Scuba Diving

In most of our history destinations, excellent scuba diving is available. We can arrange dedicated Scuba programmes, or add a few days’ diving to a more comprehensive, general itinerary: the choice is yours. The following is a brief summary of the locations and regions where we recommend our diver clients enjoy the myriad delights of the wonderfully varied submarine world.

MADAGASCAR

Diving in Madagascar is especially attractive for its rarity value as well as its abundance of marine life. We have four main options: Ifaty, in the southwest off Tulear, with a great reef, large numbers of sharks and unusual corals; further north from Ifaty near Morombe, seldom dived, pristine and offering some superb sites; Nosy Be in the north with a number of dive resorts and hotels; or one of its small offshore islands with only one dive resort such as Sakatia, Tsarabanjina or Iranja. Tsarabanjina has probably the best diving in Madagascar. The reefs of Madagascar have suffered far less damage from bleaching and pollution than many other Indian Ocean reefs. One can enjoy great boat diving from the locations mentioned, or cruise the Mozambique Channel for several days to the seldom-dived Radama and Mitsio archipelagos aboard a luxury, dive-dedicated catamaran.

SEYCHELLES

The Indian Ocean offers some of the world’s best diving, and some of the best of that diving is to be found in the many islands which make up the Seychelles. While there are excellent dive operations and sites in some of the bigger hotels on Mahe and Praslin in the Inner Islands, the best sites are to be found off small islands in the further-flung atolls and coral archipelagos. For example, the Desroches Drop, a superb wall dive, is only one of many dive sites to be discovered in the 50 miles of reef which encircle Desroches, perhaps the best island for diving and one on which you will find a sole luxury resort.

BELIZE

With the second longest barrier reef in the world (recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and exceptional visibility, Belize has become a mecca for those who wish to experience some of the best western Caribbean diving on offer. For serious divers, we can arrange week-long dive packages on Lighthouse Reef (with its famous Blue Hole) and Glovers Reef atolls, and a number of smaller islands, chiefly South Water Cay. Alternatively, for those who do not want to dive all the time, one can enjoy flexible diving from the mainland at Placencia Peninsula, and have the opportunity to explore the unspoilt southern Belize interior. Alternatively stay on Ambergris Cay for close dive sites (including the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark and Stingray Alley) good hotels, and a lively nightlife with good restaurants.

COSTA RICA

Diving off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is good for fish variety and numbers, but not coral reefs. We can arrange diving from the Nicoya and Osa Peninsulas, either from large resorts or small naturalist lodges located near Corcovado National Park, where manta rays and other large pelagics can be seen. Bull shark dives are possible off Bat Island in the north west region of Guanacaste. However, the ultimate in diving experiences, including schooling hammerhead sharks, can be had two days steaming offshore at the Pacific island of Cocos, an isolated rocky outcrop with sheer sides and an amazing variety of fish. The diving here is awesome, and only for the highly experienced, as there are strong currents.

PANAMA

Panama has a number of good dive site, both on its Caribbean and Pacific sides. However, the best is Coiba Island National Park, often compared with Costa Rica's Cocos Island but far closer to shore and thus much more accessible. In the Gulf of Chiriquí but distinct from the marine park, Coiba National Park is a wild, unspoiled island (Panama’s largest) cloaked in virgin rainforest and the subject of much research on the unique fauna and flora, which evolved in isolation after Coiba split from the mainland around 18,000 years ago. Until 2004 the island was a penal colony, effectively protecting its natural environment from degradation, so that now it harbours several endemic birds and mammals (including sub-species of howler monkey, agouti and possum). The surrounding waters support the eastern Pacific’s second largest coral reef and provide world-class diving on offshore pinnacles for encounters with many species of sharks (including bull, whale and tiger), other pelagics and huge schools of fish. Twenty-three cetacean species inhabit the waters, including humpback and sperm whales. Accommodation for visitors is limited to camping or staying in one of the basic park huts, and dive gear is brought over from the mainland. A visit to this island should be regarded as a rare privilege, whatever discomforts may be endured.

ECUADOR GALAPAGOS

A number of boats which cruise the islands offer diving as well as the usual guided tours of this fabulous archipelago. These range from sailing catamarans to motor yachts, all with their own compressors. A recent development has been a shore-based operation in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, from where you can dive many superb sites around the Galapagos Marine Park. Also, a new live-aboard boat has recently been built offering perhaps the best diving programme in the islands. Although diving here is usually recommended for experienced divers, a gentler programme can be arranged for novices on board cruise boats which offer limited diving.

BORNEO

In Sabah, north Borneo, there are various islands which cater for discerning divers such as Lyang Lyang. Perhaps the most impressive of these is Pulau Sipadan, 36 kms offshore and famous amongst the scuba cognoscenti for its sheer 600 metre drop-off just yards from the gleaming white sand beach. Divers here report seeing schools of barracuda and tuna, many hammerhead sharks, hundreds of turtles, countless other fish in huge numbers, and if lucky, whale sharks. There is even a hyperbaric chamber on site in case the worst happens. Sipadan may be visited as a destination in itself, or as part of a larger tour to explore the other natural history attractions of Borneo.

TANZANIA

Northern Zanzibar has some good dive sites, but the islands of Pemba and Mafia are the favoured locations. There are a small number of resorts on all three islands. Pemba is renowned for its unspoilt coral reefs but also for its vertical coral cliffs, which plummet to depths of more than 800 metres. With underwater visibility often reaching 60 metres or more, looking over some of these outer walls can be an awe-inspiring experience. Dramatic and exciting coral reefs abound, and there are Napoleon wrasse and large pelagic game fish such as tuna, jacks, wahoo and barracuda. Manta and eagle rays frequent the area, as do many species of shark as well as hawskbill and green turtles. Whale sharks, pilot whales, dolphins, marlins and sailfish are also regularly seen by divers. Mafia Marine Park offers a fantastic range of hard and soft corals and over 400 fish species. There are many diverse sites, such as shallow reefs, channels, walls, caves and wrecks. Almost all the best diving is at depths of less than 30 metres, and there are many large fish, including sharks, guitarfish, turtles and basket sponges. Sailfish, very large tuna and dolphins also feature in many dives.

INDIA

India has two locations where the diving is considered the best: the Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman Islands. The former are close to the Maldives, and consist of a number of lovely islands with superb beaches and beautiful lagoons, with Bangaram being the only practical one for divers. They are best visited from October to March. You will need to apply for a permit two months in advance, and supply a doctor’s certificate to prove fitness for diving. The Andaman Islands are closer to Burma than India, and offer more variety than Lakshadweep. The crystal clear waters provide some excellent diving opportunities, with many corals and reef fish, and further offshore, turtles and sharks. The governments of both archipelagos restrict the areas which may be visited by tourists.