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Hawaii

The State of Hawaii is a scuba diving destination 2,000 miles SW from the mainland of the United States. The Hawaii archipelago consist of 137 islands and is 1,500 miles long. However, there are only 8 main islands. The largest population of Hawaiians are on the island of Oahu. Ironically, the second largest group of Hawaiians live in or near Las Vegas, Nevada. The islands were first populated by waves of Polynesians from 124AD to 1120AD. The Hawaiian language is similar to spoken Marquesan and Tahitian Polynesian. Captain Cook was the first European to land on the islands in 1778 and called them the Sandwich Islands. However, there is evidence that the Spanish passed by the islands in 1542 on their way from Mexico to the Philippines.  They wrote down their own island names, but kept their route secret. Sea Turtles; The Godfathers of Scuba Dive Magazines?

Nevertheless, after making contact with the Europeans, half the Hawaiian population died from influenza, small pox, and measles. Immigrants from the Gwondong region of China, the Philippines, Korea, Japanese, Germans, and Portuguese were brought in to work the sugar and later pineapple plantations. In 1893 Queen Lili’uokalani was overthrown by a group of US citizens with the assistance of US military troops. In 1959 Hawaii entered statehood. So, 1993 Hawaii received an official apology for the abrupt takeover signed by Bill Clinton.

Diving Kauai, Molokai, & Maui

Scuba diving around the islands is all about the former volcanic activity. You can dive caves, lava tubes, and tunnels; also, canyons, fingers, and craters. The beaches of Hawaii are black sand or white sand depending on the island. The islands have had time to acquired their own species of fish, birds, and plants. On Kauai, the garden island, there are over a dozen dive sites. However, currents and undertows can make many beach dive entrances difficult. Some of the top sites include Three Fingers, Sheraton Caverns, and Brenneckes Ledge. You can also go by boat over to the privately own island in Hawaii called Niihau to dive seldom seen reefs. Over at Maui you can scuba diving around 15 sites including: Molokini Crater, 5 Caves, or Airport Beach.

You can also take a boat over to Molakai and dive Fish Rain or go over to Lanai and dive the Cathedrals and tunnels. Keep in mind it is like a bathtub between the islands and you have a good chance of hearing humpback whales while diving.

Diving Oahu & Hawaii Island

Oahu has another 15 scuba diving sites. However, the local fish population has been more impacted by multiple factors. However, the minesweeper Mahi sunk in 1983, is a major attraction. So, Three Tables and Shark’s Cove are also quite popular. Look for juvenile white tip sharks under the ledges, crevices, and rocks. On the big island of Hawaii there are over two dozen scuba diving sites to choose from. The top dives have to be Pelagic Magic where you go 3 miles offshore at night and dive in the middle of a bioluminescent show, and The Manta Ray Night Dive where you watch mantas feed. You can watch the turtles get cleaned at Turtle Pinnacle. Au Au Crater, Black Coral Forest, Catacombs Manuka Bay and Pohoe Bay are all great dive sites.

To see most of the best dive sites on the Hawaiian Islands, you need to take a liveaboard boat. Finally, plan on a diving a week to fully experience the great diving.

Accommodations Attractions, Activities

In the islands you have a choice of luxury resorts, hotels, & inns. Now, you may like to go hiking mountains, visiting falls, and exploring rivers. You can surf, snorkel or boogie board til your heart’s content. Furthermore, Hawaii is the only state to produce coffee. They also have Portuguese sausage and rice for breakfast. So, plate lunches feature spicy Korean beef ribs, sweet Japanese teriyaki chicken, or grilled spam. Finally, dinner menus can be a fusion of Asian delights. They also have American favorites and traditionally cooked Hawaiian treats or feasts.

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Villas Sol Hotel & Beach Resort

Villas Sol Hotel & Beach Resort is near the scuba diving area of Bahia Hermosa in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. The resort has 54 rooms and 109 villas. The rooms have either garden or ocean views with safes, AC, mini fridge, and a private balcony. The villas are 1,2, or 3-bedroom units. A complimentary shuttle bus takes you down the hill to Hermosa Playa (beach). Enjoy our blog article on Sea Turtle’s; The Godfathers of All Dive Magazines?

Villas Sol Hotel & Beach Resort Diving

Rocket Frog Divers is the partner scuba diving center. They have a 36ft long ribbed inflatable boat “The Pacific Express”, with twin 300HP Yamaha engines. So, they do 2-3 tank dives out to some 20 dive sites. 16 in the Cat “Catalinas” islands and 4 in the Bat islands “Murcielagos”. The Bat islands are known for their bull sharks and the Cats are known for mantas, white tips, and nurse sharks. The dives start at around 40ft deep. Some of the local dive site names include Monkey Head, Punta Gorda, Whale Point, Virador, Tiburones, Shark Cave, Los Arcos, and El Argentino.

Therefore, while staying at Villas Sol Hotel & Beach Resort, plan on seeing harlequin shrimp, barracuda, turtles, and butterfly fish. From the surface you may see dolphins and devil rays jumping. So, they also have a 2-day trip where you can stay in a national park overnight. Furthermore, they have “learn to dive” courses and they are bi-lingual. Finally, ask about their new van for pickups and drop offs.

Attractions and Activities

The Bahia restaurant and bar is the main restaurant at Villas Sol Hotel & Beach Resort, with a sweeping view of the valley and ocean. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is buffet style at this all-inclusive (except for diving) resort. Heliconia by the main pool has a la cart cuisine. Down at the pool there is a swim up bar. So onsite there is a spa, fitness center, a souvenir shop, and mini mart. So, for activities you can play volley ball, soccer, play tennis, swim, or lounge near the pool. Down at the beach you can try some water sports or snorkel. There are also jungle tours, and snorkel tours that go an hour away from the resort.

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Hopkins Bay Resort

Hopkins Bay Resort is located 45min south of Dangriga on the mainland of Belize. This scuba diving resort has 38 accommodations ranging from 1, 2, & 3-bedroom units. Each unit has a private balcony or patio, air conditioning, ceiling fans, TV’s, & hair dryer. So, the 2 &3-bedroom cottages come with a living area and shared kitchen area and a spacious deck. The views are beach, ocean or garden views. Enjoy our blog article on Belize and Un-Belizable Diving and Adventure!

Hopkins Bay Resort Diving

The resort partners with the scuba diving center Belize Underwater, which is just a complimentary shuttle ride away in Hopkins. So, they have a fleet of boats that each can take out 22 divers and snorkelers combined. Besides training new divers, they have several specialty courses, and a Rusty Diver program too. They typically do 3 tank trips out to the hotspots of the Belize section of the 2nd largest great barrier reef.  So, from Hopkins Bay Resort you can travel 1 ½ hours out to Glover’s Reef Atoll, 1 ½ hours out to Turneffe Reef Atoll, and 3 hours out to the world-famous Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Expect to do wall dives, reef dives, and view some 400 species of fish and some 70 species of corals.

Attractions and Activities

Hopkins Bay Resort is home to the Rhum Shack restaurant and fresh seafood. In addition, the resort is the home of the Drum Bar where they serve tacos for lunch and drinks by the pool. Moreover, for those guests that stay in the 2- or 3-bedroom cottages, you can also either stock up at the local grocery store and cook in your own private kitchen, or you can hire a Garifuna Chef and sit back and enjoy some very flavorful local cuisine. So, for activities at Hopkins Bay Resort, you can play Bocce Ball, go bicycling, kayaking or use some paddle boards. Furthermore, you can take a tour to see some Mayan ruins, visit a jaguar reserve, eat some Mayan chocolate, zip line through a jungle, or swim and go tubing in a fresh water blue hole.

Above all, you can go on a Garifuna Cultural and Culinary Adventure. Did we mention the food here?

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Belize

Belize is located on the northeastern coast of Central America. Its Barrier Reef is the second largest in the world, As a result, scuba diving is a main appeal. Especially, with 600 fish, 350 mollusk, 74 hard and 36 soft coral species. More than 200 subtropical islands dot its turquoise waters and the Great Blue Hole, a site made famous by Jacques Cousteau, is a geological wonder. Mostly covered by rainforest and jungle means it has a low population density. Finally, the country was once the very center of ancient Maya Civilization. Over 900 historic sites remain. Read to learn more: Belize and Un-Belizable Diving and Adventure!

Diving in Belize

Ambergris Caye, in the north, is the nearest location to this country’s barrier reefs. The Hol Chan marine reserve protects the underwater environment. As a result, popular dive sites offer exhilarating encounters. Snorkelers can enjoy the inner reef. Similarly, scuba divers seek the outer reef spur and grove formations. Hard corals, gorgonians, sea fans, invertebrates, reef fish and shellfish of amazing variety populate these waters. Also, the rich habitat for marine life includes sharks, rays, grouper and other pelagic creatures.

Placencia, Hopkins and Dangriga lie in the southern to central portion of the country. Diving is inside and outside the barrier reefs, coupled with offshore islands. Subsequently, dive sites also include walls, pinnacles, canyons, overhangs, spur and grove formations. Here in these areas, expect tropical reef fish, crustaceans, healthy corals and colorful sponges. Likewise, multiple varieties of sharks, spotted eagle rays, southern rays, moray eels, groupers, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles. Manta rays, and whale shark can be seen cruising in the open blue water.

Outer Islands, Atolls and Cayes

Turneffe Island is the largest of the atolls. Here, on uncrowded vibrant dive sites, you’ll find abundant marine reef fish, groupers. horse eye jacks and loggerhead turtles. Also, whale sharks and some whale species migrate past the island.

Lighthouse Reef is the smallest of the three atolls. However, it has one of the top ten dive sites on earth, the Blue Hole. It’s known, not for colorful coral, but a colorless cave from centuries past, decorated only with stalactites.

Glover’s Reef is 35 miles offshore and has a protected marine reserve. Here, divers can choose from hundreds of patch reefs. Therefore, plentiful sponges, sea fans. fish schools and vibrant colors. Especially, resident turtles, sharks and Eagle Rays are daily sightings. Lastly, look for whale sharks cruising in the blue.

Accommodations, Attractions, Activities

Dive resorts, liveaboards, condos, luxury to modest hotels are readily available. Thus, the individual, family or group traveler will be accommodated. Visit American Crocodile Education Sanctuary and chocolate company in San Pedro. See the Gulisi Garifuna Museum to understand the Dangriga culture. Near Hopkins and Placencia do a day tour to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary And Jaguar Preserve. Beyond the Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef has Half Moon Caye National Monument. Here are thousands of booby birds, iguanas and nesting areas for loggerhead and hawksbill turtles. Besides the scuba diving and snorkeling, there are endless beaches and watersports activities. Lastly, inland Belize offers lush jungles, unique animal species and enduring structures from the historical Mayan civilization.

 

 

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Turneffe Island Resort

Turneffe Island Resort is located on Turneffe Atoll off the Coast of Belize. This scuba diving resort offers 22 guest rooms in several styles with mahogany and teak interiors. The private villas come with vaulted ceilings and minibar/refrigerators. This is the largest atoll off the coast of Belize. Enjoy our blog article on Belize and Un-Belizable Diving and Adventure.

Turneffe Island Resort Diving

There are over 70+ nearby scuba diving sites and from the resort they typically do 15 dives a week. Elbow Reef is a popular dive site where you can encounter large pelagics, and it is minutes away by boat. So, it takes about 1.5 hours to reach Light House Reef and the Great Blue Hole. Trips to the Great Blue Hole go out once a week and afterwards they typically do a dive at Long Caye Wall. At Turneffe Island Resort you can stay and play and dive around shallow reefs, caves, and walls. You can also view large pelagics at Pelican Wall or visit a pod of dolphins in the middle of South Lagoon. More importantly, you have to comb Lindsey’s Back Porch or The Terrace for a glimpse of the rare white spotted toadfish.

Attractions and Activities

At Turneffe Island Resort you can relax and rest by the pool and pool bar, or visit the spa for a massage. Or you can kick it up a notch and go snorkeling, paddle boarding, or even try a hobie cat. You can also go kayaking around the mangrove swamps. Even more, there are also day trips to see the red footed boobie birds. Turneffe Island Resort is well known for its catch and release fishing. As a result, you are more likely to catch a Grand Slam combination of a bonefish, tarpon, and permit, while staying here. Above all, in the dining room, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are a 5 star culinary experience. Also, enjoy hors d’oeuvres by the poolside at 6pm. Furthermore, Sunday is reserved for a Traditional Belizean dinner.
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SunBreeze Suites

SunBreeze Suites is located in San Pedro on the island of Ambergris in Belize. They have 21 scuba diving suites that offer ocean fronts or ocean views.  Each suite has a full kitchen, private bedroom, private bathroom, air conditioning, and ceiling fans. Also, this is the sister of the Sunbreeze Hotel. See our blog article on Belize and Unbelizable Diving and Adventure.

SunBreeze Suites Diving

They work in concert with Hugh Parkey’s Belize Dive Connection. Packages may include 2 or 3 tank daily dives, night dives are also available. You can also dive at the sister hotel. Furthermore there are several scuba diving shops nearby for rental, retail,  and/or dive charters. So, there are close by trips to Spanish Bay, day and night dives to Coral Gardens at Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, and guided cave dives. From SunBreeze Suites you can also visit dive sites like Hol Chan Marine Preserve and Shark Ray Alley. In addition, there are farther out dive destinations such as Lighthouse Reef, the Great Blue Hole, and Turneffe Atoll. Besides the fish, expect to see reefs, walls, tunnels, caves, or a a large blue hole complete with stalactites and stalagmites.

Attractions and Activities

Bask in the sun on lounge chairs around the pool or literally on the dock with a refreshing tropical cocktail from the patio bar.  The Jambel Jerk Pit Restaurant and bar onsite at SunBreeze Suites offers a fusion of Belize and Jamaican cuisine. The curry seafood combo is a signature dish. So here in the heart of San Pedro most people get around by walking or riding a bike. However, for faster transportation you can rent a golf cart or take a Taxi, but who’s in a hurry? Furthermore, local restaurants, bars, discos, gift shops, and supermarkets are close by. Above all, from here you can arrange trips to see Mayan ruins, or go to a Jaguar preserve. The Hotel is some 17 minutes away by plane flight from Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport on the mainland of Belize and some two hours by Taxi and water Taxi.

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Ramon’s Village Resort

Ramon’s Village Resort is located in the scuba diving town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize. They have 61 Tahitian style cabanas and 10 cottages at Steve and Becky’s across the street. So the resort is cloistered in a Polynesian jungle like settling. Even the roofs are authentically handcrafted thatched roofs like those you would see in a pacific island village. These modern huts come with a ceiling fan, air conditioning, a mini fridge, and a bathroom. Enjoy our blog article on Belize and Unbelizable Diving and Adventure .

Ramon’s Village Resort Diving

Ramon’s Village Divers is the oldest and largest scuba diving operation on the island. The dive center is located right on their 400ft long dock. They have a fleet of 4 skiffs (8 divers each) that do two dives in the morning and one in the afternoon. They go out to some 40 dive sites near by World’s second largest great barrier reef. Now, because all dive trips are so close, 5-15min) they return to Ramon’s Village Resort between trips. They also have a Pro42 Miss Gina (16 divers) that goes out to Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe Reef and the Newton 46 Lady Grace (24 divers) goes out to The Great Blue Hole, Halfmoon Caye Wall, and the Aquarium.  The nearby Hol Chan Marine Reserve is home to Shark Ray Alley.

Attractions and Activities

Pineapples on the Beach, is the open air restaurant at Ramon’s Village Resort. You can’t miss the restaurant because of the 35ft tall thatched ceiling/roof. They serve a wide variety of cuisine. Tuesday is Beach BBQ night. Tropic Al’s serves coffee and fresh fruit smoothies, and both are located near the tropical lagoon pool. They also have a 500ft long beach to relax on. If you are into snorkeling trips they have several to choose from including a beach picnic and snorkel trip. At Ramon’s Village Resort, they also can arrange Mayan ruin tours to Altun Ha and Lamanai. Perhaps you’d like to view a jaguar near the Mopan River, or try some cave tubing and zip lines. By the way, since you are right down in the heart of San Pedro, there is shopping available at the Tiki Turtle Trading Company and many other shops near the resort.

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Sunbreeze Hotel

 Sunbreeze Hotel is located right on the beach and near the scuba diving center of San Pedro Island, which is part of Belize. Belize sits next to the second largest barrier reef in the world. So English is the national language of Belize, but Kriol is the local spoken language. Enjoy our blog article on Belize and Unbelizable Diving and Adventure .

Sunbreeze Hotel Diving

Sunbreeze Hotel is home to Ambergris Divers scuba diving center. They offer dive instruction from referrals to full diver certification cards. Moreover, they provide close by trips to Spanish Bay, day and night dives to Coral Gardens at Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, and guided cave dives. Two close by favorite dive sites include anywhere in Hol Chan Marine Preserve and Shark Ray Alley. In addition, at Sunbreeze Hotel they also offer tours to farther dive destinations such as Lighthouse Reef, the Great Blue Hole, and Turneffe Atoll. You may encounter a variety of sharks from nurse to whale sharks. Besides the fish, expect to see reefs, walls, tunnels, caves, or a a large blue hole complete with stalactites and stalagmites. Above water you may see, dolphins, flying fish, and a plethora of red or blue footed boobies.

Attractions and Activities

Sunbreeze Hotel has standard, Deluxe and Premium air conditioned rooms. The Bluewater Grill restaurant is right next to the beach. Sunbreeze Hotel can accommodate conferences or weddings. Most importantly, you can do nothing or sit by the pool and contemplate having a massage. So here in the heart of San Pedro most people get around by walking or riding a bike. However, for faster transportation you can rent a golf cart or take a Taxi, but who’s in a hurry? Furthermore, gift stores and other restaurants are close by. Above all, from here you can arrange trips to see Mayan ruins, or go to a Jaguar preserve. So, the Hotel is some 17 minutes away by plane flight from Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport on the mainland of Belize and some two hours by Taxi, water Taxi, and 3 min ride taxi again.

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