The Weird and Wonderful World of the Lembeh Strait

North Sulawesi is located within the ‘Coral Triangle’, a territory which spreads from western Thailand all the way through eastern Indonesia. This is where many scientists believe life began in the ocean and it is widely thought that it holds the most bio diverse marine habitats on earth.


For this reason diving in Indonesia has been held in high regard amongst the diving community and North Sulawesi is no exception. To the east of Borneo and below the Philippines, Sulawesi is an oddly shaped island in the Celebes Sea. North Sulawesi refers to the most northerly point.

Just a few hundred meters offshore the continental shelf plunges towards the deep oceanic trenches which offers nutrient rich waters. The fact that evolution here has been uninterrupted for millions of year means that the marine life in this particular part of the Coral Triangle is extremely diverse Bunaken Island lies just a few kilometers offshore, a plateau extends from the island before reaching the drop off which descends to hundreds of meters. Coral life on the wall is extremely dense and different species both hard and soft compete for space. These particular walls have gone some way into making diving in Indonesia.

what it is today and draw traveling divers from all over the world. Large pelagics like Black and White Tip Sharks, Trevally and Napoleon Wrasse work their way up the reef, whilst Green Sea Turtles lodge themselves into the wall to rest. If you’ve got a skillful guide you might be able to see finger nail size Pygmy Seahorses latched onto Gorgonian Fans, not a common site even when you are diving in Indonesia.

The Lembeh Strait is a complete contrast in bottom topography in comparison to the walls Bunaken Island. Located off the eastern coast of North Sulawesi the Strait is a channel of water that lies between the landmass of Sulawesi and Lembeh Island. The shallow black sand slopes have created a truly unique marine habitat for the dwellers that have adapted themselves supremely to this environment. There are some coral reef formations but these are relatively few and far between. This is where life has come to compete against itself in which evolution has created many weird and wonderful creatures divers refer to as ‘critters’. Mimic Octopus have the ability to take the form of up to ten different types of other species including Lionfish, Snake Eels and Flounder in order to confuse predator and prey. Angler Fish dangle a lure just millimeters from their mouth in order to attract potential prey. Carrier Crabs camouflage and defend themselves by placing Sea Urchins on their shell whilst they make their way from one spot to another.

The contrast of Bunaken and Lembeh make diving in Indonesia even more attractive. For the traveling diver willing to go that extra mile for something special North Sulawesi will excite and intrigue for many visits.

By : Ben Stokes

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Honeymoon in Paradise

Paradise. For some, the word conjures up images of white sand beaches, clear blue water and little fruity drinks. Not me. For me, terms like ‘white sand beaches and clear blue water’ sounds a little like the beginning of a worn out slogan, the tropical vacation version of ‘order now, operators are standing by’. It may be that I’m jaded by the over-the-top advertising or maybe I just imagine a white sand beach with 5000 overweight pasty Americans overrunning it. Whatever the case, I don’t want the same old thing.


My paradise is different. Since it’s a Honeymoon paradise, the most important element of course, is my significant other. For me, that’s all the people I really need. I want to spend time with my new bride, and share some experiences that are really different. We have beaches and fruity drinks in California, and picking from the top 10 vacations menu seemed like a sure-fire route to sameness. I recoil at sameness and thought I could do better for our honeymoon.

I thought about it. I looked on the web. I talked to people. I had always liked the green feeling of the Pacific Northwest, but the idea of a Honeymoon to Seattle didn’t really captivate me. I had loved learning to ski in Utah when I was young, and have always gravitated towards mountains, but my new bride loves the water (though not necessarily the beaches in the worn out brochure). The elements I wanted to include in our vacation seemed to be accumulating and I didn’t have a plan yet.

When I added something seemingly obscure to my wish list, the solution actually became easier. We had been to Alaska in 2001 on a bicycle ride to raise money for AIDS research and had experienced, albeit at a distance, the Matanuska glacier. We were intrigued by the idea of a glacier in person - climbing it, touching it, experiencing a frozen goliath that seemed ancient. We had an agenda though, and we moved on. The great Matanuska and the idea of a glacier experience was mostly forgotten. Until now.

Glaciers actually brought it together. The mountains, the water, fewer people, open, unspoiled nature and someplace we’d never been were the core pieces. When I added glaciers, something new popped up - Iceland. We wanted something different and exciting and we were going to get it. Yes, it is more than slightly north of the equator, with not so much of the fruity drinks.

There was to be one other benefit for me, too. Among the elements of an Icelandic adventure, I could squeeze in the guilty pleasure of a tour in a Super Jeep, or in American terms, a monster truck. If I offered my new bride a long weekend trip or short vacation stateside that centered around giant SUVs and off-road touring, there would have to be some reciprocal girly trip in recent context to pull that off, or maybe some jewelry. In Iceland, I figured we could do several things and when I brought up the Super Jeeps, she’d probably dig it. …I still stacked the deck by setting up a horseback riding day in advance.

How did it go?
The trip was a hit! From the moment that the crisp, clean air greeted us in Keflavik, we were in another world. We had trailside meals on a quiet mountainside, bathed in hot springs and heated lagoons (we had warmth and a beach, just not in the common way!) and rode Icelandic horses. We spent a little time in Reykjavik too, enjoying the nightlife a bit, but the time we spent outside was the best part of the experience. The trip was otherworldly and left us wanting to return. Fortunately, anniversaries provide a great reason to go back!


By : Dan Patrick

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Holiday in the Bahamas

The Bahamas with its 700 islands is truly a travellers’ paradise and with an almost endless amount of activities they have to offer, you won’t know where to start!

Exploring the Bahamas couldn’t be more adventurous by bicycle or just put on your sandals and take a stroll down the superb white sand beaches.


Two highly recommended islands to kick off the shoes and relax at are Nassau / Paradise Island and the Grand Bahama Island.

Nassau / Paradise Island:
Just 30 minutes away from Nassau is the Blue Lagoon Island where an unforgettable experience of a lifetime awaits, an opportunity to swim in the crystal-blue waters accompanied by one of natures’ friendliest creatures, the dolphin. The dolphin swim lasts for up to 30 minutes and you also have a chance in feeding and petting them under supervision.

Nassau has a number of different water sport activities to offer such as jet skiing, parasailing, canoeing, kite boarding, sailing, fishing and for those who are keen on diving but have never dived before, lessons available and in a few short hours you can explore Bahamas underwater life.

Activities on land include golf, cultural tours, casino games, night clubs, shopping at the straw markets and after a hard day of serious fun why not take a visit to the health spa for a relaxing massage to have you ready for the next day of adventure.

For a change of pace take a good book in one hand and an ice-cold tropical drink in the other, then take a leisurely stroll down to the beach and relax under an umbrella until the heart’s content.

Grand Bahama Island:
This tropical island is the four largest as well as the second most popular island in the Bahamas and is limitless with things to see and do.

You can scuba dive along coral reef accompanied by the dolphins or for a rush of adrenalin visit Unexso’s Shark junction and watch experienced staff hand-feed the reef sharks!

Tours for cave and wreck diving are also available as well as diving lessons.

Other water adventures include snorkelling the shallow coral reef, glass bottom boat rides, deep sea fishing, jet skiing, parasailing and much more.

Back on land you can challenge the golf course, play a game of volley ball or tennis and when the sun sets, hit the casino followed by a scrumptious meal in one of the oh so romantic restaurants.

Need some extra quiet time alone or with the partner? If so then try out the “Exotic Adventures” boat. With this charted boat the boundaries are almost endless. You can spend the day out sightseeing, fishing and snorkelling while exploring the beautiful, unspoilt and deserted islands of the Bahamas. For lunch you can have speared and freshly prepared fish by your captain and all of this at your own pace as there is no strict time table. Just perfect.

So for an unforgettable holiday, the Bahamas is a choice destination packed with fun, adventure, romance and so much more.

By : Dave

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Dream Holidays in Barbados

Barbados was voted as one of the Dream Holidays destinations in the world according to the Traveler’s Choice Destination Awards in 2008. This news does not come as a surprise as Barbados is one of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean region. If you are still hesitant on why to spend your in Barbados, here are some good reasons for you.


Barbados is renowned for its beaches; it’s the ideal place to frolic into the blue sapphire waters and get your tan under the warm and golden sun. Endless sandy beaches and exotic landscape compose a super romantic ambience, suitable for couples who want to celebrate their love, or just spend some quality time away from the bustling city. It is said though that Barbados offers a chance for dream holidays to all kinds of visitors: families, couples or individuals can equally enjoy their time there, as the island can be a romantic getaway or a summer vacation place.

Barbados boasts nightlife that rivals even the Mediterranean islands. Nightlife is exciting and quite vibrant and diverse. There are numerous types of entertainment offered, as the nocturnal scene is quite versatile and rich. Although the entire city stays up all night long during the summer months, the devoted party goers are encouraged to stay mostly in the south part, due to the greater number of nightclubs onsite.

All Caribbean islands are known for their cuisine due to their flavours and colours, but Barbados sets the standards even higher; dining outlets of the island offer a sensual delight to the visitors, catering the most tasteful local specialties, but also famous dishes from the international cuisine. The Sunbury Plantation House and the Cobblers Cove restaurant are places one must visit.

Except for the nightlife, there is a wide array of day activities and entertainment options as well, consisting mostly of sea sports: surfing, snorkeling, submarine tours and diving are just a few of the activities you are more than welcome to try. Locals and tourists claim that the view of the coral reefs is an unforgettable experience. Golf enthusiasts are also encouraged to visit Barbados, as the island boasts some wonderful playing courses, offering magnificent vistas at the same time.

Barbados features some of the most impressive hotels and resorts in the Caribbean that promise you the Barbados dream holidays you desire, offering state of art service and well appointed amenities in very affordable prices

By : Darren Evans

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Dream Holidays Cuba

Travelling to Cuba is a dream for so many people, but once there they discover that it’s indeed the place for dream holidays. In fact when arriving in Cuba, you come across a wondrous world of contrasts, where Nature and architecture blend harmoniously in such a harmonious way that they promise a memorable time and stay. Cuba is famous for the warmth and hospitality of its inhabitants who will do their best to ensure a pleasant time for the visitors.


Cuba is considered to be a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, which comes as a result of five centuries of commerce and mixtures that left a unique racial diversity to the famous Caribbean island. Spanish, Africans, Northern and Southern Americans, even Asians live here in a very easygoing way. Cubans are very welcoming to the visitors and are friendly without mattering much about nationalities. They are great in organizing thematic and music nights, as they adore music and dance and always seem to find a reason to celebrate, despite their harsh conditions of living. Visitors who come to Cuba expect, thus, that their holidays will include many entertaining and fun moments.

Sea is an indispensable element of the Cuban culture and life. Seven thousands miles of coast, with sandy beaches and uniquely beautiful cliffs, bays and coves are waiting for you. Cuban beaches are famous all over the world, due to their beauty and warm waters; it is said that the temperature in sea water never goes below 20 C even in winter. The most renowned beaches in Cuba are the Varadero, Cayo Coco, Santa Maria Del Mar, Santa Lucia and Guardalavaca, where there are also numerous resorts offering state of art services to their guests.

When in Cuba you can expect luxury and enjoyable vacation; you will have the chance to unwind from the bustling city rhythms and have fun with the sun and sea, or practicing some fascinating sea sports available all over the island. In any case there are various dream holidays packages, if you are up to something off the beaten path: ecological tours, a travelling experience of the Cuban way of life, historical routes, scuba diving and sailing holidays – don’t forget that this is the Caribbean Sea - or tailor made packages where you can combine whatever you want to see and experience on this lovely and hospitable place.

Dream Holidays in Cuba are not a dream anymore; it’s more like a mandatory trip for those who want to experience a wonderful and different paradise island, as a bunch of isles, beaches, and colourful cities are there for you to discover

By : Darren Evans

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