasional dolphin or wahoo (yes, that's really their name).
And, in true Australian fashion, Lord Howe Island's 130-odd resident and migratory bird species are an endearingly eccentric bunch. Take the Providence petrel, which can be summoned from the sky with a few enthusiastic calls and claps, sometimes landing right at your feet.
Then, there's the flightless Lord Howe woodhen, once on the brink of extinction but now enjoying a conservation-fuelled comeback. With a little luck, this curious islander might make a cameo during your visit.
The Seychelles
With its spellbinding scuba diving and postcard-perfect beaches, the Seychelles is the stuff of daydreams. But a little bird told us (we couldn't resist) that its avian inhabitants might just turn contended musings of 'this is the life' into wide eyes, frantic pointing and a mad scramble for the camera.
Mahe is the launching pad for adventures across the archipelago, with fairy terns flitting overhead, white-tailed tropicbirds showing off their extravagant tail feathers and Seychelles black parrots bringing a splash of colour (and personality) to the treetops.
At Alphonse, Astove and Cosmoledo, slip beneath the waves to find manta rays gliding overhead, reef sharks weaving between corals and the occasional sailfish flashing its shimmering crest. R&R with a side of birding and diving? Now that's our idea of a holiday well spent.
Piqued your interest? At Original Diving, we can curate trips that combine bucket-list dives with birdwatching bliss - just leave the logistics to us and start dreaming up your next big adventure...
