Destination Spotlight: Philippines

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

By now your passport must be loaded with stamps from the Caribbean and Central America, but our next stop is a little more far east.

This time though, we’ve got two stops on our trip! Betcha didn’t see that one coming. Our trip to the Philippines includes a visit to Dumaguete and Puerto Galera.

Both destinations are known for their incredibly friendly locals, amazing beaches, delectable food and magnificent colorful diving. Reef, wall, drift, moored and muck diving are common to both areas. Divers can encounter critters from pygmy seahorses to whale sharks and you don’t want to miss the magical mating dance of the mandarin fish.

So before you wet your fins, let us whet your appetite for awesome dives and attractions in our virtual tour of the Philippines.

Dumaguete

Dumaguete City is the capital of Negros Oriental province, and has everything from a local market to lush tropical wildlife, natural pools and waterfalls. The city itself has a reputation for its friendly and hospitable locals and is surrounded by tons of activities (which we’ll get back to later, we know what you really want to read about).

Diving Dumaguete

There are a number of dive sites at Dumaguete some appealing to beginners or the more experienced diver looking for a bit of a challenge. These dive sites may overwhelm you with their fish diversity, colorful coral and invertebrates.

But hey, that’s just what we like!

Dauin North at Dumaguete: One of Atlantis’ most popular dives (we’ll get into them in a bit). Once you’ve experienced it, you’ll know exactly why. At this dive site you’ll encounter a healthy reef teeming with a variety of fish and invertebrates including some Hairy Squat Lobsters, frogfish and ghost pipefish. You can also spot yellowtail barracudas, damselfish, sea turtles, scorpionfish and occasionally, a blue-ringed octopus likes to drop by.

Mainit at Dumaguete: This one’s for our more advanced divers. ‘Mainit’ means hot in the local language and hot is just what you’ll feel on this drift dive. When you come across yellow patches of sand that are hot to the touch thanks to the nearby thermal hot springs.

On this dive you can expect to see schools of barracudas, surgeonfish, dogtooth tuna, yellow snappers, and fusiliers.

There are more dives to experience than we can mention but some other noteworthy dive sites are: Coconut Point off the famous Apo Island offers prolific sea life including big eye trevally, sea turtles and banded sea kraits. While the San Miquel Tires dive site is a must for macro enthusiasts for pygmy squid, nudibranchs, crabs, bumblebee shrimp, flamboyant cuttlefish and nocturnal stargazers.

Topside

You’re going to want to stay a few days, and not just for the dives! The Philippines is FULL of rich culture and land. Waterfalls, lagoons, local markets, gardens, and museums – the list seriously goes on. So, we’re going to sum up a few but feel free to explore some more!

Malatapay Market: Just 20 minutes south from Atlantis is Malatapay, home of the only open-air market in Negros. There you can experience the traditional Philippine “barter” system.  Locals gather from Apo Island and the surrounding mountains eagerly trade livestock, fish, exotic fruits, strange vegetables and household items. Sample some lechon baboy (roast pork) and a cold San Miguel beer while sitting on the beach.

Dolphin Watch: One of the most popular attractions of Negros Oriental, Bais City is home of the premier attraction for dolphin and whale watching. The trip is about 45 minutes away but it’s well worth it.

Puerto Galera

Resembling a postcard or cover from a travel magazine, Puerto Galera is considered one of the most beautiful beach resort areas in the Philippines (and the world). Its crystal clear waters and gorgeous beaches are what make Puerto Galera an ideal spot for sailing, swimming, surfing, and you guessed it – diving!

Diving Puerto Galera

Coral Cove at Puerto Galera: Macro lovers rejoice! This is a wonderful dive for you and beginner divers alike. Here, you’ll find countless nudibranchs, whip coral, sea fans, puffer fish and even cuttle fish. The wall and its overhangs are home to some unusual critters – blue and black ribbon eels, juvenile emperor fish, urangutan crabs hiding in bubble coral, and pipefish, just to name a few. Banded sea snakes are common here, as are blue spotted stingrays on the adjacent sandy bottom. Venture a little deeper and you might find thorny sea horses hiding in the rubble as well.

Canyons at Puerto Galera: This world-class drift dive is a must-do for experienced divers.  Here the canyons all have sheltering walls and sandy bottoms, where you can kneel down, rest – and watch the big fish fighting in the current above your head. Inside the canyons you’ll find octopus, scorpionfish, sea snakes and other reef fish. This is the one dive site where even bigger animals are sometimes spotted: Manta rays, thresher sharks and hammerhead sharks have all been seen here.

If you’re looking for high voltage diving then the Verde Island Washing Machine during strong current tide changes is your kinda speed. This site is done over a series of 7 shallow gullies where you can watch fish spin and it’s an easy dive during slack tides. The Coral Garden dive site features large coral heads comprised of many types of corals, barrel sponges and colorful reef fish a beautiful site to check out!

Topside

Puerto Galera is infamous for its beaches and crystal clear waters so we definitely suggest spending some time snorkeling, kayaking, beach hopping, and of course diving! But there are also a lot of great things to do here that you don’t want to miss. From a local village to a hidden paradise, here are a few topside activities to check out.

Tamaraw Falls: Located just 14 km from Puerto Galera and near the village of Villaflor is Tamaraw Falls. Taste the sweet natural spring water as you enjoy the outstanding scenery, the old growth forest, and beautiful rock formations below the waterfall. Bathe in the pools, bask in the sun, and just relax. Perfect for nature lovers!

Tukuran ‘Hidden Paradise’: A 45-minute jeepney ride from the town of Puerto Galera will take you to the four rivers, where you can continue by foot or ox-cart to get to the some glorious falls. These waterfalls have had thousands of years to carve and shape the surrounding rocky landscape into pools and small falls. A definite must-go!

Dumaguete and Puerto Galera

We got so excited about sharing the dives and topside attractions; we almost failed to mention the Atlantis Dive Resorts, which operate in both Dumaguete and Puerto Galera.

They’re a first class facility with many amenities such as free WiFi, spa massages and experienced dive operations offering 5 dives daily, Nitrox, fluro night dives, day trips, kid diving, underwater photography services, and tons more.

We also love their involvement with the local communities. Back in 2006, they started the Atlantis Education Foundation to improve children’s education with supplies, finances and school visits with staff and guests.

Oh! You can’t leave without trying some of the delicious local food including adobo (braised chicken or pork in spices), kaldereta (meat in tomato sauce stew) and torta (omelette) but save room for the mango cheesecake – it’s delicious!

For more on how to experience Atlantis Resorts and Liveaboards click here and for more on the Philippines click here.

Check out more photos on the Philippines and Atlantis on our Pinterest and Facebook Photo Albums.

Posted in Dive Travel, Dive Travel Deals, Philippines, Scuba Diving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Destination Spotlight: Curacao

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

Bon Bini! (Welcome!)

Where’s our next stop on our virtual tour of beautiful beaches, resorts, and dive destinations?

Curacao! (But you knew that already though, you cheated and looked at the title!)

One of the Caribbean’s hidden treasures and part of the “ABC Islands,” Curacao is famous for its vibrant culture, gorgeous beaches, and almost untouched marine life (which is pretty much everything we LOVE about a destination).

But what really gets our fins perked?

Spectacular dives! And let us tell you, Curacao’s at the TOP of the list. Voted as one of the top 3 locations for ‘Best Snorkeling’, ‘Best Shore Diving’ and ‘Best Macro Marine Life’ by the readers of Scuba Diving Magazine, it’s a given (and must-go) for divers of any level.

So, what’s it like diving Curacao?

We thought you’d never ask.

Diving Curacao

Much of Curacao’s dive sites are on the east side of the island, many of which are only accessible by boat. Since mainly divers and some locals (who respect the ocean and marine life) venture to these sites, the reefs are preserved and pristine.

We encourage photo-ops.

Spot and snap shots of turtles, eels, angelfish, barracudas, seahorses, lobsters, and plenty more. Divers have also recently reported spotting manta rays as well as nurse sharks on the East Point.

You can expect some mild currents and drift dives, which are easy enough for beginner and experienced divers alike. Most dive sites are reef dives with a gentle slope, nice overhangs, and even canyons at times.

Must-Do Dives

Basora: This site is abundant with as many species of coral and fish as you are likely to find in one place, it’s the most eastern dive site on Curaçao. And because it is on the point, the currents can shift quickly and the wave action is unpredictable.

Hell’s Corner:  For our advanced diver looking for some adventure and challenge, this could be the perfect dive site for you. Hell’s Corner has no protection from the open ocean and large waves crash against the rocks on the shore, hence the name Hell’s Corner.

Here you’ll find brain corals, tube sponges, mushroom heads, large gorgonians, abundant fish life, schooling jacks, barracuda, sea turtles, lobsters, and spotted and green morays.

Superior Producer Wreck: If you travel outside cruise ship season you can dive the Superior Producer Wreck, offered by Lions Dive & Beach Resort. This is definitely a must-do as the ship is a colorful 240-foot long feast for the eyes. Corals, sponges and micro-life cover the ship as fish and barracudas swim about.

Lions Dive & Beach Resort’s dive masters, staff, and boat captains are all ‘first rate’ with its very own dive shop complete with PADI educational courses and more. Ocean Encounters, their ‘One Stop Dive Shop’ and the largest dive operator in Curacao, allows divers the opportunity to dive the entire island and experience sites like Mushroom Forest, Klein Curacao, Tugboat and more from right outside your hotel door.

Other must-do dives include: Klein Curacao, Airplane Wreck, Kabes di Baranka/ Beach Point & Caracasbay Lost Anchor, Vaersenbay Car Wrecks, Halfway, and much more.

Topside

If you’re in the mood to shop, the historic capital city of Willemstad is only a 5-minute drive from Lions Dive. There you can also find great restaurants, nightlife spots, and of course its world-famous sherbet-colored buildings.

Still into sea-life even outside the water? Us too.

A short walk away (next door to Lions Dive) is the Seaquarium and Dolphin Academy. The Seaquarium has several aquaria and interactive programs with sea lions, turtles and sharks! Experienced divers can even partake in a special dolphin dive. (We know that isn’t really topside, but we’re divers – we can’t help it.)

It’s also well worth the effort to rent a car and explore the other end of the island where you’ll find spectacular beaches amongst the cliffs and magnificent aqua blue waters.

Curacao has a mix of over 50 different cultures, so food here’s going to be varied and we love that! A variety of influences from Dutch, Spanish, Creole, Indonesian, and more can be found at Curaçao’s famous old market, Marsche Bieuw in downtown Willemstad. We can’t get into all the delicious dishes so we’ll leave that for you to discover for yourself. But don’t leave without trying: fried plantains, kokada, bami, sate, and kònkòmber!

For more on how to experience Lions Dive and Ocean Encounters click here and for more on Curacao click here.

Check out more photos on Curacao and Lions Dive on our Pinterest and Facebook Photo Albums.

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A Mermaid Minute: Linden Wolbert

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

‘Out of the sea… wish I could be… part of that, world…’

What if we told you we found a girl who longed to be part of the undersea world? Who quit her steady 9-5 to fulfill her dream of becoming a real mermaid.

We’re not nuts! Though it sounds a bit odd, this is exactly what Linden Wolbert did. And some of us here are a little envious! As divers, free-diving with a fish-like tail is the closest you can get to comfortably experiencing the ocean as the undersea creatures do.

So, what’s her story?

As a kid Linden loved movies like “Splash” and “The Little Mermaid” she’d also spend most of her time watching wildlife documentaries. Linden’s even got a bachelor’s degree in film and science from Emerson.

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Shine

Her goal? To become an underwater wildlife documentary filmmaker like Jacques Cousteau.

She ended up with a 35-pound, 6-foot long hydro-dynamic tail that’s probably worth more than some of our dive equipment… She’s also got a few more and one in the works by famed fashion designer Evey Rothstein.

Her tails aren’t just for show. Each tail is ‘swimmable’ and allows her to make differently in the water. This little mermaid can also dive down about 100 feet and hold her breath for five full minutes.

There’s so much more to her story, work and charity work, and her online show The Mermaid Minute.

Check it out at Yahoo! Shine’s What It’s Like to Be a Real-Life Mermaid>>

 

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Destination Spotlight: Cozumel, Mexico

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

Crystal clear waters, delicious (and we mean delicious) food, friendly locals, rich history and of course drift diving, which is a must for experienced divers, and so much more.

We’re going to try the best we can to fit all of the best of Cozumel Mexico into one awesome post.

Ready?

Here’s your next stop in our virtual destination tours: Cozumel, Mexico.

Diving Cozumel  

Divers from across the globe travel to this beautiful island to enjoy Mexico’s uniquereefs, marine life, and dive conditions.

Diving in Cozumel takes place in the Meso-American Barrier Reef at the National Marine Park, which has been protecting the area for over 15 years. Depending on the season, currents vary from nonexistent to about 2 knots or so. And at times, you may be able to experience the Cozumel Drift, which allows you to partake in spectacular diving with little to no effort.

What can you expect to see at the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere?

Over 250 species of fish and 26 classes of coral inhabit this area as well as sponges, sea turtles, crustaceans, stingray and more. You can also see nurse sharks, small black tips, barracudas, and grouper year round.

Must-Do-Dives 

The must-dos are in the Palancar reef area. It consists of over 6 miles of reefs, caves, drop offs, and tunnels. This reef alone contains 25 sites which are divided into different areas known as Horse Shoe, Caves, Bricks, and Palancar Shallow – just to name a few.

Some other famous dive sites include: Columbia y Columbia shallows, Punta Sur and Santa Rosa.

Cozumel also offers a series of smaller reefs that are extremely fun and have tons of marine life: Tormentos, Yucab, and Chancanaab.

A popular place to stay that is extremely diver-friendly (you can tell by its name) is Scuba Club Cozumel. Located on the waterfront about a mile south of the downtown ferry dock, this attractive multi-level building of Spanish-Colonial architecture blends in with its magnificent waterfront.

No hype. No pretensions.

That’s how divers find their way here. Designed and built for and by divers.

The hotel’s even got a PADI 5-Star facility. A full service dive center is located inside the premises and includes an air filling station with four compressors and a four-stage filtering system, a full line of rental gear and basic repairs shop.

If you’re looking to up your dive skills Scuba Club’s also got an International Training Center offering specialty courses and certification at all levels.

Got your fins perked again, huh?

Topside

No doubt, Mexico’s FULL of rich history and culture, some of which are noted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But there are some wonders you can experience right in Cozumel.

San Miguel: Cozumel’s main town is just a short walk away from Scuba Club Cozumel. The pueblito is known for its numerous family restaurants, bars, shopping, and much more.

For a more authentic Mexican vibe you can go to El Mercado (the Market), which is open daily from 6am – 1pm. There you can meet locals and shop for some Mexican food and wares.

Visit El Museo (the Museum) located right on the waterfront where you can enjoy local artist works and an exhibit on Cozumel’s history and heritage.

The ‘Other Side’: Looking for a different experience in Cozumel? Rent a car and head to the quiet mostly uninhibited other side of Cozumel. There you’ll find beautiful beaches, snorkeling, bars serving fresh fish, and you can even visit the small Mayan ruins of San Gervasio.

Want a little more adventure?

If you’ve got more time you can visit nearby attractions such as:

Chichen Itza: Said to be one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and let us tell you, it IS. This site is a little further away but definitely worth the effort, as it is known as one of the most important civic and religious centers of the Mayans.

X-Caret Park: One of the most noted things about Mexico other than its ruins are its cenotes, which are openings (small or large) or a lagoon to underground fresh water rivers, caverns and caves. X-Caret Park offers a magnificent archeological experience of Riviera Maya. Enjoy snorkeling in underground rivers, wild life, vibrant Mexican culture and exhibitions, beach and much more.

For more on how to experience Scuba Club Cozumel click here and for more on Cozumel Mexico click here.

Check out more photos on Cozumel and Scuba Club Cozumel on our Pinterest and Facebook Photo Albums.

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Destination Spotlight: Bonaire

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

Just 50 miles north of Venezuela and about 38 miles east of Curacao, lies a 24-mile long island with some of most beautiful and well protected dive sites in the world. We’re talking about Bonaire, of course. And if you haven’t experienced it for yourself just yet, this post might be the nudge you’ve been waiting for!

We’ve got the skinny on real 24/7 diving (we knew you’d love that), exquisitely preserved marine life, attractions and activities and some history for all you yesteryear junkies.

It just would have been wrong to keep this all to ourselves, so here it is, your virtual trip to beautiful Bonaire.

Diving Bonaire

As a result of submarine volcanic eruptions (millions of years ago, don’t worry!), Bonaire is the peak of a submerged mountain with sloping fringing reefs that are very close to shore. In addition, the dives are considered to be some of the best in the world. Bonaire has more #1 rankings from divers in the Caribbean including best shore diving for 20 years, best advanced/beginner and best macro/underwater photography.

Why?

We’ll tell ya!

Visibility is AMAZING: the underwater visibility is over 100 feet year-round and most of Bonaire’s 86 marked dive sites can either be accessed from the shore or are no more than 15 minutes away via boat. Since almost every dive is from a moored dive site, Bonaire’s appeal is from the newest to most experienced diver. So get your fins and cameras ready!

Over 360 different fish species: tons to see + clear waters, seriously what more could a diver ask for? From seahorses to turtles, nurse sharks, eels, angelfish, damselfish, peacock flounder and the not so occasional pelagic, the fish life is extensive. There are also tons of extensive colorful coral, sponges, crabs, mollusks and invertebrates. You’ll just have to see for yourself.

Truly unlimited diving: one of the best things about Bonaire is that you can pretty much get into a car and drive to one of about twenty dive sites and dive in. But a great place to dive 24/7, 365, night and day is Captain Don’s Habitat. Whether it’s 3am or noon, you can grab a tank and in one giant stride (or take the less climactic ladder) you’re moments away from the beautiful house reef and diving freedom. Want more? Then explore 80 dive sites from their custom dive boats.

Some popular dives include:

  • Forest (Klein Bonaire)
  • Invisibles
  • Margate Bay
  • Hilma Hooker
  • Hands Off (Klein Bonaire)

Oh! And for all our certified nitrox divers, Captain Don’s Habitat is the only resort on the island to offer medical grade nitrox.

Captain Don’s Habitat is also responsible for an awesome Wounded Warriors program and environmentally friendly developments and marine conservation.

Green Life

Bonaire takes pride in being one of the world’s most beautiful treasures, which is why it’sdetermined to protect its natural resources. All of the waters surrounding Bonaire and the uninhabited Klein Bonaire or “Little Bonaire” have been named Marine Parks since 1979. To maintain and preserve the natural environment spearfishing and reef anchoring are strictly prohibited. Collecting seashells, sea fans, sand and any type of coral are also against the law.

Underwater environmentalist Captain Don Stewart (Captain Don’s Habitat’s founder) was also at the forefront of environmentally sound developments and reflected this love in his resort. This continues today from the low impact construction methods, to the use of solar water heaters and energy saving devices, as well as a state of the art wastewater treatment system, every detail has been designed to have the least possible impact on the local environment.

Topside

Bonaire is rich in beautiful fauna and flora, so it’s perfectly okay to want to spend some time outside the water too. So what can you do around an island that does not have a single traffic light?

Here are some awesome topside activities:

Windsurfing at Lac Bay: the peaceful, protected lagoon at Lac Bay is the perfect spot for windsurfing with clear, waist-deep water at a constant 15-25 knots per hour winds.

Flamingo Watching at the Salt Flats: THE place to watch flamingos, there are thousands, is at the salt ponds in the National Park at Goto Meer or at the southern end of the island at the solar salt works. Every day at sunset, the entire flock flies back to Venezuela for feeding. A beautiful not-to-be-missed sight.

Washington Slagbaai National Park: A truly natural and dramatic terrain which offers excellent snorkeling and subtle discoveries but don’t feed the Iguanas!

Kralendijk: The Capital City: Bonaire’s capital is a quite town of colorful, well preserved buildings. Only a few blocks in size, you can sightsee the island’s highlights such as: Fort Organje, Queen Wilhemina Park, Government House and the mini Greek temple-style fruit and veggie market. The city also offers a variety of bars and restaurants that offer authentic dishes that blend the best of European and the Americas cuisine and drinks.

For more on how you can experience Captain Don’s Habitat’s 24/7 diving click here and learn more on Bonaire click here.

Click through for photos on Bonaire and Captain Don’s Habitat visit our Pinterest and Facebook Photo Album.

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Destination Spotlight: Roatan, Honduras

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

As you know, we just love a good dive, no matter where it is. And nothing perks our fins up like hearing “the second largest barrier reef in the world.” But to make sure we’ve got your attention we’re also going to mention cage-free shark dives, open water dolphin dives, wrecks, and glorious marine life.

Hooked?

Knew you’d be, and we’ve only just breached the surface. So let’s get into it!

Diving Roatan

Diving in Roatan is something every diver must experience, at least once though we know a large percentage go back since it’s difficult to dive all the must-dos in a single trip. It’s home to the second largest barrier reef, how could you pass that up?

Photo Courtesy of Anthony's Key Resort

There’s so much to see from wrecks to walls to sloping canyons and beautiful corals and marine life. Our good friend Mel recently visited Roatan and returned impressed by the relative health of the reef and the variety of soft coral. He also noted that the diving was fairly relaxed with little in the way of currents or swells and the visibility was great, (perfect for spotting critters and sea life at a distance).

You can expect to find turtles, moray eels, stingrays, groupers, snappers, a large variety of reef fish, invertebrates, colorful healthy reefs and, if you’re lucky, you might even spot a large pelagic or a giant whale shark!

A great place to stay if you dive Roatan is Anthony’s Key Resort. Mel noted it is “a remarkable place. It is fairly self-sufficient with its own generators, water filtration and sewage system,” but one of the things we love most about Anthony’s Key is its clinic.

Originally created to aid local lobstermen with decompression sickness, the clinic has helped hundreds of locals and tourists for over 25 years. As divers, we’re all over this since it’s nice to know we can dive worry-free and if anything does happen, we’re covered, right at the resort

But back to diving – we haven’t even gotten into two of our favorite dives yet: Shark and Dolphin dives.

Shark Dive

Photo Courtesy of Anthony's Key Resort

Although this might scare-off a normal tourist, we’re divers and we couldn’t wait to sign up for this. A shark dive is a must on most diver lists. So, when you’ve got a place that offers that how can you say no?

Seventy feet below the sea you can find 5-8 foot Caribbean reef sharks circling the floor and waiting to be fed by specialized divers who hand-feed these magnificent creatures. And for the next 30 minutes you can free swim or kneel as the sharks do their thing and divers are treated to this awe-inspiring scene when man and shark share the ocean in harmony.

Dolphin Dive

Photo Courtesy of Anthony's Key Resort

Anthony’s Key is also known for its free swim Dolphin dives as well as its Shark dives.

From the Anthony’s Key dock, divers are taken to Bailey’s Key for a topside orientation and Q&A session to learn about diving etiquette with the dolphins. Then, you’re just a short boat ride to a beautiful reef wall where two to three naturally curious dolphins arrive and are free to interact with you. And for the next 45 minutes divers can observe, photograph and play with bottlenose dolphins in their natural environment.

Topside at Roatan

Roatan isn’t just a diver’s dream, but it’s also pretty great for land-lovers.

Photo Courtesy of Anthony's Key Resort

If you decide to take the day off from diving, you can hit up the beach and relax under a palm tree and soak up the rays or grab a kayak and paddle and explore (guess that’s not really for land-lovers, is it?) but you can go horseback riding, off-road in a 4-wheel sand/dune buggy and then some.

You can also check out the Roatan Museum and Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences, where guests can participate in educational programs and encounters with marine mammals. More inquisitive guests can join trained naturalists across the lagoon on Bailey’s Key to interact with playful dolphins and observe some of the island’s indigenous plants and animals along the key’s nature trail.

One of the must-dos for Roatan is the zip line tour that’s combined with a visit to Gumbalimba Park, which boasts a botanical garden and small nature preserve complete with colorful parrots and a variety of monkeys. The zip line portion has about a dozen lines starting from the top of a mountain down to sea level and it’s quite a rush to zip through the scenery.

Photo Courtesy of Gumbalimba Park

Another thing you’ve got to try at Roatan, and particularly at Anthony’s Key Resort is their Monkeylala; a local drink and guest favorite that consists of Kahlua, Vodka, Coconut Cream and Cream.

Roatan is also known for it’s delicious Honduran eats. For breakfast, you must have a typical Honduran breakfast at least once. The dish contains: eggs, ripe plantains, Honduran cheese, refried beans, tortillas and a variety of tropical fruits, definitely something you won’t find easily back home.

Other favorites are Churrasco Steak, Island Stew Chicken, Conch Soup, Coconut Sea Bass and Habanero Shrimp Kebab.

For more on how to experience Anthony’s Key Resort click here and for more on Roatan click here.

Check out more photos on Roatan and Anthony’s Key Resort on our Pinterest and Facebook Photo Album

Posted in Dive Travel Deals, Honduras, Scuba Diving, Sharks | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Gear, New Gear!!

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

Photo Courtesy of Scuba Gear Reports

Where can you get over hundreds exhibitors with the newest in scuba gear and over 9,800 dive professionals under one roof?

DEMA Show!

The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association hosts the largest trade-only event in the world catering to companies in the scuba, water sports, and adventure/dive travel industries.

 So who was there? 

Well, aside from us and the awesome Scuba Gear Report whose full article is featured on this post, great companies like Apollo Sports, Aqualung, Dive Dawg, McNett, Scubapro and tons more!

What we found? 

Nothing short of greatness.

Photo Courtesy of Scuba Gear Reports

Bodyglove was commemorating 60 years of wetsuit design and innovation and they were celebrating with a bang! Their site now allows you to design your own wetsuit!  Just choose the model and colors you want and click click your custom suit will made to your specifications – something tells us we’re going to need one in every color, to match our fins of course.

Mares was also present with a new Hybrid Pure BC as well as their latest Avanti Quattro + fin with a more flexible compound and bungee strap.

Another company celebrating 50 years in the biz was Scubapro. Their booth had an awesome display with every regulator they ever built from their first stages and on.

We’re not going to give everything away because SGR’s already got it covered here.

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The Kraken. Found. Real.

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

 

Well, sort of.

Photo Courtesy of the Discovery Channel

If you’re anything like us you probably caught the “Monster Squid: The Giant Is Real” special on the Discovery Channel Sunday night. We were SO thrilled and amazed that such a creature was found and we were filled with emotion  knowing that there’s still so much to discover under the sea.

So, incase you missed it or want a little recap of the special – we’ve got all you need right here.

The Expedition 

About 40 days to capture footage of the giant squid which included over 285 hours in depths of up to 3,000 feet.

The crew would dive for some hours and see nothing only to rise from the depths discouraged and on top of that, expectations were low.

Photo Courtesy of the Discovery Channel

The Find 

Hopes of finding a giant squid have been kept alive with remains of carcasses floating ashore, bits and pieces of squid in fishing nets and of course – folklore, tall tales of monstrous beasts the size of islands.

This however, is the first giant squid video ever captured of the animal in its natural habitat. Beautifully floating through the depths and feeling around the equipment and cameras.

Want more? We know you do.

Click here for everything giant squid on the Discovery Channel.

Now, anyone wanna help us fund the mermaid expedition?

Posted in Marine Life, Scuba Diving, Sea Legends, Underwater Photography | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

12 Dive “Secret Spots”

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

It’s no secret, we all love to dive and some of us have been to the Bahamas and back but what if we told you there a few spots you have yet to set eyes on? That’s right, treasures of the underwater universe only a handful of people have experienced.

'Silver Lining' - The Red Sea

Like Silver Lining:

Known as the Sinker, this site was created after 80 feet of weighted mooring line was mistakenly thrown into 110 feet of water, just off the coast of the Egyptian town of Nuweiba. The mooring buoy is now adorned with vivid orange, red and pink soft corals, and hangs like a giant upside-down flower basket attached to a seabed far below. The most magical part of this little microcosm of life is the school of sweepers that flows like liquid metal, evading the predation of patrolling jacks.

Click here to check out twelve amazing spots from Malaysia to Brazil and Scotland we know you won’t want to pass these up.

Text and photography courtesy of Steve Jones. Post courtesy of ScubaDiving.com

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Underwater Photography Tips: Creating Movement

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Maduro Dive News Staff

Got a nifty new camera over the holidays and can’t wait to use it? We’ve got SportDiver.com’s Digital Photography 101: Creating Movement to get the most awesome pics from your cam!

Photo Courtesy of SportDiver.com

Check this tip: Zooming out while you take the photo creates this “zoom blur” effect. As seen here on this Pink Anemonefish shot.

Click here for more technique tips and full article. Got your own kick-ass underwater photos you want to share? Link us in a comment or post ‘em to our Wall on Facebook!

Posted in Underwater Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment