Archive for May, 2011

Raw Video: Scuba Diving Easter Bunny

A scuba diving Easter bunny hid hard-boiled eggs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Key Largo preparing for an annual underwater Easter egg hunt. (April 23)

Duration : 0:1:15

Read the rest of this entry

Do you want to take a romantic vacation with your partner? Whether that getaway will be a surprise or if you plan it together, you need to take a number of steps. Luckily, planning a trip the Caribbean is actually a lot easier than it sounds!

So, what do you need to do?

1 – Order Passports

Unless you have traveled out of the country before, you need to order a passport. Both you and your romantic partner need to have valid passports. You cannot travel by air to and from Jamaica without them. Passports take up to two months to arrive. Order them in advance.

2 – Decide Where to Travel

You already decided to travel to the Caribbean. Where in the Caribbean? You have so many amazing options. The Caribbean is a phrase that describes a beautiful and large area. Inside that area, you will find the Bahamas, Aruba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic, just to name a few.

If you do not have a preference, quickly examine and compare travel costs. Look for the cheapest. Or, examine nearby attractions and vacation resorts. Choose the destination that can make your travel dreams come alive.

3 – Decide When to Travel

As previously stated, a passport is required for travel to and from Jamaica from air. Since it can take up to two months for passports to arrive, give yourself this time. Book your Caribbean travel package at least three months in advance. Not only does this give you travel preparation time, but early reservations often result in the best deals and accommodations.

In addition to deciding when to travel, determine for how long. You can visit the Caribbean for as few as 2 days or as long as you want. On average, travel experts recommend that those on romantic vacations spend at least 5 days in the area. There is so much to do and see, but 5 days gives the best chance of enjoying most.

4 – Examine All-Inclusive Resorts

No matter where you travel to in the Caribbean, you should have all-inclusive resorts available. Closely examine these resorts. They are not like traditional hotels or vacation resorts. The costs will seem high upfront, but examine the package. You get more than just a hotel or resort room. The cost of accommodations, food, drinks, tips, and some forms of entertainment should be included. Yes, you do pay more for an all-inclusive travel package upfront, but you get the best value for your money in the end.

Since there are many all-inclusive Caribbean resorts, closely examine each. Choose the resort with the best travel deals and discounts, as well as the one that gives you your wants and needed. Do you want to spend your days relaxing by the beach? Opt for an all-inclusive beach resort. Do you want to spend your afternoons playing a game of golf on the green? Opt for an all-inclusive resort with an onsite golf course.

5 – Make Your Travel Arrangements

Once you have researched and compared your travel options, make the plans. If your all-inclusive travel package does not include airline reservations, make these first. Ensure you can get a flight down before paying for your hotel or resort. To get the best prices and the best accommodations, book travel plans well in advance of your trip. As stated above, do so at least three months in advance. This prevents any last minute surprises from hampering your romantic Caribbean getaway.

6 – Research Area Attractions

If you opt for an all-inclusive Caribbean resort, you are at an advantage. That advantage is you have the world within your reach. All-inclusive resorts are designed so you never have to leave! There is so much to do onsite. Beachfront resorts often have water skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and windsurfing available for guests. All resorts should be home to swimming pool and fitness center. Still, research area attractions. If you want to get out and explore the Caribbean island of your choice, have an idea of where to go. Know ahead of time if admission fees are charged, how to get there, and if the area is safe for tourists.

In short, you can easily plan a romantic vacation in the Caribbean in six easy steps. After these steps are complete, sit back and wait. Before the trip date arrives, pack your luggage. It really is as easy as that!

Tony Hagar
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/planning-romantic-vacations-in-the-caribbean-6-easy-steps-681258.html

I am about to start taking my scuba classes to be a registered diver, but i have been hearing that most scuba enthusiasts rent and do not own their tanks and equipment. I was really excited to own my own equipment, so i was wondering how expensive it is and how hard it is to maintain. Also, if new equipment is out of my price range, is it a good idea to buy used?

Most scuba enthusiasts will own their equipment. If I am diving 400-600 times per year, I want to have faith in my gear not some random rental gear. I know what use/abuse my gear has seen, and I know the maintenance record of my gear. I also know that if my gear is acting "funny", I know something is wrong instead of a random trait of a piece of rental gear.

You can usually get a full set of gear (including tanks and weights) for around $2000 to $3000. Most of the gear only has maintenance requirements of rinsing the items off in fresh water and hang to dry.

Regulators will need to be serviced annually. Tank are required to be inspected yearly and tested every five years.

I own all of my gear so I can go scuba diving with little to no notice. Many people will own everything except the tanks and weights. For recreational diving, traveling with tank and weights is prohibitive due to the airline regulations and costs. If I am going to the Carribbean, I will take a set of gear and the boat will provide the tanks and weights. If I am diving locally, the boats expect me to bring tanks and weights.

 Page 11 of 11  « First  ... « 7  8  9  10  11