Where is Port Vila?

Port Vila is the capital of Vanautu. A cluster of 83 islands located in the South Pacific. Port Vila is situated on the west coast of the island of Efate within the sheltered Vila Bay. There has been a lull in blog posts here and that’s due to a recent 10 day family holiday to Vanuatu. I was determined to take a digital-detox and so no blogging was done whilst away! Only lots of time in the 3D world – sightseeing, swimming, snorkelling and relaxing with the sun on my face!

In and around Port Vila there’s plenty to see and do. We stayed at the mid-range priced boutique resort ‘Poppys on the Lagoon‘ which is an easy and pleasant walk to the town centre. This allows for walking the streets and passing the locals which you are greeted with cheesy grins and a great big “hello”. The people of Vanuatu are known for their happy, friendly ways and we had that confirmed!

Places of significance to visit include the Port Vila markets (I had a ball here), Erakor Island, Iriki Island, Hideaway Island, Mele Cascade Waterfalls, Tanna Coffee Factory and the many eating places offering fresh seafood and French cuisine. I don’t doubt I will be visiting Vanuatu again in the future especially considering it has 83 islands to explore! We were very impressed and highly recommend it as it’s certainly an easy trip from the east coast of Australia.

Lonely Planet Vanuatu & New Caledonia

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Port Vila

One Great Reason to Visit Port Vila

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the laid back lifestyle and perfect climate. You can’t but relax here!

Vanuatu: Central Markets

For More Information

Where are The Maldives?

Long regarded as the ultimate in luxurious holidaying, the Maldives comprise an archipelago of 1,190 ancient coral islands fringed with white sandy beaches and lapped by the bath-warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Originally formed by volcanoes, the underwater reefs surrounding the Maldives support more than 1,000 species of fish and other marine creatures – ranging from tiny fan-like coral structures to sharks and manta rays. The unique structure and rich abundance in marine life has ensured the Maldives reliably appears on lists of the world’s best dive sites.

In the Maldives diving holidays frequently take place on special live-aboard boats. These give divers access to the remoter atolls and, with up to four dives a day included in the price, can provide good value for money.

Other divers choose to base themselves at a particular resort and take day boats out to the various dive sites. However, with 644km of coastline and 200 inhabited islands, choosing a particular resort can vex even the most decisive of divers.

As a rough guide, stay on the western side of an atoll between May and November, as the visibility is better and life more varied on the reef. Divers arriving between December and April should opt for the eastern side of an atoll.

South Ari atoll and North Male atoll provide divers with the chance to feast their eyes on turtles, sharks, schools of game fish and the brightly coloured reef dwellers that inhabit the steep drop-offs known in the diving world as ‘walls’.

Some of the most popular dive sites for beginners include Banana Reef on the south-eastern side of North Male atoll and Maaya Thila off the North Ari atoll. Expect to see white-tip reef sharks, batfish, eagle rays and barracudas.

More experienced divers may choose to explore the protected marine park at the southern end of the North Male atoll. Known as Lion’s Head, this wall dive is subject to strong currents that attract large pelagic species such as tunas, giant barracudas grey reef sharks, napoleon wrasses and turtles.

Other popular spots for caching glimpses of gray, silver- and white-tip reef sharks are Rasfari and Cocoa Corner off the North Male atoll. Both are suited to more experienced divers.

To book an unforgettable holiday in the Maldives with some of the most remarkable marine life on the planet, planet diving holidays in the Maldives promise an unforgettable time.

The Lonely Planet Guide to The Maldives

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of The Maldives

One Great Reason to Visit the Maldives

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the pristine waters which allow for some amazing diving experiences.

The Maldives

For More Information

Where is Menorca?

Menorca, the smaller neighbour of the Balearic island of Majorca, lies off the coast of Spain and draws in thousands of visitors seeking sun, sea and sand every year. It is a great place for a traditional beach holiday – many of the most popular hotels in Menorca are dotted along the coastline – but for the more adventurous traveller who wants to do more than dip their toes in the water, this island is home to some of the best snorkelling hot spots in the Mediterranean.

In 1991, Menorca became a UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) designated Biosphere Reserve, which means Menorca has been recognised as an area of natural beauty and conservation and is now protected as such. This is great news for visitors, as the landscapes, ecosystems and features which helped Menorca gain its reserve status have been protected during the surge in tourism over the years.

The lagoons, marshes, wetlands, caves, dunes and islets are just some of the features which have been preserved, and it is here where snorkelers and divers will find real the gems. Some of the top snorkelling spots are Cales Coves, Es Grau, Macarella and Cala Galdana and it’s these areas which are home to hundreds of exotic fish and sea life.

Whether you’re an amateur snorkeler or avid diver, you will find the underwater wildlife surrounding Menorca incredible. Damsel-fish, Perch, Sea Bass, Cardinal fish, Barracuda and Octopus are just some of the species which call these waters home and with sea temperatures barely dropping below 20c in the summer months, you can swim with these fish in just your swimsuit or speedos – no wetsuit required!

If it is beaches which float your boat, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Cala Pregonda. This bay, which lies completely unspoilt, is surrounded by woodland and can be quite difficult to get to. For those that do venture to this part of the island however, why not pack a picnic of local delicacies and make a day of it? Sparkling blue waters and pristine sands are your reward and it would be a shame not to make the most of them.

This post is part of a monthly Spanish Series sponsored by www.hotels4u.com, where you’ll find plenty of Menorca hotels suitable for all tastes and budgets.

The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Menorca

One Great Reason to Visit Menorca

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for snorkeling and diving the hideaway inlets of the island offer.

Menorca Holiday Guide – My Travel

For More Information

Where is Ras Mohammed?

Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park is located on the most southerly tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It’s an extremely remote travel destination on the shores of the Red Sea. Access is generally either by vehicle or boat from Sharm el Sheikh.

I was fortunate to meet a German/Egyptian family who were holidaying for the diving in and around Sharm el Sheikh and they offered to take me to this remote destination in their vehicle. Access was probably even more difficult back in the 1980s as the towns on the Red Sea were yet to be discovered and developed into the tourist destinations we know today. The only access to Ras Mohammed was with someone who had a vehicle.

The small 4WD drive was loaded up with 6 passengers, scuba diving and snorkeling gear, and south we headed.

Diary extract – 18 July, 1988

Reef Fish on Local Postcard

“…We were stopped at a number of military checkpoints where Passports were required. Unfortunately, my passport was left as a security deposit with the Aqua Marine where the snorkelling gear was hired. Our host, who was of Egyptian origin, managed to confuse them at each checkpoint and we were not asked to show them. Whilst it was a mere 15km drive, it took an hour to get there! The last 5km was very much cross country and a 4WD was a necessity.

Desert Camels

We headed straight for the reef with our gear and I’ve never seen such an incredible number of fish of all colours and sizes. It can best be compared with swimming in a large, tropical fish tank found in your neighbourhood pet shop. We made it to the edge of the reef and the colours were simply breathtaking, as it plunged away beneath us. There were clams to be seen on the reef cliff and coral in many colours, shape and form. I’d not been out there for any length of time, when the others surfaced to say they saw a Hammerhead shark – I decided not to hang around and headed back to the safety of the reef…”

The Red Sea Dive Guide

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Ras Mohammed

One Great Reason to Visit Ras Mohammed

One great reason to visit this remote travel destination is to experience the diving and/or snorkelling over the reef, through an abundance of fish, to the spectacular reef edge.

Ras Mohammed from Sharm El Sheikh

For More Information

You Might Also Enjoy The Following Travel Destinations