Go Scuba Diving in Phuket

One of the world's best scuba diving location is in Phuket. It is a place located in Thailand that is blessed with wonderful natural resources as well as wonderful beaches. Not only that, but there are different things that you need to consider when you go out and scuba dive. One of these things are the food and the ambiance that will make your holiday great. Also, one of the natural resources that Phuket has is its wonderful coral reefs that are a joy to watch when you go out and dive. The coral reefs that you can see in the area are wonderful and the aqua creatures that you can see is very beautiful.

There are a lot of things that you can do when you are in Phuket. Some of the things that you can so when you are in Phuket are taking diving courses that will make you experience the best underwater spectacle that you will see. Some of the best locations that you can do to in Phuket are the Similan islands, Hin Muang, Phi Phi, Hin Daeng and Richelieu Rock.

Very clear oceans are one of the best attributes that this place has. Phuket and Phi Phi Island are two of the places that have this attribute. Because of this attribute, you can see the formations of the rocks as well as all the aquatic beings under water. There are fishes of different colors and there are other beings such as star fishes, mollusks and the like. Not only that, but there are also a lot of soft corals that can be found on these locations. These soft corals are the reason why some of the beaches appear to have under water flower blooms.

However, the scuba diving experience that you can get in this place is not limited to seeing corals and small fishes. You can also see big aquatic creatures in this place. Aquatic species like sharks, whale sharks and even manta rays are very easily seen in these waters. Also, because the waters in these places have very warm temperatures, you can go out and go scuba diving here any time.

One of the best places that you can go to in order to scuba dive is here in Phuket. However, there are other things that you can do here in Phuket. You can go to restaurants, the beaches as well the great night life that you can go to. Of course, diving is the best thing that you will be able to go and do in this place. There are plenty of dive centers that you can go to so that you will be able to enjoy this location.

The Best Scuba Diving Destinations

After scuba diving for many years, I became enthralled with the sport and decided to search out the world's best places to scuba dive. The options of great scuba diving destinations are endless, but here are my top three diving sites.

Beginning with the Red Sea in Egypt, there is no other scuba diving like this place. It is one of the best places to scuba dive I've found. The water is incredibly clear and with the right scuba gear, you can dive and see some amazing sea life.

The next best place to scuba dive is in Malta. This place offers great visibility as well, but the diving with scuba gear is protected by the Maltese Island government. When you scuba dive in this amazing place, you will see octopus and rays of every kind.

Finally, the third best place to scuba dive is in Costa Rica. I can't believe the fish I saw in my dive off the shores of Costa Rica. Scuba diving in the world's best water is a hobby of mine, so I've seen some fabulous fish, but none like the underwater life I saw here. Keep up the great scuba diving and enjoy these wonderful scuba diving locations.

Tours to Thailand - Explore Its Major Attractions With Beautiful Places

Thailand, often referred as Land of Smile, is one of the most beautiful cities of Asia. It is one of the lively cities that lure tourists, vacationers, world totters and honeymoon couples from all the nook and corner of the world. Its lively environment, heritage and cultural beauty, islands, beaches, caves, bustling markets, wildlife parks, etc makes it the perfect place for a delightful vacation. Its diverse nature and attractions makes Thailand the most preferred destination in Asia for tours and travels. In this beautiful city there are many interesting places among which few are mentioned below which are must to visit on your Thailand tours.

The Grand Palace
Home to the King and his courts and the entire administrative system of Bangkok 150 years back, the palace is now only the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. To visit this grand palace you have to take a boat ride that takes up to Chang Pier and a short walk will take you up to the palace.

Similan National Park
Similan National Park in Thailand offers underwater views depth ranging from 2 metres to 30 metres. It also has exotic sandy beaches, with granite rock formation that just plunge into the sea to form reefs and perfect place for diving troughs.

Khao Khien Mountain Cave
It is the must see attraction on your Tours to Thailand, as the cave has primitive rock paintings of various animals and creatures and the cave is believe to be 3,000 years old.

Chonburi Province
Located in the eastern coast of Thailand, Chonburi province is the popular as a weekend getaway because of its proximity to Bangkok. Chonburi province has beautiful beaches among which the world famous Pattaya beach resort is also located here.

Ko Samui
Fringed by the swaying coconut plantation, Koi Samui is a beautiful island off southeastern Thailand. Here the beaches like Hat Chawent and Hat Lamai are popular and so they are bit crowded. But if you love tranquility and quite environment, it is worth to visit Mae Nam beach.

Beside these marvelous attractions there are several other attractions which are also worth to visit and explore on your tour. But at the same time the events of Thailand are also mesmerizing that lures tourists from all over the world. Bangkok International Film Festival, Chinese New Year Celebrations, Pattaya Music Festival, Toh Moh Goddess Shrine Festival, Samui Carnival, King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament, Sukhothai Loi Krathong Festival, and Chiang Mai Flower Festival are some of the important events that showcase the beautiful blend of Thailand's past with the present.

Well come for a holidays in Thailand and you will find it amazingly beautiful and its destinations and attractions beyond visual and verbal description. So book your travel package to Thailand and enjoy your holidays in the place, which is referred as "Land of Smiles".

Fishing in Thailand

Phuket - The Andaman Sea's Premier Fishing Destination

Thailand's island of Phuket occupies a strategically located site from which to reach all the best fishing grounds off the northwest coast of Thailand, plus is a convenient starting-point for fishing trips to India's Andaman Islands, where gigantic marlin can still be found.

Fish Phuket, Thailand - Seasons

As with virtually every game-fishing venue there are specific seasons when the pelagic visitors are more prolific. The most productive seasons also depend on weather and sea conditions. Although black marlin may well be present over Phuket's continental shelf for most of the year, there are periods when targeting them may be prevented due to adverse sea conditions. Compared with many established game-fishing venues, Phuket is fortunate as extreme weather and sea conditions are uncommon. Very few fishing days are lost due to heavy seas or tropical storms.

Phuket has two major weather patterns. During the dry season, which generally lasts from mid-October to mid-May, the prevailing winds are from the north-east and on occasions sea conditions may get a little choppy. During the rainy season of June to October the prevailing winds are from the south-west and sometimes result in long waves and gentle swells. As with anywhere in the tropics, it can rain at any time, but prolonged periods of heavy rain occur only occasionally, even in the rainy season.

The peak season for fishing off Phuket generally coincides with the peak period for tourists visiting the island. October, November and December usually represent the most productive months for marlin and sailfish action. During the rainy season, Phuket often enjoys a good run of sailfish. July and August regularly provide anglers with 'hot-bites' from sailfish, wahoo and dorado.

Phuket, Thailand - Fishing Grounds

There are three major fishing areas off Phuket: Racha Yai, Racha Noi and the Continental Shelf. In addition the Andaman Islands are 450 km away and are reachable by charter or by boarding in Port Blair, India. The most frequented of Phuket's fishing grounds are the waters surrounding the island of Racha Yai, especially off its northeast corner. This is a sensational sailfish hot-spot and can often produce outstanding action. Wahoo, dorado, barracuda and multitudes of skipjack, kawa kawa and longtail-tuna are regularly caught off this island.

Racha Noi and the rocky pinnacles to the south of the island can offer sizzling sport with black marlin, sailfish, wahoo and several other desirable game-fish. When the vast schools of giant trevally embark on their feeding frenzies, popper-casting can result in a memorable fishing session. Jigging over the pinnacles can also produce exciting action with giant trevallies, rainbow-runners and even the occasional dogtooth-tuna.

The drop-off, on Phuket's continental shelf, offers anglers their best chance of black marlin action relatively near to Phuket. The drop-off near the Similan Islands is also one of the haunts of yellowfin-tuna, although they are rarely caught in trophy size. Big wahoo often cruise the shelf, as do barracuda and impressive dorado. The skipjacks are generally much bigger than their cousins caught in shallower water. Sailfish do show up occasionally but seldom in great numbers.

The Andaman Islands archipelago, which belongs to India and is situated in the Bay of Bengal, is approximately 450km west of Phuket and is closer to Thailand than it is to India. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands group consists of 572 rain-forest-covered islands, of which only 36 are inhabited. This area is an exciting new destination for big-game fishing where the fishing action, including major battles with massive specimens of the mighty black marlin, is outstanding, mainly due to the virtual absence of commercial fishing vessels.

Hill Stations in India

The ideal picture of our mother India is incomplete without its spotless white crown,which is formed by the picturesque hill stations in India. The entire north Indian hill stations prove to be an ideal gateway for various theme based tours. When it comes to the major mountain ranges and hill states in India - the Himalayas, Shivalik, Vindhyachal, Garhwal, Aravali, Nilgiri etc. are the favourite of almost all the tourists visiting India for their holidays.

States like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal etc. are dotted with countless mountain ranges, pilgrimages and historical attractions. This way, a number of theme based tours are conducted here throughout the year. Places like Kashmir, Nainital, Manali, Mussoorie, Shimla, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Khajjiar, Chamba, Lahaul Spiti, Ranikhet etc. are popular since the British era and are frequently visited by travellers even today with the same enthusiasm.

Top Hill Stations in India

Tours to Himachal Pradesh, the abode of the Himalayas, let you enjoy the captivating beauty of green meadows, deep valleys, snow-clad mountains, serene lakes and gushing streams. Places like Kullu, Manali, Rohtang Pass, Chamba, Dalhousie, Kangra, Khajjiar, Chamba, Kinnaur, Kufri, Mandi, Shimla, Dharamshala etc. are ideal for activities like trekking, relaxing and spending quality time with your loved ones. Massive Dhauladhar range, which touches Dharamshala, has always been a renowned hill resort since the British Raj.

On the other hand, Jammu & Kashmir has always proved itself as a divine paradise on earth. Apart from the spell binding beauty of hill stations like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam, the state offers superb houseboats. These boats provide you with a lifetime opportunity to sail through the tranquil lakes in Kashmir and explore the virgin natural beauty there.

Moreover, Uttaranchal - the land of Gods and Mountains - is known for its adventure as well as religious tours. Carved out from 14 hilly districts of former Uttar Pradesh, the newly formed Uttaranchal offers Shivalik foothills and Greater Himalayas that add to the beauty of various glaciers, passes, meadows, and trekking routes. Mussoorie, Nainital, Dehradun, Ranikhet, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri etc. are some of the highly frequented tourist destinations in Uttaranchal.

Almost all of the above places are well connected by air, rail and road to the major Indian cities. Seeking true peace amidst nature or the best of adventure sports in hilly areas? - India tourism is unbeatable.

Do You Know Where You Can Dive With Turtles? Is it True That Turtles Are Endangered?

Luckily for scuba divers, all but the Leatherback are found predominantly in coastal areas. Leatherbacks are highly oceanic and venture into shallower water only for breeding purposes.

Green Turtles, Hawksbills, Olive Ridleys and Leatherbacks can be found when diving in the Indo-Pacific region. Other types of turtle are indigenous to specific areas for example the Black Turtle in the Americas and the Flatback in Australian waters.

Very few other creatures are as symbolic to marine conservation efforts as the sea turtle. The sad fact about turtles is that they are literally in the soup...

Loss of breeding grounds due to beach development is a particular concern given that some beaches which once witnessed thousands of turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs now see but a few. Human development, bright lights, rubbish and activity can all discourage females from nesting.

Discarded flotsam, such as plastic bags, are often mistaken by turtles as jellyfish with deadly consequences. Shrimp nets and other fishing apparatus also account for great numbers of turtles who become entangled and just like we would, run out of air and drown.

However deaths at the hands of humans are not always accidental. Turtle meat and soup is still widely available in many parts of the world, including Bali; and turtle eggs are considered an aphrodisiac in certain cultures. The shells are also highly prized for decorative purposes or to be transformed into items such mundane, functional items as combs and spectacles.

So what protective measures can be taken?

Awareness of dwindling turtle numbers has lead to measures being taken throughout the world to allow turtles to nest in peace. The "Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species" (CITES) controls international trade in endangered and threatened species. Sea turtles are covered under Appendix I of this agreement and receive protection from international trade by all countries The contract was signed.

closed at the local level, in Sipadan diving resort of Iceland, for instance to tourists since January 2005 have been admitted to an island that, once full of turtles on the possibility of returning to its previous state. Divers may visit Sipadan with the purchase of day passes.

Countless other places to places which have accommodation on stilts, so the turtles raised outdoors. For many, strict liability forexternal lights at night and guests behaviour in relation to nesting.

However the intentional and accidental killing goes on for commercial reasons. Steps are being taken to reverse attitudes and trends in countries where the meat and products are considered exotic - but this will not happen overnight and as the saying goes 'when the buying stops the killing can too'.

Despite these measures, turtle populations are dwindling...

World-wide population numbers for sea turtle species do not exist and all figures you will find are based on estimates of the number of nesting females based on nesting beach monitoring reports and publications at varying times. As such it is difficult to state meaningful worldwide numbers.

However what is clear is that local population numbers all record declining populations across every species and the forecast for the future of the turtles on current rates of killing is bleak. Although the CITES listing has slowed their decline much more needs to be done to reverse attitudes and therefore preserve the turtle for generations to come.

Do you want to know where you can dive with turtles?

Probably the best place is off Malaysia's coast of Sarah where dive spots such as Sipadan offer great turtle diving opportunities.

The island of Sipadan (and many others around Sabah's eastern coast) is a nesting site for turtles. Scuba divers who slip into the surrounding waters are often excited by their first sighting of a turtle. The excitement can soon turn to amazement as at some dives spotting 20 to 30 different turtles is not uncommon. Resting in ledges and on corals, rising to the surface to breathe, the turtles are everywhere!

In Thailand, you can see turtles most frequently around the Similan Islands at sites such as Donald Duck Bay, but you may be lucky enough to spot them at just about any of the destinations, throughout the country.

The turtle is also among the sights you can expect when diving in Komodo, in Indonesia although you may find yourself distracted with all the other fantastic marine life here.

My recommendations for the best spots for you to dive with turtles are Sipadan Island, the Maldives, Komodo and the Similan Islands.

5 Most Impressive Surf Spots in Australia

Surfing is one of the fastest growing activities throughout the world. For some people it's a pastime, for others it's a sport, but for the true surfing enthusiast it is a lifestyle, where the pursuit of great waves is put above all else. Australia has long been renowned for its fine weather and gorgeous beaches and so it's hardly surprising that Australian surfers are eminent on the world surfing stage. Names like Mick Fanning, Taj Burrows, Joel Parkinson, Stephanie Gilmore and Chelsea Hedges ensure Australia's profile as a surfing hot spot. So let's take a look at five of the most notable surf spots in Australia and see what they have to offer.

Snapper Rocks has become one of the world's best surfing locations. Situated on Australia's famous Gold Coast, this spot was once more renowned as a fishing haven than a surf beach. It wasn't until the dredging of the Tweed River entrance in 1995 that Snapper Rocks began boasting one of the longest and most consistent point breaks, making it a destination for only the most experienced surfer. The wave quality is world class with the wave direction to the right and on a good day the length exceeds 500 metres. Snapper Rocks is an extremely impressive surf spot and therefore it is no surprise that it enjoys big crowds on any given day.

Angourie first became known as a great surfing spot back in the 1970's when surfers began searching for an alternative to the popular Byron Bay which was starting to feel a little overcrowded at the time. The small coastal village, located just south of Yamba on the New South Wales north coast, has provided surfers with their own little sanctuary ever since. The most notable surf spot in Angourie is The Point. With the wave quality being described as world class, it is suitable for all surfers. The wave direction is to the right and on any given day you will find the wave length between 50 to 150 metres. On the weekend you will find the waves fairly crowded but During the week there are very few surfers.

Bells Beach is probably the most internationally renowned surf beaches in Australia. Located about 100 km southwest of Melbourne is home to the Rip Curl Pro, one of the best known and most surf contests run. This is an awesome right hand reef break waves and the quality is definitely world class. The wavelength range between 50 and 150 meters, and although it is one of the world's most famoussurfing beaches you will find the waves pretty free of crowds.

Margaret River is one of the most consistent and relaxed surfing spots in the world. Located about 250 kilometres south of Perth, Western Australia, there are over forty surfing spots with the most notable being known as Main Break. This surfing destination provides world class wave quality to be enjoyed by only the most experienced surfers. Wave direction is to the left and the length is very long, ranging from 300 to 500 Meters on a good day. Main Break during the week is very few surfers, but it can be quite full on weekends.

Off the east coast of Tasmania, Hobart, near one of the heaviest in the world of surfing. Shipsterns Bluff, and wrecks of ships, or Shipp The star is known, a goal that is good and very reserved for professionals. With the air quality as nothing less than epic considered Shipsterns Bluff is sure to bring a rush of adrenaline. The direction of the waves isthe right and the length is considered normal, ranging from 50 to 150 metres. On any given day you will find this spot practically empty of surfers.

Australia has just about all there is to offer in terms of surfing destinations and if you are someone who lives to surf then these five surfing spots are definitely ones to be included on your surfing itinerary.