See the World Differently
“What do you think of Thai diving so far?” Chris enquired as we waddled across the dive platform, dripping wet and keen to get out of our gear. “Hmm…” came my non-committal reply. As we de-kitted, we discussed the merits of our first dive in the Similan Islands. Diving at Koh Tachai, the most northerly […]
The limestone shimmered gold in the blazing sun, reflected by the mirrored surface of the water below. Beneath the waves was a different world: vertical walls encrusted with hard corals and clusters of yellow anemones like fields of tentacled flowers. Bearded fireworms wove their way to their next meal and passing schools of bream glittered […]
Diving with seals in the Farne Islands, we kept our eyes peeled for the ghostly shadows appearing in the distance. Despite our best efforts, our quarry found us first. Feeling a gentle tug on my fin, I turned just in time to catch a flash of grey disappearing behind me. Another tug and I turned […]
On the 16th of February 1944 the first wave of Operation Hailstone strafed Chuuk Lagoon, raining death across the islands. American bombers quickly decimated the Japanese airstrips and destroyed dozens of aircraft while they were still on the ground. Over the next two days, an unyielding storm of bombs and torpedoes pounded the Japanese fleet […]
The Fujikawa Maru is widely regarded as one of the best wreck dives in the world. We had fun looking through dozens of artifacts and delving deep inside the ship. Built in 1938, this cargo ship was requisitioned by the Japanese Navy for the war effort just two years later. The vessel and her crew […]
Beyond the black sand beaches of Tulamben, on the coast of Bali, tufts of coral and brightly coloured sponges cling to the otherwise sparse volcanic slope. For those taking the time to look, these are the best places for divers to find the weirdest and most wonderful critters. Seahorses are just one of the many […]
We leapt into the water, dragging our fins on as we went, each following the person in front like lemmings plummeting off a cliff. A cursory look below the surface and already we could see that nonchalant smile approaching. The rest of the paddle shaped head came into view so peppered with white polka dots […]
As we stepped off the boat, gravity took over and we hit the sea with a splash. Icy water flooded into my oversized, baggy wetsuit and with the shock of the cold, I gasped for air. I’ve been here before I thought, diving in Tasmania, I just need to wait a minute to acclimatise to […]
The eel garden stretched out before us, hundreds of slender bodies waving like blades of grass as their tiny heads bobbed to the beat of their own drums. As we cruised above them, the garden eels slowly slipped deeper into their burrows until only their heads were visible. After we had passed by, they regained […]
With it’s heavily defended natural harbour, Chuuk Lagoon was one of Japan’s main naval bases during the Pacific War. Dozens of ships passed through these waters providing much needed supplies for the warships, submarines and aircraft deployed throughout the South Pacific. At the first hint of an American attack on Chuuk, the majority of the […]