Charcoal black volcanic sands bordered by lush rainforests, submerged forgotten cities and lush coral gardens with sheer wall drops are some of the treasures Sulawesi has to offer.

The name ‘Sulawesi’, originating from the words ‘sula’ and ‘besi’, translates as the island of iron, referring to the rich volcanic sands that border the island in certain areas. Found to the east of Borneo and to the west of Moluccas, bordered by a 6000km coastline, Sulawesi supports magnificent beaches and strong ocean currents and depths, attracting a large variety of sealife and home to lush coral landscapes.

Located within the prime location of the Coral Triangle, Sulawesi has much to offer dive enthusiasts, from the tiny critters of Lembeh to the magnificent coral Gardens of the Queen in Bunaken. For those who enjoy the mystery of diving a lost city or the thrill of diving alongside active volcanoes, Sulawesi will see it come true. The beauty of Sulawesi can be enjoyed both underwater as well as on land with sheer drop offs and trenches covered with lush corals underwater to towering volcanic mountains, cascading waterfalls and dense forests above land. Although diving is the primary reason people visit Sulawesi, there are many activities to do on land. The Tangkoko National Park houses endemic creatures that can be spotted in the dense tropical forests, including the babi rusa, a mixture of dwarf and wild pig, dwarf buffaloes and the tarsius, the smallest monkey in the world.

Although Sulawesi can be enjoyed all year round the best time to dive is between March and November. With close encounters with large pelagics in Bunaken and higher numbers of critters along Lembeh Strait seen between July and August.

Every year millions of sardines saturate the dark blue waters a shiny metallic silver in an unexplained natural phenomenon known as the Sardine Run. Their sheer numbers attract animals from land, sea and sky, creating a feeding extravaganza and a frenzy of excitement amongst all who come into contact with this spectacular marine event.



The Sardine run in South Africa is described as one of the greatest marine spectacles on earth. Annually, during the months of May through to July vast shoals of sardines migrate up the east coast of South Africa, travelling from the cooler waters of the Cape into the warm sub-tropical waters of KwaZulu-Natal. With shoals often being more than 7 km long, 1.5 km wide and 30 metres deep a large amount of attention is drawn to the Sardine run, especially because of the large concentration of marine predators that are always in close pursuit.

Following the shoals, above and below water is an unprecedented concentration of marine predators including birds, sharks, dolphins, whales, seals and fish. Schools of sharks including the Bronze Whaler, Dusky, Black Tip, Zambezi, Hammerhead and Copper can be seen in their hundreds. Bottle nose and common dolphins also join in the feeding frenzy and employ a hunting strategy to push the shoals into what is referred to as ‘bait balls’. Working together underwater the dolphins drive the bait balls to the surface. As the shoal moves closer to the surface the aerial assault on the sardines begins as hundreds of Cape Gannets, Cormorants and Gulls plummet out of the sky to gorge themselves on the shimmering ball of silver fish. In areas where the sardines swim close to the shore fishermen and local sardine lovers make sure to secure their share too.

Little is known about this phenomenon and the Sardine Run is still poorly understood from an ecological point of view. Sardines shoal closely together when they are threatened in an instinctual defensive behaviour, since individual sardines are more vulnerable than in large groups. It is also hypothesised that the water temperature has to drop below 21°C in order for the migration to take place and the Sardine Run is most likely as a result of a seasonal reproductive migration.

Despite little being understood about this natural phenomenon it is definitely a once in a life time opportunity to witness one of natures unexplained mysteries. This spectacular marine event is sure to be enjoyed by all, be it bird watchers, marine life enthusiasts, divers of varying levels of experience as well as snorkellers.

Immerse yourself in the warm Caribbean waters of Cuba and enter an underwater paradise, populated with brightly hued sponges, sunken shipwrecks and spectacular sealife, including the rare and elusive Cuban Crocodile.



As the largest island in the Caribbean Sea, Cuba benefits from a 5600km coastline, scattered with ripe coral reefs, containing the most diverse variety of corals and fish. Cuba’s warm waters of 24°C in summer and 22°C in winter provide the perfect temperature for divers wanting to explore its pristine underwater wilderness. With hardly any coral destruction or pollution the average visibility is 30 to 40m, allowing divers to fully embrace the spectacular scenery Cuba has to offer. Beneath the surface divers can expect to find a fascinating variety of sea life including marlins, swordfish, goupers, barracudas, sharks, lobsters and morays. If you’re lucky you may even find yourself diving alongside the rare Cuban Crocodile, being sure to make diving in Cuba an unforgettable experience.

If you are looking for a change of scenery Cuba also boasts numerous shipwrecks and over 20 systems of caves and caverns. With hundreds of magnificent dive sites on offer trying to choose a site can prove difficult. The most accessible diving is off the North Coast due to its proximity to the international airport as well as the city Havana. However, while diving in the North will definitely exceed your expectations some of Cuba’s best diving spots are in the South, most notably of which, the Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen). Jardines de la Reina boasts a magnificent pristine ecosystem of coral reefs making it home to numerous fascinating underwater species. Not only is the Jardines de la Reina home to a large variety of endangered sharks, the national park surrounding it is also home to numerous other endangered species of plant and wildlife, including loggerhead turtles, hawksbill turtles, Cuban Crocodiles and black, staghorn and elkhorn corals.

The Jardines de la Reina is accessible either via liveaboard or by having a floating hotel as your base. This gives you the convenience of living within close proximity to the dive sites, allowing you to reach dive sites within minutes.

One can generally dive year round in Cuba as the average yearly water temperature lingers around 24°C. Nevertheless, the peak time to dive in Cuba is between December and April, when rainfall is at its lowest. However, if you are interested in seeing whale sharks November is the best month to visit.

The world renowned Manta Reef is home to large schools of magnificent Manta Rays. Watch in admiration as these majestic creatures glide effortlessly through the water in an awe-inspiring display of their grace and beauty.



Located off the coast of Mozambique, approximately 20km south of Inhambane is the magnificent Manta Reef, named after the large schools of manta rays that frequent the area. The world renowned Manta Reef is definitely something to tick off of your bucket list. With two prominent cleaning stations located along the reef, including Manta Pinnacles and Manta Canon, sightings as well as close encounters with these majestic creatures are guaranteed.

Inhamane and Tofu beach offer some of the best diving in the world. Not only are close encounters with manta rays a frequent occurrence, divers can also get up close and personal with whale sharks and humpback whales. These gentle giants frequent the area during the months from October through to March and humpback whales can be seen as they migrate along the Mozambique coastline during the months from June to October.

The reef’s landscape is rugged and made up of canyons and gullies, covered with colourful soft and hard corals, and home to a dazzling variety of marine life, including large schools of barracuda, docile turtles and giant moray eels.

Submerge beneath the water into another era and explore the sunken history that makes Truk Lagoon one of the best wreck diving sites in the world.



In the central Pacific, 1800km north-east of Papua New Guinea, lies a sheltered body of water within the Federated States of Micronesia, known as Truk Lagoon. Also known as Chuuk Lagoon, this atoll hosts many wrecks that are steeped in history, making it a wreck diver’s paradise. In February 1944, US forces conducted Operation Hailstone that destroyed the entire Japanese fleet stationed at Truk leaving many vessels, planes and tanks at the bottom of the lagoon. Virtually intact, these ghostly remains lie on the floor of the lagoon just as they did when first sunk in 1944.

Diving into the water and being surrounded by wrecks gives you a tangible sense of history. Coral makes a home for itself on the “Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon” along with other vibrant marine life, creating a dramatic contrast to the deadly past that lurks beneath the clear waters. One of the most fascinating wrecks to explore is the I-169 Shinohara, a submarine that played a part in the attacks on Pearl Harbour in 1941. Whilst exploring the sunken history, one can also enjoy the sightings of turtles, sharks and manta rays. Truk Lagoon is a natural harbour and as a result it does not have an ocean current. This makes for perfect diving conditions as one can easily swim across the decks while admiring the gas masks and assortment of other military equipment that lie scattered across them. When penetrating the eerie vessels the panic that ensued on those fateful days is almost palpable and the human remains are a dark reminder of this tortured period of history.

Although wreck diving is for more experienced divers, there are fifteen wrecks and planes that are accessible to snorkelers who wish to submerge themselves into this underwater museum. In addition to the spectacular wreck diving opportunities, Truk Lagoon is also home to Shark Island. Here you can enjoy the thrill of close encounters with dozens of sharks in their natural habitat.