I’m going to start my first scuba diving class on Friday and was hoping i could get some tips first. What mistakes did you make and what should i do to avoid them? That sort of thing would be great. The first class is just going to be a classroom, but the one on Saturday we actually go in the water.

With its long, sandy beaches, warm waters and memorable towns, it’s not wonder that holidays in the Algarve prove more popular each year. It’s tempting for Brits on a cheap holiday to the Algarve to spend all their time relaxing on the beaches, enjoying the sunshine, but those that do are missing out, because the sports and activities of the Algarve are unforgettably fun.

So, what kind of activities and sports does an Algarve holiday offer? Well, here’s a list of our customer’s favourites. I’m sure their recommendations will bring out the active sportiness in everyone, despite the weather remaining perfectly suited to lounging…

Paragliding

With just you, your apparatus and miles of open sky, there can be few places in the world as perfect for paragliding as the Algarve. The sport is available throughout the region with lessons and equipment hire and, though a little daunting for beginners, few can deny that the Algarve’s stunning cliffs and beach landscapes could not look better from any other angle.

Surfing

Every part of Algarve holidays combine to make it one of the premier surfing spots of Europe, both for beginners and seasoned veterans: with pristine beaches, clean water and a handful of big wave spots, you really can pick an area to match your level. Finding lessons is no problem at all, and if you want to avoid the summer rush for your Algarve sports holiday, then you’ll be delighted to hear that the winter weather is a warm 16 degrees Celsius with hardly any wind. Learner or veteran, you’d be hard pushed to find a better spot within a few hours of England’s airports!

Skydiving

This is another one that’s not for the faint of heart, but those that do take on the sport in the Algarve will not be disappointed. The region’s clear blue skies combine with the stunning beaches, countryside and waters to burn an incredible image of the beauty of the region into your memory, which will last for years after you’re back on solid ground.

Kayaking

Sea kayaking certainly isn’t for everyone, but it’s the only Algarve activity that really allows you to explore the region’s stunning caves and inlets, provoking many unique experiences for you to recount on return to Blighty. The best way to see the secluded sights of the cliff face is with an experienced kayaking guide, but finding one happy to show you around is rarely a problem!

Microlighting

Anyone who found the other Algarve sports in this list a little too much for them should look away now! For those that aren’t aware, microlighting is like hang gliding… only with a small engine attached! Those who are intrigued by the sound of the sport should look no further than the Algarve for the activity. The clear skies make for majestic views of the Portuguese coast, with its stunning blue oceans, rocky shores and gorgeous countryside: the perfect backdrop for your adventure.

Mountain Biking

Less unusual and extreme than the other Algarve activities in this list, mountain bike holidays in the region are invigorating and enjoyable nevertheless. The beauty of a mountain biking Algarve holiday is the variety it provides, and the lack of instruction. If you feel confident enough, there’s nothing to stop you freewheeling down the side of a mountain with the wind in your hair, but alternatively a relaxed ride through the hillside trails and along the coastline is the perfect way to take in the stunning scenery with less blurry vision!

Rock Climbing

You can’t beat the isolated feel of rock climbing in the Algarve. The activity is the perfect way to take in parts of the region off the beaten track, from deserted craggy beaches to secluded sea cliffs, and if you have the mental and physical stamina to rock climb, then there’s few spots as idyllic. Unlike rock climbing on training walls, those with the energy to make it all the way to the top are rewarded with a view that is nothing short of breathtaking!

Scuba Diving

With some of the cleanest waters in Europe, some interesting marine life, fascinating shipwrecks and atmospheric caves, an Algarve holiday is the perfect place to start a lifelong obsession with the magic of scuba diving. This isn’t to say that Portugal is just for those new to the sport, and there’s certainly enough here for experienced divers to take in and enjoy, but the selection of local instructors and warm clear waters make this the perfect place to make a start… if you can draw yourself away from the beach.

All these options present a great introduction to activities in the Algarve, but for some you just won’t be able to beat the peace and tranquillity of lying on those beautiful beaches: there’s a reason they’re so closely associated with cheap holidays in the Algarve!

My wife has always wanted to learn to scuba dive, but she has a perforated eardrum from a series of bad infections when she was young. She is concerned that if she does go, it will rupture her eardrum and she will lose her hearing. Our doctor is not sure what will happen, and I can’t get any straight answers from the guy that runs the local dive shop. Is there some kind of a cover or plug she can wear to protect that ear when she dives. This is one of her dreams to learn this, and I really want her to be able to learn.

I’m based in London and have just got my PADI Openwater Diver Cert. I’m keen for me and a buddy to go on a diving break - but don’t know the best way to go about it. Are there any London clubs that organise such trips (either in or outside the UK) or any holiday companies that specialise in diving jaunts? Or is it better to get a standard hoilday to a scuba resort (i.e. Sharm El Sheikh) and organise the dive trip when I’m there?

Scuba Systems - Importers and distributors of Scubapro-Uwatec and Seac Sub Equipment.
www.scubasystems.net

The activity of spearfishing has been known for centuries in this world. It was the most common form of fishing for several centuries, after mankind had learned to develop sharp tools. Though it is an ancient from of fishing, there are many people who still use this method to fish. They use tools called spear guns, which kill the fish. This is the modern way of spearfishing.

Many methods are being used for spearfishing, especially diving. But this method allows only a small amount of catch, and it could rather a hobby than a profession. The spearfishing forums as it sounds, are completely dedicated to the activity and also the people who are involved in the sport. Through this online community, those involved in spearfishing can find all the information that is required for the activity.

These forums will provide an opportunity for the community members to post suggestions, and also to post comments about what the others have written. The posts will of course vary from person to person. There could be various numbers of topics. Because spearfishing is done all over the world, the forums will provide a platform from anyone across the world to be part of this online community.

There will be discussions about the various areas of fishing, and there will also be inputs about how the fishing conditions are around the world. The forums are always updated regularly, so there is no need for the users to miss out on any information. Since the world climate differs from place to place, the number of people fishing and posting information will vary from country to country.

Since postings on the forums are almost immediate and also are free of cost, there are people who may use this as a way to sell their spearfishing equipment. This is also exciting as there will be many people who will want to have a collection of the spearfishing equipment as part of their collection. One only has to register on the forums to be a member.

The entire process of registration will only take a few minutes. The biggest advantage of the spearfishing forums is that it will allow readers and other users to search for topics. As there will be thousands of topics being posted every day, there will be the need to hunt through them all if someone needs particular information.

Using the search option will make things easier for the members as well as readers. The forums will also have suggestion boxes, where the users may send in suggestions about how to improve the sites. Publicity is also done inviting all the people of the spearfishing community to be a part of these forums. Members can also send private messages to one another if they wish to.

There are many levels and groups within the spearfishing forums such as administrators and moderators. Exploring these sites are a big excitement for those who are passionate about spearfishing. acp13243546ch

Does any body know where I can find a private diving instructor, Lancashire area.

Summer is here. It’s time for the family to learn scuba diving.  Diving schools, like London Diving have PADI diving instructors ready and waiting to teach you. The London scuba is a must and London diving are ready to help you unlock the door to a whole new sensational experience.

The same excellent PADI diving instructors of London diving schools run you through a series of diving lessons that are designed to get you off the heated pool and into the open water quick.  Scheduled lessons start you on the basics of safe diving, planning dives, and proper use of diving equipment.   Once the scuba basics are mastered, the next step is to test your mettle in London’s famous diving spots.

London scuba schools in London have complete facilities for scuba diving lessons. They also observe stringent instruction standards for beginners and scuba instructor training.  London diving schools ensure that all diving students learn the basics of safe diving and proper use of diving equipments and master confined water diving before an open sea dive is carried out in London’s beaches.

Students preferring to take complete their scuba diving lessons outside London, they are provided open sea referrals from the diving schools.  A diving referral will allow students to take their open sea dive in any PADI affiliated beaches all over the world.  Hence, London scuba schools offer a cheaper alternative – students are ready for the open sea when they seek the Caribbean or the Seychelles for the diving challenge.

London Diving schools provide modules–confined water diving, learning additional scuba principles to enhance the basic diving skills acquired under the close supervision of PADI certified instructors, hence small classes of 8 to 10 students are conducted per session.  Smaller classes make for effective and focused training.

It takes about three days for beginners to learn scuba diving with the help of modern scuba diving equipments–breathing regulators, buoyancy devices, scuba masks, gauges and fins that can be bought from the diving schools.  London scuba schools offer top brands like UK Lights, and Scubapro and a host of other top names in scuba diving equipment and gear.

Choosing the London Scuba Diving School

There are several scuba diving schools in and around London.  Diving enthusiasts and beginners can choose the London scuba diving headquarters accessibly convenient for them.   An added convenience is the diving module on video that you can watch at home prior to the next lessons in the pool.

There are different types of scuba diving and London scuba instructors have the credentials for recreational, technical, commercial, and military scuba diving. Specialized scuba diving for night diving, ice diving, altitude diving, rescue and cave diving are also offered for advanced students and hobbyists.   Ask the diving schools for their competencies for the different scuba diving courses and compare their rates and facilities, or their proximity to your hotel or residence.

Before enlisting in a London scuba center, inform them if you have any disability and if you are free from medical problems that might interfere with your training.  Fortunately, diving schools in London can tailor fit diving lessons for people with disabilities and children with special needs.

London scuba diving schools offer summer getaways in exotic diving spots teeming with marine life and local culture.  Make it this year or next year, but first learn how to dive safely and expertly with the experts.

If you are not familiar with the whereabouts of the Red Sea, you can pretty well say it runs down the eastern border of Egypt from the Sinai Peninsula on the Israel border, where you will find the Taba Hotels complex, down through Sharm el Sheikh, onto Hurghada, and then Soma Bay and beyond. These are the names of the best known hotel and resort areas. It is a part of the world that has been a must for scuba divers almost for ever.

The question here is, when is the best time to visit, because Egypt and the Red Sea have classically been a winter sun destination for European Holidaymakers. I have visited Taba, and Sharm in the early Spring, when the weather was pleasant, but it became very cool in the evenings, and Soma Bay in July when the temperature was consistently 45 degrees, but with no humidity, and a good breeze, it was more than bearable!!

The main difference between the two visits was the fact that at Taba it was relatively busy, Sharm was packed, whereas at Soma Bay there was only 10% occupancy in a superb hotel called Les Residence des Cascades!!

Having said that there is increasing evidence that tour operators are now concentrating on the Egypt Red Sea area in the summer months, believing it to be more profitable for them than Spain or the Meditteranean in Euroland.

This means prices that were low in the summer months are now rising with demand.

Check out great vacations on the Red Sea here http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/The-Middle-East/Egypt/

School holidays are now expensive, but the season as in Europe now runs from May until October. This means the Tour Operators have their capacity geared to these months. In other words if you can travel in September, when incidentally the water is warm for scuba divers, or May and June, then you may well find some real bargains.

If you want to pay less for your next vacation, then check out http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/pages/Vacation-Bargain-Finder.html

One piece of advice is don’t book early. If you can wait until late April or early May before booking June, it is likely the Operators will not have sold their allotment of beds, so prices can tumble dramatically.

So when is the best time to go to the Red Sea, the answer is probably June.

Experience what it is like to be a Twilight Zone technical diver studying the biodiversity of creatures living in the Caribbean Sea between Cuba and Jamaica. Little Cayman has some of the steepest drop-offs in the Caribbean because it is perched on the edge of the abyss of the Cayman Trench 7500m below the crystal-clear surface waters.

Music from Kinder Atom-Ascension for more information on the artist: http://www.kinderatom.com or itunes - http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=258862642&id=258862370&s=143441.

Video footage courtesy of Marc Slattery, Cayman Islands Twilight Zone 2007 Exploration, NOAA-OE.

Please visit source: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/07twilightzone/welcome.html