tomasmartinovic.com |scuba diving

“Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe. ” – Anatole France General If you decide to do an activity such as going on an organized trek you will usually find that there are several different companies offering the activities. When you make your decision do not only decide based on price, there may be big differences in the quality of the equipment and the food and how much the local porters get paid. Ask for references from other travelers. Sometimes you find that even though you book with one company they pool their customers with customers from other companies in order to make more money. If this is a problem for you then ask before you book. Make sure that you are physically prepared for the activities you plan to do, bring the right equipment or rent it locally. Make sure you have enough water and food and beware of the sun. Rock climbing Rock climbing is a good way to get some adrenalin going. In most countries there are local climbing clubs that usually can assist you with advice on where to go. Or they might come along as climbing partners if you ask them. If you do not have proper training and do not know how to handle the equipment securely there are usually commercial companies offering guided tours on beginner routes. If you end up climbing in areas rarely visited you might want to check when the area was last rebolted. Bolts are affected by the wear and tear of water, especially if they are close to the ocean. Note that different crags have different rules of what protection to use. In some places chalk is forbidden too. Make sure to stick with the local climbing rules. A good place to find route maps (topos) on the Internet is Wikitopo. Personal Experience – The Mont Blanc Misery I was in Chamonix and decided to climb Mont Blanc. As this was not part of our schedule we were in a rush to bring something to eat with us. We brought some cans of food but as we were pretty tired on our way down there was not enough time to stop to cook it. Sandwiches or energy bars would have been more convenient. Preparing alpine climbing is a must as the risk increases when you get tired and hungry. Trekking Trekking in the mountain gives you fresh air and builds your character at the same time. When you trek to higher altitudes the air pressure gets lower. At sea level the oxygen percentage is about 21% with an air pressure around 760 mmHg. As you climb higher the oxygen percentage remains the same but the air pressure gets lower. This means that your body gets less oxygen with each breath. You will lose your breath and get more tired than you perhaps anticipate. At 6 000 ft (1 828 m) the air pressure is 609 mmHg. At 12 000 ft (3 658 m) the air pressure is 483 mmHg. At 18 000 ft (5 486 m) the air pressure is only 380 mmHg. People are affected differently at high altitude. Already at 3 000 meters you can get a severe headache. It is important to listen to you body as you can get brain oedema and lung oedema if you keep on pushing on to higher altitudes. The usual recommendation is modest altitude gains of not more than 300 meters per day above 3 000 meter and to spend 2 nights in the same place every 1 000 meters. Another thing when you are at high altitude is that water boils at a lower temperature than at sea level. You may therefore have to cook food for a longer period of time. The temperature can change drastically during the day. It may be freezing cold in the morning, extremely hot during they day and cold at night again. If you change altitude it gets colder the higher you get, around 10 degrees Centigrade (=5,5 degrees Fahrenheit) per 1 000 meters. As an example, if you start out at 10 degrees Centigrade at sea level, this can mean a temperature of -20 degrees Centigrade at 3 000 meters. The chill factor from the wind can make it even colder. Plan your trip accordingly and allow plenty of slack in your schedule to be able to get down before dark. If there is snow it is important to wear alpine sun glasses to avoid getting snow blind (or a severe headache). Scuba diving and snorkeling Going under water gives you new perspectives of the world. If you intend to get your diving license abroad it makes sense to do some research beforehand. Try to go for the two big certificates: PADI or CMAS. Renting equipment has it pros and cons. On the upside you do not have to carry your own heavy equipment all over the world. On the downside the rental equipment in many parts of the world is rather poor. Bring your own mask, snorkel and dive watch as a minimum if you intend do some serious diving. The quality of dive companies and liveaboards also differ greatly. In Australia it is usually very well organized and the instructors show respect to the sea and its inhabitants. In other places dive masters start chasing fish or bend up corals just to show you something “extra”. Do not encourage this behavior. Other people want to see the stuff too! In some places, such as the Red Sea, the snorkeling is almost as good as the scuba diving. Even though scuba diving increases the chances of seeing “big”animals. Personal Experience – The Zanzibar Snorkeling Zest I was staying on the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania. I was going for a dive with a bunch of people, but before we got to the dive site we spotted some dolphins nearby. The boatman took us there and I was so eager to get into the water that I forgot my fins. Meanwhile the other people had entered the water and were swimming towards the dolphins. Back on the boat the driver said: “Do not worry. The dolphins have moved. I will take you there. ” When I jumped into the water the second time I was all alone with 8 dolphins for a few minutes before the rest of the crowd came and scared them away for good. Magical. Riding Horseback riding is fun. And camel riding too. Being a novice is usually not a problem. If you are a skilled rider you might find rental horses non-responsive and pretty dull. This is what happens when hundreds of kids pull them in the ears all day. If you are going on a longer tour, make sure that you get a proper inspection of the horses, camels or whatever you are going to ride. Personal Experience – The Jaisalmer Jeopardy In Jaisalmer, India we signed up for a 3-day camel tour out in the desert. We paid a bit extra to get “premium camel” and “premium food”. Well, it turn out my camel (nicknamed Ernst) were the slowest one in the Rajastan desert. And the special food – served every lunch and dinner – was Alu Gobi, which is a mix of potato and cauliflower. Probably the cheapest they could offer. So, it makes good sense to try to check what you are really getting if possible. Or talk to other backpackers or just browse the web.

Diving the Poor Knight IslandsAt seven o’clock in the morning I woke up and went to have breakfast.   The weather didn’t look too promising, but we didn’t let that stop us.   There were dark clouds overhead and it was raining, but who cares about raining when you are underwater!  Everyone else was up so daddy, Felix and I started to prepare for the trip that was to come.   Once we had our swimmers on we packed the backpack with everything we would need that day.   We each brought our cameras and my dad packed some chocolate.   We drove out of the hotel and directly to the Dive Tutukaka shop.   When we arrived we filled out some forms and then they suited us up with, 3 wetsuits, gloves, boots, flippers and a hood.   Once we had all the equipment we needed, we walked across the road to the marina where the 80 foot Perfect Day dive and cruise boat awaited us.   There were 24 other people on the boat but not all of them were diving.   Some of them were snorkeling and some of them were just there for the cruise. Craig, the captain aboard the boat gave us a safety briefing of the boat and introduced us to the crew.   It was long 45 minute ride out to the islands pounding against the huge swell all the way.   On the way there, we got to know our dive master Evan.   Once we were inside a protected bay Craig stopped the boat.   It took the crew about five minutes to anchor the boat on all sides before the boat was secure.   Then Craig came up stairs to give us a site briefing.   The dive site was called Magic Wall because when the depth dropped from six to fifteen meters, the wall was home to a variety of fish and sponges.   He explained some of the marine life that we could see there and when he finished he told all of the divers to go downstairs to get ready.   Because I had three wetsuits they were pretty hard to get on.   It took us at least ten minutes to get completed suited up and another three minutes in the water to check our buoyancy.   And finally when we were all set and ready to go, we went down.   It was a shallow dive site, the max depth being only fifteen meters, but Evan said we would be able to see everything just fine from twelve meters.   We slowly went along the “Magic” wall and Evan showed us everything he saw.   He pointed out some moray eels, nudibranchs, and I spotted a short tailed stingray in the distance.   We also saw a couple scorpionfish camouflaged in the rocks.   The water was the perfect temperature for kelp and it thrived along the sea floor.   If you got low enough you wouldn’t be able to see anything through the thick kelp.   We stayed underwater for 45 minutes and then we surfaced.   I still had 120 bar left when we surfaced.   When I was back onboard I took my wetsuits off and had a hot shower.   Then, once everybody was back on board the vessel we started to move again.   He told us that we would take a little cruise to the next dive location while we warmed up. He told us a little bit about the history of the Poor Knight Islands and took us to some of the historic sites.   On the cruise, we went through the biggest arch in the southern hemisphere and into the largest sea cave in the world.   It took us 40 minutes before we arrived at the next dive site and again he gave us a site briefing.   This spot was called Blue MaoMao Cave and from where we were anchored you could clearly see the cave.   Again, I suited up in my three wetsuits and my BCD before I jumped into the chilly water with my brother, daddy and Evan.   Evan checked all of us before we went down to the rocky bottom.   He led us under a boulder and into the cave.   There were millions of Blue MaoMao!  As we slowly swam through the giant cloud of fish they separated from each other and ran away.   We swam along the cave wall and Eric showed us more interesting creatures and objects.   He found us a few more nudibranchs and pointed out some neat sponges.   We stayed underwater for another 45 minutes before we surfaced for the last time.   We lifted ourselves and our heavy suits aboard the boat and then took of our suits to have a nice hot shower.   After everybody was settled, Craig alerted us that we were going to head back to Tutukaka.   I had another cup of hot soup and we talked with some of the other divers about the amazing experience he had shared as we cruised on back to Tutukaka.          

Scuba diving is an exciting and exhilarating hobby that allows you to view an underworld life most won’t ever see firsthand. When you are diving, you are given an intimate show of what life looks like below the water line. But, it takes a certain type of person to be able to go scuba diving because it is dangerous. Not only do you have to worry about losing oxygen, but what about the threat of underwater creatures?
Sharks and eels are probably the two creatures that strike fear into the hearts of most people when they think about scuba diving. But, actual attacks are very rare and your chances of getting killed or hurt are slim. Still though, you do have to think about what would happen if you were diving and came face to face with an angry shark. Your wet suit wouldn’t do anything to protect you against those teeth. So, think about that long and hard before you jump off that boat next time.
Though it is a scary thought, perhaps that’s the appeal for many scuba diving fanatics. Not only do you get to see the amazing underwater life, but you are also in a constant state of threat that something could go wrong at any minute. But, diving isn’t the only hobby that’s fraught with danger, think about rock climbing, bungee jumping and white water rafting. People love these activities for the thrill and the high they get. So, scuba diving probably isn’t any different and you get the added bonus of seeing vibrantly colored fish and exotic sea creatures as well.
Before you set off to go scuba diving, make sure you’ve been well trained. Take a class from a professional so you will know exactly what to do and when to do it. It’s always good to learn this way so you’ll know what to do in case of an emergency as well. Buy a quality wetsuit and other diving essentials and you’ll be a diving pro in no time!

Don’t leave the dock without it
When you pack your gear bag, your checklist probably includes the usual gear and emergency equipment, mask, fins, regulator and one of those kits with a few extra o-rings, neoprene patches and regulator mouthpieces. Here are a few extra things that you can throw into your gear bag that will make your dive more comfortable, confident, and safe. Citrus beverages
When I surface, the first thing I want to do is get the taste of ocean out of my mouth. As much as I appreciate the smell of the sea and the salty air, I’m not so enthusiastic about having it on my tongue. Water is refreshing, but I find that I can drink a few liters of bottled water and still taste the remnants of the sea in my mouth.

After experimenting with dozens of beverage candidates, I find that Five Alive is hands-down the best cure for oceanmouth. Other citrus juices are good, but none are quite as effective as Five Alive. The better ones were those that contain acidic juices like pineapple and grapefruit.

The juice serves another purpose: rehydration. It seems counterintuitive that spending an hour submerged in water can cause dehydration, but it’s true. The air in your tanks is very dry – necessarily so, since moisture in a tank will rust it from the inside. Just breathing in that dry air for an hour will silently dehydrate you. Drink something when you get back to the boat and you can avoid the symptoms of dehydration such as headache, nausea and dizziness. Long-sleeved rashgard or cotton shirt
Did you know that the chemicals in sunscreen are poisonous to reef-dwelling marine life? You need to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation, but you don’t want to slather on the SPF lotion before your dive. Cover up the old fashioned way with a cotton shirt or a long-sleeved rashguard. Laminated Dive Table Chart
Are you dependent on your computer? Go back and review your certification training and learn how to calculate your residual nitrogen using tables. Computers are great tools, but it behooves every diver to remember how to manage their nitrogen levels without gadgetry. A “dry bag”
A dry bag needn’t be anything fancy – inexpensive bags with resealable flaps are available at most camping or marine supply stores. They don’t need to be watertight to 100 ft – since you leave them on the boat in your gear bag. My favorite is a bright yellow, rubber bag with a top that folds over three times and tucks into itself for an easy watertight seal. Many divers on a budget will use a variety of disposable resealable freezer bags.

In my dry bag, I keep:

Tissues – a necessity. After purging my mask a few times, my sinuses get rebellious.
Cotton Swabs – some gentle attention to get the water out of my ears.
A photocopy of my identification & passport – just in case
Band-aids – because I stub my toes on boats
Everything that was in my pockets – Before donning my wetsuit, my dry bag (by virtue of its sealability) is a good place to keep a cell phone, camera, wallet, jewelery, car keys, etc.

Tell someone where you are going and who you’re with.
Make this a habit, so you don’t need to be concerned when an emergency arises.

First, make sure the dive operator knows who you are, where you are staying, and who to contact in case of an emergency. If you are injured during a dive, the dive operators might whisk you directly to the nearest hospital, medical clinic or decompression chamber. If the medical staff can’t determine your identity, it can complicate your medical attention.

Second, tell someone who isn’t diving with you where you are going. That could be others in your party, the hotel concierge, or a phone call to a relative back home. Tell them the name of the dive shop, your destination, the departure time and estimated return time for your dive excursion. If you know it, include the names of the boat, its captain, and divemaster. If you are traveling alone or diving in a group, write the information down and leave it with the hotel office. If your hotel is near a popular diving spot, they will be used to that sort of thing.

Millions of vacation 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.

Hawaii’s Oahu have many fascinating scuba diving locations and perhaps the most popular dive site in Oahu is the Hanauma Bay. Hanauma Bay was formed by the erosion of one side of a volcano crater and is very well protected from the trade winds and surf making it a fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling site in Oahu. Hanauma Bay’s crystal clear water and diverse coral reef are good introductions to Hawaiian marine environments and its waters are seldom considered to be dangerous to scuba divers. After the Hanauma Bay are the sea cliffs of Koko Head where scuba diving is done almost exclusively from liveaboard diving boats out of Hawaii Kai. The deep blue color of the water here contrasted beautifully with the mesmerizing white water cascading down the dark brown hilly cliffs. As you round out Koko Head, you will come into contact with the gusty trade winds. However, the wind will subside when you cruise into Maunalua Bay. The waters of Maunalua Bay are a lot calmer than the windward side of Oahu. There is even a WW2 fighter plane wreck for those who love wreck diving, an artificial reef of hundreds of concrete modules and even sunken barges. The bay ends at Diamond Head, the final windbreak before the calm waters of Waikiki. There are also some good scuba diving locations off Waikiki on some outer ledges and artificial reefs. On Maunalua Bay is the Fantasy Reef. Erosion has created many places for the fish to play hide-and-seek. Although live coral coverage is not that high in Fantasy Reef, the corals are healthy and undamaged and thus can be considered as one of the better scuba diving spots in Oahu. Marine life is plentiful here with eels, barracudas, octopus, turtles and sharks are often seen. There are supposedly 4 barges sunk in Maunalua for the purpose of creating artificial reefs and the largest of these is the Kahala Barge which is 165 feet in length. However coral growth here is sparse, however, the wreck is choked with soldier fish which make their characteristic grunting sound when disturbed by scuba divers. Many eels and large crabs can also be found here. There are also many sea turtles and white tip sharks making this artificial reef their home. A mile off Portlock, about a hundred feet deep is a plane wreck. This is a great wreck diving location in Oahu. The cockpit is the abode of 2 thigh sized thick yellowmargin moray eels. Here, scuba divers will see brilliant red encrusted sponges and bi color anthias harems hovering above picking off planktons. Nearby is a colony of fascinating dancing garden eels and big horned helmet shells. Water visibility in this area is superb. If you are in Hawaii for a spot of scuba diving, try these scuba diving sites at Oahu South Shore.

Change
The urge for a change in direction seems sometimes to coincide with mid-life. The children are now grown up which releases us from our weary daily routines, awakening a longing to break out of the mould and dive into new challenges.
 
The sea
Have you ever thought how amazing the undersea world is? And what wonderful mysteries lie beneath our oceans? And if you are one of those who love scuba diving, can you pinpoint the reasons behind your love for the sea? Thailand, especially the southern waters around the regions of Phuket and Phi Phi offer some of the most scenic oceanic diving views you could possibly imagine. What a wonderful place to visit, where you can visit and develop your new skills in scuba diving ??
 
The experience
A lot of people first experienced the undersea world with Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910-1997). He helped design the world’s first aqualungs in 1943. Through his TV series, he made it possible for millions to discover the world’s undersea mysteries. He lead us into new underwater habitats and introducing us to some of the many species of plants and wildlife living beneath our oceans. Through the Calypso, his crew and his eyes, he was able to share these amazing discoveries with us. Cousteau taught generations about the necessity to love, respect and protect the environment that lay below our seas. His pioneer documentaries paved the way for all that came after.
 
Like flying an aircraft, diving the oceans is one of humankind’s special gifts, and it’s one that we can all enjoy throughout our lives.
 
The instructor
If you already have a lot of experience in scuba diving and you hold qualifications such as a PADI Divemaster, PADI Assistant Instructor, or similar with another training organization, then you are already on the road to taking a PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Instructor Examination (IE). Passing that will almost certainly take you to your desired profession, but if you don’t have any experience yet, don’t worry, your skills can be built up from a very beginner with Chris Owen’s Indepth PADI IDCs. Chris can help you achieve this and other goals.
 
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors or PADI formed in 1966 is the world’s largest recreational diving membership and training organization for divers and diving instructors. The PADI membership consists of PADI Instructors and PADI Divemasters and teaches most of the world’s recreational divers, in fact PADI currently certifies around 1,000,000 divers a year throughout the world.   PADI courses are proactive based dive programs that start from entry level programs like PADI Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver to PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) and PADI IDC Staff  courses.  
 
Becoming a PADI diving instructor will take time, but with your effort and the correct training you can accomplish your goal. PADI IDC classes are suited for those who are not only determined but who are also not afraid of hard work, yet at the same time students can enjoy the experience of a life time with lots of fun and wonderful memorable moments.
 
With confined and open water training available, students can utilize accumulated knowledge and experience from professionals like PADI Course Director Chris Owen. Consider other advantages of signing with Chris such as monthly small classes of up to ten students, which allow team bonding and creates good team spirit making it that much easier to progress through the course. Class language is available in English, French, Dutch, German, Danish, Swedish or Thai, but language assistance for other nationalities is also available.   In regards to signing up with Chris, there is a 5% Early Bird Discount for those who signup early and another 5% Cash Incentive discount, a total of 10% discount off the whole package. The programs are so well structured; they aim to intensify training periods with equally long relaxation periods. He uses tried and proven method that really do help students improve that much faster.   

The earliest dive watches were developed for the military and professional needs. The Omega SA probably deserves the honour of having created the world’s first diving watch, with the Omega “Marine,” introduced in 1932. As supplier to the Royal Italian Navy, Panerai offered underwater diving watches since the 1930s, the early models were not only waterproof at 650 feet, but luminescent as well too In addition, a large number of “canteen” style dive watches were made to military specification during and after WWII. These watches were made in small quantities as they were made solely for military use. In 1953 Lip-Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms waterproof watch came on the market in France. Various models were issued by Blancpain in small quantities to the military in several countries, including US and French Navy combat diver teams. The fifty fathoms was worn by Jacques Cousteau and his divers during the underwater film “Le monde du silence”. The Rolex Submariner dive watch was introduced at the Basel Watch Fair in 1954 which coincided with the development of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, known as scuba. In 1961 Rolex had two versions of the Submariner, one water resistant to 200 meters/660 feet, the other, less expensive version, to 100 meters/330 feet. It was the choice of watch for the character of 007 in the first ten James Bond films, causing the “Sub” to achieve an iconic status. During the 1960s commercial work in the oceans and seas created the professional diving organisations that needed dive watches designed for conducting safe diving operations at greater depths. This lead to Rolex developing of the first ‘ultra water resistant’ watches like the Rolex Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000 (2000 ft = 610 m) that became available in 1967 and was produced in several variations and the Omega Seamaster Professional 600m/2000ft also know as the “Omega PloProf” that came available in 1970. Nowaday the vast majority of divers now use electronic, wrist-worn dive computers by manufacturers such as Suunto, Uwatec, Mares, Pelagic and Seiko. Diving watches are however still commonly used by divers as a back-up instrument for overcoming dive computer malfunctions.

The Red Sea coastal areas of Egypt include both the eastern seashore as well as the Sinai Peninsula and are frequently referred to as the “Red Sea Riviera”. This is due to the abundance of luxurious resorts, high-end shopping, dining and unique activities that take place there. One of the most popular reasons for heading to this part of Egypt is to enjoy the many opportunities in Red Sea scuba diving. Almost all of the Red Sea Riviera is considered an Egyptian National Park, or is protected under some other form of guardianship. Because of this, Red Sea scuba diving is generally limited to a select number of diving companies, each licensed to manage the needs of the visiting divers and to ensure the protection of the flora and fauna of the waters. What sort of creatures will Red Sea scuba diving guests see? From hammerhead sharks to eels and amazing varieties of coral, a scuba diver can expect a diverse range of conditions and inhabitants during their visit. While some of the creatures that live in the Red Sea areas can be dangerous, for the most part the experience is sure to be a safe and pleasurable one. In addition to regularly visited dive sites, there are Red Sea scuba diving companies that can escort their clients to the many major shipwreck sites in the region, though these too can present some hazards to both divers and even experienced sailors. Red Sea scuba diving is not limited to risky or adventurous deep sea locations however and there are some excellent opportunities for those who are novice divers or who even prefer to simply snorkel among the coral reefs, feeding bread to the many friendly fish, eels and even smaller sharks that frequently visit such spots. It is important to make early arrangements with a chosen Red Sea scuba diving company, as this is the most popular activity throughout the area, and the best companies are booked well in advance. Additionally, it is a good idea to have a bit of experience before tackling the more advanced locations, and many of the Red Sea scuba diving schools are happy to help their clients obtain the proper certifications in the days before a more serious diving adventure. The entire Red Sea Riviera region is becoming more and more popular with Egyptian natives and international tourists. The region is full of wonderful resorts and hotels, and Red Sea scuba diving is now appearing on many “must do” lists for those heading to this unique area of Egypt.

by John Flanders, Master Instructor / Instructor Trainer – http://www. academyofscuba. com and by Maxden Regalado, Owner – GeoFish Dive Center – http://www. geofishdive. com Deep in the heart of Mexicoâ??s Yucatan Peninsula, you can hear the heartbeats of novice explorers living their Mayan dream.   Retracing the steps of a society lost to the modern civilization. Listening to the drums telling the story of the past. And, finding the adventure that they have been waiting for all of their lives. While the Riviera Maya is well reputed for its roots in the Mayan empire, in the dive world, it lives in the shadow of its neighbor Cozumel. Cozumel is, arguably, the Mecca of Scuba diving.   It calls like a Siren, worldwide, to divers for its famed drift diving, beautiful reefs and larger than life marine ecosystems. For many, Cozumel is a perennial visit.   Divers flock to the dozens of dive resorts and hotels and to the hundreds of dive operators that scurry divers to the busy reefs every morning. Seeing so many faithful divers, in one spot, is a truly extraordinary sight. At night, as the diver intensity drifts off to casual Caribbean ambience, resting divers can see the lights of Playa del Carmen across the channel. The lights of Fifth Avenue shine bright; calling to the vacationers only 14 miles away.   This calling does not ring silent.   The opportunities, for divers, are rich with excitement. Divers are learning this is not a shadow that veils over the Riviera Maya â?¦ Itâ??s a well maintained secret. Ready for more Playa del Carmen dive lifestyle, marine life information, dive site descriptions, and Cenote experiences?  Continue this Mayan Adventure at http://www. academyofscuba. com/articles/diving_playa1. html ////