Saturday, December 31, 2011

Bare Velocity Wetsuit

The BARE Velocity Wetsuit line provides a comfortable fit while snorkeling or scuba diving. It offers all the great features and quality you expect from BARE. ScubaBasics is proud to offer it's series of Scuba equipment dive reviews.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Maui Vacation Rental at The Palms of Wailea

Welcome to our freshly remodeled garden view condominium at The Palms at Wailea. Kid friendly and the only unit at the Palms that is completely handicapped accessible. This spacious ground floor unit (2 bedroom, 2 bath) features an expansive living room, providing nice scale as you enter the unit. Step inside and enjoy our Hawaiian themed décor, newly remodeled kitchen and baths. Step right outside to our huge patio that faces the garden, just steps away from the pool. The master bedroom with king bed is nicely appointed, as is the second bedroom which features two comfortable twin beds that can convert to a king bed and overlooks a beautiful garden setting. Within walking distance to the wonderful snorkeling beaches of Wailea, and The Shops at Wailea. Whether you are a couple or a family of six, our spacious unit will make you feel at home. Additional amenities include; 42 inch large TV, DVD player, cable television, and barbeque. Guests are entitled to discounts for the 3 Wailea championship golf courses and the Wailea Tennis Club. For your convenience, complete beach gear is provided (beach chairs, snorkel equipment, beach towels, sand toys,umbrellas). In addition, all new linen is provided.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Underwater photos

Since 1959 A-1 Scuba & Travel Center has been the Ultimate Scuba, Snorkeling and Travel Resource for Divers. View photos taken on various trips and events from the Denver Downtown Aquarium. Photos by: S Taylor

Monday, December 26, 2011

SPINNER DOLPHIN EXPEDITION - LEEWARD COAST OAHU

Since I was a kid I have always been intrigued by dolphins. I have watched numerous films, been to several marine parks and even thought about becoming a marine biologist with the emphasis on marine mammals. I always thought that I would fork out the usual 3 to 5 hundred dollars it takes to go on a dolphin tour and get to snorkel with them in their own environment and get to see them from a far from the surface of the water. On May 27, 2011 "those" thoughts and plans were put to shame. We started cruising the Leeward Coast at about 8:45am and headed to Kaena Point. When we got to the point we spotted a pod. Probably about 10. We tried to anchor down but the waves were too rough. Our buddy Johnny wasted no time and dove in trying to catch the pod. He saw them but they were skittish and swam away. To be honest ... the waves and the current were so strong there that without scuba gear it would have been darn near impossible to swim with that pod. So we decided to head back toward Waianae. Just after passing the Waianae Boat harbor I noticed that there was a small tour boat and some kayaks on the water in Pokai Bay all converging to one spot. I told our captain, Jeff, "I think there's a pod over there..." So we whipped around to just outside of the bay ... anchored down ... geared up ... jumped off the back of the boat... and swam toward the group. Sure enough ... there was a pod of spinners hanging out in the bay ... playing and relaxing. Before the end of the adventure I ...

Saturday, December 24, 2011

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Thursday, December 22, 2011

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling : How to Use a Snorkel

A snorkel is used by placing one end in your mouth, threading it through a snorkel mask and letting the open end stay above the surface of the water. Use a snorkel to investigate a variety of sea life with helpful advice from the owner of a Miami dive store in this free video on snorkeling. Expert: Valerie Kevorkian Contact: www.tarpoondivecenter.com Bio: Valerie Kevorkian (NAUI 12041) opened the PADI 5-Star Tarpoon Lagoon Dive Center at the Miami Beach Marina in 1997. Filmmaker: Paul Muller

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Gulf of Mexico Beaches

Planning to try out your favorite beach chair at some of the most popular and well-liked beaches in the world? Some of the most beautiful beaches in USA are along the Gulf of Mexico coast line. Included here are details to three of the most beautiful, relaxing and stunning beach destination vacations or fantastic staycations you can visit with lots of activities and adventures to choose from while traveling.

Gulf Shores, Alabama - If you want to relax and spend some time by yourself or with your loved ones or just simply want to get away from the bustle of everyday life, the beaches of Alabama are ideal for you. Take your sunscreen, beach towels, and cooler with you and let's head south. The informal and relaxed atmosphere of this southern city is all you need to rejuvenate your soul. Singles, families and couples love a trip to the Gulf Coast of Alabama to rest and also take in the activities this beach has to offer. Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan, are beach towns in Alabama where you can find a treasure trove of exciting activities.

Gulf Shores is located at the southern end of Interstate 59 in Alabama, also known as a good place for an extended family vacation. The white sand beaches seem to always be a favorite place to play, sit back and relax, or take a long walks. Gulf Shores is tourist oriented with many souvenir shops; specialty shops, beach restaurants, hotels and apartments, and all of these are within walking distance from the beach. The adventure activities are endless with jet-ski rentals, parasailing, go-cart racing, and don't leave out zooming down the chute in Waterville, United States. Later on when you're ready to eat, relax, this is the South. Don't leave out the Hope Cheesecake after the seafood. There is always something fun to do in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Texas - Our furry family members have become much more than just a member of the family that hangs around the house. We want these "children" to join us on vacation as well. With the economies up and down state, family vacation has become an even bigger priority as we see the need to reconnect away from the stress of everyday. Now if you want to travel with your pets, then I'm sure that the beaches in Texas are the ideal ones for you. Fortunately, travelling with pets nowadays has become much easier. This is good news for pet owners and their furry children across the country.
You will find many south Texas beaches are pet friendly. The lodging choices which offer open doors to pets are there for the asking. Detailed here are among those popular beaches in Texas that are pet friendly. Cole Park - an ideal destination for you, your family, and your pets. Situated in Corpus Christi, this beach has play areas for your kids, a fishing pier, and lots of sand than your dog will wag his tail at. Padre Island National Seashore - one of the most famous beach resorts in the country with over 800,000 visitors every year. The sun, sand and surf are pet-friendly here as well. Leashes are necessary in some areas and always a wise choice in all considerations. Stewart Beach -situated in Galveston and very popular among families with their sand castle competition and they do allow leashed dogs. South Padre Island - one of the largest beaches in the country. They are very strict when it comes to cleaning up after your pet making this beach very a clean place to swim and play. You can find nightclubs, restaurants and shopping areas nearby.

Florida - The Florida beaches are consistently ranked as the best beaches in America. You're going to love their beautiful, pristine beaches, with soft white sand and turquoise and emerald waters. Florida beach lovers all have their favorite spot with no two in agreement. However the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico are some of those popular beaches that you will want to visit. So get ready to walk barefoot and feel the sand squeezing up between your toes, while enjoying the surf crashing on the ground. Caladesi Island State Park - this state park is made up of natural islands along Florida's Gulf Coast. You'll definitely love their beautiful, white sandy beaches. They have a 3 mile nature trail, 108-slip marina, picnic pavilions, bathhouses, and playground and park concessions. St. Andrews State Park - well loved because of its clean white sands and emerald green waters this park has two fishing piers, a jetty and a boat ramp. Some of the activities you can do here are kayaking, canoeing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking and bird watching. Grayton Beach State Park - offers sugar white beaches, cabins, and full-facility campgrounds. Activities you can try are, sunbathing, swimming, surf fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
Consider bringing your pets and a friend or three for relaxation, adventure and most of all sand when vacationing along the Gulf Coast. The hospitality of the southern USA is an experience not to be missed. Add to that the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches and you couldn't ask for a better place to park your beach chair than the Gulf of Mexico, US style!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

How to be comfortable Snorkeling with Kapitol Reef Snorkels from Online Scuba

It was really nice to finally find a product that does what it says. We took it to Hawaii and it was well worth the investment. Pros: DRY, separated inhalation and exhalation made a difference; easy to purge while ascending. Cons: a little big, but light; small gurgle, but cleared easily by submerging and exhaling on the way back up. My wife and kids love it - I finally get them in the water snorkeling without the fear of sucking in water. Highly recommend.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

To Pee or Not To Pee

The eternal question of wetsuit urination

If it hasn't happened to you already, it will. You descend to 15 feet, and you'll feel the sudden urge. You can't hold it. And there's no way you can get to a bathroom without spoiling the whole dive. So you consider - if I'm in the water, my urine will just dissipate and dissolve and disappear. Is it OK to whiz in the wetsuit?

The simple answer is "yes". Take a leak.

The truth is, there is no health risk to watering the neoprene. Many people do not realize that urine - unlike feces - is sterile, unless you have a urinary tract infection. It contains a lot of dissolved bodily waste (mainly nitrates), but poses no health risk to you. The only symptom of wetsuit whizzing is temporary warmth in your vicinity. But beware, if your urine is dark (a sign that it is probably strongly odorous as well), you might get a reaction from other divers, especially if they happen to swim through your "yellowish cloud of warmth."

As a frequent diver, your best strategy for dealing with this common situation is counterintuitive: drink more water. A hydrated diver can urinate in their wetsuit and their urine will not be dark or smelly. You have surely noticed the difference between your morning pee and your pee after (or during) a long night of drinking. Dehydration is very common, yet minimal dehydration is tolerated and goes unnoticed by most people because of the symptoms are fairly mild. If you are properly hydrated, your urine is clear and odorless. A practical diver should drink plenty of fluids the night before and the morning of a dive, to ensure adequate hydration.

You may hear divers joke about "warming the wetsuit". The warmth offered by wetsuit irrigation is comfortable, but temporary. Yes, when you pee you will feel warm initially, but in the end it will actually lower your overall body temperature.

You might notice that even though you relieved yourself before the dive, you need to go again when you get down to 20 feet. Why do you need to pee again? You may be experiencing a phenomenon called immersion duiresis: as a response to an increase in pressure, your body feels compressed and your kidneys start to produce urine.

Since you already rinse your wetsuit after each dive, you don't need to be concerned about odor from your underwater urine. An unrinsed wetsuit develops its lovely stink from algae and crud in the water, not from your urine. Tinkle away!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

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Friday, December 9, 2011

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Best of the Big Island in Hawaii

I will never forget the smell of plumerias after going to the Big Island! As soon as you get off the plane, you are engulfed by the lovely smell. The warm rays caressed my face while the gentle trade winds blew. At that moment I knew I had found paradise.

My mom is originally from Oahu, but moved to the Big Island in 1996. I have been visiting her regularly for the passed thirteen years. In that time I have learned a lot about the Big Island. I know where to look for lava, where to look for black sand beaches, where to find turtles, and how to find magical green sand. In this article I will be outlining the best features that the Big Island has to offer.

Getting There
The best way to travel to the Big Island is by plane. There are people who sail, cruise and even swim to the Big Island, but I recommend arriving by plane either to Hilo or Kona. There are a few airlines that I recommend when flying to Hawaii and two, in particular, I would stay away from at all costs. Hawaiian Airlines was established in 1929 and is the longest running airline that flies to and from Hawaii. They rely on their flight history, reputation, and loyal customers to stay in business. Hawaiian Airlines is generally on time and they provide sufficient customer service. Alaska Airlines has always treated me very well. They fly directly to Kona and Hilo from a number of cities on the west coast of the U.S., have noticeably more leg room, and best of all they provide a complimentary glass of wine, beer, or Mai Tai before landing, something that has become rare in domestic flights. If you are flying from Australia or New Zealand, Quantas and Air New Zealand are both reputable. If you are on a tight budget, look into Jetstar. Keep in mind that Jetstar is a pay as you go airline. The flights are very cheap because anything extra you have to pay for (i.e. blanket, soft drinks, head phones, pillows, food, and basically anything but the lavatory.) If you cannot fly directly to Hilo or Kona, then you will most likely fly into Honolulu and must transfer to an inter-island flight. When getting off your plane you will have to follow signs to the inter-island terminal (Use the wiki wiki bus! It will save you from a twenty minute walk in 80% humidity which you will not be used to yet.) The airline that I recommend for inter-island travel is Mokulele. They have impeccable customer service, their flights are always on time, and they still provide complimentary juice on the short flights.

IMPORTANT: When you book your initial flight, make sure you never fly United. For inter-island flights, never fly Aloha Air. These two companies have given me the most trouble out of any airline that I have flown in the entire world. The customer service is atrocious, the flights are regularly late or canceled, and both charge for checked bags. DON'T FLY THESE TWO AIRLINES!

Accommodation
There are plenty of hotels stay at around Kona and Hilo, but I recommend looking up homestays and vacation rentals online. These are usually private listings from locals who want to rent out their home for certain parts of the year. They tend to cost less than hotels and you can save by cooking at home. If you are backpacking, there are hostels in Hilo, Kona and Volcano. The Holo Holo Inn is the best for your money in Volcano. Dorm beds start at $17. Anyway, lets get to what there is to see on the Big Island!

Volcano National Park
Volcano National Park is located 30 miles west of Hilo on Highway 11. This is one of few places in the world you can see an erupting volcano. In 1983 Kilauea Volcano started erupting and has not stopped since. That is 16 years of continuous lava flow! In the park you can see a more recent surge at Halemaumau crater. Plumes of sulfur smoke rise up to 1000 feet in the air and the glow of lava can be seen from the famous Jagger Museum. Visitors can also drive down the Chain Of Craters, through historic lava from previous eruptions, down to where the lava meets the ocean. On the way visitors can walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, a 100m tunnel left behind by lava traveling under ground. Note: Sometimes the lava flow changes direction, creating an extremely long hike to see the flow into the ocean from the park. If this is the case, then ask a park ranger for direction to the Kalapana flow which is back down the road toward Hilo.

Punalu'u
30 miles further down the road from Volcano National Park is a black sand beach called Punalu'u (there are signs that lead you off the highway 1 mile). I absolutely love this beach! I don't really recommend it for swimming or snorkeling, it's just beautiful. When you get there, park your car take your shoes off and walk to the other end of the beach. Bring your slippers (sandals or flip flops) as the black sand can get very hot depending on the time of day. On your right you will see local kids playing in the water and waves breaking on the reef. To your left, there is a small merchant stand that sells water, snacks and souvenirs. Make sure to walk all the way to the end of the beach! This is where the Honu (turtles) rest. Note: They are more likely to be there in the morning hours. If you feel like taking a dip, watch out for rocks as the beach is not all sand in the water. If you have young children, keep an eye on them for there is a moderate undertow. To rinse off when you are done there is fresh water spring at the far end of the beach. The water is cold!

South Point
Continuing on toward South Point, you will pass a little town called Na'alehu. You have to stop at two places here. First is the Punalu'u Bakery. They have amazing pastries, including Malasadas, a traditional Hawaiian doughnut that is to die for. Across the street (near the field, public toilets and basketball court) is the Na'alehu Lunch Shop. They have ono grinds (good food), especially the fish burger if it is available. After you have filled up on lunch continue around 5 miles down the highway and turn off at the sign that marks South Point (12 miles off highway). Drive down about 12 miles and take an unmarked right turn as soon as the road flattens out and follow that to the end. This is the furthest point south in the U.S. It really is a magical place there. To be standing at the edge of America and literally be able to jump off it. I do when I go there. It's about a 30ft. jump into the ocean. It looks somewhat shallow, but I assure you its not. Probably about 30 feet deep. I don't recommend doing this unless there are other people jumping as the ladder up is very old and may no longer be functional when you get there. After you get your thrills from cliff jumping return to the road you turned off and take a right. Between one and two miles down the road is another pull out (unmarked as well - get used to this) where you can park. This is the entrance to the trail that leads to the magical green sand beach. If you have a four wheel drive, you can continue driving. If not, this is the end of the road for the car and you must walk. Continue toward the ocean. Right as you get to the shore, turn left onto a very, very rough road. Continue on here for about two miles until you arrive at the top of a very steep embankment. Park here and walk down to the beach. Note: For the walkers, make sure to bring lots of sunscreen, water, and sunglasses. This beach is great to swim and snorkel at. Enjoy!

Kailua-Kona
On the way to Kona you will see plenty of lava. There are few places worth seeing on the way. At Kealakekua Bay, there is a monument for Captain Cook. This is the location where the Hawaiians decided Captain Cook was not welcome and they murdered him. I highly recommend renting Kayaks and paddling across this bay. On the far side, where the monument is located, the snorkeling is extraordinary! If you are lucky, the Nia (dolphins) will be playing in the bay and you will get to see them show off!

Another great snorkeling spot before you get to Kona is Honaunau National Park. There is a fee to get into this park so have cash with you.

Kailua-Kona is the tourist town on the Big Island. If you are after night life, this is the town you will want to go to. Actually, it would be Honolulu, but because that is on another island, Kona will do. This is a good place to stop and eat, go shopping, use the bathroom, etc. I would park a few streets up Alii Dr., then walk there as parking is hard to come by without paying.

Hapuna State Park
Hapuna State Park is a beautiful white sand beach that is located about 30 miles north of Kona. If you and the family want a nice beach to spend the day at, this would be it. The only downside would be the crowds. It is a tourist beach and is often very crowded (for the Big Island). Bring sun screen and water. There are rentals shops that rent boogie boards, towels, and snorkel gear. This place is not very good for boogie boarding or snorkeling so I don't recommend renting here. The snorkeling will seem dull compared to Honaunau and Kealakekua Bay.

Waipio Valley
I saved Waipio Valley for last. This place is amazing! From Hapuna State Park, it is about a thirty minute drive to Waipio through the town of Waimea and Honoka'a. Most people don't get to see what Waipio Valley has to offer because two-wheel drive vehicles are forbidden to drive down the road. It is about a two mile walk which is not so bad, but the walk out is tiring to say the least. As you approach the bottom of the hill on your way in, turn right and continue until you hit the ocean. Waipio is the sight where the 1995 film Waterworld ended. The valley itself has steep cliffs carved out by millions of years of erosion. In the back of the valley a waterfall plummets toward the Taro fields. The river meanders through the valley running directly into the ocean. The black sand beach is about a mile and has horses grazing up and down the beach. Most of the land in the valley is private and due to the geography of the land, the horses can roam freely. You should not feed the horses! And be careful because they are known to buck. Waipio is known to be a great camping and surfing spot as well.

There is more to be seen on the Big Island than what I described. These are just some of the highlights on the Big Island. One of my favorite things to do is explore the island. I encourage anyone spending time there to explore and see what the island reveals to you. You will be amazed at what you will find. Safe Travels.

Monday, December 5, 2011

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Friday, December 2, 2011

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