Scuba Diving In Bali in The Top 10 Things To Do In Bali

There are so many things to do in Bali, so to make it somewhat easier for you to plan your trip we have made a top 10 list. These are the things that you should do during your holiday on this wonderful island.

Number 1: Head to the beach

Bali is an island of beaches. So one of the things to in Bali is to at least spend a day or two at the beach. Learn to surf at Kuta beach or chill out on the other popular beaches such as Seminyak, Legian and Sanur.

If you prefer more quiet beaches then Padang Padang, Balangan, Dreamland or Lovina is a better option. For die hard surfers check out Uluwatu beach too.

Number 2: Admire the rice fields

If you travel to Bali it will be impossible not to spot them: the amazing rice fields and terraces that just seem to go on and on. If you want to see more of this amazing man made landscape you should plan a day trip to Jatiluih in Central Bali. A roadtrip past Rendang and Sideman in East Bali takes you along beautiful rice fields too.

But if you don't feel like driving around then you can head to Ubud and do a rice field walking tour or head to Tegallalang just north of Ubud where you can find the rice field terraces that are included in the Unesco World Heritage site.

Number 3: Relax at a spa

Visiting one of the many spas is probably one of the relaxing things to do in Bali. Choose between the different types of spas, from very modern and stylish to traditional or ones that are set along a river gorge or in the rice fields.

Enough choice for any kind of traveler...

Number 4: Watch a performance

When the evening sets in its worth to go to one of the many Bali dance performances in Ubud. Everywhere in the village there are performances such as Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet), Legong dance (classical traditional dance), Kecak (trance dance) etc.

Tickets are sold throughout the day until several minutes before the performance starts and they only cost around Rp 50.000.

If you are staying in the south part of the island you can watch the kecak fire dance at the Uluwatu temple. One of the best settings to watch this dramatic performance.

Number 5: Learn at one of the many Bali courses

Instead of admiring the different types of Bali arts, you can actually learn to make them yourself. Most big Bali hotels and everywhere around Ubud offer all kinds of courses such as woodcarving, painting, dance, cooking etc.

If you prefer something such as yoga, meditation and other types of health and well being activities there is enough choice on the island as well.

Number 6: Visit amazing temples

Bali is the island of the gods. So not surprisingly there are thousands of temples on the island. Most famous temples among travelers are Tanah Lot, just north of Kuta and the Besakih Temple. This temple is the most important temple for the Balinese and is considered the mother temple.

One of my favorite temple complexes are however Uluwatu Temple set on a dramatic cliff. Other favorites are the ancient temple complexes Gunung Kawi and Goa Gajah near Ubud.

Number 7: Meet the Lovina Dolphins

All the way up north at Lovina Beach you can watch dolphins catch fish every morning. Not only is it a spectacular sight to see large numbers of dolphins jumping out of the water and swimming near your boat, but the morning boat trip is a wonderful experience as well.

You can either arrange a boat once you arrive in Lovina or if you are not planning to stay there, other villages offer one day tours going to Lovina as well. Expect to wake up early for this!

Number 8: See Bali a different way

A great thing about Bali is that everywhere you go there is something nice to see. So what better way to do this then on a bike. Especially in Ubud there are many bike tour companies that take you through villages, pass rice fields and along the smaller trails.

It's a great way to see Bali up close. And the best thing is that you don't have to be an athlete to join. All ages are welcome so don't hesitate to put this on your things to do in Bali list!

Number 9: Check out the underwater world

If you are planning to visit Bali a little bit longer and you love to dive or snorkel then you should definitely go to Menjangan island, North-West Bali.

The coral and the large number of fish here are amazing. We have snorkeled in Amed, Lovina, Candidasa and Padangbai and from our experience Menjangan Island is definitely the best site for snorkeling and scuba diving in Bali.

Number 10: Hike through the mountains

The last activity of my 'Top 10 Things to do in Bali-list' is for the active among us: hiking. The mountains and volcano's on Bali island offer great opportunities for this. You can either choose for the toughest hike up Gunung Agung Mountain or the less difficult up Gunung Batur.

At Lake Bratan and surroundings lakes there are trails through agricultural land and rainforests that take you to refreshing waterfalls as well. There are nice Bali accmmodation options in Munduk.

If you happen to be in East Bali then the trails around Candidasa and Tirta Gangga are also wonderful, as they take you along the rice fields.

I hope I have been some help if you are working on your list of things to do in Bali. Have a great holiday

Matt Verbaan has travelled to Bali many times and has seen every corner of the island. All of his travel stories and experiences on the things to do are found on http://www.bali-travel-life.com/things-to-do-in-bali.html For sights in Bali visit his 'Things to see' section on the same website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Verbaan

Scuba Diving In Bali Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world because of it has 20 percent of the world's coral reefs concentrated in the waters. Indonesia is made up of more than 13,000 tropical islands (many of them deserted) and boasts of the longest coastline of any country anywhere in the world. Nestled between the Indian Ocean on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west, Indonesia is an equatorial paradise of unending beauty and mystery.

While scuba diving in Indonesia, you will have the opportunity to spy some of the more than 3,000 species of fish, 450 species of coral, vertical walls, wrecks, volcanic underwater mountains, and macro life of unbelievable diversity. And with nearly a thousand scuba diving sites directly off shore or reachable by a short boat ride, you will never grow bored of scuba diving in Indonesia.

Two of the most popular scuba diving destinations in Indonesia include Komodo and Bali. Following is a brief introduction to each.

KOMODO - Komodo Island is world renowned for its biodiversity. In fact, Komodo National Park is home to great diversity. A scuba diving expedition in this park will bring you up close and personal with colorful shallow reefs full of small marine life and deep water wonders such as sea mounts, walls, and pinnacles. You may even be able to spy a shark or two. Other wonders that you might see while scuba diving in Komodo, Indonesia include whale sharks, sunfish, mantas, eagle rays, pygmy seahorses, clown frogfish, blue-ringed octopus, colorful sponges, tunicates, and corals.

What sets Komodo apart from other parts of Indonesia, besides the Komodo dragon, is the fact that much of the reefs in the waters surrounding Komodo are part of a national park and has been protected from damage caused by dynamite fishing.

BALI - One of the most beautiful destinations in the world, Bali is one of the most popular islands in the whole of Indonesia. Shore-based diving is extremely popular here as well as boat dives. While scuba diving in Bali, divers will be delighted by vertical drop offs, coral ridges, volcanic outcrops, seagrass beds, and one of the most famous wrecks in the world. Marine life in this part of Indonesia includes hairy frogfish, cockatoo leaf fish, bumphead parrotfish, reef sharks, sunfish, and trevallies.

While the scuba diving season in Bali is year round, the best diving can be had from the months beginning with April and running through December. From December to March is the rainy season and visibility is hampered. But if you want to see sunfish and sharks, the best time to go scuba diving in Bali is from June to September.

The bottom line is this: Scuba diving in Indonesia is an experience that can be matched by no other. The sheer abundance of life and diversity of underwater formations is what makes Indonesia a popular destination for divers from all over the world.

To obtain your 2 FREE Gifts: Special Report "Insider's Guide to Scuba Diving Gear" and Special Report "Top 10 Ways to Make Money while Scuba Diving", go tohttp://www.thatdivesite.com and sign up for the FREE Gifts. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Layla_Tusko

Scuba Diving In Bali - The Island from Heaven

On simply hearing the name, Bali evokes visions of tropical paradises. Writers keep inventing adjectives to describe Bali but few can surpass the words of Indian prime minister Pandit Nehru who named the island "the morning of the world". A world born out of the sea, delivered by the power of volcanic force. There is a deep world, a world within, the true morning of the world, a whole different world that belongs to Bali. A blue world of tranquility, of stillness, a world that lets you forget the world...

As Indonesia's most famous tourist destination Bali has remained a somewhat underestimated diving destination. To believe this would be a mistake.

If you dive Bali you will see that the diversity of Bali's reefs are awesome. When diving in Bali, allow yourself to be surprised. As far as diving in Bali is concerned, Bali's greatest charm is its wide range and variety of dive sites. Shipwrecks, drop offs, sand slopes, black volcanic seascapes, roaring currents and quiet bays... all tastes are accommodated.

There are plenty well maintained diving facilities on Bali.

There are four main diving areas in Bali that you can explore.

Nusa Penida:

Nusa Penida and the neighboring island of Nusa Lembongan offer some of the finest Bali diving. Nusa Penida is a large island located in the southeast of Bali, across the Badung Strait. The Balinese consider this dry, rough island to be haunted, but it is the diving around this Island of Bali, in it's clear, current swept reefs that's the main attraction.

With its adjacent deepwater trenches, the main attraction at Nusa Penida is the common encounters with the curious and otherwise very rare oceanic sunfish, or Mola Mola, that come close to the reef to visit cleaner stations.

There are a great many dive sites to choose from. In the season we can try to find the illustrious Mola Mola, but the heartland of Nusa Penida diving offers stunning visibility, healthy reefs, and pelagics. And you won't even have to swim a lot here, as almost every dive is a drift dive.

Currents are often strong because the islands lie right in the path of the Indonesian Throughflow. The Lombok Strait separates the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok, it is the second most important strait through which water is exchanged between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The best times to dive Nusa Penida are when the tides peak at slack and high, when water movement is the least.

Amuk Bay (Candi Dasa & Padangbai):

Amuk Bay, with the villages of Padang Bai in the south and Candi Dasa in the north, is about 6 km across and located along the south side of Bali's eastern point. Close to Candi Dasa there are two larger islands, Tepekong and Biaha, as well as an area with small rocks called Mimpang or Batu Tiga.

The islands in this bay are actually little more than current swept rocks, and have an untamed beauty. The bay, which is fed by the rich south Bali upwelling, hosts' sharks, mola mola and schools of fish, making these Bali dive sites quite exciting.

If you are interested in special small critters you should be diving around Padang Bai. This tiny inlet is fringed with reef that starts as a shallow ledge at a depth of ten meters. Macro fans will have fun diving around Padang Bay and the Blue Lagoon, where all manner of critters can be found in the shallows. The sheltered bay is also an ideal location for night diving.

The diving in this area is astonishingly rich. There are also several excellent dive sites for sharks, rays, large schools of fish and this is one of the places where Mola Mola ocean sunfishes are regularly sighted from August until October. Water temperatures are quite chilly, there is always a bit of surge but visibility is normally quite good.

Amed and Tulamben:

Tulamben, home of the famous WWII wreck, is the most known and the best loved diving site in Bali. Tulamben Bay, is situated in the world's richest marine biogeography zone with more than 2500 different species of fish and 700 corals. Situated on the northeast coast, the bay receives very plankton rich water from the major ocean current that moves from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and vice versa.

Amed is located on the northeast coast of Bali, about 2.5 hours drive from Kuta. From a landscape point of view, Amed is much prettier than Tulamben. You will see many rice fields along the way, traditional salt-panning and also sandy beaches as opposed to Tulamben's stony beaches. The diving in Amed is still untouched and you will encounter few fellow divers on these dive sites.

There are also excellent dive sites that extend from Tulamben to Amed and almost all the way to Bali's eastern tip, some recently discovered, many still waiting to be explored. The black sand bottom offers a dramatic backdrop for the amazingly rich fish life.

Menjangan Island:

The reefs of Northwest Bali around Menjangan Island are some of the most protected on the island.

Clear calm waters, a mysterious old wooden shipwreck, and rugged, gorgonian covered walls in excellent condition, make Menjangan Island on Bali's northwest coast, a premier dive site.

About 14 dive sites to choose from with clear water and calm conditions. Menjangan is part of the West Bali National Park. It are the rugged gorgonian covered walls that make this island Northwest Bali's premier dive site.

The coral walls around Menjangan drop vertically to between 30-60 meters, before gradually sloping outwards. The reef surface is very rugged with caves, grottoes and crevasses breaking up the coral walls, textured with little nooks and crannies. Gorgonians of many kinds reach large sizes here, and huge barrel sponges are abundant. Soft corals blanket the colorful walls all the way down.

Menjangan's western tip holds a deeper, but equally interesting dive on an old wooden shipwreck. Called the "Anker" it is just off the island shore, close to a small Park Service dock and guard post.

More to the north, Gilimanuk offers some fantastic muck diving in Secret Bay and South there is an equally interesting muck site at PJ's.

Now at last you can discover Bali's underwater world in a personal and complete way with Dive Around Bali. Feel free to contact me for more information.

Michel De Ruyck.

Michel is an experienced PADI instructors from Belgium and has been living and working in Bali for four years. He also worked in the Philippines, Komodo and Sulawesi. Michel fell in love with Bali and like to share that love with others who want to discover The Morning of the World... Michel is a passionate underwater photographer and has an extensive knowledge of the marine life and dive sites around Bali and it's people and culture that roams the land. He has published his pictures in several magazines. Now he runs together with his wife a diving tour operator for dive holidays on the Island of Bali. http://www.divearoundbali.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michel_De_Ruyck

Scuba Diving in Bali - Where To Dive ?

Bali is one of the top dive destinations in the world. And it is easy to see why. This relatively small island offers over 100 dive spots and is located in the so-called Coral Triangle. 95% of the world's corals can be found in this relatively unknown area between Bali, the Philippines and the Solomon islands. The variety of marine life is unprecedented here. But with 100 dive sites to choose from, which area do you pick for your dives?

Different Dive Sites to Fit Different Needs

The dive locations across the island are all very different. The north side of the island on the one hand, offers more relaxed, easy diving with beautiful walls. The diving around the east side of the island on the other hand, can be more advanced with drift dives and pelagic fish. I will highlight all the main dive locations below.

North-West Bali - Easy Diving and Impressive Wall Dives

The best known dive location in the North-West of Bali is Menjangan Island. This island in the Menjangan National Marine Park, offers some of the most beautiful scenery underwater. The walls are colorful, full of marine life and boast rich corals. You can see turtles, garden eels, barracudas and plenty of small fish here. It can be reached by boat and is also popular for snorkeling. Menjangan island has a handful of dive spots. As there is hardly current, dives are very easy here.

Nusa Penida - Exhilarating Drift Dives

One of the most popular dive locations on Bali is the area around Nusa Penida. An island just off the coast of Bali. There are plenty of dive spots to choose from here. Most of the dives are drift dives which can be quite exhilarating at times. Nusa Penida is the place to be for the famous mola mola (sunfish). The mola mola only comes up to shallower waters when the water is cold enough (usually between July and October). You can also find Manta Point here, manta cleaning station. The number of mantas you will encounter will depend of course, but groups of 7-8 mantas are not uncommon here. Bear in mind though, they're not always there. Nusa Penida can have some challenging currents, so some of the dive spots are for advanced divers only. Other dive sites, such as Manta Point, are great for beginners too.

East Bali - Impressive Variety in Dive Sites

The dive locations around Padang Bay, Candidasa and Amed are all quite different. The Padang Bay dive sites are all relatively close to the shore and are great for exploring. You can encounter reef sharks, stingrays, sea horses, frog fishes and cuttlefish here. Dives here are usually easy, but the current can pick up at times. South East of Candidasa you can find some great dive spots. At Gili Biaha for example, you can look at reef sharks in the shark cave. Currents and surge can be strong in this part of the island, so these are dive sites for the advanced diver. Diving around Amed tends to be a bit easier as the current is limited there. It used to be one the best dive locations on Bali. Unfortunately Amed was heavily hit by El Nino. It is slowly recovering, but is not back to its former glory yet.

Diving on the Famous USS Liberty Wreck in Tulamben

The USS Liberty Wreck in Tulamben is probably one of the most famous dive locations on the island. The USS Liberty, a cargo ship in WWII, was torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942. It has been in the water at Tulamben since 1963. The wreck is covered with corals and houses a variety of marine life. The ship is about 120 meters long and you can swim through it. The current is usually mild here and it is therefore a great dive for beginners and advanced divers alike.

How to dive on Bali

As Bali is not very large, you can easily dive on all locations if you have some time during your holiday. Many of the dive centers offer day trips to each of the locations. It is however not recommended to do a day trip to the North-West of Bali when you are based in the South, as it is quite far. The easiest way to see it all is through a dive safari. Finally, as Bali offers some very advanced dive sites, make sure you select a dive center carefully.

For more information on Bali's dive sites, dive trips, PADI courses or dive safaris visit the Joe's Gone Diving Bali website at http://www.joesgonediving.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mirjam_De_Munnik

Fantastic - Discover Scuba Diving in Bali!

Everyone one remembers their first dive. The sensations of discovering the underwater realm are permanently imprinted directly on the brain, taking a Bali Discover Scuba Diving Adventure intensifies the effect as you take in such awesome sights on your first dives. The combination of rich Indonesian black sand reef with its entire ensemble of fantasia colored inhabitants combined with the living coral festooned, massive wreck is pretty hard to beat for your first underwater adventure.

The best Bali Dive from almost all experienced Bali divers points of view, from Advanced Open Water to Divemasters & Instructors, they will almost all agree that the best Bali dive is the Tulamben wreck in North Bali. This Liberty ship wreck in North Bali is a freighter that was hit by a Japanese Torpedo during WWII, they beached the ship so that they could unload the cargo, and the wreck sat on the beach until the local volcano pushed it into the sea in 5 to 30 meters of water, nearly 20 years later. While on the beach after the war, they were salvaging the wreck for the steel, so when the volcano pushed it in to the ocean, you could look inside the wreck almost as if it was a mechanical exploding view, so you do not actually need to go inside the shipwreck to see what the ship has to offer; this point is important as PADI Discover Scuba Diving participants are not allowed to go into overhead environments such as caves or wrecks, this is also true for PADI Open Water student divers.

The PADI Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) experience is a well thought out program supported with many types of media from, videos & cue cards to flip charts and books that leads to a thorough pre dive briefing that covers everything that the diver will do from the putting on of equipment, the simple skills that they will need to master in the shallow water, where it is very easy for them to reach the surface, to the planned entrance and exits points, and what they can expect to see and experience along the way. They will also receive a debrief at the end of the dive's that will cover things from the dives and reminders that they have only started the learning process and suggests to them that if they enjoyed the experience they continue on and sign up for a PADI scuba diver or PADI open water certification courses, which will result in diving cards allowing them to dive whenever they like up to the limits of their dive rating.

After completing the skills in the shallow water the divers lead by the Instructor go on a tour generally taking one of two paths. The more common is around the bow of the ship where at ten meters they can look through a couple of holes and see lots of fish inside, including on most days Moorish Idols, colorful groupers and several different types of butter fly fish and wrasses. As they continue around to look into the ship directly, they will be rewarded with many different types of soft corrals that come in all the colors of the rainbow, quite beautiful as they gently sway back and forth. The instructor will keep an half an eye out towards the deep as the wreck is often visited a swirling tornado like mass of Trevallys, making one feel like they are extras in a National Geographic Special. As you continue on the path you might see a lurking monster of a fish, that while potentially dangerous to the little fish, this local Giant Barracuda is used to having divers around and is no threat as you glide past towards the shallower water and the shallow reefs formed by the masts of the ship, where a few Oriental Sweet lips like to hang out along with some good sized tangs and rabbit fish. A special treat is the garden eels which are planted in the luxurious black sand ever watching and grazing and taking care by ducking into their burrows anytime anything comes close to them that could take them as lunch. Then as the tour is coming to an end, the instructor will be watching for small little things to point out in the sand that the inexperienced eye will most times over look, as you head towards the exit point and the end of the dive.

It is now that you will start talking about your experience to anyone and everyone that will lend an ear, and the good news is that after lunch you most likely will do it again, but for a little longer, and as you are more comfortable on the 2nd dive, your brains ability to take in and process the fantastic spectacle increases as you Discover Scuba Diving and the magic of underwater Bali.

Fred's new project http://www.CheapCharliesHotels.com/ where he reviews cheap hotels , budget guesthouses, discount accommodations and cheap international flights, but is really an excuse to go scuba diving on vacation more, Fred is diving in Bali Indonesia planning his next adventure travel tour after doing a PADI IDC Staff Instructor Course in Bali to view some great pictures of Bali Diving go to http://www.baliocean.com/ Fred Tittle has lived and worked in holiday vacation resorts his entire life, from Lake Geneva's Playboy Club, as a rock jock for KSPN FM in Aspen Colorado, he became a PADI Pro Scuba Diver in Hawaii, diving on Maui, Kauai, Kona on the big island, and Waikiki on Oahu. He founded Eco Adventures South East Asia in Sihanoukville Cambodia. he still teaches SSI and PADI scuba diving courses and runs liveaboards in the gulf of Thailand and Asia adventure tours, Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fred_Tittle

Scuba Diving in Bali - The Ideal Destination for a Perfect Vacation

Planning a scuba diving vacation, when traveling with a non-diving partner, can be quite challenging, as many of the top dive destinations don't really offer much in terms of vacation experiences for non-divers. What are you to do - stop diving? No way, simply read on, and I might just be able to help you to plan the best vacation you have ever had - both of you!

Bali has been famous as a destination for travelers, artists, writers and adventurers for a long, long time. The scenery is beautiful, traditional culture is alive and integrated into every day life, and the people are extremely friendly.

Diving, however, has only quite recently been added to the many things which can be experienced whilst vacationing in Bali. Scuba diving around Bali offers something for everyone, regardless of your particular interest. An added bonus is that all the dive sites around Bali can be visited on day trips, which is great if you don't want to change hotels. Having said that, I would suggest to spend at least two nights each in Tulamben and Pemuteran. Tulamben because early morning and night dives here are absolutely stunning. Pemuteran and Secret Bay because it's a fairly long drive from the south of the island, which would make for an incredibly long day, somewhat spoiling the experience.

Here are a few of the different dive areas you can find around Bali. They are simply listed in geographical order, and not according to any preference of mine.

If you like drift diving and big fish action Nusa Penida and Manta Point is where you should dive. The Nusa Penida dive sites are also the place to see the amazing mola-mola from July to late October. However, these dive sites are not for beginners, as currents can be strong and somewhat unpredictable.

Nice and easy diving can be found in Padang Bai, but even here the currents can pick up quite suddenly. I have seen turtles, white tip reef sharks, as well as leaf scorpion fish, ghost pipefish, and even pygmy sea horses here. Plus a host of nudibranchs, some of which I had not seen before.

I don't think there are any divers who have not heard of the USAT Liberty ship wreck at Tulamben. The Liberty, in my opinion, is one of the easiest and most accessible wreck dives you can ever do. The wreck is close to the beach, which is a great opportunity for snorkelers to check out a wreck as well. But there is a lot more to see here than just the wreck. The Coral Garden and The Drop Off are just two other dive sites which are also in Tulamben Bay and offer you variety if wrecks don't do it for you.

There are a couple of very good reasons why divers make the long trek to Pemuteran on the north-west coast of Bali. The beautiful dive sites of Menjangan Island offer some gentle drift diving along walls which are encrusted with colourful soft corals. The Bio Rock reef regeneration project and Napoleon Reef are two dive sites which can be reached either from the beach, or by a short boat ride.Close to Pemuteran is Secret Bay, not so secret any more, a well-known place for muck-diving in Bali.

Non-divers have no reason or excuse for being bored in Bali. From each of the above dive areas it is possible to do day tours, either by car, or by renting a motor scooter. Non-diving activities in Bali include visiting out-of-the-way, traditional villages, admire stunning rice terraces, and visit temples and colourful, traditional markets. More energetic visitors can go mountain bike riding or white water rafting.

If that's not enough, it is also possible to learn surfing, attend a Balinese cooking class, or learn to make your own silver jewelry. Oh, there is shopping as well, lots of it. I would suggest to leave some space in your suitcase for all the purchases you make whilst holidaying in Bali.

Bali, being close to the equator, has a tropical climate and is a year-round holiday destination. Due to some high mountains, the northern part of the island is a lot drier than the south, even during the rainy season. Once again, there is no place like Bali for divers and non-divers traveling together.

Don't wait - come and check out Bali on your next vacation.

Sybille Conrad is a scuba diver, an experienced international travel agent, and a specialist dive travel agent. She holds a Grad. Dip. in Recreation Management, and usually lives in Cairns, Australia. She has been living and working in Indonesia for the last couple of years. For information about diving and traveling in Indonesia have a look at her website http://www.divetravelindonesia.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sybille_Conrad

Looking for Exiting Scuba Diving In Bali? , Malaysia Is an Ideal Destination

Borneo is a sovereign state made up of parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. An island set north of Australia in the South China Sea, Borneo offers miles and miles of coastline from which boats launch daily for some of the world's best scuba diving. Malaysia is known for lush rain forests and calm, warm waters, giving divers and other tourists a delightful opportunity to enjoy new experiences in this beautiful area.

With so many coastal towns and villages, it is no wonder that scuba diving is such a booming business. Diving in Malaysia is an ultimate goal for many enthusiasts, and dive sites dot the areas around the island. Just a short boat ride away is the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, which consists of a series of five islands, around which divers enjoy shallow diving in the calm, safe waters of the South China Sea. Beautiful reefs and fantastic sea life abound to the delight of those who wish to partake.

If you are visiting Malaysia, and have never tried diving before, you will find that this is a great place to try. Diving centers offer dive equipment for beginners and experts alike. Mares, a leader in diving equipment, is stocked widely throughout the island. Of course, these diving centers are not just for shopping. Rent a boat for the day, which will come with a captain and a first mate who know the waters and will take you to the most rewarding dive sites. Rookies can find diving instructors who will first guide them through the scuba shop to ensure they have the right gear; then they will go out with them for instruction and coaching.

If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, and diving is a priority for you, consider one or more of the following cities: Sipadan Island, Mabul, Kapalai, Layang Layang, and Lankayan. Each offers outstanding diving opportunities, as well as beautiful surroundings, and comfortable accomodations.

Less than an hour from the mainland of Borneo is Sipadan Island, which, for some, is the ultimate site for diving. Multiple big and small fish populate the waters near the island, as well as sea turtles and sharks. Just a short trip north of this island is Mabul, which offers the finest in macro diving. This form of diving involves the use of a macro lens camera to examine and photograph very small sea life. Kapalai is an island resort near Sipadan Island, which is an ideal site for a vacation, even if you have no interest at all in diving; however, divers will be treated to a show when they observe squid, needlefish, and mandarinfish at home in the waters surrounding the resort.

A dive shop is available on each island and in every town to ensure that you have everything you need for your expedition. If you have never tried this popular sport and pastime before, but are curious about scuba diving, Malaysia is one of the most beautiful and rewarding places in the world that you can try.

For more information on Scuba Diving Malaysia visit our website Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hawes