“Go go go!” were the words I’d been waiting to hear. Gijs, our guide, shouted at us urgently, signalling it was time to drop into the dark Arctic waters below. Without hesitation, I threw myself into the ocean. With snow-covered mountains above and orca fins seemingly everywhere, the world ceased to exist.”
Read my latest Forest and Bird Magazine article: Arctic Adventures with Orcas.
Walking in the Daintree Rainforest, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped back in time to millions of years ago. It covers about 1200km2 of hilly terrain that makes up the northeast coast of Queensland.
Stretching down to the edge of the ocean in places and fringing remote white-sand beaches, this impressive rainforest is part of the UNESCO-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland and part of the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest in Australia.
Did you know you can visit this incredible rainforest whilst diving the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns? It's just a short bus ride away.
Find out more in my latest article for Forest and Bird magazine, Daintree Delights.
I've always been a fan of solo travel and it is fast gaining popularity in the travel industry.
Once you get over the initial leap and fear, there are many benefits to solo travel.
It's one of the best ways to meet new people!
You can experience dive and travel highlights from other people's perspectives
Pushing outside your comfort zone will literally change your life!
It can be challenging to find facilities tailored for solo travelers but thankfully more and more liveaboards are providing single cabins. YES!
Here are my top picks for solo liveaboard diving:
French Polynesia diving
Dive with walls of grey reef sharks at French Polynesia's Fakarava atoll
French Polynesia Master, French Polynesia
This gorgeous liveaboard is the ultimate for shark diving fans. Go French Polynesia diving and you'll be surrounded by more sharks than you could wish for.
Thailand
Experience Thailand's incredible beaches and landscapes
This comfortable, large liveaboard visits some of Thailand's best dive highlights, including diving with mantas at Koh Bon and the whale sharks and macro life of Richelieu Rock.
In the heart of the Coral Triangle, Indonesia is home to exceptional marine biodiversity and flourishing coral reefs.
Empress II, Indonesia
Komodo and Raja Ampat are two of Indonesia’ best-known dive destinations and the Empress II takes you to experience them.
Imagine diving with thousands of fish, plus mantas, sharks and tiny colourful critters....Indonesia diving is rightly known as some of the best in the world. Don't miss it!
The Maldives
This luxurious new liveaboard visits a variety of the Maldives best atolls, including these liveaboard diving highlights:
Quiet dive sites and well-preserved reefs at North Male Atoll
Undiscovered dive sites at Laamu and Thaa atolls
South Ari Atoll’s whale sharks
Numerous nurse sharks and stingrays at Vaavu Atoll
A mix of easy and challenging dives at Meemu Atoll, plus mantas and reef sharks
Rasdhoo Atoll's deep drop-off and hammerhead sharks at dawn
Find out more in my latest article for Dive News Wire.
Cruising Alaska
Alaska is world-class cruising destination with striking landscapes, lush green forests and abundant wildlife. But when is the best time to visit?
It depends on what you want to see. Find out more in my guide to cruising Alaska.
May & September: Ideal for cheap travel deals & fewer mosquitos
Spring: Snow-capped mountains and fresh green foliage
September: Immerse in vivid Fall colours
Mid-summer: The best time for warmth
May & June: Good for wildlife watching ashore
June & July: Best for bear watching
Alaska cruising
You can go Alaskan fishing during any month of Alaska's cruise season.
Prince of Wales Island has sport salmon fishing during summer.
Don't miss Ketchikan, the salmon capital of the world!
Alaska cruise
The Inside Passage is ideal for photography
There is an almost-endless list of Alaska cruise destinations to visit. Highlights include the following:
Alaska glacier
The impressive Hubbard Glacier
The Glacier Bay National Park is not to be missed. Unsurprisingly, it's full of glaciers and offers dramatic landscapes.
It's a great place to cruise to enjoy sea kayaking, visiting remote villages and admiring every shape of glacier imaginable.
April to June are the best months to cruise the Glacier Bay National Park for low rainfall.
Alaska cruise Tracy Arm
Tracy Arm is ideal for whale watching in summer
Another popular Alaska cruise choice, Tracy Arm is a narrow fjord over 30 miles long.
It's home to some of Alaska's largest glaciers and offers waterfalls, eagles, whales and seals.
Visit Tracy Arm during summer to spot humpback whales and orcas.
Alaska cruise orca
With over 2600 islands to explore, you'll be spoilt for choice during your Alaska cruise.
Join an Alaska Islands cruise and you'll visit some of the best-known islands.
It's a great destination for photographing plunging fjords, porpoises, whales and numerous birds.
Make sure you visit Baranof Island to bathe in the blissfully-warm hot springs.
Visit the Alaska Islands in April and May to spot grey whales or June to September to see minke whales.
Alaska cruise Juneau
Make time to explore Juneau
Read my full article for Cruise Hive about the best time to cruise Alaska to discover these other top Alaska cruising highlights:
The salmon capital of the world.
The world's largest collection of standing totem poles.
Why you need to visit Juneau.
“Liveaboard diving opens up a whole new world of adventures. It offers the chance to explore remote destinations and uncrowded dive sites, plus enjoy the benefits of a personalised service and more dives per day.
The list of reasons to try liveaboard diving is almost endless, so here are a few to whet your appetite. Dive in and you might just find the perfect liveaboard for you!”
Read my full article on Scubaverse: 8 Great Reasons to try Liveaboard Diving
“Micronesia scuba diving has everything a diver could wish for; from thriving reefs to coral-encrusted WWII wrecks, plenty of large marine life and tiny colourful critters. Palau and Truk Lagoon are the places to go if you’re a fan of wreck diving, with numerous wrecks on offer.”
Read Unmissable Micronesia Wrecks to discover my top wreck dives in Micronesia. There’s something for every diver at this wreck diving mecca!
“Travelling on your own is a great way to meet people and there are a number of liveaboards with single cabins just perfect for your next vacation. These liveaboards offer safaris at some of the best dive destinations around the world and have a variety of onboard facilities to choose from. Here are our top liveaboards for single travellers.”
Find out more in my latest article: Best Scuba Diving Liveaboards for Single Travellers
“There’s nothing like a dive with ripping current; coral whizzing by, a frenzy of fish and little critters trying to hide from the current. Drift diving really is one of the most exhilarating types of diving on offer. There are some great liveaboard diving destinations where you can dive in and enjoy the ride.”
Find out more in my latest article for Scubadivermag: 6 Unbeatable Drift Diving Destinations
“Whale sharks are the largest species of shark and can grow to over 12 meters long, weighing in at a huge 21 tonnes. They are found at a variety of top diving destinations and are an easy shark to swim with, making them popular with divers and snorkelers alike.Find out more in my latest article.”
Read my latest article for Dive In: Best Places to Dive with Whale Sharks
“Ice diving is one of the most adventurous types of diving out there and is a great way to try something completely different. It is challenging, takes extra preparation, and is different from most recreational dive types.
Ice diving offers the opportunity to dive in winter when other types of diving may not possible and experience unique underwater environments and marine life few people ever get to see.
There is nothing quite like the peace of being under the ice, surrounded by bright blue water and ice formations. It is an experience not to be missed and is truly rewarding.”
Read the full article: Ice Diving – It’s Worth Getting Cold For
