Diving is a very popular water sport today, with more and more people traveling the world over in search of the best reefs. Here is a list of the leading diving destinations worldwide.

Costa Del Sol, Spain
There are great diving opportunities along the entire coastline stretching downwards to Gibraltar to over 160km. The dive sites can be accessed from Fuebgirola and Benalmadena. The Costa tropical is one of the favorite dive sites for many in this destination, home to moonfish, dolphins, and scorpion fish.

Maldives
This destination is home to many wonderful dive sites; House Reef, Reethi Beach, Bat Fish, and Eagle Rays just to mention but a few. Most islands further offer great snorkeling opportunities. Diving in the Maldives is not for beginners, lest you get scared by the turtles swimming along next to you.

Thailand
Phuket in Thailand has arguably the best diving experiences, particularly in the Andaman Sea. If you wish to swim next to Manta Rays, Racha Noi South Point is the best place to visit. Shark point on the other hand offers you an opportunity to see Leopard Sharks and hidden scorpion fish hiding behind the corals.

Costa Rica
As you dive in these soothing waters in Central America, you get an opportunity to see rare fish species such as spade fish, cow-nose rays, and seahorse. There are organized day and night trips that you can take to explore the wonderful sights. With the sea hares and tube worms coming from the corals, Costa Rican waters come to life at night.

Dominican Republic- Punta Cana
Where else can you get the opportunity to experience the soothing Caribbean waters? Punta Cana is home to amazing corals, sponges, and shipwrecks, as well as many caves waiting for you to explore them. Diving at Punta Cana offers you an opportunity to dive with Nurse Sharks and Eagle Rays. The best time to visit Punta Cana is April through to September.

Hurghada, Egypt
This is a red sea beach resort known for offering diving lessons for beginners or those wishing to hone their diving skills. It boasts over 30 diving sites off the coast.

Marsa Alam, Egypt
Equally have spectacular snorkeling and diving opportunities with numerous tropical fish and marine species; sharks and sometimes even Dolphins. The place is less crowed than its counterparts, thus providing a great opportunity for exploring what it has on offer. Elphinstone reef is arguably the best dive site in this destination, spreading over 180m long and 20m wide. You get to explore purple and pink lions, and might even come across the rare Lion Fish.

Sri Lanka
There are also great diving opportunities in Sri Lanka, and many shipwrecks waiting for your exploration, the most popular one being Cargo Wreck, together with cleaner shrimps and thousands of fish. The ruin is always intact save for the propeller that shows you just how enormous the wreck is. You will be amazed by the many Lion Fish and Snappers rushing past you without even noticing your presence.

Akumal
The world’s second longest barrier reef is located in the crystal clear waters just yards off the coast at Akumal, Mexico.  There are several PADI certified dive shops in Akumal where you can book dive trips, get certified or rent equipment.  The diving is world class and only a short trip from the US.  You can rent our villa in Akumal and snorkel or dive on the reef just in front of the house.

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If you bring the kids to Akumal on vacation, there are many activities available which are perfect for the younger members of the group.  It’s important to keep the kids busy and entertained in all of the exciting activities available in Akumal.

Aside from touring the local Mayan ruins, snorkeling is perhaps the most popular activity for all travelers to Akumal, and some of the locations are especially perfect for the kids.  With a few safety precautions, the kids can partake in this fun with little possibility of injury or accident.

Well fitted life vests should be worn by each child. Most houses provide these life vests free of charge.  These will not only stop deadly accidents in the water, but will help to cover their body and stop sunburn in this area.  It should also be applied frequently to avoid major skin damage from the tropical Caribbean sun!

Yal-Ku Lagoon offers an optimum site for young snorkelers.  The calm waters of the area are free of choppy waters and multiple waves, allowing them to see the bright sea life easily.  The bay in front of the villas in South Akumal also is excellent because of the reef blocking the waves.

A day at the beach is loved by all, and the kids can busy themselves with the pliable sand all day long.  Buckets and shovels provide the chance to make sand castles while you rest and watch the kids play.  A sandy beach in front of your rental is a huge plus.  Most rental houses also have a fresh water pool with a deck for the family to enjoy.  Many also have kyacks for you to paddle.

Always discuss with the kids the importance of being aware of your surroundings before a day at the beach.  They should not walk on turtle nests or dig around in them for fear of destroying eggs buried beneath the sand.

The Jungle Place is a great place to take the animal-loving kids in the group.  It is a sanctuary for spider monkeys situated four miles south of Akumal neat the town of Chemuyil.  Here, they can see many of the local wild animals which are caged or chained for safety.  They may also play with the monkeys and talk to the many colorful parrots located here.

Places like Xel Ha, Hidden Worlds, Dolphin Adventures and Actun Chen offer something for everyone in the family, and are good for even the small kids.  Hike the jungle to cenotes, visit a cavern, ride the zip-line in the jungle, swim with the dolphins, tube down a river, jump from a cliff, or eat homemade ice cream available at many of the local eateries.  They are all within a few minute drive of Akumal.

Determining whether your children are adventurous, interested in animals and nature, or simplyenjoy to play in the water all day will help you to pick the best for them to partake in.  Discuss with your kids about what they would prefer to see and do while in Akumal, and try to do at least one thing that even the kids want to experience.

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Akumal Dream Vacation

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Akumal Bay is known for its various species of sea turtles which use the grounds for breeding, feeding and rearing their young.  This provides an optimal opportunity to experience the animals in their natural habitat, including the many colorful species of fish and plant life.

Snorkeling and scuba diving are perhaps the most popular activities to pursue during a visit to Akumal, but snorkeling offers a less physical demanding and technical option.  With a short instruction course and the ideal site choice, snorkeling is quite easy for even first-time novices.

One popular area for snorkeling in Akumal is the Yal-ku lagoon.  This area is an extremely rare environment where fresh water coincides with salt water from the ocean.  The combination of the two types of water is called a “halocline” effect.

Only very specific species can survive and prosper in this halocline lagoon, and the mixture of salt and fresh water supplies creates an altered appearance of the water itself.  Many species found in this area are not found anywhere else in the world, and have been featured on many travel channel specials in recent years.

Casa Cenote is a lagoon featuring mangroves and colorful fish displays.  Interested snorkelers find the fossils in Cenote at Dosojos quite interesting for a day of exploration.  Many of the fossils seen at Dosojos date back to Mayan civilizations that once inhabited the area.

Snorkel lessons are always a good idea for first-timers prior to traveling to one of these sites.  Although the activity is not difficult, some find that they are uncomfortable with the equipment or unsure how to best view the underwater life while safely using it.

A popular activity for locals and tourists alike is night snorkeling.  Typically, a flashlight is used in conjunction with traditional snorkeling equipment for this activity.

Many species which are not seen during daylight hours can be viewed when snorkeling at night.  This is typically because they are night-feeders or resting during the day.

The octopus is a perfect example of this phenomenon.  Octopuses only come out to feed at nighttime, and change color when a flashlight beam is focused on them.  Virtually all of the life seen at night is safe for swimmers, so night snorkeling is a family-friendly activity as well.

Plant life and some types of fish are also luminescent at night.  This creates greenish lights shining either continuously or flashing after daylight hours – quite a show for someone who is only accustomed to snorkeling during the day!

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When traveling to Akumal Mexico one nearly passes this small quiet village by without realizing that it is actually one of the Caribbean coast’s best locations for diving and snorkeling on the Yucatan Peninsula. Akumal is located a mere 65 miles to the south of the Cancun resort area and 50 miles from the Mexican airport. It may be small but it is the ideal vacation get away for families or divers who wish to escape the daily rush of Mexico’s often crowded beaches. Located in Akumal are two very tranquil bays as well as the Yalku Lagoon which is perfect for family swimming or snorkeling. The area boasts of 30 beautiful reef sites that are ideal for diving while the beautiful white sandy beaches invite one to enjoy the relaxing Mexican sun.

There is an abundance of accommodations in Akumal, five different restaurants which offer local and European Fare, several grocery stores, a few boutiques or gift shops plus an excellent Dive Shop. Most of these attractions are within a 15 minute walk of one and other. The best part of this small village is that should you be interested in snorkeling, diving, fishing or merely relaxing in the warm Mexican sun you will find you can walk to the various locations although buses and taxis are readily available should you desire them.

The temperatures in Akumal range around 80 degree during September to April and during the rest of the year you can expect 90 degree temperatures. The area receives a gentle sea breeze from the nearby Caribbean and during the winter season you may require a sweater in the evenings.

The local dive shop will setup your equipment and have it ready for your dive when you arrive at the dock. They have all the necessary diving equipment you will need at reasonable rental rates. You will be provided with an 80 cu. Ft aluminum tank which is filled to approximately 3000 psi. You will board one of the 28 foot open panga boats docked nearby. The dives are generally limited to eight people plus the dive master and the ships captain. Should you happen to be part of a larger group you can easily make special arrangements for all members to dive.

Most of the arranged dives are drift dives which take place over very stunning and colorful coral reefs. The typically currents are weak in this area and water temperature hover around 82 degree. The underwater visibility in the area can reach 50 feet up to 150 feet depending upon the weather. A light wet suit is recommended during the winter season.

If you are seeking a pristine location with clear water and an abundance of undersea life to view during your next dive adventure then Akumal Mexico is the place you just may be looking for.

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