Contents:1. A beginners way to the bottom...
2. Take a scuba diving course in Caye Caulker
3. Diving in Panama
4. Pure Life in Roatan Most TV channels show nature programs about life on coral reefs, always with large numbers of fish in all shapes and colors. In the middle of everything one can see a diver glide around. Have you never had a wish to be that diver? I fore sure, had a longing to find out if it was as wonderful as it looks like. And I can tell you right now, it is! My longing had taken me to Roatan; the largest of the Bay Islands just off the Honduras Caribbean coast. My intention was to stay in West End since most of the dive centers are situated there. The travel agency where I bought the tour made a last minute change of hotel and I ended up at Hotel Buccaneer in French Harbour. It's a port for the big fishing-trawlers and situated right on the opposite side of the island from West End. First I was disappointed, but it turned out to be a real hit. It is not very expensive to take a taxi, and there are plenty of them. Through the travels I got to see most of the island. If I had stayed in West End maybe I wouldn't have seen anything more. When I was to choose dive center I strolled along the main street, which goes along the beach in West End. I asked questions and tried to see which one looked the most serious one. Most of them seemed professional so it was not an easy decision, but finally I decided to choose Ocean Connections. First we started with theory, and I was pretty impressed when I realized that they had a copy of the PADI book in Swedish. It is not that thick, but if one does not pass the theoretical test it won't be any certificate. The book therefore became a faithful companion during the four days of the course, when I sat under the palm trees by the beach after the lessons of the day. When we for the first time had the diving suit on, they told us to swim to a pier a few hundred meters away and back again. For anyone that didn't cope with that test the course ended there. It felt a bit awkward with the diving suit and we weren't allowed to use diving flippers, but we made it. We were just four students in the class and our French instructor Baudet was absolutely fantastic. He had a lot of humor and just smiled at our clumsy beginners' mistakes. But he didn't let us repeat any mistake. We had to practice, practice, practice and practice again, on every detail until we could carry them out without thinking. The first day we only went a few meters from shore and sat down at the bottom of the sea. It was so shallow we just had to stand up to come over the surface. There we learned how to take the mask off and put it on again. Take the scuba tank of and put it on again. Take the weight-belt off and on again. Baudet sneaked around to our backs and turned off the air, so we had to practice breathing with the mouthpiece of another diver. The second day we went a little bit further out, so we could not touch the bottom of the sea. There we would practiced how to stay floating at the same level. First it was not very easy. Just a little bit too much air in the jacket and one went like a cork up to the surface. Next attempt ended like a rock down to the bottom. Baudet had new exercises all the time so we never had a dull moment. We just kept on practicing, practicing and practicing. At last we could swim around without floating to the surface or sinking to the bottom. The third day it was for real. We went out with a boat to the dive site. Baudet went through every detail of what we were going to do, and then we hurled ourselves backwards into the water. The butterflies in the stomach had a great time, but we followed our teacher and did what he had told us. Soon it felt safe and comfortable. Also this day the purpose was to practice all the phases, to know exactly what to do if anything went wrong or something unforeseen turned up. We did two 40 minutes dives. One in the morning, then it was time for the theory lesson, and a new dive in the afternoon. We still remained on shallow waters, which was good because it was still difficult to maintain a steady level in the water. It was like a roller coaster between the surface and the bottom. The deepest we went down was 12 meters (36 feet). The fourth day was examination day. First the theory. We had been studying very hard, so everyone passed and could go on to the two dives. At the first dive we were to navigate by knowing how long distance we moved on a given number of strokes with our feet. We had to swing around a little track and find our way back. It is amazing how everything all of a sudden looks the same down there on the bottom of the sea. I don't know if I had luck or if I really passed the navigation; but at least I found my way back to our teacher. The coral reef where we dived was full of fish in all imaginable forms and colors. Just as on TV! With the only difference that now it was myself there in the diving suit. What I found most remarkably was that the fish was not scared at all. Many of them came to have a look into the mask. They were only curious about that big bubbling fish in a rubber suit that had arrived at their reef. The big parrotfish almost didn't move when one came swimming. They expected you to make way for them. The last dive of the course was a climax. We swam so far away from the reef that we could not see it any more. Wherever we looked there was the same wonderful turquoise blue color. Up and down and around all sides. The only way to know which way was up, was to look at the bubbles from the breathing air. It was an absolutely fabulous feeling to hang there totally without weight and to do somersaults forwards and backwards. One can imagine how it must be like for the astronauts when they go for their walks in space. Just to be able to experience that feeling does it absolutely worth to learn how to dive! 
Belize is a dynamic destination for scuba divers. While Belize boasts have the second largest barrier reef in the world, but, the Belizean divers would argue, "The diving is second to none!". The atolls near Glovers and Lighthouse Reef are a popular destination for scuba diving lovers. Here, you can visit the very popular Blue Hole and dive deep down a cylinder type dark hole, laden with magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, formed over hundreds of years. It is reputed that some tour guides have been feeding chum to the sharks that inhabit this dive site. While some find the adrenaline rush of being 130 feet deep, practically nose to nose with deadly sharks, an exciting adventure, others threaten that the experience is too phenomenal for the average or amateur diver, especially those with a phobia for sharks! This dive is usually coupled with two other sites, one is called the Aquarium, and an aquarium it is, swarming with fish and coral of many colors and design! A beautiful, tranquil experience, far less provoking than the Blue Hole. Anyone can dive, anyone that is, who does not have a fear of water, a tendency for claustrophobia, and any other medical reason that would forbid them from "going down under". Taking the scuba diving course in Caye Caulker, the most enchanting island in all Belize, costs approximately $250 US dollars. This 3-4 days course includes 6 exciting dives at and around the local reef. Treasured Travels, the only travel agency on the island, represents all local dive shops and those reputable ones in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, as well. This would be the very best place to sign up for the course, as the price is the same as if you booked directly from the dive shops. However, it saves you the legwork of finding the one providing the course at the time of your stay. Enjoy the beach, the sea, the island, while someone else does the legwork for you. After all, we know the dive shops better than you ever will. We live here!
Panama offers a great number of possibilities for scuba divers, due to that we own coasts on two oceans, with different currents, climate and organisms. We have so much, that are object of different scientific research and for commercial purposes. Some companies have developed certificate courses on scuba diving, as Scuba Panama, Burbujas Tropicales, Neptuno, Scuba & Surf, among others. Diving courses are available from US$ 150.00 for the basics and can rise up to US$ 300.00 for Dive Master. Prices include theoretical material and practices in pool and open water. A course can take 1 to 3 weeks, depending on its difficulty. On the way, they sale and rent equipment, and offer tours to different places to practice and enjoy our coasts. Many persons can dive and learn to dive, but first priority would be to check out with your physician and other specialists concerning scuba diving, to know your possibilities on buoyancy, equalizing your ears, pulmonary capacity, heart, blood and kidneys health. All of this is to be sure you are going to perform correctly the new skills without problems underwater, on different pressure levels. The best reasons for diving is to enjoy our nature, comprehend the importance of water, keep developing new skills, and search for treasures and for adventure. As people need places for all this, Panama offers beautiful and historical locations to dive. Pacific Coast, Characterized by sport fishing, with beautiful coral reefs:
-Taboga Island
-Contadora Island and Archipielago de Las Perlas
-Iguana Island
-Coiba National Park
-Chiriqui Gulf
Recommended from April to November, when the wind is soft and do not create currents. Caribbean Coast, Wonderful coral reefs with a huge variety and number of algae, plants and animals:
-San Blas and its Archipielago
-Portobelo National Park
-Bocas del Toro
Recommended from April to November, when North winds are soft and do not create currents. Canal, Gatun Lake for historical view of the submerged town and lines of the railroad. Recommended from January to April, for best visibility during dry season. Visit Panama and enjoy diving!
The dive center offers PADI certified courses and daily diving. The protected marine reserve of Roatan, is the second largest reef in the world. It has 40 dive sites only 15 minutes from our resort, in crystalline water with excellent visibility. The Community of West End Beach is the most famous zone of Roatan with idyllic beaches and majestic green mountains. It is small and with friendly people. It is the heart of the Island where you will be able to take a walk and to enjoy the different restaurants, coffees and boutiques. West End offers different activities to choose from: snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, parasailing, jet ski, water ski, to swim and dive with the dolphins, sailboats, fishing, horses, bicycles, long walks. Show of the dolphins. Visits to the botanical garden, the Museum of Roatan, the house of the butterfly, the garden of the birds. Tours to the reef in boats with glass-bottom and submarine. The personnel of Pura Vida Resort will make sure that you enjoy your vacations in an Island of Paradise.
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