Rich Reardon - Original Diver

Richard Reardon

Original Travel Expert

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Five Fascinating Philippines Facts

Named after King Philip II of Spain, the Philippines is a sun-kissed island nation in Southeast Asia. With over 100 million people, a whopping 7,000 (and counting) islands, more than a thousand species of orchid, just under 200 living languages, around 30 active volcanoes and ten seas, the…

Red Sea Facts

The Red Sea is a perennial favourite among European divers. This long, thin sea separates Africa from Asia and links the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. But it's the incredible visibility, warm water temperatures and impressive array of marine life that keep divers coming back for…

Deep Sea Diving Facts

It's darker, it's colder, your bottom time decreases and your air consumption increases… Despite this, deep sea diving is ever-popular. Be it spotting sharks or marvelling at stunning topographical features, sometimes it pays to dive a little deeper. So, let's jump in and head to the bottom…

Six Fabulous Facts About The Flores Sea

Early in the 16th century, the Portuguese arrived in the Malay Archipelago and took control of the island of Flores, among others. The name Flores means 'Flowers' in Portuguese, and after a spell of Portuguese rule in the mid-19th century, the island became part of the Dutch East Indies.…

Scuba diver exploring the Great Barrier Reef.

Seven Scuba Diving Facts

We seem to be living in a world where misinformation is lurking around every corner. With the internet teeming with these 'alternative facts,' we're going to give you a few bona fide facts about scuba diving and perhaps dispel a myth or two along the way. From the deepest dive ever to what's…

Our Favourite Facts About The Timor Sea

Sandwiched between Indonesia and Timor-Leste to the north and Australia to the south, the Timor Sea is a relatively shallow and small tropical body of water. With the Indian Ocean to its west and the Arafura Sea to the east, it covers 240,000 square miles and contains very few islands. This…

Six Fascinating Facts About The Bali Sea

Sitting within the Coral Triangle, the Bali Sea laps the northern shores of both Bali and Lombok and flows into the channels that separate the two islands from each other and their neighbours. Its warm and inviting waters are home to a rich variety of marine life, and the dive sites in the…

Aerial view of white sand beaches with a luxury resort and palm trees in the Maldives

The World's Best Luxury Dive Resorts

From the opulent desert-island retreats of the South Pacific to the chic beachfront cottages of the Caribbean, some of the world's most opulent dive resorts are a giant stride from the world's most celebrated reefs and dive sites. If a comprehensive pre-dive briefing is as important as the…

Two women on a diving boat. one is wearing diving kit and tank the other is showing her the dive plan.

World's Best Places to get Scuba Certified

If you haven't yet taken the giant stride into the underwater world but are looking to take the plunge on your next dream holiday, you may be wondering which are the world's best places to get scuba certified. When it comes to taking your first underwater breaths, there are a few factors to…

Aerial view of a tropical island, surrounded by coral reef with a liveaboard sailing boat

World's Best Liveaboard Dive Holidays

Whether your goal is to reach far-flung destinations or maximise your time underwater, liveaboards offer a fantastic way to explore the world's most spectacular dive sites. Some of the ocean's best diving can only be accessed by liveaboard, and even in less remote locations, you can dive the…

How to Navigate Underwater

Dive professionals are often asked how they found the boat at the end of the dive. Underwater navigation, though mystifying to some, shares the same principles as land-based orientation. Similar to finding your way around an unfamiliar town, recognizing landmarks and your surroundings is…

How to Pack for a Dive Trip

If you're the type of person who struggles to zip up your suitcase without a friend's help, packing for a dive trip may seem daunting. Diving, as an equipment-intensive hobby, can be tricky to pack for. However, before you start randomly throwing snorkels, dive torches and that bulky old…

How to Get Scuba Certified

For some, the dream holiday means basking in the sun and sipping cocktails. But for those less inclined to lie stock-still under the sweltering sun, few activities are as relaxing and exhilarating as diving. Earning your dive certification opens up a whole new world, and while studying on…

Top Five Dive Destinations with Childcare

Free divers will know the buddy system and its 'one up, one down' philosophy. But do they also know that it has been borrowed and modified for travelling parents who don't want to miss out on deep sea action. With one parent diving down into the peaceful deep blue, the other stays on land on…

Diving in Micronesia Vs. Palau

Palau and Micronesia have history. Once part of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, now an independent island country in the western Pacific, left Micronesia with just four 'federated states' - Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. But when it comes to their diving, their history can be…

Tubbataha Reef - A Coral Triangle Hot Spot

The rectangular Sulu Sea is surrounded on three sides by the Philippine islands of Palawan, Mindanao, Panay and Negros, and at its southern boundary, the northern shore of Borneo. The 'jewel in the crown' of Philippines diving, Tubbataha Reef, sits in the middle of the Sulu Sea in the Coral…

Day Trips to Hanifaru Bay

Between the months of June and November, the sun and moon conspire with the Indian Ocean tides and the southwest monsoon to create a magical manta ray experience at Hanifaru Island in the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve of the Maldives. This elongated inlet, known to Maldivians as Vandhumaafaru…

Day Trips to Dive the Blue Hole in Belize

While the celebrated German philosopher Friendrich Nietsche theorised that "if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into thee," Jacques Cousteau seemed more inclined to just dive straight on in, with a film crew in tow to boot. Back in the early 70s, the much-celebrated French…

Day Trips to Dive Apo Island

Apo Island is often cited as the jewel in the Philippines' diving crown. Thanks largely to its community-led protected marine sanctuary, established almost forty years ago, this volcanic island is surrounded by some of the healthiest reefs in the Philippines, boasting over 400 coral species…

Day Trips to Dive the Offshore Sites in the Azores

If you've been dreaming of diving with manta rays and whale sharks but are less enthused by long flights to megafauna hotspots like Fiji, Bali or the Maldives, then cast your eyes to the offshore sites in the Azores. This chain of Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean…

Top Five Destinations for Cave Diving

For many, cave diving may appear as dark and impenetrable as the philosophical writings of Friedrich Nietzsche. But one of the German philosopher's more famous quotes - 'And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into thee' - reveals one of many reasons why divers enjoy the…

Top Five Destinations to Get Your Divemaster

If you want to turn your passion into a profession, the Divemaster certification represents the first rung on the diving professional ladder. The course, which lasts from three weeks to six months, qualifies you to work as a dive guide and assist instructors. With unlimited access to local…

Top Five Destinations to Get Your Advanced Certification

The Advanced Open Water Diver certification gives divers more freedom on their dive holidays. Being certified to dive deeper opens up a whole world of new dive sites to explore across the planet and can allow you to enjoy underwater experiences that were previously off-limits. Aside from the…

Day Trips to Dive Nusa Penida

The narrow Badung Strait separates Bali's south-east coastline from a cluster of three islands: Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Between them, the three islands are home to some of Bali's most exhilarating dive sites. While the water can be cooler than Bali's northern shore and…