Millions of vacationing tourists visit Hawaii every year. Most of them came to explore the beautiful Hawaiian Islands and volcanoes while some came with the intention to scuba dive in the tropical seas and to explore Hawaii’s magnificent underwater world. According to Rodale’s scuba diver magazine, Hawaii is one of the world’s top ten diving destination for scuba divers.
Hawaii’s marine life is very diverse so much so that there are more than a hundred endemic species found no where else on earth. You can explore Hawaii’s myriads of underwater caverns, reefs, drop off walls, canyons, gulleys and swim with turtles and seals in clear crystal waters. If you are not a scuba diver, you can take scuba diving lessons and then can plunge into Hawaii’s beautiful seas almost immediately.
If you want to go scuba diving, it is best to go in the morning as strong winds often rough up the sea in the afternoons. This is especially so on the island of Maui and that is the reason why dive operators often take divers out to sea early in the morning and terminate the dives around noon or early afternoons.
One of the big attractions in Hawaii is snorkeling. Almost anyone can go snorkeling since all you need is a face mask, a snorkel tube and a pair of swimming fins. If you have never snorkeled before, most resorts and dive operators can give you snorkelling lessons and rent you snorkeling gear. However, if you can swim, you really do not need any formal training as snorkeling is quite easy.
The most popular spot for snorkeling in Hawaii, especially for the beginner is the Hanauma Bay, on the island of Oahu. Other popular snorkeling sites in Hawaii are the Kee Beach on Kauai island, Hulopoe Bay in Lanai, Kahaluu Beach on the Big island and Kapalua Bay on Maui.
Although great snorkeling can be gotten at all the islands in Hawaii, snorkeling and scuba diving on the Big Island is recommended because of its volcanic activities and lava formation resulting from that. There are magnificent and spectacular drop offs with awesome underwater scenery to watch and admire. Some of the great snorkeling locations there are Molokini Crater and the Kealakekua Bay.
Whether you are snorkelling or scuba diving in Hawaii or anywhere else, always snorkel or dive with a buddy for safety reason and companion sake. Do look up now and then to check that you are not getting carried away by drift current too far away from shore and also to check for boat traffic. Do not touch anything as some corals and sea creatures in Hawaii can pack very painful and venomous stings.

The beautiful island of Maui attracts visitors with its beautiful beaches, abundant sea life, and warm teal waters. Some water sport adventurers prefer Maui’s snorkeling, floating languidly at the surface and gliding gently through the water, hovering above the sea life they are viewing. This is a comfortable place for those who have not spent a great deal of time in the ocean, but it can sometimes be difficult to get an up-close view of the sea life. Generally, only advanced snorkelers have the ability to dive down and completely submerge.

Others prefer to scuba dive in Maui, becoming completely immersed in the underwater world. Scuba allows you the freedom to really explore your surroundings, but it involves wearing cumbersome equipment and going through a lengthy certification process. This may not be very convenient for the person who only swims in the ocean once or twice each year, or is on a short vacation.Maui Snuba offers the best of both worlds. It allows the swimmer to swim at any depth with which they are comfortable, limited only by the length of the air hose they breathe from. There is no lengthy certification process, and the swimmer does not need to wear any bulky equipment.How Maui Snuba Works

Snuba is a patented system that allows the swimmer to breathe through a 20-foot hose. The air line is attached to a traditional scuba tank, which is mounted on a small, lightweight raft. As the swimmer moves through the water, the raft follows along. The only equipment the swimmer needs to wear while submerged is a mask, fins, and a light harness attached to your Maui Snuba raft.

A swimmer can remain submerged below the surface for up to an hour at a time in the waters of Maui. Snuba also offers the freedom to swim near the surface or dive deeper, depending upon the swimmer’s comfort level. This allows the Maui Snuba participant much greater freedom to explore coral reefs, or follow schools of tropical fish or the graceful sea turtles.

Certification is easy and only involves a 15 to 20 minute safety and equipment familiarization briefing. All Maui Snuba operators are experienced dive professionals who will not only provide you with your initial introduction, but will remain in the water with you in the event you need assistance.

Anyone in good health can enjoy Snuba, including children at least eight years of age. Those who have heart conditions or are asthmatic should not participate.Where to Snuba in Maui

Many of the dive and snorkel tour operators in Maui also offer Snuba. These combined snorkel/Snuba or dive/Snuba boat tours visit all of the popular dive and snorkel locations, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the plentiful sea life that lives in Maui. Snuba is a great experience for young and old, as interacting with the miracles of underwater sea life is an incredible experience for anyone visiting Maui.

Molokini Crater is a popular area for Maui Snuba adventures. Not all of the dive locations within the Molokini Crater area are accessible to snorkelers, but several can be explored and enjoyed by Snuba – allowing you to see much more of the exciting sea life that lives in the Molokini underwater oasis.

The many turtle habitats visited by dive and snorkel boat tours are also an excellent place to for Maui Snuba. The turtles glide slowly through the water, and it is possible to swim along near them for extended periods of time. Snuba allows you the opportunity to interact more closely with these graceful underwater creatures, perfecting your Maui experience.

If you are visiting Maui, Snuba should be considered for your list of adventures. Your enhanced underwater experience will make you glad you did.

Honduras is best known for its underwater riches, particularly its vantage point to the world’s second largest barrier reef. It has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best (and cheapest) places to learn to dive or complete your dive-master training. Your dives will show you coral reefs, yawning underwater caves, wrecked ships, and the docile whale sharks. But after you have had your fill of snorkeling and diving, you’ll find out that there is more to discover in this beautiful country.
Honduras is the second largest country in Central America, but it remains largely undiscovered by the mainstream tourist. Though it has gained some renown for its pristine coral reefs and warm tropical waters – both in its Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean sides – the country also boasts of impenetrable rainforests, and rivers meandering through largely unexplored jungle areas.
Its northern Caribbean coast sparkles in miles of white sand beaches, lush greenery and rich cultural diversity. Just 30 miles away from the north coast are the Bay Islands, famous for first-class diving off the barrier reef that extends northward as far as the Yucatan Peninsula. You can also visit the Hog Islands and, farther east, the Swan Islands.
Nature and Wildlife
Those who want a more terrestrial nature experience can visit the country’s extensive park system, which covers almost a quarter of its total area. You have the opportunity to trek up to cloud-forests (mountaintops covered with clouds or rain for more than 70% of the year) and rainforests, home of elusive wildlife like the jaguar and giant anteater. Its coastal wetlands provide the habitat for monkeys, manatees, alligators, and dozens of waterfowl species. This gives many opportunities for kayaking or canoeing through mysterious mangroves, but the more adventurous should conquer the world-class white-water rafting rapids of Rio Cangrejal near La Ceiba.
The northeastern Honduras is occupied by the Moskitia (literally, mosquito), an area of 8,500 square miles. It holds one of the largest still-intact rainforests on the isthmus, sometimes referred to as the Central American Amazon. Moskitia is not accessible by road: you can only use a plane or small sea vessel. But those who go there are well-rewarded with experiences of tropical wildlife, open coasts, estuaries, river valleys, flood plains, fresh-water swamps, lagoons and mangroves.
Bird-watchers should visit the inland Lake Yojoa region and the area surrounding the coastal city of Tela to spot nearly 400 of the 700 species of birds, native and migratory, that fly through the Honduras. The ancient Maya ruins in Copan, an archaeological World Heritage site, remind you of Honduras’ long and ancient history. You can puzzle over the hieroglyphic stairway in Copan and the scientific enigmas in the 2,500-year-old Talgua Caves. The ancient city is found in Los Naranjos Archaeological Park.
When to Go
Like most tropical countries, Honduras has a rainy season and a dry season. In the interior, especially the west and south, the rainy season is roughly from May to November, with rains coming in the afternoon and lasting an hour or so. On the north coast and the Bay Islands, the rainy season comes later in September to December, but anytime outside these months is perfect for your diving and snorkeling.
Travel is easier during the dry season, especially for scuba diving and trips to La Moskitia. February and March are good months, because the weather is fairly stable in most of the country; the roads and trails are drying out but the trees and underbrush are still full and green.
Planning Your Trip
Honduras is an inexpensive country for travel, though the diving will be expensive. Your next biggest expense will be for lodgings: there are luxury hotels, but the average hotel should cost you up to $25 a night and there are budget places that go for $12 in the more popular destinations. Food for most travelers costs up to $8 per meal inclusive of drinks, taxes and tip. Budget meals at street vendors and no-name eateries might cost $5 or less.
Hiking, trekking and biking are very good in Honduras, so do prepare for these; if you can, bring your own bike. Canopy tour – where you slide from treetop to treetop – is an exciting thing to do in La Ceiba, Rio Cangrejal and the Roatan.