Discover Wakatobi: 23 Years of Conservation Success

It's been an extremely busy few months for me, working with a variety of online dive travel clients and magazine publishers in the US and New Zealand.

The intricacies of print articles are always a favourite of mine and I'm looking forward to sharing the results with you.

With over 60 NEW online articles to share as well, it may take me a while to catch up!

Before I delve into that, let's get inspired by Wakatobi Dive Resort.

Indonesia reef

What Is Wakatobi Dive Resort?

Wakatobi Dive Resort in Indonesia is tucked away in Southeastern Sulawesi and is a world-class Indonesian dive destination, offering pristine dive sites teeming with marine life.

It wasn't always that way though; as destructive fishing methods creeping across Asia threatened the survival of Wakatobi's reefs.

Indonesia mandarinfish

Wakatobi's Incredible Conservation Success

The founder of Wakatobi Dive Resort was quick to recognise the threats the reefs would likely face and worked tirelessly with local communities to create a sustainable reef tourism business model at Wakatobi.

The results were an outstanding success; creating not only a resort with pristine reefs, but also a resort that has community protection and reef conservation at the heart of all it does.

Wakatobi's conservation success story has truly inspired me and reminded me there is always hope.

Read the full article Wakatobi's Incredible 23 Years of Conservation Success to find out more.

Top Reasons to Dive Western Australia in 2019

Australia scuba diving is synonymous with the Great Barrier Reef, but go west and you'll discover peaceful dive sites, epic marine life and an abundance of sunshine all year.

Whilst the Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly one of Australia's best scuba diving destinations, the diving scene in Western Australia is as good if not better.

Here's why you need to go Western Australia scuba diving:

1. Swim with whale sharks

Go Western Australia scuba diving from March to June and you can swim with whale sharks in their hundreds.

The stunning Ningaloo Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hosts these spotty giants each year, as well as over 500 species of fish and hundreds of corals.

You don't need to be a diver to get in the water with the whale sharks either.

whale shark

2. Dive Australia' Hidden Gem: Rowley Shoals

If there's one place to go diving in Western Australia above all others, it has to be Rowley Shoals.

The pristine Rowley Shoals Marine Park lies 300km from Broome and is remote by anyone's standards.

Consisting of 3 coral atolls perched on the edge of a continental shelf, the shoals host abundant reef and pelagic life.

You can spot sailfish and humpback whales on the outer reef or spend your days enjoying fast-paced drift dives through flourishing reef channels.

Fewer than 200 people get to dive Rowley Shoals each year. Make sure you're one of them.

coral reef

3. Dive with Mantas, Dugongs & More

As well as whale sharks, Ningaloo Reef also hosts a variety of large marine life thanks to the reef being part of a migration route.

Dive Ningaloo Reef and you can enjoy encounters with the marine life highlights:

• Mantas (all year, peaking May to Oct)

• Dolphins (all year)

• Turtles (all year, nesting from Nov to Jan)

You can also spot dugong. Dive Ningaloo Reef in March to May for the chance to see impressive mass coral spawning.

Western Australia scuba diving

4. Swim with Humpback Whales

For a real treat, visit Ningaloo Reef from July to November and swim with huge humpback whales.

The reef hosts tens of thousands of humpbacks each year and it is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with them.

humpback whale western Australia

Need More western australia scuba diving Inspiration?

Read my Dives News Wire article about scuba diving Western Australia to find out more about these other highlights:

• Small-group catamaran liveaboard safaris.

• World-class diving away from the crowds.

5 Great May Scuba Diving Destinations

Are you looking for a new scuba diving destination this May? It is one of the best months for calm conditions, making May ideal for novice divers and those who suffer from sea sickness.

Fans of larger marine life can spot these May scuba diving highlights:

• Manta rays

• Hammerhead sharks

• Basking sharks

• Sea lions

Take your pick from my best May dive destinations and enjoy!

Galapagos Islands

The iconic Galapagos are at the top of many divers wish lists and understandably so.

These rugged, remote islands are wildlife-rich and offer spectacular shark diving at Wolfe and Darwin Islands.

Go Galapagos diving in May and you can enjoy calm conditions, sunshine and lower currents than other times of year.

It's also one of the top Galapagos diving months for seeing numerous manta rays and hammerhead sharks.

Galapagos iguana

Discover the Galapagos Islands unique iguanas above and below the waterline

Komodo, Indonesia

Another top May dive destination, Komodo has calm conditions and offers some of the best Indonesia diving - without crowds.

May is one of the quietest months to dive Komodo.

One of the highlights of Komodo diving is the sheer variety of underwater landscapes. Take your pick from:

• Pristine & vibrant reefs

• Pinnacles

• Dramatic sea mounts

• Plunging wall

• Swim-throughs & caverns

With over 1000 fish species, turtles, mantas all year and numerous critters, you'll be spoilt for choice!

Indonesia diving

Explore Komodo National Park's rich and varied landscapes as you cruise

Papua New Guinea

If you're up for a real adventure, pack your bags and go Papua New Guinea diving.

Seemingly forgotten by the modern world, Papua New Guinea offers incredible dive sites in the shadow of still-smouldering volcanoes.

Go diving Papua New Guinea and you'll discover underwater lava tubes, colourful reefs and plenty of WWII wrecks.

Wherever you look, the dive sites are teeming with macro life - which is not surprising given Papua New Guinea is known for its black sand muck diving.

Just remember to check out Kimbe Bay. Ranked as one of the best reefs in the world, it is not to be missed for its coral cover and numerous sharks.

Papua New Guinea

Immerse yourself in Papua New Guinea's fascinating cultures

Need More may scuba diving Inspiration?

Read my full article about Five Great May Dive Destinations on Scuba Diver Life to discover:

• Cornwall's awesome basking shark dives.

• Tobago's numerous manta rays & turtle nesting season.

Top Liveaboards for Every Diver In 2019

Are you looking for your next dive travel adventure? Liveaboard diving is a great way to experience the magic of the oceans and world-class scuba diving. You can scuba dive all day long, relax as you cruise the ocean, and do it all again the next day.

With so many dive destinations to choose from, it can be difficult to know were to start when choosing the right liveaboard destination for you.

Here are my top liveaboard destinations for every diver:

top Liveaboard destinations for New Divers

The Seychelles and Turks and Caicos are two great choices for new divers.

With relatively easy dive conditions and calm waters, you can spend your days enjoying shallow reef dives and cruising idyllic islands.

The Seychelles is particularly good if you want to combine diving with sailing and watersports, or relaxing at easy snorkelling sites.

liveaboard diving Seychelles

Explore stunning bay and islands with a dive and sailing Seychelles safari

top Liveaboard destinations for Advanced Divers

If you've got some scuba diving experience under your belt, it's time to try some more challenging dives!

Maldives liveaboard diving is an ever-popular choice, offering a broad range of marine life and scuba dives.

Take your pick from:

• Diving with whales sharks

• Witnessing hundreds of feeding mantas at Hanifaru Bay

• Diving with curious nurse sharks and stingrays at Alimatha House Reef

Whatever your preference, the Maldives will have a liveaboard safari for you.

Galapagos liveaboard diving

Nothing beats the vibrant marine life of the iconic Galapagos Islands. Don't miss it!

top Liveaboard destinations for Experienced Divers

If you're an experienced diver looking for an adventure, go Galapagos scuba diving. You won't regret it!

The Galapagos Islands are on many divers wish list and rightly so.

The dive conditions might be challenging but the rewards include diving with hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, whale sharks and more.

You can dive with feeding marine iguanas, friendly sea lions and enjoy incredible nature watching topside.

If that isn't enough for you, how about liveaboard diving Antarctica?

Discover more of my top liveaboards for every diver on Deeperblue.

8 Great Reasons To Try Liveaboard Diving

“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

10 Great Shallow Wrecks for Less Experienced Divers

“Wreck diving isn't just for experienced wreck divers! Go wreck diving and you’ll be immersed in living history as you explore coral-covered wrecks and peer into rooms filled with remnants of the past.

It is a fascinating type of diving and there are some great shallow wrecks for novice divers to enjoy at top liveaboard destinations around the world.”

Read the full article on Deeperblue: 10 Great Shallow Wrecks for Less Experienced Divers

Best Liveaboard Destinations for Every Diver

“Liveaboard diving opens up a new world of dive adventures but it can be tricky to know where to start when navigating the variety of liveaboards available.

Thankfully there are liveaboard options to suit every type of diver; from new and intermediate divers wanting to enjoy peaceful coral reefs, right through to experienced divers looking for remote and challenging destinations.”

Find out more in my latest article for Scubadivermag: The Best Liveaboard Destinations for Every Diver

Five Great January Dive Destinations

“It’s the start of a new year and there’s no better time to plan your next dive trip! There are some great choices in January, from swimming with orcas in the Arctic to whale shark diving in one of the world’s newest liveaboard hotspots. Here are our picks for five great January dive destinations.”

Read my latest article for Scuba Diver Life: Five great January dive destinations.

Unmissable Micronesia Wrecks

“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!