scuba diving vacations

Together they've traveled more than 96,500 kilometres/60,000 miles across four continents and now they’re planning to scuba dive in Borneo with PADI Diving Society! Join The Lost Girls and avid PADI Divers -- Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett and Amanda Pressner -- as they discover the exotic wonders of Malaysia’s Borneo and the magical islands of Mabul and Sipadan.

New Zealand is a magical place, especially for dive trips. During a recent travel assignment, ace underwater photographer Berkley White and Sport Diver Editor Eric Michael spent a week with the amazing crew from Dive Tutukaka exploring Poor Knights Islands. This string of islands off the northeast coast has been described by Jacques-Yves Cousteau as one of the planet’s 10 best dive sites. Besides heaps of amazing critters, incredible underwater topography, spectacular topside scenery and cool locals, Eric discovered an intense personal connection to a place halfway around the globe (read about it in the Nov/Dec 2011 issue). Meanwhile, check this photo gallery for exclusive details from Eric about his exciting dive trip.

Recessionary gloom, shrinking bank account and expensive airfares taking a toll on your bottom time? To help get you back out into the dive world, we’ve decided to share some of our favorite tips to buoy your spirits. Whether you’re looking for a budget-cutting travel approach to continue the far-flung fun or you just want to keep diving longer and more often in your own neck of the woods, check out these nine smart strategies for saving money on dive trips — no matter how the topside economy is doing.

Shore diving offers the ultimate freedom: no need for a boat, divemaster or schedule. Simply pick your spot, gear up and wade in. The photo gallery below details the six of the world’s leading destinations for shore diving, where the only logistical dilemma you’ll face is figuring out what site to dive next.