For those who thought that maybe surf clothing was for pansies who couldn’t cope with the elements, you may want to re-think that attitude after reading this article. It’s all very well surfing in the warm seas off of Florida or the Australian coast where the water is warm but just how extreme do you need it to be before you give in to the protection of surf clothing?

One such surfer who can extol the benefits of the protection of surf clothing is a professional surfer who took some time out in Hawaii to indulge in his favourite past time. Not normally considered an extreme sport, this man decided to take it to new lengths and surf alongside an erupting volcano.

Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano was busy doing its thing and erupting into the sea off Hawaii when this thrill seeker decided to get a better look. Pulling on his surf clothing and grabbing his board, he paddled out to get a close up tan from the lava. Getting within twenty feet of the lava, where the water temperature reached 200 degrees in places, the surfer found the wax on his board melting and his feet burning. Refer to Great white shark diving for more information.

I’m sure most of us could have told him this would happen even before he started heading that way. There’s a clue in the name of Kilauea, which means ‘much spreading’. So, you have molten rock spewing 150 feet into the air at temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees and lava flowing down to warm up the sea at the base of Big Island. On top of that, or beneath it rather, are underground ‘tubes’ sending lava directly into the Pacific Ocean creating clouds of steam and ash. And it’s not just the lava and ash to consider. This volcano also gives off noxious fumes that irritate respiratory disorders and has killed several people in recent years.

So this surfer thinks it will be a good idea to wade in for a closer look? It just goes to show what a special lot these surfers are! So just to add to that notion, a pair of surfers were photographed doing their stuff in the water at New Smyrna Beach in Florida just yards away from a 6′ shark. For more information visit white shark diving

Having said that, these surfers were completely oblivious to the danger they were in as the shark was only seen by the photographer after the event. Surfers are debating whether the photo is the result of digital trickery but the fact that this is called the bite capital of the world probably means that it was real enough. Sounds like reason enough to go in the water but I think you are going to need a little more than surf clothing to protect you from these beauties.

However, the shark seen in the photographs has been identified as a Black Tip shark which is not considered to be dangerous to humans – but would you want to argue with it and find out? Twelve surfers and swimmers have been bitten in this area in the last year which is a little too many for the comfort of the average seagoing person! However, seasoned surfers are getting used to the sight of sharks in this area to the point where they simply accept it. “You can see several sharks on one ride on a good day” says one crazy surfer.

Refer to great white shark diving for more information.

These are some preparation tips-suggestions to make the most out of your Southwestern America Culinary vacation.

Have a Ready Appetite
The perfect way to do justice to your food vacation is to have a big appetite. What’s the purpose of paying for the opportunity to taste the best culinary delights of a given area or culture when your stomach can’t accommodate more than one bite?

Of course, possessing a big appetite doesn’t mean denying yourself the day before.

Just make sure you don’t eat too much the day before your vacation. If possible, take a pill to ensure your stomach’s certifiably empty for the food fest ahead.

Prepare for the Heat
Hot is a word often associated with the Southwest in more ways than one.

First, a majority of the tastes of Southwest cuisine are extremely spicy. Chimichangas, nachos, taquitos, stuffed peppers, chile relleno, chili con carne, and salsa are just some of the well-known dishes that could get you hopping mad out of the restaurant with burning taste buds. If you’re not good at eating spicy foods, make sure you have a small bottle or jug of iced water with you at all times; there may be times when you just can’t wait a minute longer to cool your mouth off.

Secondly, Southwestern states are not exactly the coldest areas of the United States. The weather in this region, especially in Arizona and Texas, can be quite ovewhelming in its heat. You can’t beat Arizona vacation. But be sure you’re dressed comfortably in cool, airy clothing. Wearing a hat or sun visor as well as a pair of sun glasses can help protect you from the heat.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are always a possibility, so again, having an ample supply of water with you at all times is encouraged.

Get Ready for the Heat
Speaking of the heat, there are also certain characteristics of the weather that you might have to watch out for. Mosquitoes are a nominal but annyoing problem, but one that a mosquito repellent can often cure. Rain could also be a cause of trouble, but not if you come
prepared with a raincoat and umbrella.

Clothing
Since we’re on the topic of clothing, be sure to ask your vacation planner if you’ll visit any locations with a requisite dress code. Knowing what to dress can also help guarantee that you pack light for your Southwest US vacatioN.

Bring a First Aid Kit with You
Vacation organizers always have first aid kits with them, but there’s no telling when you’ll find yourself lost and separated from your group. Thus, it would do you no harm to have your own first aid kit with you.

Now, if you’ve considerable experience traveling, you might already have a first aid kit packed with your things. There are, however, extra things you could add to your kit in consideration of “special dangers” you might encounter during your Southwest US tour.

If your vacation includes a trip to the desert, antidotes for snake bites and medication for other kinds of bites (remember: scorpions and spiders can cause harm, too!). High altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness (AMS) is also a possibility if your food tour includes a short but challenging mountain climb.

Double Check Everything
Lastly, examine your travel checklist several days before you leave for your trip. Call your tour planner to guarantee that everything’s fine in their side as well.

April was a very good shark month for us. The red tide that was so bad in False Bay cleared up nicely. The sharks where very active at Seal Island, and with the good visibility returning, and good sea and weather conditions, shark cage diving once again became a possible. From around mid April, we where shark cage diving on a daily basis. (When I say we, I am talking about Rob and the crew. Me, I get to stay at home and make sure “behind the scene” is running smoothly).

The trips where booked almost every day in April, and there where shark sightings on each trip, which is very good. As mentioned the shark cage diving really picked up from around mid April, as the great white sharks tended to become more and more active around the boat. Shark Cage Diving

Mid April also saw the start of the great white sharks breaching. This behaviour is unique to False Bay, and is what makes False Bay so different. It really is an awesome sight to see a shark fly out of the sea. It just takes your breath away. Time and time we get comments like “that was the best thing I have ever seen in my life”. You will not leave without a new found respect for these super predators. We also had some sporadic hits on our seal decoy. This will pick up and will become a regular thing, come June and July.

There where a lot of good sightings of common Dolphins.

The Pelagic trips also went well. Many of our guests choose to do a combination trip of Great white and Pelagic sharks. This is a fabulous way of really experiencing the sharks. On the pelagic trips we dived a lot with the Blue Sharks, and yellow fin tuna, but the sightings of the Mako Sharks was very slow indeed.

Rob was very busy with film shoots in April. Tygres Productions, (they make a lot of the Animal Planet Shows), came again this year, to film the great whites. Even though they came too early for good breaching behaviour, they did get a lot of very nice footage. Shark Cage Diving

The shark activity has risen, and it was so exciting to have more sharks back at the Island. It seems like they have come early this year. Again the sightings have fluctuated, but so far, there has not been one trip that has not encountered great whites. The most so far being 7, yes 7 sharks for March. That was an amazing trip, as the bay was nice and clear and clean, and the sea was as flat as glass.

On one trip, when the red tide had abated, a school of common dolphins +- 50 came right up to the boat and stayed for a good while. Dolphins are always such a nice treat, and there is something so special about them.

Well, that about sums up April. I know that this shark diary update came very late, but I promise that May’s update will be on time, and packed with exciting news.

Take care all you shark lovers out there. Shark Cage Diving

While vacationing in Mexico there are an unlimited number of places to visit and unlimited number of activities to participate in. If you have never had the opportunity to visit Mexico before, you may be wonder just what some of the activities are. How about the jungle? Does exploring the jungle sound like fun?

It you think that exploring Mexican jungles sounds like a fun and exciting activity then you are not alone. Jungle tours are currently a well-kept secret in Mexico, for the most part. However, they are rapidly beginning to increase in popularity. One of the many reasons why jungle tours are becoming popular is because of how the tours are being carried out.

In most Mexican jungles the terrain makes it difficult or impossible for guided tours to take place from a bus or a car. Hiking or biking is often dangerous or impossible. If you are interested in scheduling a Mexican jungle tour, you will find that most tours are known as ATV jungle tours. The all terrain vehicles are what make most jungle tours fun and exciting.

If you are interested in scheduling an ATV jungle tour, you will have to find a tour guide or company. ATV rentals are available, but you are advised against touring the jungles on your own. Professional ATV tour guides not only know where to look in the jungle for exciting adventures, but they also know how to keep you safe. To find an individual or company that specializes in ATV jungle tours, you can contact your travel agent or do the research yourself.

While researching ATV jungle tours, it is likely that you will come up with a number of tour companies. When selecting a tour guide, it is advised that you determine the location of each tour and then compare it to your intended Mexico destination. ATV jungle tour guides are popular, but they can only be found in limited areas. If you are interested in scheduling an ATV jungle tour, you may have to be prepared to travel to the intended tour site.

If you are vacationing in or around the Cancun area, you may be able to schedule an ATV tour with Jungle Jim’s ATV Adventure. According to their website, this ATV tour was rated as the best ATV tour in the area for two years. Cozumel Tours offer ATV jungle tours in and around the Mezcalitos area. Cozumel Tours and Jungle Jim’s ATV Adventure are just a couple of the many ATV tours that can be found in Mexico. If these tours do not service your area, you are encouraged to keep on looking.

ATV jungle tours are popular in Mexico, but they are not the only tours that you can participate in while vacationing in Mexico. Many tourists find it exciting to ride an ATV along the coast or other in Mexican destinations. If you are interested in scheduling an ATV tour, whether that tour is of the jungle or beach, you are encouraged to determine whether or not reservations will be needed. The need for reservations often depends on the tour company which you plan on doing business with.

As previously mentioned, you can either research or book your own ATV jungle tour reservations on your own or can do so with the assistance of a travel agent. When selecting reservations, you may want to be on the lookout for tour packages. These packages may include a wide range of Mexico tours, in addition to ATV jungle tours. Many times, you may be able to schedule an ATV tour, hiking tour, or snorkeling adventure all one weekend and for one low-price.

It is likely that you expected to find an unlimited number of activities on your Mexico vacation, but did you honestly expect ATV jungle tours? In Mexico, it is often difficult to know what to expect. Perhaps, the unexpected and unknown is what draws so many to Mexico.

Quads And ATV\’s