Blog

The Health Benefits of Frequent Diving Most non-divers may think that scuba is a relaxing, leisurely hobby. However, as divers, we understand that scuba diving is an adrenaline-boosting sport that requires experience and savvy. The general public may also be surprised to learn the different health benefits scuba divers gain from many hours under the waves. Whether you have just started your certification process, or if you’re an experienced deep-sea explorer, diving...

International travel can be fun and enlightening. Spending time immersed in other cultures and customs is an excellent way to get to know the world outside your comfort zone. Yet, with all the fun and adventure, traveling abroad can come with risks. Ultimate Dive Travel works to mitigate these risks by not only helping you be proactive about your own safety but ensuring every resort we work with is secure and comfortable. We do not offer deals from every place on the...

Far too often, travel agents and agencies don’t do their homework. Failure to physically inspect and evaluate the quality of resorts is a crucial mistake that could cost companies customers. Travelers are not naive; there’s more information out there today than there ever was, thanks to the all-powerful internet review. Customers are just one click away from seemingly everything they need to know about the state of the resort, the kind of people who work there, and if it...

“New Regulations on Smart Travel Bags Pose New Challenges” Smart devices are the way of today’s world. Now a part of daily existence, smart technology is embedded into nearly everything we use to make life easier. This includes travel luggage. The latest craze in travel merchandise is smart carry-on luggage. The bags generally have USB ports to recharge phones and other smart devices. Some are also equipped with a weight scale to prevent overpacking, electronic locks,...

You’ve booked your vacation, and the excitement is mounting. Your bags are nearly packed. The date is fast approaching. There’s just one thing left on your list: trip insurance. Trip insurance is one of those things you may not have considered or simply overlooked. Trip insurance provides coverage for specific events that could happen prior to and during your trip within predetermined limits. Trip insurance – also referred to as ‘travel insurance’ – cannot...

Nestled in the heart of Indonesia is a resort that boasts some of the most spectacular beaches, specialized features, and unparalleled diving sites in the world – but odds are, you probably have no idea what it is. The Gangga Island Resort & Spa in Indonesia is a hidden gem. The resort lies in the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia, south of the Philippines and southeast of Malaysia. It is a 20-minute boat ride from the province’s capital and largest city of...

It’s no secret that Indonesia beholds some of a diver’s most coveted spectacles. Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is no exception. Raja Ampat is an archipelago of four major islands – Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo, and Misool – off the northwest corner of the Bird’s Head Peninsula in West Papua, Indonesia. The Raja Ampat islands are part of what is referred to as the “Coral Triangle,” which boasts arguably the richest marine biodiversity on the planet. Those...

Why Much Diving? To most people, muck diving sounds like “muck ado about nothing.” But for divers, it’s getting to the nitty gritty of what makes the ocean so mystifying. It’s said that we’ve only discovered 5 percent of the world’s oceans; much of it is probably lurking beneath, hidden from view in the muck. Muck diving takes place in, well, the muck: a barren, silty or sandy bottom that certain miniscule yet vibrantly colored and patterned creatures call home. Hours...

Overbooking Bait and Switch Booking a trip has become a mindless action due to the power of the internet. No matter where you want to go, you’re one click away from your dream vacation. But what happens when the booking site cancels your plans without so much as an excuse of “overbooking?” Most of us would be left infuriated, scratching our heads with confusion because, well, isn’t this why we booked online in the first place: to AVOID overbooking and cement our place as...

Liveaboard excursions are some of the most authentic experiences available to trained scuba divers. As the name implies, it’s a boat on which you can live for days or weeks at a time. Liveaboard diving trips encapsulate the ultimate escape. You’ll venture far offshore towards the horizon with just invited guests and crew as company. The extended stay gives us what we’re all in search of: time well spent. You’ll get a chance to truly immerse yourself in the culture and...

Avid travelers know there’s more to Indonesia than Bali. Indonesia is a set of islands that makes up just one nook of Asia-Pacific’s Coral Triangle: the waters that surround Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and The Solomon Islands. Millions are retreating to Indonesia, however, to experience a culture that has perfected relaxation and personalized treatment unlike any other.   This area is not just resting on its corals. At the...

Fast Food Fishes © Text and photography by Marty Snyderman Fishes use a wide variety of strategies to acquire their food.  Most of us are familiar with the strike hard and overwhelm your prey strategy that is often employed by carnivorous apex predators such as great white sharks and marauding schools of tunas, jacks and billfishes. Other fishes rely more on their ability to blend in with their surroundings and ambush unsuspecting prey before their prey knows what hit...