Kurt Kucera

Scuba Diver, Car Enthusiast, Outdoorsman

Post-Covid Travel Trends

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The coronavirus pandemic has brought huge changes to what people expect from their flights and travel companies. With the new possibility of travel bans as well as a reluctance to travel too far from home for a host of safety reasons, people are changing when and how they travel. Check out these four major travel trends affecting travel companies and the payment industry as a whole.

Local travel or staycations

More tourists are choosing nearby or local vacations rather than traveling to other countries. Alternative modes of travel like car rentals and train trips are increasing while crossing country borders is becoming less common. This trend has been in part caused by the recent pandemic, keeping families at home or only traveling to other nearby, safe communities. Alternative modes of travel often offer more flexibility in their booking schedules and adherence to safety concerns.

Sanitary, safe facilities

Tourists and leisure travelers are becoming more selective in which company they want to travel with and where they want to go. Safety, comfort, and cleanliness have become huge factors in whether or not a traveler will book tickets. Travelers are more likely to book with facilities they find clean and safe. Cost and schedule availability have only recently made a comeback in terms of importance, but safety is expected to continue to be important.

Booking flexibility

Since the beginning of the pandemic and flight bans, travelers have been looking for more flexibility in their travel dates. More flights are being booked closer to the departure date rather than weeks or months in the future. Flexible bookings with refund options have become key to travelers who aren’t sure when another travel ban will restrict their vacations out of the country. An easy dispute process, card protections, and zero traveler liability have become essential features to many travelers across the globe.

Travel sustainability

Sustainability in the travel industry was coming into focus before the pandemic and now has reached an all-time high in public concern. Travelers are looking for smaller travel times and local options rather than traditional mass tourism trends. Sustainability is a key feature that many consumers are considering when booking tickets or planning trips.

Scuba Influencers to Follow on Instagram

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Scuba diving is a sport that many people admire. Millions of people every year are taking up the sport. For those who love exploring the underwater seas, scuba diving is a great way to do it. The SCUBA of scuba diving stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. With this apparatus, a person can breathe underwater. The proper way to learn how to scuba dive is to take a course and get certified. Beginners dive between 100 to 133 feet. More experienced divers go deeper. Following scuba divers on Instagram is a fun thing to do. Here are five of the top scuba influencers to follow on Instagram.

Nadia Aly

Nadia is a resident of Northern California and a skilled scuba diver, content creator, influencer, and expedition leader. Nadia, who won Ocean Photographer of The Year for 2020, has over 300,000 followers on Instagram. On her account, you will find up-close-and-personal pics of sharks, whales, penguins, and crabs. These are photos that would look great in your home and office, and Nadia sells her pictures on her website.

Sean Havas

The scuba diver, photographer, and videographer Sean Havas displays interesting photographic angles of the bridges over ocean waters and sharks that he shoots. Havas runs his site Pirates and Palm that features videos and other information about sea life.

Alicia

Alicia Ward, a Mexican American raised in Hawaii, is a scuba diver, photographer, and cinematographer with 125,000 followers on her Instagram, Alicia Underwater. The photos she posts are colorful, bright images of dolphins and stingrays. She has a website with her scuba-diving husband, Jim.

Enric Sala

Scientist Enric Sala is a National Geographic and Explorer-in-Residence. Scuba diver Dr. Sala’s Instagram feed displays lovely, bright underwater pics of various aquatic sea life, such as sharks, stingrays, fish, and turtles. Sala has a website, and he is the author of Pristine Seas: Journeys to the Ocean’s Last Wild Places (forward by actor Leonardo DiCaprio) and The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild.

Brian Skerry

Award-winning wildlife photographer Brian Skerry is a scuba diver and wildlife photojournalist for National Geographic Magazine. His photographs have been exhibited in such countries as France and Spain. Skerry, who has a website, also has over 900,000 followers on Instagram. His pictures often focus on one subject, such as the face of a seal or a dolphin.

Freshwater Diving Sites to Add to Your Bucket List

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If you’re looking for a new place to explore underwater, then look no further than one of these freshwater diving sites! Freshwater dives are often overlooked and don’t get the same attention as salt water dives. However, they can still be just as beautiful. If you want to see some of the most gorgeous underwater landscapes that exist on this planet, then read more below.

Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brazil

This is one of the most popular freshwater diving sites in all of South America! Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brazil contains a beautiful combination of natural saltwater lagoons and mineral-rich freshwater springs. This creates a unique mixture that has never been found anywhere else on Earth.

Molokini, Hawaii

Though this site is technically a volcanic crater, it still qualifies as one of the most impressive freshwater diving sites in all of Hawaii. Molokini Crater is located near Maui and contains an underwater portion. The state allows only 100 divers per day to visit this site, so make sure you plan ahead if you want to go!

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

This is another amazing site that combines freshwater and saltwater. This lake in Nevada has a depth of about 650 feet, which makes it perfect for divers who are looking to explore the depths. If you’re lucky enough to visit Lake Tahoe during wintertime, then make sure you check out its frozen underwater landscape!

Lake Baikal, Russia

This is the deepest freshwater dive site in all of Russia. This lake has a depth that reaches over 1612 feet! That’s almost half a mile underwater. If you’re looking for an adventure, then head to Lake Baikal.

Lake Tianchi, China

This is known as the “Heaven Lake” in China. It’s actually a crater lake, which means that it formed from an extinct volcano. The depth of this site reaches almost 1442 feet (that’s more than half a mile!), making it one of the best freshwater diving sites to visit if you’re looking for extreme adventures!

If you’re looking for a new place to explore underwater and add to your bucket list, then look no further than one of these freshwater diving sites. You will experience some of the most beautiful landscapes on this planet and have a truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure that you will never forget.

The Best Scuba Diving Spots for Kids

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Scuba diving with your children can be a thrilling adventure and a wonderful family bonding experience. Together you’ll explore vast underwater worlds and make memories that can last a lifetime, but you have to consider your kid’s physical limitations.

With that in mind, these locations are all highly accessible and offer plenty of undersea adventure regardless of diving level.

Bonaire

Bonaire, a small island off the coast of Venezuela, is the perfect locale for a family diving trip. It features a host of shore-diving options, which makes entering the water easy for children. Kids will love scouting for sea turtles and be amazed at the size of the massive tarpon that lives off the coast. Additionally, the seas are calm, and the current isn’t strong, so parents can relax and focus on enjoying the adventure.

Belize

Belize is home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, making it a world-renowned scuba diving spot. There’s a host of sea creatures to search for, including the exotic rock beauty angelfish and stingrays. Another location with calm seas, the lack of current here makes diving a breeze, even for children who aren’t the strongest swimmers. Belizean diving is so great, it’s even recommended by Margo Peyton, the president of Kids Sea Camp and Family Dive Adventures.

Bermuda

Famous for its long stretches of pink-sand beaches, Bermuda is another wonderful dive spot for kids. The water here is crystal clear, so parents can always keep a watchful eye on their children, and visibility won’t hinder wildlife exploration. Parents will also love the fact that the water is relatively shallow near the coastline, only around 30 feet, so their newly-minted scuba divers won’t be able to get themselves in trouble by diving too deep.

Florida Keys

For families looking to vacation in the U.S., the Florida Keys make a great scuba diving destination. The Keys are home to America’s only coral reef, and the maximum 50-foot depth of the most popular dive spots make it a great spot to dive with kids.

Scuba diving can be an amazing experience for the whole family. You just need to take some time to pick the appropriate location.

Diving in Croatia

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For all of those who have never tried scuba diving before, but always wanted to, Croatia is the place to go. With dozens of crystal clear springs, there are fish so colorful they don’t seem real. Sealife in this country is plentiful and you will be amazed at what lives in the water just beneath your feet. Diving in Croatia can be done by all levels of divers with one of the best spots being Trogir’s Castle on the island of Krk.

Top Reasons to Scuba Dive in Croatia

The Water is Pristine and Clear

Croatia’s waters are famously blue. Its lakes and rivers glisten and so do its seas. There are lots of fish and coral reefs in Croatia. And the best part? The fish don’t seem to mind visitors.

Various Islands to Visit

Visitors can explore the beautiful islands of Krk and Hvar, which are two of the most notable. Meanwhile, other islands can be found on the Croatian coast such as Culinary Island and Cres. These islands are a great way to begin your scuba diving experience.

Relatively Cheap Diving Courses

While the prices of courses may fluctuate, Croatia is not too expensive when it comes to scuba diving courses for beginners. In fact, there are numerous ways to find the money you need to pay for your classes and gear.

Warm Sea Temperatures

If you want to dive in a warm climate, then Croatia is the place for you. The sea temperature ranges from the high 60s to the low 70s in Fahrenheit, perfect for new divers and veterans alike.

Unique River Diving

Not only can you dive in pretty lakes and seas, but Croatia also has many rivers for divers to explore. The most popular river dive site is the River Plitvice, which is a series of lakes that flow into one another. Unlike many places where there is a strong current, the Plitvice’s water is slow-moving.

Exceptional Underwater Scenery

The scenery beneath the surface of the water has to be seen to be believed. The visibility here is great which means that you can explore the depths of the sea with both a camera and your eyes. The underwater scenery in Croatia can be said to be among the most beautiful in the world.

Safe Diving Environment

Croatia has one of the lowest drowning rates in Europe, so it is a safe place to learn how to dive. With good training, you are less likely to be hurt by accidents on the water or while diving.