Kurt Kucera

Scuba Diver, Car Enthusiast, Outdoorsman

Best Diving Spots In Hawaii

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If you have a passion for scuba diving, look no further than the Big Island of Hawaii. The island has plenty of stellar diving spots that anyone would love, and has had the admiration of scuba diver’s around the world. Check out these great diving spots for the next time you plan to go to Hawaii!

Golden Arches

If you’re looking for a great photo opportunity, be sure to check out Golden Arches. This diving spot is known for the colorful fish who live on the reef, moray eels, whitetip reef sharks and like many other Hawaiian diving sites, you may see a group of spinner dolphins!

Naia

Speaking of dolphins, be sure to check out Naia the next time you want to go diving in Hawaii! Naia means Dolphin in Hawaii, it’s likely you’ll run into a few when you take your dive. What you’re even more likely to see are rare fish like stonefish and frogfish who live at this spectacular dive site.

Au Au Crater

If you’re looking for something a little more interesting, check out Au Au Crater. If you hadn’t guessed it by the name, Au Au Crater is a submerged volcano crater that is one of the best when it comes to showing off the unique underwater topography of the various Hawaiian islands. Be wary though, as you’re likely to spot larger ocean dwellers such as white tip and hammerhead sharks.

Best Diving Spots for Beginners

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Scuba diving is a fun hobby or vacation activity everyone will enjoy. It’s a great way to explore the ocean and get a whole new view of life under the sea. If you have never gone scuba diving before, here are the best diving spots for beginners:

 

The British Virgin Islands

Not only are the British Virgin Islands a beautiful and relaxing vacation spot, but it is also an incredible place to go scuba diving. This is great for beginners because it has a huge span of protected coastlines and reefs. It also offers a lot of wreckage to explore to find souvenirs to take home.

 

Bonaire, Caribbean

The diving at Bonaire, Caribbean is a beautiful experience and very easy for beginners to handle. They’re also very affordable and known as one of the best places to dive in the world. This is a great area to explore either on your own or with a dive guide if you do not have enough experience to dive on your own yet.

 

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia is an amazing location of breathtaking views and an abundance of sea life. While it isn’t as full of life as it once was due to global warming, it is still a great place to dive and explore the sea. Beginners will find shallows reefs that are perfect for inexperienced divers. 

 

Best Dive Sites Off the North Carolina Coast

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There’s a reason the coastline of North Carolina is called the Graveyard of the Atlantic by any and all scuba divers. It’s home to some of the best wreck diving on the planet. The warm waters, abundant wildlife, and extreme visibility should have you planning your next dive trip.

U-352

Without a doubt, this wreck is one of the reasons many people choose to come to NC to dive. This wreck is a historic World War II German U-boat and rests relatively intact. The ship itself is protected and cannot be penetrated as it is considered a burial site, but there is plenty to explore on and around the wreck.

The Spar

This wreck did not meet a tragic end. The Spar was a US Coast Guard Cutter that was purposefully sunk to assist with the NC artificial reef project. Ever since it touched the bottom of the ocean, this wreck has been teeming with wildlife both large and small. It’s not uncommon to see large schools of fish, barracuda, and sand tiger sharks. 

Indra

The Indra was a 330-foot landing craft that was sunk only 10 miles from land as another ship in the artificial reef program. She is one of the most visited wrecks since novices and more advanced divers alike can have fun here. The Indra is partially intact and offers lots of chances to explore. 

Fall Destinations for Scuba Diving

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Depending on where you live, the end of summer may mean an offseason for your diving practice. If you don’t mind traveling, however, fall is a great time to check out new destinations. Here are some places you should consider scuba diving this autumn.

Costa Rica

If you’ve never dived in Costa Rica, this destination should be at the top of your list. The west coast is cooler than the east side, and it’s home to an extraordinary amount of wildlife. On your adventure, you may see bull sharks, seahorses, and harlequin crown shrimp among others. If you enjoy exploring on land as well, you can also head out to a nearby jungle.

Oman

Fall is the perfect time to visit Oman. You’ll enjoy perfect weather and breathtaking sights without fighting the crowds that frequent other destinations. Among the sea life, you can expect to see thousands of triggerfish and whalefish as well as many other creatures.

Gozo

Gozo is remarkably warm even in October, so you can put this on your list of fall diving sites too. Divers across the world love to visit Gozo because the visibility is incredible. Whether you’re a new diver or a pro, you’ll enjoy Gozo’s swim throughs, caverns, and giant walls. 

With all of these options available, there’s no need to take a break from scuba diving in the autumn. All you need to do is hop on a plane and embark on a new adventure.

Exercising to Support Scuba Diving

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Whether you’re a veteran diver or a beginner, there are ways that you can improve your scuba diving experience. One of the best things that you can do is work on your physical fitness. 

Regular exercise strengthens your heart and lungs, which will increase your endurance and help you feel more comfortable under the water. Furthermore, the more physically fit you are, the safer you’ll be as a diver. Here are some quick tips to get you in shape for your next dive.

Walk regularly

It seems overly simple, but it’s true– walking can help you to live longer. Research has shown that people who walk regularly are 50% less likely to die from heart disease than non-walkers. This fact is significant considering that heart disease is one of the leading killers of divers. Try to walk about 30 minutes per day.

Strength train

Strength training will make everything in life easier, including lugging your 50lb oxygen tank around. Leg exercises will help you to swim better. Working your core will help you support your back. And don’t forget that muscles burn calories. That means that the more muscle you have, the easier is it to keep extra weight off and it’s best to be a healthy weight when diving. 

Work on your feet and calves

Your feet and calves are muscles that are most likely to cramp when you are scuba diving. Your feet and calves are not accustomed to the work required by extended dives. Working on these muscles not only strengthens them, but it also increases circulation. The more blood flow to a muscle, the less likely you are to cramp up. Try to do toes grabs and calf lifts as part of your daily exercise routine.