Traveling the country and exploring what the world has to offer broadens our horizons and paints a much bigger picture for us. There is so much out there to do and see and the beauty of different areas treats us to sights we could have never imagined. Did you know there is a whole other world to explore in our oceans? Oceans cover approximately 71 percent of the world and what lies in them is a vast marine world full of mystery and discoveries. Tours, boats, underwater excursions and much more allow us to experience a water habitat that wasn’t made for us. Don’t limit your travels to land as there is much more to see and do beneath the blue ocean surface. Here are some tips you could consider when you’re planning your ocean adventures.
Choose Your Water Destination
First, where would you like to go? The tropical waters of Hawaii? The turquoise waters of the Caribbean? Or deep sea fishing out in the middle of the deep, dark ocean? Choose a beach or ocean close to you or travel across the country to foreign destinations and water for some of the best ocean adventures. Dive with sharks, scuba the Great Barrier Reef or snorkel off of a tropical island that has beautiful fish and turtles. Make a list of what you would like to do and see or choose a favorite to explore.
Whale Watching
Seeing the massive and majestic creatures as they migrate is something that should be on everyone’s bucket list. There are several popular whale watching destinations during specific times of the year when the whales can be seen from shore or easily by boat on a whale watching tour. California is a very popular place to see whales and there are many whale watching boat tours to choose from, particularly during the months of December through April to see gray whales or April through December to see humpback or blue whales in the Pacific. Head north to the states of Washington, southeastern Alaska and Vancouver Island of Canada to see the wild orcas whales commonly seen at SeaWorld. Boat tours can take you up close to these “killer” whales with their stunning black and white markings as they swim in their pods together. From May through October on the East coast of the U.S., whale watching is in full season. Here, the whales migrate to these feeding grounds off the east coast, delighting whale watchers from around the globe as they travel to see these amazing creatures.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is an interesting and avid habit of many people who love to explore the underwater world. Scuba diving allows you to fully submerge and come face to face with the creatures and plants of the ocean. The top rated places to scuba dive are all over the world. Indonesia is one of the best places for underwater photographs and scuba diving. The reefs and fish are vibrant and beautiful particularly around the Misool’s Boo Rocks area, which is a favorite of photographers. The Cayman Islands are another scuba favorite, has infinite visibility and reefs so large you can swim through them all while surrounded by schools of fish and beauty beyond comprehension. Mexico including the areas of Cancun, Cozumel, the Riviera Maya and the Baja peninsula area all popular with scuba divers as the area is compared to a giant underwater museum, full of huge manta rays, reefs, marine life and fish to see and explore.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is something everyone can do, even kids! Snorkeling does not require you to be a certified diver like scuba diving requires. All you need is a mask and some flippers to make swimming out in the open among the fish and reefs easier. Snorkeling can be done at any beach or body of water, but beware of strong currents and tides, as they can pull you out further. The Bahamas are a great place to snorkel due to the clarity of the light blue water and all the underwater life to see. Keep an eye out for dolphins and porpoises. The Crystal River in Florida has gentle manatees you can swim slowly right next to for an exciting experience. Catalina Island off the coast of California has rock reef, a kelp forest and lots of sea life to go with it. Look for sea stars and the occasional octopus. The tropical island of Maui is another favorite to snorkel. Look for sea turtles that call the area home.
Diving with Sharks
For more extreme water activities, diving with sharks will not disappoint and for many of the excursions you do not have to be a certified diver, so anyone can do it! Cage dive with great white sharks off the coast of South Africa or even in California and travel to Belize to see some of the largest sharks on the world known as whale sharks, which are known as gentle giants. The eastern shore of the Cape Cod area in the U.S. has tours that will let you see blue sharks, makos, great whites and basking sharks. The Beqa Lagoon in Fiji has some of the most shark-infested stretches of beach and waters where you are guaranteed to see these stunning creatures. In the U.S. the state of Florida has diving with shark charters that allow guests to see tiger sharks, hammerheads, bull sharks and many other species beneath the deep blue. There are shark diving opportunities all over the world, all you have to do is summon your courage and go for it.
Ocean adventures for Everyone
71 percent of the world is ocean and that means there is a new world to discover. You can choose to explore above the sea by boat, cruise, deep sea fishing trip, whale watching and much more or, you can explore beneath the surface by glass-bottomed boats, snorkeling, scuba diving, seeing the reefs, fish and sharks and many other ocean adventures. Many of the deepest parts have never been explored and most people are drawn to the beaches and tropical islands where the reefs and marine life are abundant, vibrant and beautiful. What would you like to do? There is an ocean adventure out there with your name on it, so enjoy all the sights and sounds of our beautiful lands, but don’t forget to see the other world that lies below in a stunning water world of activity and life.