Mexican Sinkholes

by Neil Woodburn on

Every once in a while I come across an article that makes me stop and ask, why in the world am I not certified?

I love snorkeling and have always wanted to push that envelope further. Obviously that means getting SCUBA certified so I can dive deeper, stay down longer, and explore various wrecks. Now I have one more underwater goal to add to my list: caverns.

James Palmer traveled to the Mexican Yucatan to dive the region’s numerous caverns with cool names like Temple of Doom and Skull Cave. Unlike cave diving, caverns, by definition, are illuminated by sunlight and do not require as much skill or training to dive. Such sinkholes–normally formed by freshwater dissolving limestone formations–riddle the Yucatan peninsula, providing a Swiss Cheese wonderland of diving opportunities.

Divester Contest

by Erik Olsen on

Attention all scuba diving gadlingers: Willy over at Divester is holding a contest for any and all interested. The prize isn’t too big, but still, it’s better than nothing. They just want you to help a diving couple named Beth and Shaun Tierney do some research for their next book. Their most recent book Diving the World, caugh Divester’s attention, and now they’re eager to help with the next one. All you have to do is answer a few questions and you can win a copy of the book. Woo hoo.

Diver Sues Mexico

by Erik Olsen on

Go over to Divester and check out this post by Willy about a guy whose family is suing Mexico after he died in a diving accident. The guy’s name is Ricardo D. Loya and he was on a business trip in Cabo San Lucas two years ago. He decided to go diving when he saw a brochure in his hotel room, and headed out with a scuba diving with a dive master he believed to be “PADI-approved.” Alas, no. And the “dive master” left poor Loya unattended underwater. Loya drowned.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of June 25

by Adrienne Wilson on

Looks like another Friday has snuck up on us which means it’s time to list some of our favorite posts this week on Gadling. If you missed them before, here they are now:

5. Summer Hot Spots of the Rich and Famous:
Following the every move of movie and music stars has never been a personal past time of mine and while I choose to believe that most people are in the same category of caring less, I know I’m wrong. More people than I could ever possibly count will click into People.com, including some of our very dear Gadling readers to spy on the likes of famous folk on their glittery vaca’s in the Maldives. Thank Karen for the inspiration to do something great with your own summer days.

4. Most Expensive Cities:
Those of your traveling on a super tight budget will want to check out Neil’s blurb on the most expensive cities according to the U.S. based Mercer Human Resource Consulting, who just released their updated list. Last year Moscow was fourth on that very list and this year it gets tops for most expensive city. Apparently the folks there feel just a bit differently.

3. Air Conditioned Shirt:
Alrighty – Leave it to one of our fellow human beings to think up a gear item like the air conditioned shirt. Never in all my years would I have thought to see a shirt with a built in fan, but Erik has uncovered this unique piece of cooling cloth and makes a good point of how handy it could become in the Amazon.

2. Sounds to Sail to the Islands:
My longing to go to the islands and eclectic taste in music either from the islands or by an artists with roots in the area mentioned, lead me to creating this small guide for people looking to escape to a warm locale surrounded by water. Check out my list of good summer tunes and places to go after listening to them.

1. Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Series:
Most of you know that I’m allergic to scuba diving and such now, but I can’t knock a good post when I see one and for underwater enthusiasts this is a must see. Erik directs our attention to Lonely Planet guide’s latest quest to update and publish five volumes of its Diving & Snorkeling series. Peep the post for a list of the upcoming releases.

Seaway Trail

by Erik Olsen on

The idea of diving cold rivers may sound less appealing than diving, say, the Bahamas…it does to me…but over at Divester, they suggest that if you pair the diving with a beautiful drive, well, that may make the whole thing worth while.

Divester calls out the Seaway Trail in New York State, a 454-mile scenic route that runs along Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River. You can drive and dive, as it were, following the suggestions of the “Dive the Seaway Trail” campaign. And before you complain too much that diving lakes holds little interest, keep in mind that the lakes of the region were once major hubs of interstate and international commerce, and so they are loaded with wrecks. Wrecks, of course , mean fish. Divester provides some links to back up the claim:

So perhaps you were heading up-state anyway, or hadn’t yet made up your razadook what to do with your summer. Diving in New York may sound kooky at first glance, but the idea might be worth a second look.