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Above & Below The Waterline |
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Find other articles with helpful tips about travel at Lynn Seldon's web site, www.lynnseldon.com
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by Lynn Seldon, Jr.
Scuba diving and celebrating can mix ... if you pick the right spot. But to find the best anniversary diving, you need to look both above and below the surface. At many of the world's top underwater destinations, you can also find romance above sea level. An ideal anniversary dive destination should have all or many of the following: a romantic setting; unusual diving opportunities; couple-oriented dive operators and resorts; and topside options to suit your specific tastes. If one of you doesn't dive, you should also be sure to pick an island with plenty of non-diving possibilities. Or better yet, use this opportunity to learn to dive ... on top of an unusual anniversary, you'll discover an activity you can enjoy together for the rest of your lives (diving is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and it's surprisingly easy to learn). The dive destination industry is big business and it's easy to arrange a trip to suit any couple. The best resources for trip ideas are knowledgeable travel agents, dive travel companies, scuba diving magazines, tourism offices, and individual dive resorts. Here's a short overview of some of the world's top diving destinations that also happen to be perfect anniversary spots: AUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF Say "G'day, mate" to the mother lode of scuba diving. The Great Barrier Reef stretches more than 1,200 miles along the Queensland coast of Australia. Along the way, there are more than 1,400 species of fish and an incredible variety of coral formations. The world's longest barrier reef has become known as a haven for sharks, bringing couples incredibly close together during dives. It's the perfect place to see great whites and other toothy fish from the deep. Couples in the know head for Heron Island (the location of an active marine research center), Lizard, and many other famous dive sites along this incredible reef. Contact the Australian Tourist Commission at 2121 Avenue of the Stars, #1200, Los Angeles, CA 90067, (310) 552-1988. BAHAMAS About 700 landmasses over 90,000 square miles of the Caribbean and Atlantic make for plenty of uncrowded dives in the Bahamas. The closeness to Florida, along with many excellent dive operators, mean it truly can be better in the Bahamas. Grand Bahama features the legendary Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO) and unique diving with sharks, dolphins, and Theo's Wreck. New Providence, known for busy Nassau, also offers some great diving off the southwest side (the site of many James Bond underwater scenes). The quieter Family Islands lead to quiet diving and romantic havens. Contact the Bahamas Tourist Board at 255 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, FL 33134, (305) 442-4860. BONAIRE Part of the Dutch ABCs (the other two are Aruba and Curacao, which also offer great diving), Bonaire attracts diving couples from around the world for the consistently perfect conditions. The marine park surrounds the entire island and offers more than 100 documented dive sites. Bonaire is dedicated to dive tourism and offers one of the best overall diving experiences in the world. There's lots of shore diving, short boat trips, and incredible underwater life. Contact the Bonaire Tourist Information Office at Resorts Management Inc., The Carriage House, 201 1/2 E. 29th St., New York, NY 10016, (212) 779-0242. CAYMAN ISLANDS
Grand Cayman is the granddaddy of Caribbean diving. From Stingray City, where friendly stingrays often congregate, to some of the best wall diving in the world, this is a grand place for divers. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are much more subdued on the surface, but every bit as colorful below. Contact the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, P.O. Box 67, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, (809) 949-8989. COZUMEL Si, Cozumel is Mexico's most popular diving destination for good reason. The dive operators are much-improved and have shed their reputation as being non-professional. A dive trip to Cozumel today brings few hassles and lots of Mexican romance. Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is the Mexican Caribbean for divers, with consistently Caribbean-like conditions. Cozumel features legendary sites, like Palancar, Paraiso, Punta Sur, and the airplane wreck. Most of the trips are drift dives, making it like watching a feature film as you drift by the reefs and marine life. Contact the Mexican Government Tourism Office at 405 Park Ave., Ste. 1401, New York, NY 10022, (212) 755-7261. FIJI Though Fiji is pretty far afield, it's worth the trip if you're really splurging on your honeymoon (and diving). Though it's an exotic dive destination, the services and accommodations are typically modern. The main attraction for divers is the soft coral, making for incredibly colorful and lush landscapes. The most popular spot is Beqa Lagoon, on the southern coast of Viti Levu. Even further out-of-the-way islands include Taveuni and Matagi. Contact the Fiji Visitor's Bureau at 5777 West Century Blvd., Ste. 200, Los Angeles, CA 90045, (310) 568-1616. FLORIDA KEYS
Along with protected marine parks at Key Largo and Looe Key, the Keys have been designated as a national marine sanctuary. This should save the reefs for centuries of couples to enjoy, all the way from Key Largo to Key West, where the daily sunset celebration is a popular spot for romantic celebrants. Contact the Florida Division of Tourism at 126 Van Buren St., Tallahassee, FL 32301, (904) 487-1462 or the Florida Keys & Key West Visitors Bureau at P.O. Box 1147, Key West, FL 33041, (800)FLA KEYS. HAWAII Diving in the Hawaiian Islands is different. Colorful coral and marine life is generally replaced by craggy outcroppings from volcanic eruptions, lava tubes and caverns, and lots of strange underwater formations. Dive operations abound on the Big Island, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. Due to the isolated location of the islands, divers often find unusual fish and other marine life to view. Contact the Hawaii Visitors Bureau at Waikiki Business Plaza, 2270 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815, (808) 923-1811. LIVE-ABOARD BOATS
Live-aboard accommodations are generally for couples who are fanatic about diving. The boats reach dive sites not usually visited by land-based operators. The trips can range from very basic to luxurious, short excursions to long trips, and close destinations and boats much further afield. For experienced diving couples, they're a great option. RED SEA Moses may have been the first to part the Red Sea, but modern divers are discovering it as well. The unusual marine environment between Arabia and the continent of Africa offers unique diving and underwater life. Still relatively undiscovered, the most popular diving is in the north, around the Gulf of Aqaba (out of the resort city of Eilat). From Egypt, Ras Muhammad's reefs are reached from Sharm El Sheikh. Contact the Israel Tourist Office at 350 Fifth Ave., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10118, (212) 560-0650 or the Egyptian Tourism Authority at 630 Fifth Ave., Ste. 1706, New York 10011, (212) 332-2570. THE BEST OF THE REST Several other great diving destinations that also cater to couples in love include: Belize; Bermuda; the British Virgin Islands; parts of the California coast; the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastlines of Florida, as well as inland springs; the Galapagos Islands; Honduras; Palau; Puerto Rico; the Turks & Caicos; and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Find other articles with helpful tips about travel at Lynn Seldon's web site, (LINK) www.lynnseldon.com
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Call
them Jacques and Jacqueline. Just like a couple of Cousteaus,
they are scuba divers and want to celebrate their marriage with
an anniversary that's all wet. 
The
Caymans still reign as a major mecca for divers. From big-time
operators to small and quiet places, diving couples flock to these
islands for some of the most-renowned diving in the Caribbean.
The British flair makes for a romantic stay. 
According
to all reports, the Florida Keys are the most-visited dive destination
in the world. All those divers can't be wrong. The Keys offer
great diving, excellent operators, and convenience for an easy
anniversary . Famous dive sites include Christ of the Abyss, Dry
Tortugas, and The Elbow. 
Though
not a dive destination in the traditional sense, live-aboard dive
boats are definitely an alternative for serious diving couples.
They offer an opportunity to complete lots of diving in unusual
places. Some well-known possibilities include the Agressor fleet
(P.O. Drawer K, Morgan City, LA 70381, (504) 385-2628 or (800)
348-2628); the Dancer fleet with renowned Peter Hughes Diving
(1390 S. Dixie Hwy., Ste. 2213, Coral Gables, FL 33146, (305)
669-9391 or (800) 9-DANCER); and Nekton Diving Cruises (520 SE
32nd St., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316, (305) 463-9324 or (800) 899-6753.
The Nekton Pilot, for instance, features cruise ship-style cabins
and amenities (including honeymoon suites) ideal for romantic
couples. Many cruise ships, including Norwegian and Princess,
now offer dive programs for cruisers.