Diving in South Africa

Diving in Antigua and Barbuda

Welcome, this is Jane, an ai for the International Scuba Diving Organization otherwise known as isdo. And I am Mat, another AI invited to this podcast to interact with Jane, and you’re listening to i-s-d-o's Destination Dive Guide. We want to welcome you to this week’s podcast about diving in Antigua and Barbuda. This podcast aims to show you what diving is like around the world. It includes diving conditions, when to visit and the best dive sites. At isdo, we believe that one of the best parts about scuba diving is that it makes you travel to places you may be unlikely to otherwise visit. Let’s get started, are you ready to dive in? Antigua and Barbuda boast beautiful coral reefs and an abundance of marine life. There are a number of wrecks to be explored. Reef sharks, rays and squid call Antigua and Barbuda home. Lesser known than their Caribbean neighbors, Antigua and Barbuda have dive sites for all levels. When is the best time to go diving in Antigua and Barbuda? You can dive in Antigua and Barbuda at any time of year. Hurricane season is from July to November. The dry season is from January to April which boasts the best visibility. What is the water temperature? The water is always warm in Antigua and Barbuda ranging from 26°C to 28°C all year-round. What are the currents conditions? Currents are typically mild to strong How good is the visibility? The visibility is usually good from 15 to 40 meters. What are Antigua and Barbuda best dive sites? Here are some of out top picks: I'll start with Pillars of Hercules: Labeled after the famous Greek God, located to the South of Antigua. Large limestone rock foundations can be found above and below water. With a maximum depth of 22 meters, divers can spot lobsters, barracuda, snapper and more. Next is Jettia’s Wreck: Sunk in 1817, this wreck is located at a depth of 8 meters and is broken up into several parts. Corals have covered the parts of the boat and make for a great home for marine life. Finally on our suggestions is Cades Reef: Probably the most famous reef in Antigua, this 7 miles of reef has several dive sites located along it. Marine life including nurse sharks, turtles, and rays can be found. Sites usually range from 15 to 25 meters. That's it on out top list, you can always read through more on our dive sites directory. Tell me something about the country? With over 365 beaches, locals like to say there is a beach for each day of the year. Crystal blue waters are perfect for sailing and other water sports. Barbuda is popular with turtle lovers as they head to the island to nest. Thank you for taking the time to listen to isdo’s Diving guide. Let us know what you think and whether you have any dive sites you think should be added to the list. Would you like to become part of the isdo family? Head over to isdo.app and join to find a community of divers just like you. Made by divers, for divers. We hope you learned a little something in today’s episode but be sure to tune in next time for another diving destination. As always, head over to isdo’s podcast playlist and subscribe if you can’t wait to learn about diving in another part of the world. Every Destination Dive Guide can be found at booking.isdo.app. To catch all isdo’s latest news be sure to give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook at ISDO Dive. Happy bubbles and see you next time!

Diving in Tunisia

Welcome, this is Jane, an ai for the International Scuba Diving Organization otherwise known as isdo. And I am Mat, another AI invited to this podcast to interact with Jane, and you’re listening to i-s-d-o's Destination Dive Guide. We want to welcome you to this week’s podcast about diving in Tunisia. This podcast aims to show you what diving is like around the world. It includes diving conditions, when to visit and the best dive sites. At isdo, we believe that one of the best parts about scuba diving is that it makes you travel to places you may be unlikely to otherwise visit. Let’s get started, are you ready to dive in? Tunisia has some of the best diving in the Mediterranean. It has dives for all experience levels. One of the best parts of diving in Tunisia is that diving is usually done from the shore. The main diving towns in Tunisia are Hammamet, Cap Bon, Monastir and Tabarka. When is the best time to go diving in Tunisia? Diving in Tunisia can be done at any time of year. Although, from March to November the weather is best. What is the water temperature? The water temperature varies by season. In winter, the water drops to 16°C. In summer, it rises to a warm 26°C. What are the currents conditions? Currents are typically none to medium How good is the visibility? The visibility is usually good from 10 to 30 meters. What are Tunisia’s best dive sites? Here are some of out top picks: I'll start with Pigeon Grotto, Tabarka At a depth of 2 to 12 meters, this is a great site for both novice and experienced divers. The Pigeon’s Grotto is a series of connected underwater caves and swim throughs. This is an enjoyable dive which will get your adrenaline pumping. Next is Hannibal Wreck, Monastir A stunning wreck at a depth of 31 meters, with some interesting marine life to spot including groupers. Finally on our suggestions is Takrouna Wreck, Hammamet The Takrouna wreck is a German warship that sank in WWII. It’s located at a depth of 20 meters making it a great dive for even novice divers. Dolphins and pilot whales can be found at this site. The wreck is memorable as you can spot a jeep on the deck. That's it on out top list, you can always read through more on our dive sites directory. Tell me something about the country? Tunisia is an interesting country in Northern Africa located on the Mediterranean sea. It has eight UNESCO world heritage sites. The Ichkeul National Park is one of the most famous UNESCO sites with over 500 species of plants and 200 species of animals. Tunisia has many souqs, or ‘markets’, which make an interesting stop on any of your travels. Thank you for taking the time to listen to isdo’s Diving guide. Let us know what you think and whether you have any dive sites you think should be added to the list. Would you like to become part of the isdo family? Head over to isdo.app and join to find a community of divers just like you. Made by divers, for divers. We hope you learned a little something in today’s episode but be sure to tune in next time for another diving destination. As always, head over to isdo’s podcast playlist and subscribe if you can’t wait to learn about diving in another part of the world. Every Destination Dive Guide can be found at booking.isdo.app. To catch all isdo’s latest news be sure to give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook at ISDO Dive. Happy bubbles and see you next time!

Diving in Switzerland

Welcome, this is Jane, an ai for the International Scuba Diving Organization otherwise known as isdo. And I am Mat, another AI invited to this podcast to interact with Jane, and you’re listening to i-s-d-o's Destination Dive Guide. We want to welcome you to this week’s podcast about diving in Switzerland. This podcast aims to show you what diving is like around the world. It includes diving conditions, when to visit and the best dive sites. At isdo, we believe that one of the best parts about scuba diving is that it makes you travel to places you may be unlikely to otherwise visit. Let’s get started, are you ready to dive in? While not everyone’s first choice for a diving destination, Switzerland is known for beautiful landscapes and has some even more stunning dive sites to explore. Popular types of diving include: river diving, altitude diving and ice diving. Much of Switzerland’s water comes from melting glaciers and a drysuit is highly recommended. Verzasca River is a famous diving spot famous for its visibility. Lake Zurich and Lake Leman are two popular lakes for diving. Some of the dive sites are deep walls with a depth of over 50 meters, it’s important to have good buoyancy on a dive like this. Most dive sites are accessed from shore. While marine life is limited, certain fish species can be found in many of the lakes which include pike, roach and carp. When is the best time to go diving in Switzerland? When deciding when to go diving in Switzerland it’s important to know that March to October offer the warmest water and calmest conditions. November to February is best for ice diving. What is the water temperature? At 20m, the water temperature is between 5°C and 6°C all year-round. In summer, the temperature can rise to 20°C at the surface. What are the currents conditions? Most often none. How good is the visibility? Between 1 and 5 meters in most lakes but can rise to 30 meters in Verzasca river. What are Switzerland’s best dive sites? Here are some of out top picks: I'll start with Lac Lioson Located in the Alps at 1800m, Lac Lioson is a stunning high-altitude lake that has ice diving in the winter. Under the ice, divers can observe the stunning light rays refracting off the ice. Next is Lavertezzo Located along the river Verzasca, Lavertezzo is a stunning dive site. The river is carved into rock, with beautiful rock formations to spot throughout the dive. The glacier water is crystal clear offering amazing visibility. Finally on our suggestions is Hirondelle Wreck, Lake Leman One of Lake Leman’s famous dive sites, the Hirondelle was actually the first steam passenger boat on Lake Geneva in 1855. The Hirondelle sank in 1862. It is now located at a depth of 42 to 67 meters making it reserved for experienced divers. That's it on out top list, you can always read through more on our dive sites directory. Tell me something about the country? Switzerland is famous for its beauty and landscapes. With stunning mountains, rivers and over 7000 lakes, the country has so much to offer. Switzerland is a landlocked country. Hiking and skiing are two popular activities in Switzerland. It has the highest peaks in Europe. Everywhere you walk in Switzerland looks like it should be out of a postcard. Stroll along the lake, explore old towns with cobbled pathways, Thank you for taking the time to listen to isdo’s Diving guide. Let us know what you think and whether you have any dive sites you think should be added to the list. Would you like to become part of the isdo family? Head over to isdo.app and join to find a community of divers just like you. Made by divers, for divers. We hope you learned a little something in today’s episode but be sure to tune in next time for another diving destination. As always, head over to isdo’s podcast playlist and subscribe if you can’t wait to learn about diving in another part of the world. Every Destination Dive Guide can be found at booking.isdo.app. To catch all isdo’s latest news be sure t...

Diving in South Africa

Welcome, this is Jane, an ai for the International Scuba Diving Organization otherwise known as isdo. And I am Mat, another AI invited to this podcast to interact with Jane, and you’re listening to i-s-d-o's Destination Dive Guide. We want to welcome you to this week’s podcast about diving in Jamaica. This podcast aims to show you what diving is like around the world. It includes diving conditions, when to visit and the best dive sites. At isdo, we believe that one of the best parts about scuba diving is that it makes you travel to places you may be unlikely to otherwise visit. Let’s get started, are you ready to dive in? With a huge coastline, varied conditions and topographies, South Africa has some interesting diving opportunities. In South Africa, not only can you see the Big 5 above water but also below. This includes the great white, bull shark, hammerhead, sand tiger shark and tiger shark. South Africa has a huge variety of marine life from sea lions to humpback whales. South Africa lies along two oceans: the Atlantic and the Southern Indian Ocean. Diving in South Africa was made famous by the Sardine Run and the ability to dive with great white sharks. While these are both incredible experiences, diving in South Africa is so much more. When is the best time to go diving in South Africa? It’s possible to dive all year round in South Africa. The best time of year depends on what part of South Africa you will be diving in. The area around Kwa-Zulu Natal has warm water all year round. What is the water temperature? The water temperature depends on where you will be diving. Cape Town in winter drops as low as 14°C and in summer rises to 28°C. Around Kwa-Zula Natal the water temperature is 22°C in winter and 31°C in summer. Divers should be aware that conditions can be challenging due to large swells and cold water. What are the currents conditions? Currents are typically calm to quite strong How good is the visibility? Depends on where you will be diving. Around Kwa-Zulu Natal visibility is usually between 20m and 40m. In Cape Town it is between 2m and 20m. What are South Africa’s best dive sites Here are some of out top picks: I'll start with The Great Sardine Run The Great Sardine Run is from May to July when sardines travel up the coast of South Africa to Mozambique. Millions of sardines’ swim in unison which makes for a remarkable site. In addition, spend your time spotting sharks, game fish and dolphins try to hunt them. Most boats will spend time above water looking for the shoals of sardines and drop you right in the center of the actions. Next is Gansbaai Only 2 hours from Cape Town, Gansbaai is famous for its sharks. Home to colonies of seals and penguins, sharks have become known to feed in this area. One of the main reasons divers head to South Africa is for the chance to dive with great white sharks. Local operators offer a cage diving experience in order to dive with these majestic sharks. No diving certification is required to cage dive. Finally on our suggestions is Protea Banks, Shelley Beach, Kwa-Zulu Natal A beautiful and intricate reef with amazing topography. It’s the home to game fish including barracuda, snapper and tuna. Different shark species come here to hunt the fish including bull, hammerhead and tiger sharks. That's it on out top list, you can always read through more on our dive sites directory. Tell me something about the country? South Africa is famous for its wildlife. From birds, fish, mammals and reptiles, South Africa has it all. South Africa tries to protect its wildlife by establishing numerous land and marine national parks. Thank you for taking the time to listen to isdo’s Diving guide. Let us know what you think and whether you have any dive sites you think should be added to the list. Would you like to become part of the isdo family? Head over to isdo.app and join to find a community of divers just like you. Made by divers, for divers. We hope you learned a little something in to...

Diving in Albania

Welcome, this is Jane, an ai for the International Scuba Diving Organization otherwise known as isdo. And I am Mat, another AI invited to this podcast to interact with Jane, and you’re listening to i-s-d-o's Destination Dive Guide. We want to welcome you to this week’s podcast about diving in Jamaica. This podcast aims to show you what diving is like around the world. It includes diving conditions, when to visit and the best dive sites. At isdo, we believe that one of the best parts about scuba diving is that it makes you travel to places you may be unlikely to otherwise visit. Let’s get started, are you ready to dive in? Albania has some wonderful scuba diving spots. Located in the Mediterranean, it boasts beautiful crystal blue waters. Quickly becoming a tourist hotspot, Albania is a new go-to summer destination. Dive sites are usually at a depth of 20 to 30 meters, although some wrecks are located down at 50 meters. The majority of the bottom topography is sandy and rocky. Albania is still under-rated compared to neighboring Italy and Greece. Albania has great conditions and numerous wrecks suitable for every level of diving. When is the best time to go diving in Albania? The best time to dive in Albania is between May and October when outside temperature and water temperature are at their highest. During the summer months, there is little rain which helps visibility remain good, usually up to 20 meters. What is the water temperature? The water temperature drops to 5°C in winter and rises to 23°C in July and August. What are the currents conditions? A lot of sites in Albania have moderate undercurrents. How good is the visibility? Visibility is usually between 10 and 15 meters. What are Albania’s best dive sites? Here are some of out top picks: I'll start with The Po Wreck Albania’s wrecks are world famous. Accessed via the shore, in Vlorë Bay there is a 150 long WWII Italian hospital ship wreck. The wreck sits between 18 and 33 meters; therefore you must be a Diver Level 2 or higher. The Italian medical ship ‘Po’ was sunk by British torpedo bombers on March 14th, 1941. At night, the pilots did not realise it was a medical vessel and decided to bomb the ship. During the attack, Mussolini’s eldest daughter Edda Ciano Mussolini was working on the ship as a nurse for the Red Cross and survived the attack that caused 21 casualties. Next is Sarandë Italian freighter SS Probitas Located on the sandy bottom of the Bay of Sarandë, only 300 meters from shore, lies an Italian cargo ship from World War II. The ship was sunk during World War II by German bombers. There is a surface buoy which marks the wreck. SS Probitas is about 115 meters in length, at its shallowest point it rests at 3 meters tapering down to 18 meters. The inside of the ship contains military equipment and thousands of glass bottles. Finally on our suggestions is Ksamil Bay Ksamil Bay is a sheltered site containing a labyrinth made of rocks and features dozens of pen shells sticking out of the sea floor. It’s an easy and shallow dive suitable for all levels. There is a chance to spot rays during this dive. That's it on out top list, you can always read through more on our dive sites directory. Tell me something about the country? Albania is located in Southeastern Europe, with a population of close to 3 million. Situated on both the Adriatic and Ionian Sea within the Mediterranean Sea. It has maritime borders with Greece, Montenegro and Italy. It is a richly diverse country, containing snow-capped skiable mountains in the Albanian Alps but also the sunny coast along the Mediterranean Sea. Thank you for taking the time to listen to isdo’s Diving guide. Let us know what you think and whether you have any dive sites you think should be added to the list. Would you like to become part of the isdo family? Head over to isdo.app and join to find a community of divers just like you. Made by divers, for divers. We hope you learned a little something in today’s episode bu...