If you've been dreaming of diving with manta rays and whale sharks but are less enthused by long flights to megafauna hotspots like Fiji, Bali or the Maldives, then cast your eyes to the offshore sites in the Azores. This chain of Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean…
For many, cave diving may appear as dark and impenetrable as the philosophical writings of Friedrich Nietzsche. But one of the German philosopher's more famous quotes - 'And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into thee' - reveals one of many reasons why divers enjoy the…
If you want to turn your passion into a profession, the Divemaster certification represents the first rung on the diving professional ladder. The course, which lasts from three weeks to six months, qualifies you to work as a dive guide and assist instructors. With unlimited access to local…
The Advanced Open Water Diver certification gives divers more freedom on their dive holidays. Being certified to dive deeper opens up a whole world of new dive sites to explore across the planet and can allow you to enjoy underwater experiences that were previously off-limits. Aside from the…
The narrow Badung Strait separates Bali's south-east coastline from a cluster of three islands: Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Between them, the three islands are home to some of Bali's most exhilarating dive sites. While the water can be cooler than Bali's northern shore and…
There's no mistaking the hulking silhouette of a large bumphead wrasse bumbling in from the blue. This slow-moving and inquisitive fish, with its intricate facial markings and iridescent blue and green flanks, is a welcome sight on many dive sites. Known by many different names, this…
Ever seen a chainsaw strapped to a pancake? When it comes to the weird and the wonderful, few creatures can compete with the bizarre-looking sawfish. Their flattened noses - or rostrums - are lined with teeth, resembling a chainsaw, they're flat(ish) and can reach a whopping seven metres in…
The disco balls of the sea, bait balls (or baitballs), are densely packed groups of small fish formed either voluntarily or as a means of survival. South Africa's annual Sardine Run - often featured in Attenborough-narrated nature documentaries - is perhaps the planet's most famous bait…
Seaweed is found throughout the world's coastal regions, but what exactly is it? The name is misleading as it's not a 'weed,' but a prolific form of sea vegetation that is vital to life. Collectively, seaweed supplies a large proportion of the world's oxygen and plays a vital role in…
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…