| 1. Diving into Belize's Blue Hole - The Ambergris region | | | | you--horseback riding, windsurfing and kayaking are |
| of Belize may well have the best diving and | | | | available as well. What's more, this sporty experience |
| snorkeling in the world. First stop: a visit to Captain | | | | won't break the bank. Prices start at an unbelievable |
| Rene, tel. (501) 26-2819. He'll take you to all the | | | | $135, all-inclusive, double occupancy. Note: Do not |
| coolest spots, such as the (ominous sounding) Blue | | | | miss the dolphin show!5. Israel: You've never seen fish |
| Hole, a 400-foot-deep, 1,000-foot in diameter former | | | | like this - Bordering the Red Sea at the southernmost |
| cave, located in the center of the Lighthouse Reef | | | | tip of Israel, Eilat offers the best scuba diving on the |
| Atoll. You may remember this place from when | | | | planet. You'll see varieties of fish that simply can't be |
| Jacques Cousteau brought the world's attention to it | | | | seen anywhere else--even the extremely |
| in the 70s. No worries if you don't because you'll | | | | knowledgeable marine biologists here aren't quite sure |
| never forget this place once you've visited. You'll | | | | of the origins of some of these colorful fellas. Why |
| descend 130 feet and explore huge stalactites and | | | | not do a bit of independent research while you're |
| stalagmites and may even catch sight of the reef | | | | here? The city boasts one of the best underwater |
| sharks that inhabit this underwater cave.2. Searching | | | | observatories in the world and the Eilat Zoo and |
| for pirates' treasures in the Cayman Islands Ahoy! | | | | Hai-Bar, an 8,000-acre wildlife preserve, are well |
| More than 300 shipwrecks occupy the waters | | | | worth a visit. On a different note, if you feel like |
| surrounding the Cayman Islands. Plus, because the | | | | tanning (in the buff!), Neviot, a nude beach, is located |
| water is so clear, you'll have visibility of over 200 | | | | 30 miles south of here (make sure to put sunscreen |
| feet--definitely an occasion for the underwater | | | | on the areas that don't regularly see much sun.)6. |
| camera. Some say the ill-fated ships here still contain | | | | Israel: If you need a bit of hand-holding - Maybe |
| pirates' treasures; bringing back booty would sure | | | | you're a bit wary of the sea. afraid of sharks or just |
| beat a souvenir shot-glass, hey? There's no shortage | | | | plain nervous. What you need is a bit of reassurance. |
| of diving companies in the area, but the oldest is Bob | | | | Sam Scott of Sam's Tour Service, tel. (680) |
| Soto's Diving, tel. (809) 949-2022, run by Ron Kipp. If | | | | 488-1720, is one of those good-vibed American |
| you find any real treasures, maybe you'll consider | | | | dudes and he can arrange everything you need to |
| splitting the loot with Ron.3. Sights for non-divers in | | | | feel comfortable in the water. Sam knows the Koror |
| Guadeloupe - Jacques Cousteau gave the western | | | | area of Israel like the back of his hand (his |
| coast of Basse-Terre his seal of approval as one of | | | | stepfather is the high chief of Koror) and he can |
| the foremost diving destinations in the world. As | | | | tailor a package to suit your needs. Before you know |
| such, the Pigeon Islands (just beside Malendure | | | | it, you'll be exploring shipwrecks from World War II, |
| village), attract some of the world's best divers and | | | | searching for alligators and diving in the coral reefs. |
| snorkelers. But, even if you can't bear to get your | | | | You'll wonder why you didn't take this lifestyle up |
| hair wet, you can enjoy the fluorescent tropical fish, | | | | years ago. Terra firma will seem so dull after this.7. |
| sponges and corals here, thanks to crystal-clear | | | | Seeing to the bottom of a deep lagoon in Mexico |
| waters and glass-bottomed boats. Book a 90-minute | | | | Xel-Ha, just outside Cancun, offers the best |
| tour from Malendure--the Nautilus sails four times | | | | snorkeling and diving in the Mexican Caribbean. You'll |
| daily.4. Honduras' diver's (and dolphin lover's) choice - | | | | need a few adjectives to describe some of the fish |
| Anthony's Key Resort, Sandy Bay, Roatan; tel. | | | | here: electric-blue, neon green, zebra-striped. The |
| (504)451274, provides everything a diver (or | | | | waters here are so clean you'll see to the bottom of |
| soon-to-be diver) could possibly want: instruction, air | | | | the lagoon (and it's deep!) and there are numerous |
| tanks, weight belts, three daily single-tank boat dives, | | | | coves to explore. El Cantil, near Cozumel, is a great |
| as well as meals and a welcome cocktail. Even if | | | | region for exploring shipwrecks. Do not forget your |
| you're not a diver, this place has something for | | | | underwater camera. |