Phoenix Delray asked:


Fiji has a very unique geography and is situated in the South Pacific Ocean. This country occupies an archipelago of over 300 islands, but only abut 100 of them are even inhabited. There are two major islands which account for 87% of the population, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. There are many new and exciting things to do in Fiji, but if you are planning a trip for the first time, you should definitely consider some Adventure cruises.

Adventure Cruises are an expedition trip of a lifetime and cannot be compared to anything else you can imagine. These travel experiences are brought to you through Active Fiji/Tui Tai Adventure Cruises and will provide you with the most unique Fiji experience possible. These excursions are designed for someone who seeks adventure and a wild ride while on a vacation.

First, there is Fiji Adventure, the Waterfalls and Walls package which takes you sea kayaking through closely spaced small coral islands, whitewater rafting through unbelievable rainforest canyons and snorkeling in beautiful, impeccable reefs. This is the perfect way to immerse yourself in all of the culture and beauty that Fiji has to offer. Tui Tai Adventure Cruises is a sea expedition that takes place aboard a 140 foot motorized sailing schooner called the A/S Tui Tai. The Tui Tai is a small ship with the elegance of large cruise ship. It consists of air conditioned cabins and staterooms to make you as comfortable as possible when having some downtime on your adventure. All of the rooms were renovated in 2006 to maintain its reputation as the premier expedition vessel in the South Pacific. The Tui Tai ship carries all its own equipment which includes, but is not limited to, kayaks, mountain bikes, snorkel gear, scuba gear and dive boats.

Arguably the most attractive thing about the Fiji Adventure Cruises is that they are a true Ecotourism which fosters partnership and development with native groups. This operation allows local villages to benefit economically as well. Funds, based on a percentage of the revenue from Fiji Adventures, are distributed to local villages to build new schools, buy medical supplies and fund any other community project that may be needed at that time.

The itinerary for the Fiji Adventures is jam packed with adventure and will never leave you without something to do. So, if you are someone who likes to think outside the box for a vacation idea or activity, then Cruise Adventures is the perfect solution.

Nathalie Fiset asked:



When going on a long vacation with your family, a nice option to pick over taking a hotel is to rent a vacation house. Down in Florida, there are a ton of sights to see, from the world famous Disneyland to the manatees down in the rivers. Catering to the large numbers of tourists that flock to the state all year round, the citizens of Florida have tons of rental homes made available for those who prefer the comfort of a real house over the slightly colder austerity of a hotel.

One of the advantages to taking a rental house is the cost; by scouting around, you’ll find that rental houses come cheaper than booking a hotel room for extended durations. Another advantage to getting a rental home is the amenities involved. While you won’t exatly be able to call for room service like in an hotel, the fact that these are fully furnished homes means that you can use the facilites to do your own cooking and cleaning, which also helps your budget.

When looking for a rental home to stay at, keep the following things in mind before you start shopping around for a vacation rental home. These tips should help you get one that will cater to your needs.

Destinations - there are a lot of places to visit down in Florida, and before looking for a house to rent, make sure that you map out the state and locate all the areas you’re planning on visiting. As much as possible, pick a home in an area that will allow you to leap around and visit all the places you want to go.

Duration - some home owners and rental companies charge less per day for longer stays. This definitely works in your favor if you’re planning to stay for several weeks or even months down there. Look at the various offers you’re canvassing, and try to find one that gives the best discounted rate for longer stays. If you’re staying for only a short time, you might be better off in a hotel otherwise. Also look at any additional charges, like will you be responsible for the water and electricity over your stay or not? These extra clauses might make some places that offer seemingly higher rates actually cheaper in the long run if the rent price is inclusive of consumables and house maintenance.

Transportation - make sure that the place has a secure garage. Whether you’re planning on bringing your own car or renting one when you get there, it always pays to keep your vehicle intact, since you’ll be doing a lot of driving around the state to see the sights.

Facilities - obviously, it helps a lot if the house has a kitchen, fridge, and workshop. However, keep in mind that these are vacation homes. They aren’t just built for functionality and shelter, but for comfort and style. There will be seemingly more expensive rentals out there but will, for example, have a game room with a pool table, a Jacuzzi and sauna, a video game room, a library and fireplace, etc. Keep these not so little possible additions in mind, as they can make the difference between having a merely relaxing vacation, and a totally blissful one.

Extra Gear - Like the facilities, some vacation rental companies also offer rentals for extra equipment like snorkelling and scuba gear, surfboards, etc. Dedending on your itinerary, if your vacation involves needing extra toys that you may not want to lug around interstate, then check these options out and factor them into your planning.

The Neighborhood - lastly, do a little background research on the neighborhood where the house is located. While most rental homes are in decently secure and safe areas, it never hurts to check and make sure you don’t wind up in a low security area. Other than safety, you might also want to phone the community office in the neghborhood and check if, for example, there are ordinances there against things like loud music in case you want to have a party. Scout the turf before making your decision because a vacation home, no matter how gorgeous, will still be a hassle if stuck in a lousy setting.

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David Cowley asked:


American Lobsters
Lobster hunting is becoming a favorite pastimes for many divers.  These tasty crustaceans, also known as bugs to divers, are delicious.  But in order to capture a lobster you must first find them.  Lobsters need places to hide from other predators so prefer corral reefs, rocky area, old shipwrecks and man made areas where there are plenty of holes to hide in.
Lobsters are nocturnal feeders and they rarely venture far from their hole during the daylight hours.  You will find them sitting on there front porch of there chosen home with just there antennea sticking and there back end inside the hole.  Then threatened they will simply scoot back into there homes and then push down with there legs and brace there backs against the surface of the hole.  This defensive action, also known as locking-up, makes it very difficult to pry the little buggers out.
Blue Lobsters
While I have heard of people snorkeling or free diving during the day, most lobster hunting is done at night with scuba tanks.  Hunting for these elusive crustaceans in their natural environment has become a sport and after you have a little experience under your belt you may want to enter some of the contests available to the hunters.  Prizes are given for the first lobster found, the largest one, the most found and anything else the promoter of the event can think of.
The first thing the new treasure hunter will need to accomplish is to become scuba certified.  Follow the PADI rules set down for scuba divers and please use common sense.  The PADI rules state that you always surface with 500 psi of air left in your tanks.  It does NOT say surface with 500 psi of air left in your tanks unless you are lobster hunting.
Spinney Lobsters
The most common PADI rule violated is to always dive with a buddy.  You may start with a buddy in the water but when both of you are chasing after a fast moving lobster you will become quickly separated and very rarely will two divers make the effort needed to find each other again.
Gloves.
Next you will need a pair of good quality gloves.  The claws of the lobsters are a great defense and if the bug should get a hold of you with them they can cut right through the cheep gloves and can give you a nasty cut.  It has been said that the larger lobsters can crush a coke bottle with his claws and they bite as well.  Not all lobsters have claws, such as the spinney lobster, but they make up for them with the spines on the underside of the tail, hence the name.  Another hazard of night hunting is digging broken sea urchin spines out of your hands when you do not have a pair of good quality of gloves.
Yellow Lobsters
Underwater Light.
The more powerful the better.  The wider the beam of light the easer to spot the bugs wandering around.  Do not shine the light directly at the lobster until you are ready to make your final darting run at him.  The light will blind him for a second or so just like a dear in automobile headlights.  When he freezes you may just have enough extra time to make the capture.
The capture.
If the lobster is out in the open, do not try to grab them, just pin them to the bottom of ocean floor with your hand.  Watch out for sea urchins, this is why most night divers will be digging sea urchin spines out of there hands after the dive is over.
If you discover a lobster sitting oh his home porch grab him by his head just below the antennae.  If you grab him by the antennae they will just break off.  Once the capture has been made point his tail at your capture bag and just let go.  He will swim tail first right into the bag.
If you have missed your first grasp at him all is not lost.  He will wedge himself into his crevice with the locking up maneuver.  Grab him by the head and give him a good shake.  If you are able to throw off his equilibrium he slide right out.
Size Limit
All divers are required to have a lobster gage with them at all times.  It is used to determine if your catch is of legal size limit.  If you do not have a gage with you the Coast Guard will give you a heavy fine.
Happy Treasure Hunting.

Andrew Gibson asked:


Many holiday makers go on a vacation scuba diving as they find it an extremely relaxing sport. One of the advantages of going on a scuba diving holiday is that there are so many interesting destinations to visit. It does not matter if you are a beginner in the sport of scuba diving as it is regarded as a very beginner friendly.

Many scuba divers choose to rent holiday villas or holiday cottages close to where they have chosen to dive. This enables then to safely store all of their diving gear and also gives them the freedom to sample the local culture.

Diving has grown into a major travel activity with some divers planning their entire vacation around their diving schedule. Other scuba divers mix their diving activities with spending time exploring the local countryside using their holiday villa as a base.

Africa is now a very popular diving destination with many divers going on vacation to Tofo in Mozambique. They like to dive there as it has good coral diving and an abundance of sea life. Whale sharks, manta rays and humpback whales are quit common in this area. Holiday cottages are popular places for divers to stay in Tofo.

South Africa is also a popular diving destination with many divers going on vacation there to dive with the sharks. Many divers choose to rent a holiday home by the sea and then go on safari before they end their vacation.

Australia is thought to have some of the best diving in the world. Many divers go there to dive the Great Barrier Reef, but now have to be careful as there has been damage caused to the reef through over diving. There are many other superb dive locations in Australia and many divers move about this vast country on multi center holidays. This is now possible due to the growing number of holiday homes and cottages that are now available for the scuba divers to rent.

North America is another extremely popular diving holiday destination. The Florida Keys has some great diving and cheap holiday home accommodation. Many divers come to the Florida Keys and bring there family with them on vacation. They are able to rent a holiday villa with swimming pool and get into the gentle pace of life down on the Keys.

One of the good thing about scuba diving holidays is that is a sport that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. As a result many families are now going on scuba diving vacations together. This has been made possible by the rising number of holiday homes now available for rental throughout the world. There is now holiday home accommodation available to suite almost every budget. You can rent a simple self catering apartment, a comfortable holiday cottage or a luxurious villa with a pool.

KrabiDivers asked:


Ringing in good tidings for the new year, a newly immigrated resident to Krabi was spotted by one of our KrabiDivers.com instructors on New Year’s Day. At 4-cm long, he appears pregnant. Yes, “he” was pregnant as the male in this species are the ones to get pregnant and productive!

Krabi, south of Thailand, is the gateway to the famous Andaman Sea where scuba divers and snorkellors from all over the world convene as winter approaches in the western world. Famous for its incredible waters, great visibility and huge variety of dive terrain, Krabi is a must-stop for all nature and water lovers on vacation in Asia. KrabiDivers.com operates the premier scuba-diving and eco-tourism center in the heart of Aonang, the sea-side town of Krabi. Here, you can launch off to the amazing Similans, Richelieu Rock, Phi Phi islands, Phuket and Lanta. And lets not forget the relatively unexplored local Krabi waters where the caves and caverns provide a great underwater adventure. And here is where we found our Tiger-Tailed Seahorse on New Year’s Day!

Seahorses are amazing creatures. The seahorse is one of four families in the syngnathiform family which also includes pipefish, flag-tail pipefish and seadragons. They swim in an upright position with their tails down and their heads up using their dorsal to move forward and pectoral fins for steering control. Also unique for their prehensile tail (able to twist & grasp),tube-like mouth (with no teeth), and small gill openings. Seahorses (like chameleons) can even move their two eyes independently of each other. Ranging in size from the tiny 10mm to 35cm, the largest is the Pacific Seahorse. Seahorses eat small crustaceans which they catch by staying still and lying in wait till their prey comes near, and they snap them up. Then their tube-like mouth creates a vacuum that sucks the prey in and they swallow their food whole.

Sea horses are unusual in a couple of ways. One is that they are monogamous and have long courtship periods when mating. Monogamy is unusual in all animals but particularly among fish. The longer a couple of seahorses stick together, the better they are at producing babies. It is the males of seahorses that carry their eggs in a pouch on his belly, after the eggs have been deposited there by the female. The eggs are fertilised in the pouch and incubated between 10 days to 4 weeks before they hatch. At hatching, the male gives birth to fully developed but tiny little seahorses. The natural lifespan of seahorses is not known, but believed to be from one year for small species to five years for the larger species. Highly elusive and difficult to spot in moving water, finding a seahorse is every diver’s dream come true.

So, you can imagine our absolute euphoria when we spotted the little yellow Tiger-Tail. Being creatures of habit, once settled into a location, they tend not to move too much. Hence, we can find it again and would love to show it to you.

Come dive with KrabiDivers.com and let us take you out to the amazing underwater world of Krabi, Phi Phi, Phuket and Lanta. Or join one of our liveaboards for the Similans Islands. We run fun dive trips daily. Our group of international instructors are available to conduct all scuba-diving courses in English, Italia, Spanish, German, French, Japanese and Chinese. Centrally located at the Sea of Love Plaza (opposite McDonalds) in heart of Aonang, Krabi in Thailand, come visit us if you are planning a trip to Krabi. Or email us for more information info@krabidivers.com. Also check out our website www.krabidivers.com where you will find lots more in store about our adventures.

Gregory Smyth asked:


The Maldives is a group of twenty six atolls, and the country is comprised of over 1100 islets - and when you understand this, it makes the fact that on luxury vacation in the Maldives you enjoy the privacy of your own entire island, a lot more credible! The hundreds of islands of the Maldives range from about 2.5km to just 150m across, and you can stay in luxury on your own desert island in any number of places. Understandably, tourism accounts for around 28% of the Maldives’ GDP, and there is a larger concentration of luxury hotels on these islands than just about anywhere else in the world. This is why we have compiled our guide to the cream of the crop.

When looking at staying in the Maldives, it is important to note that the facilities at the hotel you choose to stay at are the only ones you have access to for the duration of your trip - unless you choose a resort that also offers boat hire, in which case you can transport yourself around the islands. This makes it incredibly important to make sure that the luxury resort in the Maldives can take care of all of the equipment for your stay. Will you want to go scuba diving? Do you want to fish, and will you need to rent gear for that? What else do you want to do? And how well planned are you when you pack your suitcases?!

If you are looking to get away from the world, the Maldives is one of the best and most luxurious and beautiful places to do it. You will want to make sure that your hotel caters to few people - generally the upper end of the price scale when it comes to luxury accommodation in the Maldives means that the resort is smaller.

One of the closest luxury hotels in the Maldives to Male International Airport is the Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru. You reach the resort by speedboat, which you will find to be intimate and eco-friendly. At this resort you can scuba dive, wind surf, sail a catamaran, canoe, play beach volleyball, and also go big game fishing. The accommodation at this Maldives luxury resort is in bungalows. Thee are 48 of these, and they feature an open terrace per villa, a private landscaped garden and private sundeck. The recessed sitting area and four poster bed make you feel in the lap of luxury for every minute.

Holiday Island is another excellent Maldives luxury resort, located on Dhiffushi island in the southern Alif Atoll. This is a more secluded island than Vabbinfaru, up to 2 1/2hrs from Male by speedboat, although you can reach it in 30 minutes by seaplane. The accommodation at Holiday Island features antique furniture and paintings by local artists, helping to support the local economy in areas other than tourism. There are 142 beautiful seaside rooms with luxurious amenities. There is also a wealth of activities here, including diving, wind surfing, catamarans, parasailing, wakeboarding, ringo riding, submarine diving, aerobics and tennis, just to name a few.

Shangri-La’s Vililingi Resort in the Maldives, due for completion in the end of 2008, is set on a three kilometer long island with almost two kilometers of white sandy beaches. The accommodation will range from tropical treehouse villas to private ocean retreats, and there are three natural lagoons on the island as well as the ocean to make use of. The luxury accommodation will be appointed in five distinct styles, and will have ipod charging docks and units, among other luxuries.

If you are travelling to the Maldives, it pays to do a little research, as it isn’t possible to walk to the next hotel over if you aren’t satisfied! Go for the Maldives luxury spas for an unforgettable experience.

Mei Galang asked:


It is a common knowledge that Australia is one of the most friendly countries to visit because of the great infrastructure and natural resources that they offer to the locals and tourists.The popular travel destinations in Australia are the Great Ocean Road and Sydney Harbour. The Great Ocean Road experience offers offers a world class spectacular drive in downtown Melbourne, you can choose from a car drive or bus tour. On the other hand Sydney’s Harbour is also one of the world’s best. You can tour the bay for a scenic cruise by yacht, boat, kayak and through other exciting options.Another great reason to travel down under is to experience scuba diving in the Australian waters.Their colorful culture is as colorful with their reefs so it is one of the main factor that draw people to scuba dive in Australian coast.Most enthusiasts have heard good reviews and raves about the Great Barrier Reef located in the west coast of Australia. It is a scuba diver’s dream because of its much publicized underwater sights and it is also the largest natural reef in this planet. If that is not enough, divers can also explore and experience the beauty of aquatic life in the northern coast. The popular dive spots are located along the Aratura Sea and in the Gulf Of Carpentaria which is in the border of Queensland and the Northern Territory.If you want to explore the beaches in the southern area of Australia, the Great Australia Bight is the way to go. It leads to the waters between the country and Tasmania and offers different dive spots for divers. Meanwhile on the West, The Coral Sea is highly recommended and its main highlight are the vast water wildlife that awaits once you plunge into deep water.For experienced divers, swimming in the southern coast of Adelaide will be another feather in their cap. It is not recommended for newbies because it is the home of the Blue Devil Fish, the fish itself is not dangerous but its trashing when caught so much sea wildlife experience is recommended before your encounter with this specie.The northern diving spots are open to scuba divers all year long while the southern coast waters are seasonal. The east and west diving spots are the place to go for people who have the guts to encounter different sharks.Australia offers numerous under water experience available in different parts of the country, theres definitely one suitable for the newbies and experienced scuba divers.

Chris Chew asked:


The islands of Fiji are famous for its spectacular scenery and a world class attraction for sea sports such as big game fishing, snorkeling, sailing and scuba diving. Fiji is a favorite scuba diving location for scuba divers from all over the world and its highlights include a fantastic variety of colorful soft corals, more than 1200 species of fish, 12 species of whales and dolphins.

There are also many scuba diving resorts in Fiji which cater to all kinds of budgets and divers. Alternatively divers can choose live aboard dive boats or if you are a tourist on vacation in Fiji do not know how to scuba dive, you can take up lessons there or simply go snorkeling off the pristine beaches.

The Fijian archipelago is encircled by a huge reef and therefore there are many shallow lagoons to swim, snorkel or frolick in. There are also thousands of scuba dive sites to choose from. Most dive locations are easy to get to with plenty of resorts offering scuba diving scattered around the Fijian islands.

The water temperature is just perfect for scuba diving with at its coldest at only 25C. On warmer days, it is about 30C. Water visibility in Fiji is excellent with superb visibility of up to 40m or 120ft is a norm rather than exception.

Mamanuca dive sites in Fiji is easily be accessible by boat from the Nadi Airport area on the main island of Viti Levu. Several resorts in the Nadi offer full diving facilities and there are numerous day packages for snorkeling and scuba diving. The diving landscape in Mamanucas consist of shallow lagoons with hollows and bommies and excellent marine life. There are some interesting caves to explore, especially in Sawa-i-Lau in the Yasawa Group.

If you are in Fiji for a scuba diving vacation, you must dive in the world famous Astrolabe Reef on Kadavu in the Southern Islands. This dive spot has excellent hard and soft corals and abundance marine life. There are more soft corals along the north and south coast with some interesting caves to explore. Majestic drop-off can be found on the western tip of Kadavu.

Another excellent dive spot is the Beqa Lagoon to the north of Kadavu boasts of beautiful soft corals, reef bommies and passages. This dive location is famous shark feeding activities with many species of sharks including hammerhead sharks.

The Rainbow Reef in Northern Islands is another world famous scuba diving destination. If you are diving in the Rainbow reef, you will enjoy diving the Great White Wall and advanced drift diving through channels.

These are just some of the many excellent scuba diving sites in Fiji.

Carolyn McFann asked:


Three years ago, in early July, I moved to Florida in the peak of its hot season. Never having been to Florida before, except for airport layovers in Miami, being in the intense heat was surprising. I’m sure, if you cracked an egg on a sidewalk, it would’ve fried itself. Thank goodness for air conditioning. Once you get past the intensity of the heat in the summertime, you are initiated into this gorgeous state’s climate. Of course there are hurricanes, but after encountering eight of them myself and not having my property damaged, I am not as afraid of the smaller ones as I once was.

It just takes a little self-education on what to do during a hurricane, such as what supplies to buy in case your power goes out. It isn’t a bad idea to rent or buy your home out of the evacuation zones, either. These zones are listed in the front of Floridian phone books, along with the escape routes, should you be unfortunate enough to encounter a larger one. The truth of the matter is, if you live in Florida, you will most definitely witness multiple hurricanes. If a larger one comes through, I know now to take my pets and plan a vacation up north to see my family, as soon as I find out the hurricane is coming. If you wait too long, you will have no choice to be stuck in a very long line of highway traffic. And hotels book up quickly. So, if you don’t want to end up sleeping in your car in the Wal-Mart parking lot, it pays to stay put or leave early.

When I first moved down here, I thought I’d live in Tampa, a big city on the Gulf of Mexico side of the state. Being tropical in climate, the whole Tampa Bay area is gorgeous. Exotic birds like egrets, spoonbills, ibis and others walk and fly around everywhere. Among other birds, I’ve also seen ospreys, cormorants, and even a bald eagle once (on top of a telephone pole). Even in the city, nature is all around. I was in a drive-through at Burger King, and an egret (large, white stork-like bird) stood in front of my car as I picked up my food. I just waited him to slowly walk off. He was totally oblivious to the fact that he was holding up a line of traffic, as he walked around looking for lizards to eat.

The city of Tampa is full of wonderful places like Busch Gardens. Ibor City (an old cigar town turned into a hot spot for nightlife), Lowry Park Zoo, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Florida Aquarium, a large, well-stocked public aquarium, situated on the water. The historic Henry Plant Museum in downtown Tampa is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture. If you love to shop, the International Mall is the “in” place to be, with its large variety of upscale stores and restaurants. Tampa is most definitely worth visiting, but the apartments I wanted there were out of my price range, so I headed over to St.Petersburg.

The city of St.Petersburg is an artist’s dream, full of museums and art fairs. I especially like The Pier(full of shops on a pier that sticks out into the bay), and Sunken Gardens, with its old, well-tended plants and trees. I fell in love with it all, and found a gorgeous, large apartment in the old part of town, which has the most charm, with its old Art Deco buildings (my apartment building was one of them), coffeehouses and trendy shops.Being able to walk to Starbucks was a big perk for coffee-loving me. I was down the street from the water, and at the end of my street was a lovely lake, with all kinds of tropical wildlife freely living their lives, unafraid of humans. Outside my office window was a big starfruit tree, all I had to do was reach out the window and pick the fragrant, yellow fruits. In the grocery store up north, one starfruit easily could cost $5. I had fresh fruit and a mockingbird (the state bird of Florida) serenading me with his beautiful songs on a daily basis. Orange and grapefruit trees are common, and my friend would bring me a bucketful of the sweetest oranges off her tree, whenever she stopped over.

After getting a good job and having a better income, I decided to upgrade to a place closer to my work, in Largo. This cultural, park-filled city is next door to both St.Petersburg and another popular city, Clearwater. My new place is on a lush, secluded lake, and I feed many different large birds who come to visit me daily from my back balcony. Nature is all around, in the peaceful oasis I call home. And, less than a mile away is the Gulf of Mexico. Taxis are plentiful and cheap down here, so whenever I want to go to the beach, I take a taxi. My favorite beaches are the ones at Fort DeSoto and Clearwater Beach. There are some huge, stately old hotels down here worth visiting such as the Don Cesar (large, pink and totally luxurious. on the beach. Rumor has it that it is a favorite stop for Presidents) and the Renaissance Vinoy, which is situated waterfront in downtown St.Petersburg. It is like a dream to live in such a water-loving world down here. In the grocery stores, you can buy food, pharmacy products, along with bait, beach chairs and scuba gear. Up north, that never happens. Shopping is plentiful everywhere you go here, due to the large variety of stores of every type.

The climate in the Tampa Bay area is moderate and we have no frost. I brought my orchid plants with me from up north, and they are in plant heaven, blooming their heads off, in their ideal growing conditions out on my balcony. Plant shows down here are held outside, and vendors from everywhere come to sell their large variety of plants. Every time I go to one, my car bulges with plants, big and small, somehow I always find a place for each of them back at my place. If you want to see professional growers in action, visit Plant City, east of Tampa. They have a wonderful Strawberry Festival there every year that is definitely worth going to. This is a plant lover’s paradise.

Fishermen love it down here, because this area is a boater’s and fisherman’s dream. The fish in the Gulf of Mexico are gigantic. There are fishermens’ charters all over, and tour boats for those who don’t fish. Going to Sanibel Island is fun, if you love to pick up shells. Up and down the Gulf coast of Florida are many varied restaurants with some of the freshest seafood around. My favorite restaurants are located on the water, which is really atmospheric.

For anyone thinking of moving down to the Tampa Bay area, I advise you to come down here on vacation, and just drive around. Ask the locals where to eat, see the sights. You will surely love the climate, especially in the winter. If you want to avoid hurricanes, come between December and March. Hurricanes occur when the water is really warm. My favorite time of year are the winter months, because the heat and humidity lessen at those times. Still, it is a good idea not to bring heavy, northern, synthetic knit clothes down here, because they don’t breathe as well as natural fibers like cotton. Lightweight clothes are a must, in general, to be most comfortable.

Liviung in Florida is recommended if you want a more temperate climate, and are sick of snow. Come down and see for yourself all the sights and beauty of this wonderful state. People here are friendly and gracious. The food is wonderful, no matter what time of cuisine you like. Try it, you’ll be glad you did.

Anna Stenning asked:


A trip to the Caribbean resorts is always an exciting adventure for any holidaymaker. There is nothing more appealing than lazing under the blazing hot sun, on the warm white sand and watching the ocean wave back fourth. This for me is the most relaxing point of my time, whereby all my troubles simply drift away and all I have to worry about is topping up on my sun lotion avoiding a nasty burn.

However, some people prefer not to just lie around in the sun; some people enjoy exploring the area, sampling cultural cuisines and sightseeing. This is certainly not the only activity you can participate in on the Caribbean resorts. There are opportunities to take part in thrill seeking water sports to make your trip interesting.

For those who have never experienced this type of activity will need to seek out good quality instructors who are accredited to teach. These sports include scuba diving, windsurfing, kayaking, water skiing, sailing, snorkelling and of course swimming in the breathtakingly beautiful Caribbean Sea. Each exercise are very different from each other, but if you have never experienced this then it is probably good to talk to someone first, especially if you are looking to scuba dive.

A good way to find out what the experience is like would be to read up on each sport and research what other people had felt from taking part in water sports. Scuba diving is not for people afraid of swimming under water. This is a sport that requires teaching and guidance, which are available at an affordable rate. Some of the most popular spots on the Caribbean resorts are the Cayman Islands, Curacao and the Virgin Islands.

Divers can also experience Stingray City, off the Cayman Islands, whereby people are swimming alongside dozens of tame stingrays. However, for those searching for a bit of excitement and ‘hanging ten’ can also enjoy surfing the waves, windsurfing or kite boarding. These are all popular in the Caribbean and boards are always available for hire. Kite boarding is a relatively new sport that has developed a large number of avid participators.

Snorkelling is another sport that can be enjoyed by every one of all ages and has been a popular activity for many years. This is a great way to get closer to the underwater life, coming face to face with exotic fishes and witness the colourful sponges and corals. There are also instruction offered from most hotels, with the added bonus of containing equipments needed for the diving.

Along with the fantastic swimming opportunities, one can also be involved with water skiing, which for some is the most exciting part of water sports. Individuals can also hire out jet skis for the independent experience of riding the waves. Operators tend to be readily available nearby the beaches and at hotels.

In conclusion, when considering a holiday in the Caribbean, perhaps the above sports may tickle your fancy for a different kind of adventure. Holidays are about relaxing, but also about experiencing something new and building upon good memories.