Where is Menorca?

Menorca, the smaller neighbour of the Balearic island of Mallorca, 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

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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

• Wikipedia
• Guide to Menorca

 

Where is Ras Mohammed?

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

“…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.

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

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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

Wikipedia

Sinai Divers

Ras Mohammed Diving Sites

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Where is Molokini?

Molokini Islands is a volcanic crescent-shaped crater with the much of it submerged and only the very tip showing. Molokini is found a couple of kilometres off Maui in the Hawaiian group of islands. It has been designated by the State of Hawaii as a Marine Life and Bird Conservation District and attracts many visitors to enjoy its natural beauty.

Snorkeling and diving are by far the biggest attraction to the crater and one of the premier destinations for this activity in all of Hawaii. The bowl of the crater is a mass of colour from the variety of fish that can be seen there.

Don’t be caught out not having the ability to snap the under water life when visiting such a unique travel destination. Consider grabbing yourself a terrific, little underwater camera that will do just the job.

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Molokini

One Great Reason to Visit Molokini

One great reason to visit Molokini is definitely for the diving/snorkelling experience – the video says it all!

Scuba diving, Molokini Crater, Maui

For More Information

Wikipedia

Hawaii – Official Tourism Site

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Where is Byron Bay?

Byron Bay is located on the east coast of northern New South Wales and is home to Cape Byron, the most easterly point of mainland Australia. Whilst Byron Bay is relatively small of permanent residents, being the second most visited travel destination in N.S.W, its population can expand three to four times.

The beautiful beaches of Belongil, Wategos and Clarkes, and the lush rainforest surroundings have attracted visitors over the years but no more so than during the 1970’s, bringing a very eclectic group of residents and visitors. It became the surfy and hippy mecca.

I remember as a teenager, a visit to Byron Bay to visit family members living there. Their diving business was part of the heart of the natural surroundings. Their home was not too far from Cape Byron Lighthouse and they really did have spectacular views over the beach. What I remember most of Byron Bay, was the laid back atmosphere and the warmer weather compared to that of Melbourne!

Thinking of a holiday to Byron Bay? A keen surfer? Want to surf harder and longer, get more barrels, bust bigger airs and perform tricks with more style?  Then you need to checkout this ‘Surfing Fitness Program‘ eBook.

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Byron Bay

One Great Reason to Visit Byron Bay

One great reason to visit Byron Bay is for the cosmopolitan and laid back atmosphere of this beachside town.

Byron Bay, Australia

For More Information

Wikipedia

Byron Bay – Official Tourism Site

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