Tipping Guidelines for Divers

Generally, members of a dive staff make a living wage, but often not by much. In some regions or situations, staff works entirely for tips. Gratuities can make a big difference, not only to the quality of life for dive staff, but also when it comes to the service you receive. Diving is a service industry, so in most cases it is appropriate to tip for good experiences. Here we offer some basic tipping guidelines for divers.

How much should you tip?

We base tipping guidelines for divers on several factors:

How much did the diving cost? Obviously diving is more expensive in some areas than in others. As a generalization, cheaper dives often occur in areas where the cost of living is also lower. Generally, $5 to $10 per dive (per tank) is appropriate; or, think of it like a restaurant tab and tip 10 to 20 percent based on service.

How was the quality of the service? Were you welcomed to the shop? Did the dives go smoothly and did the boat leave on time? Did staff brief you properly and happily answer your questions? Were your special requests handled in a manner that made you feel appreciated? If a staff member goes out of their way for you, especially if the situation was a result of your actions, you should tip appropriately.

Did the captain turn the dive boat around because you forgot your fins on the dock? Lend you their spare mask because your strap broke or make a last-minute repair to a regulator right before the dive? Maybe your dive guide gave you lots of encouragement and extra attention because you hadn’t been diving for a while. If someone goes the extra mile for you, do the same for them.

Sometimes gratuities are included on group trips or on liveaboards, so make sure to note whether or not that’s the case. If so, consider a small top-up to individuals that made things extra special.

Who should you tip?

Knowing who to tip can also be confusing. Some operators explain how to leave a gratuity, and sometimes it’s completely up to you. If you don’t know, ask how the shop divides gratuities. Often in-water staff and boat captains share tips, and some shops and operators split gratuities between all staff. Handing a staff-member the money and clarifying who you intend it for is generally okay as well. Bringing envelopes for longer trips and passing them out accordingly at the end is also common. Don’t forget that staff may be filling tanks, arranging for special excursions, or rinsing your gear at the end of the day. Those people may not be on the boat with you. Often a general tip for shop staff, and extra for those who ran your dives is a good approach.

If you’re in the midst of your dive training, tipping your instructor may also be appropriate. While you did pay for service within the course by signing up, the staff will appreciate a little extra if the service was exemplary or if you needed extra attention beyond the group activities. If a situation directly results from your lack of readiness, such as not having homework done or forgetting an essential piece of gear for class, and your instructor accommodates, you should definitely tip.

Owners and operators usually make their living off the dive or course costs. Base your tip on the operation’s size. You may not even know who the owner is when visiting a big resort. But if you dive with a small operator, where the owner is present day to day, a small tip may be appropriate. If the owner or manager is physically running your dives or driving the boat, tip them like dive staff.

Leaving a gratuity at the end of a longer dive trip or a liveaboard is appropriate — again, 10 to 20 percent of the cost of the trip. But if you’re diving day to day, tip daily so that the people who provided service that day will get a proportionate amount of the money. Once you’ve figured out how much to leave, the general rule when it comes to tipping guidelines for divers is easy: take good care of dive staff, and they’ll take good care of you.

By guest author Christie Ball

The post Tipping Guidelines for Divers appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2iQzhrp

Tipping Guidelines for Divers

Generally, members of a dive staff make a living wage, but often not by much. In some regions or situations, staff works entirely for tips. Gratuities can make a big difference, not only to the quality of life for dive staff, but also when it comes to the service you receive. Diving is a service industry, so in most cases it is appropriate to tip for good experiences. Here we offer some basic tipping guidelines for divers.

How much should you tip?

We base tipping guidelines for divers on several factors:

How much did the diving cost? Obviously diving is more expensive in some areas than in others. As a generalization, cheaper dives often occur in areas where the cost of living is also lower. Generally, $5 to $10 per dive (per tank) is appropriate; or, think of it like a restaurant tab and tip 10 to 20 percent based on service.

How was the quality of the service? Were you welcomed to the shop? Did the dives go smoothly and did the boat leave on time? Did staff brief you properly and happily answer your questions? Were your special requests handled in a manner that made you feel appreciated? If a staff member goes out of their way for you, especially if the situation was a result of your actions, you should tip appropriately.

Did the captain turn the dive boat around because you forgot your fins on the dock? Lend you their spare mask because your strap broke or make a last-minute repair to a regulator right before the dive? Maybe your dive guide gave you lots of encouragement and extra attention because you hadn't been diving for a while. If someone goes the extra mile for you, do the same for them.

Sometimes gratuities are included on group trips or on liveaboards, so make sure to note whether or not that's the case. If so, consider a small top-up to individuals that made things extra special.

Who should you tip?

Knowing who to tip can also be confusing. Some operators explain how to leave a gratuity, and sometimes it's completely up to you. If you don't know, ask how the shop divides gratuities. Often in-water staff and boat captains share tips, and some shops and operators split gratuities between all staff. Handing a staff-member the money and clarifying who you intend it for is generally okay as well. Bringing envelopes for longer trips and passing them out accordingly at the end is also common. Don't forget that staff may be filling tanks, arranging for special excursions, or rinsing your gear at the end of the day. Those people may not be on the boat with you. Often a general tip for shop staff, and extra for those who ran your dives is a good approach.

If you're in the midst of your dive training, tipping your instructor may also be appropriate. While you did pay for service within the course by signing up, the staff will appreciate a little extra if the service was exemplary or if you needed extra attention beyond the group activities. If a situation directly results from your lack of readiness, such as not having homework done or forgetting an essential piece of gear for class, and your instructor accommodates, you should definitely tip.

Owners and operators usually make their living off the dive or course costs. Base your tip on the operation's size. You may not even know who the owner is when visiting a big resort. But if you dive with a small operator, where the owner is present day to day, a small tip may be appropriate. If the owner or manager is physically running your dives or driving the boat, tip them like dive staff.

Leaving a gratuity at the end of a longer dive trip or a liveaboard is appropriate — again, 10 to 20 percent of the cost of the trip. But if you're diving day to day, tip daily so that the people who provided service that day will get a proportionate amount of the money. Once you've figured out how much to leave, the general rule when it comes to tipping guidelines for divers is easy: take good care of dive staff, and they'll take good care of you.

By guest author Christie Ball

The post Tipping Guidelines for Divers appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2iQzhrp

20 adventures from 2016 that made me go “is this real life?”

Why is everyone whining that 2016 was the worst ever and it needs to end?

I mean, yeah I get it, bits of it sucked the big one. But also some great things happened! At least speaking from personal experience, 2016 was actually not a bad year for me. Now 2011, that was not a great year, but 2016? Well, it certainly didn't suck.

And I'm betting it was a pretty good year for some of you guys too, if you really think about it.

I started musing about this today on my Instagram stories, which you should check out by the way, if you haven't already. I was started to get a bit panicky, either from being back at home at my parents' house in Virginia, which can bring forth all sorts of feelings and general unpleasantness in and of itself, but also because I was totally NOT ready for 2016 to be over yet.

I mean, hell, I've got so much left that I want to do, that I didn't get around to finishing. Story of my friggin' life, guys. Then I realized, I actually DID do a lot this year and I need to stop being negative and focus on being happy with what I accomplished and get excited for what's next. I think this is a lesson we all need to hear over and over again, especially in this day and age of never being good enough/never doing enough/never being the best.

Can we make that not a thing for 2017? I'd be cool with that.

Anyways, in an effort to not dwell on what I didn't do, I thought I'd go back and share 20 of my best experiences from 2016 that made me pinch myself and go "is this real life?" Because sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that, right?

1. Visiting the winter wonderland that is Alberta, Canada

I finally went on a proper visit to our great white neighbor to the north – big beautiful CANADA – and it knocked my socks off.

Just kidding, my socks stayed on as one does not have bare feet in Canada in January. Not if you want to keep your toes.

I spent almost two weeks exploring magical Alberta, and all I could think about it when I can come back and do it again. And again. And again. I loved Canada.

Walking out on frozen Lake Louise at sunrise after sleeping at the Fairmont Chateau, is not something I'll forget ever.

2. Gone glamping in Wanaka under the stars

Last summer a friend of mine started up her own glamping business in Wanaka called Explore Life Camping, which I was so beyond stoked about. I love glamping (fancy camping) when traveling and was all too keen to check out her spot in Dublin Bay on the lake.

It was a beautiful hot summer day when I headed up to the site, sat reading by the lake as the sunset and went for walks all night under a full moon. It was so magical and made me fall in love with my home in Wanaka all over again.

3. The most perfect powder day in Switzerland

I've been snowboarding now for about 2 years, and I still suck. Though I am getting better. I am a big bundle of fear on the mountain, something I'm determined to overcome one of these days.

Luckily for me, I was over in Switzerland in March this year and after a week of the shittiest weather ever, the gods listened and I ended up getting a meter bluebird powder day in the Alps around Interlaken. Can I get a HOLY CRAP?

It was one of my best day snowboarding to date. Feels like nothing can go wrong when the snow is that soft. And riding in front of the Eiger North Face? Talk about pinch me!

4. Almost seeing the northern lights in Finland

Guys, I have literally been in places where you can see the Northern Lights multiple times and NOT SEEN THEM! What gives?

I was in Finnish Lapland in March for a week which is primo aurora territory and it was overcast every single night, except for this night when the Northern Lights teased me on the horizon for a few hours.

One day, one day. And oh, Finland was ridiculously awesome otherwise.

5. Hiking the Kepler track in New Zealand 

If I had to pick a favorite multi-day hike in New Zealand, it would have to be the Kepler Track. Hands-down, my favorite.

I got a call last minute from a friend at DOC who was planning to come down for it, and I was all like, I'm totally coming too! A 60 kilometer walk over a mountain pass in Fiordland, it's not for the faint of heart, though as a Great Walk, it's not as challenging as most hikes in New Zealand either.

If you get to chose a hike in New Zealand, go for the Kepler if you can!

6. Celebrating three years in New Zealand and two years in Wanaka

I can't believe it, man does time fly. It seems like only yesterday I was announcing on here that I was moving down under, and boom, three years later and they haven't kicked me out yet.

I celebrated by walking out to Rob Roy Glacier, a beautiful day walk in Wanaka, and it was the first walk I ever did when I moved there and it's kinda one of the reasons I fell in love with Wanaka.

Here's to another amazing three years in New Zealand…at least!

7. Sleeping in a glass house under the Milky Way in Canterbury

Over the years, Canterbury has quickly become one of my favorite regions in New Zealand. It packs a punch. I keep going back and back because it's so close to Wanaka, and with fun cities, big mountains and epic coastlines, I'm never bored.

But probably my favorite non-mountain Canterbury experience in 2016 was getting to sleep in a PurePod in Little River on the Banks Peninsula. A solid glass cabin in the middle of the wilderness, it's such a special little spot!

8. Overnight hiking on Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier is by far one of my favorite places on the South Island, and one of the only places where you can easily access and go on guided adventures on a glacier. Since I love being in the mountains but am not a mountaineer, this is one of my happy places.

This year I got the chance to try out the new Extreme Heli Hike on Fox with friends, and it was so much fun! We spent two days in the hills, first flying up to Chancellor Hut and doing the Half Dome trek, my first guided mountain climb before overnighting in the historic hut and then doing the ice hike the next day.

So cool!

9. Meeting the 2016 kākāpō chicks

You guys know that I am a big bird nerd after moving to New Zealand, and my absolute favorites are the kākāpō. These native flightless nocturnal parrots are on the brink of extinction, but luckily with a lot of help from groups like Kākāpō Recovery, DOC, Forest and Bird and now Meridian Energy, they are slowly but surely coming back.

And 2016 was a bumper breeding season with lots of new chicks bringing up the population to 154 birds! And I was lucky enough to go and meet some of them down in Invercargill, not something I'll likely soon forget. They just started naming all the new ones this year over on Facebook.

Aren't they cute?

10. Frolicking in Arrowtown in autumn

I always make a point to be in New Zealand for autumn, especially April when the leaves change. My absolute favorite time of year! If only we had pumpkin spice lattes.

I'm basic, sue me.

11. Hanging out in the Maldives

Ok, pretty much the whole time I was there, I was like "IS THIS REAL LIFE?" "HOW IS THIS MY LIFE?"

Enough said.

12. Tracking leopards in Sri Lanka

I've gotten so into wildlife photography and animal conservation lately, so I knew I had to go try and see leopards in Sri Lanka, especially as this was my second trip over.

I spent a few days on safari in Yala National Park tracking leopards and elephants based at Cinnamon Wild Yala, and it blew me away!

That is until I got dengue. FML times a million.

13. Taking part in an AirNZ shoot at Mt. Hutt

So this one time, Air New Zealand asked me to be in one of their commercial videos snowboarding at Mt. Hutt and eating ice creams. Didn't have to ask me twice!

14. Working on my snowboarding all season at Treble Cone in Wanaka

I've been working my butt off the past few years trying to become a better snowboarder, and finally am getting there. I spent a lot of days up the hill in Wanaka at my local skifield, Treble Cone, earning my turns and trying not to faceplant off the chairlift.

Bit by bit, I'm getting there!

15. FINALLY visiting the polar bears in Svalbard

I had been dying, DYING to go to Svalbard for about 10 years at least, and finally had the opportunity to go this year on an expedition ship with Eclipse Travel. Svalbard is a very remote group of glaciated islands north of Norway in the Arctic Circle, and we spent almost two weeks circumnavigating it this year. And tracking polar bears on the sea ice.

Cue all the tears.

16. Roadtripping around the Lofoten Islands in Norway

Since I was already in Norway, I had to take the chance and head around the fjords in Northern Norway, especially to see the magical, mystical Lofoten Islands.

And holy crap were they just as amazing as you might have imagined!

17. Finally getting to know Rotorua

This spring I spent some time getting to know more of my own backyard in New Zealand, with a four day trip up to Rotorua on the North Island. A geothermal wonderland, I skipped out on more of the touristic spots in favor of exploring more of the hidden forests and lakes.

And I am totally already planning a trip back.

18. Eating my way through Dunedin

This spring I also spent time hanging out in nearby Dunedin, an amazing city by the sea on the South Island, which by the way, has the most amazing new foodie scene.

I haven't written much about my time there yet, but stay tuned, I've got some exciting new projects coming up around it I can't wait to share!

19. Celebrating our Travel Bootcamps in Sydney and the Gold Coast

Hey remember that one time in May where I casually mentioned that I was co-launching my own travel conference? Yeah that happened. Twice!

My partners and I wanted to launch our own travel conference where taught the specific ins-and-outs of getting paid to travel and work in the writing, blogging and photography fields, no bullshit, straight facts.

Our first Travel Bootcamp was in Sydney in June and was a great success, and then we launched our second conference on the Gold Coast in November, also a great success. We have a lot of exciting, secret plans around this in the works, and have quietly just released tickets to our next Bootcamp in Melbourne on April 29th, so if you're keen to learn how to get paid to travel like I do, sign up!

20. Roadtripping to Fiordland in an Aston Martin

Finally, I had to go out with a bang in 2016 on my last week in New Zealand for the year before flying home to the US for the holidays, by road-tripping to Fiordland.

My friend Sarah came to visit, and I wanted to surprise by organizing a rental for us in an Aston Martin with Ignition Self Drive in Queenstown so we could road-trip in style to Milford Sound and live out our James Bond fantasies.

2016, what a year! What is my life? Holy shit!

How did your 2016 shape up? Share one awesome positive experience you had in the comments or a great place you traveled to this year and what you're looking forward to for 2017!

The post 20 adventures from 2016 that made me go "is this real life?" appeared first on Young Adventuress.

from Young Adventuress http://ift.tt/2iO2Hm4

20 adventures from 2016 that made me go “is this real life?”

Why is everyone whining that 2016 was the worst ever and it needs to end?

I mean, yeah I get it, bits of it sucked the big one. But also some great things happened! At least speaking from personal experience, 2016 was actually not a bad year for me. Now 2011, that was not a great year, but 2016? Well, it certainly didn’t suck.

And I’m betting it was a pretty good year for some of you guys too, if you really think about it.

I started musing about this today on my Instagram stories, which you should check out by the way, if you haven’t already. I was started to get a bit panicky, either from being back at home at my parents’ house in Virginia, which can bring forth all sorts of feelings and general unpleasantness in and of itself, but also because I was totally NOT ready for 2016 to be over yet.

I mean, hell, I’ve got so much left that I want to do, that I didn’t get around to finishing. Story of my friggin’ life, guys. Then I realized, I actually DID do a lot this year and I need to stop being negative and focus on being happy with what I accomplished and get excited for what’s next. I think this is a lesson we all need to hear over and over again, especially in this day and age of never being good enough/never doing enough/never being the best.

Can we make that not a thing for 2017? I’d be cool with that.

Anyways, in an effort to not dwell on what I didn’t do, I thought I’d go back and share 20 of my best experiences from 2016 that made me pinch myself and go “is this real life?” Because sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that, right?

1. Visiting the winter wonderland that is Alberta, Canada

I finally went on a proper visit to our great white neighbor to the north – big beautiful CANADA – and it knocked my socks off.

Just kidding, my socks stayed on as one does not have bare feet in Canada in January. Not if you want to keep your toes.

I spent almost two weeks exploring magical Alberta, and all I could think about it when I can come back and do it again. And again. And again. I loved Canada.

Walking out on frozen Lake Louise at sunrise after sleeping at the Fairmont Chateau, is not something I’ll forget ever.

2. Gone glamping in Wanaka under the stars

Last summer a friend of mine started up her own glamping business in Wanaka called Explore Life Camping, which I was so beyond stoked about. I love glamping (fancy camping) when traveling and was all too keen to check out her spot in Dublin Bay on the lake.

It was a beautiful hot summer day when I headed up to the site, sat reading by the lake as the sunset and went for walks all night under a full moon. It was so magical and made me fall in love with my home in Wanaka all over again.

3. The most perfect powder day in Switzerland

I’ve been snowboarding now for about 2 years, and I still suck. Though I am getting better. I am a big bundle of fear on the mountain, something I’m determined to overcome one of these days.

Luckily for me, I was over in Switzerland in March this year and after a week of the shittiest weather ever, the gods listened and I ended up getting a meter bluebird powder day in the Alps around Interlaken. Can I get a HOLY CRAP?

It was one of my best day snowboarding to date. Feels like nothing can go wrong when the snow is that soft. And riding in front of the Eiger North Face? Talk about pinch me!

4. Almost seeing the northern lights in Finland

Guys, I have literally been in places where you can see the Northern Lights multiple times and NOT SEEN THEM! What gives?

I was in Finnish Lapland in March for a week which is primo aurora territory and it was overcast every single night, except for this night when the Northern Lights teased me on the horizon for a few hours.

One day, one day. And oh, Finland was ridiculously awesome otherwise.

5. Hiking the Kepler track in New Zealand 

If I had to pick a favorite multi-day hike in New Zealand, it would have to be the Kepler Track. Hands-down, my favorite.

I got a call last minute from a friend at DOC who was planning to come down for it, and I was all like, I’m totally coming too! A 60 kilometer walk over a mountain pass in Fiordland, it’s not for the faint of heart, though as a Great Walk, it’s not as challenging as most hikes in New Zealand either.

If you get to chose a hike in New Zealand, go for the Kepler if you can!

6. Celebrating three years in New Zealand and two years in Wanaka

I can’t believe it, man does time fly. It seems like only yesterday I was announcing on here that I was moving down under, and boom, three years later and they haven’t kicked me out yet.

I celebrated by walking out to Rob Roy Glacier, a beautiful day walk in Wanaka, and it was the first walk I ever did when I moved there and it’s kinda one of the reasons I fell in love with Wanaka.

Here’s to another amazing three years in New Zealand…at least!

7. Sleeping in a glass house under the Milky Way in Canterbury

Over the years, Canterbury has quickly become one of my favorite regions in New Zealand. It packs a punch. I keep going back and back because it’s so close to Wanaka, and with fun cities, big mountains and epic coastlines, I’m never bored.

But probably my favorite non-mountain Canterbury experience in 2016 was getting to sleep in a PurePod in Little River on the Banks Peninsula. A solid glass cabin in the middle of the wilderness, it’s such a special little spot!

8. Overnight hiking on Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier is by far one of my favorite places on the South Island, and one of the only places where you can easily access and go on guided adventures on a glacier. Since I love being in the mountains but am not a mountaineer, this is one of my happy places.

This year I got the chance to try out the new Extreme Heli Hike on Fox with friends, and it was so much fun! We spent two days in the hills, first flying up to Chancellor Hut and doing the Half Dome trek, my first guided mountain climb before overnighting in the historic hut and then doing the ice hike the next day.

So cool!

9. Meeting the 2016 kākāpō chicks

You guys know that I am a big bird nerd after moving to New Zealand, and my absolute favorites are the kākāpō. These native flightless nocturnal parrots are on the brink of extinction, but luckily with a lot of help from groups like Kākāpō Recovery, DOC, Forest and Bird and now Meridian Energy, they are slowly but surely coming back.

And 2016 was a bumper breeding season with lots of new chicks bringing up the population to 154 birds! And I was lucky enough to go and meet some of them down in Invercargill, not something I’ll likely soon forget. They just started naming all the new ones this year over on Facebook.

Aren’t they cute?

10. Frolicking in Arrowtown in autumn

I always make a point to be in New Zealand for autumn, especially April when the leaves change. My absolute favorite time of year! If only we had pumpkin spice lattes.

I’m basic, sue me.

11. Hanging out in the Maldives

Ok, pretty much the whole time I was there, I was like “IS THIS REAL LIFE?” “HOW IS THIS MY LIFE?”

Enough said.

12. Tracking leopards in Sri Lanka

I’ve gotten so into wildlife photography and animal conservation lately, so I knew I had to go try and see leopards in Sri Lanka, especially as this was my second trip over.

I spent a few days on safari in Yala National Park tracking leopards and elephants based at Cinnamon Wild Yala, and it blew me away!

That is until I got dengue. FML times a million.

13. Taking part in an AirNZ shoot at Mt. Hutt

So this one time, Air New Zealand asked me to be in one of their commercial videos snowboarding at Mt. Hutt and eating ice creams. Didn’t have to ask me twice!

14. Working on my snowboarding all season at Treble Cone in Wanaka

I’ve been working my butt off the past few years trying to become a better snowboarder, and finally am getting there. I spent a lot of days up the hill in Wanaka at my local skifield, Treble Cone, earning my turns and trying not to faceplant off the chairlift.

Bit by bit, I’m getting there!

15. FINALLY visiting the polar bears in Svalbard

I had been dying, DYING to go to Svalbard for about 10 years at least, and finally had the opportunity to go this year on an expedition ship with Eclipse Travel. Svalbard is a very remote group of glaciated islands north of Norway in the Arctic Circle, and we spent almost two weeks circumnavigating it this year. And tracking polar bears on the sea ice.

Cue all the tears.

16. Roadtripping around the Lofoten Islands in Norway

Since I was already in Norway, I had to take the chance and head around the fjords in Northern Norway, especially to see the magical, mystical Lofoten Islands.

And holy crap were they just as amazing as you might have imagined!

17. Finally getting to know Rotorua

This spring I spent some time getting to know more of my own backyard in New Zealand, with a four day trip up to Rotorua on the North Island. A geothermal wonderland, I skipped out on more of the touristic spots in favor of exploring more of the hidden forests and lakes.

And I am totally already planning a trip back.

18. Eating my way through Dunedin

This spring I also spent time hanging out in nearby Dunedin, an amazing city by the sea on the South Island, which by the way, has the most amazing new foodie scene.

I haven’t written much about my time there yet, but stay tuned, I’ve got some exciting new projects coming up around it I can’t wait to share!

19. Celebrating our Travel Bootcamps in Sydney and the Gold Coast

Hey remember that one time in May where I casually mentioned that I was co-launching my own travel conference? Yeah that happened. Twice!

My partners and I wanted to launch our own travel conference where taught the specific ins-and-outs of getting paid to travel and work in the writing, blogging and photography fields, no bullshit, straight facts.

Our first Travel Bootcamp was in Sydney in June and was a great success, and then we launched our second conference on the Gold Coast in November, also a great success. We have a lot of exciting, secret plans around this in the works, and have quietly just released tickets to our next Bootcamp in Melbourne on April 29th, so if you’re keen to learn how to get paid to travel like I do, sign up!

20. Roadtripping to Fiordland in an Aston Martin

Finally, I had to go out with a bang in 2016 on my last week in New Zealand for the year before flying home to the US for the holidays, by road-tripping to Fiordland.

My friend Sarah came to visit, and I wanted to surprise by organizing a rental for us in an Aston Martin with Ignition Self Drive in Queenstown so we could road-trip in style to Milford Sound and live out our James Bond fantasies.

2016, what a year! What is my life? Holy shit!

How did your 2016 shape up? Share one awesome positive experience you had in the comments or a great place you traveled to this year and what you’re looking forward to for 2017!

The post 20 adventures from 2016 that made me go “is this real life?” appeared first on Young Adventuress.

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Choosing a Dive Charter

Choosing a dive charter is one of the most important decisions you’ll make if you’re about to embark on a dive-centric trip. Most importantly, you should research the boat’s safety procedures, and the owner’s vision of safety. There are different regulations for dive boats across the world. Review these standards, even if just briefly, so that you’ll have a more relaxed, and safer, experience. Here we’ve offered a few tips when it comes to choosing a dive charter.

Does the boat conduct any type of people count? One of the biggest worries — especially among newer divers — when it comes to diving in large charter boats or liveaboards, is that the boat will leave them behind. Although this rarely occurs, it has quite famously happened a few times. It is easy to prevent by simply conducting a head count via roll call or some other means. All reputable dive boats will conduct a head count before and after every dive until the trip is completed. Some dive boats perform head counts by handing divers a medallion to clip to their equipment; others simply call everyone’s name. Either way it’s a must.

Where does the boat store the first aid and oxygen kits? As surprising as it may sound, some dive operations do not follow these standards, so it falls on you as a responsible, certified diver (of any level) to ensure that these items are on the boat and find out where they are should you need them. Most dive guides explain this information in detail during their briefing, but if not, find out where they are and if they’re in good working order before you head out for the day. In some locations, the boat brings the kit to the dive site, while it may be standard in other places to keep the supplies back on land. Understanding this information before diving can reduce any risks that may have been preventable.

What do the reviews say? One of the easiest ways to get information about a particular dive boat is to simply read the reviews. Of course, every establishment (diving or non-diving related) has some reviews that do not represent the location accurately, but if the general consensus of reviews speaks of how well-organized, polite, and informative the staff was, chances are you’re picking an excellent charter. Spending only 10 minutes checking reviews can determine whether your experience is fantastic or a headache.

Remember, diving is a fun, relaxing sport. But as with any extreme sport, there are safety risks. Choosing a dive charter that focuses on your safety minimizes the risk and maximizes the fun.

By guest blogger Elizabeth Maynor

The post Choosing a Dive Charter appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2iN9VL2

Choosing a Dive Charter

Choosing a dive charter is one of the most important decisions you'll make if you're about to embark on a dive-centric trip. Most importantly, you should research the boat's safety procedures, and the owner's vision of safety. There are different regulations for dive boats across the world. Review these standards, even if just briefly, so that you'll have a more relaxed, and safer, experience. Here we've offered a few tips when it comes to choosing a dive charter.

Does the boat conduct any type of people count? One of the biggest worries — especially among newer divers — when it comes to diving in large charter boats or liveaboards, is that the boat will leave them behind. Although this rarely occurs, it has quite famously happened a few times. It is easy to prevent by simply conducting a head count via roll call or some other means. All reputable dive boats will conduct a head count before and after every dive until the trip is completed. Some dive boats perform head counts by handing divers a medallion to clip to their equipment; others simply call everyone's name. Either way it's a must.

Where does the boat store the first aid and oxygen kits? As surprising as it may sound, some dive operations do not follow these standards, so it falls on you as a responsible, certified diver (of any level) to ensure that these items are on the boat and find out where they are should you need them. Most dive guides explain this information in detail during their briefing, but if not, find out where they are and if they're in good working order before you head out for the day. In some locations, the boat brings the kit to the dive site, while it may be standard in other places to keep the supplies back on land. Understanding this information before diving can reduce any risks that may have been preventable.

What do the reviews say? One of the easiest ways to get information about a particular dive boat is to simply read the reviews. Of course, every establishment (diving or non-diving related) has some reviews that do not represent the location accurately, but if the general consensus of reviews speaks of how well-organized, polite, and informative the staff was, chances are you're picking an excellent charter. Spending only 10 minutes checking reviews can determine whether your experience is fantastic or a headache.

Remember, diving is a fun, relaxing sport. But as with any extreme sport, there are safety risks. Choosing a dive charter that focuses on your safety minimizes the risk and maximizes the fun.

By guest blogger Elizabeth Maynor

The post Choosing a Dive Charter appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

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Dive Site: Turtle Reef, Grand Cayman

For the last few years I’ve lived in Grand Cayman, a 24-mile-wide island just south of Cuba and north of Jamaica. There’s a maximum elevation of around 60 feet (18 m), which means there’s no river run-off to cloud the waters. On a “bad” day in Cayman, visibility may be down to around 50 feet (15 m); on a good day you’ll see for hundreds of feet into the blue. Since I spend most of those perfect-viz days in an office, I enjoy Cayman’s underwater scenery mostly on night dives. Tonight we’re visiting my favorite night site: Turtle Reef. In the northwest corner of the island, Turtle Reef is a 20-minute drive from the capital city of George Town.

The resident dive shop at Turtle Reef is Sunset Divers at Sunset House. If you pop in before 5 pm — best to go earlier, because everything runs on island time — to sign a waiver and pay for the tanks, the shop will happily leave them out for you. You can rent gear and lights as well. Collect any equipment in the afternoon and drop it back the next day when the shop is open. With water temperatures in Cayman ranging from 82 to 84 degrees F (27 to 29 C), I’ve never needed a wetsuit. Those with less insulation or cold tolerance will want at least a 3 mm shorty.

Diving Turtle Reef

Turtle Reef’s entrance is in a little cove in the ironshore, near the Macabuca Bar and Cracked Conch restaurant, both worth a post-dive visit. The light from Macabuca casts a beacon into the water and you’ll often see fish using it to hunt in the shallows. The cove provides a good opportunity to get comfortable and test your torches before swimming out into the darkness.

The site itself is a mini-wall, marked by a buoy about 330 feet (100 m) out. Descend immediately however, and watch for rays and peacock flounder in the sand or squid in the shallows on the swim out. Once you arrive at the site, the mini-wall descends sharply to around 60 feet (18 m). Turn northeast (right) or south (left), depending on the direction of current. With the prevailing current you will turn right. Keep your eyes on the wall as you descend, watching for octopus that blend into the background with fluid color changes.

Turning left you will find several wide swim-through canyons, with tarpon lazily hanging around. Their silver scales flash in your torchlight, which they’ll sometimes take advantage of to hunt. I like to turn right, past an old tube sponge that often hides lobster, shrimp, eels or (sadly) the occasional cluster of lionfish. Overhangs on the mini-wall are ideal places for lobsters, eels and octopus. You’ve also got a good chance of seeing a turtle here. Coral and rocky outcrops provide more opportunities to see lobsters, sleeping grouper, or Pederson or coral shrimp. I love finding arrow crabs, strange spider-like creatures that remind me of the (British) children’s television character Wizbit.

Staying at the base of the wall keeps you between 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m). You can log some decent bottom time on the way out before rising to the top of the wall for your return trip. On the way back, keep your eyes open again for rays, flounders, and other bottom dwellers in the sand. The light of the Macabuca Bar guides you in, with the promise of a rewarding Caribbean beer.

Guest author Jez Snead lives in Grand Cayman and tries to dive as much as possible. He blogs sporadically on diving and other topics he finds interesting and is always happy when people stop by.

The post Dive Site: Turtle Reef, Grand Cayman appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

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Dive Site: Turtle Reef, Grand Cayman

For the last few years I've lived in Grand Cayman, a 24-mile-wide island just south of Cuba and north of Jamaica. There's a maximum elevation of around 60 feet (18 m), which means there's no river run-off to cloud the waters. On a "bad" day in Cayman, visibility may be down to around 50 feet (15 m); on a good day you'll see for hundreds of feet into the blue. Since I spend most of those perfect-viz days in an office, I enjoy Cayman's underwater scenery mostly on night dives. Tonight we're visiting my favorite night site: Turtle Reef. In the northwest corner of the island, Turtle Reef is a 20-minute drive from the capital city of George Town.

The resident dive shop at Turtle Reef is Sunset Divers at Sunset House. If you pop in before 5 pm — best to go earlier, because everything runs on island time — to sign a waiver and pay for the tanks, the shop will happily leave them out for you. You can rent gear and lights as well. Collect any equipment in the afternoon and drop it back the next day when the shop is open. With water temperatures in Cayman ranging from 82 to 84 degrees F (27 to 29 C), I've never needed a wetsuit. Those with less insulation or cold tolerance will want at least a 3 mm shorty.

Diving Turtle Reef

Turtle Reef's entrance is in a little cove in the ironshore, near the Macabuca Bar and Cracked Conch restaurant, both worth a post-dive visit. The light from Macabuca casts a beacon into the water and you'll often see fish using it to hunt in the shallows. The cove provides a good opportunity to get comfortable and test your torches before swimming out into the darkness.

The site itself is a mini-wall, marked by a buoy about 330 feet (100 m) out. Descend immediately however, and watch for rays and peacock flounder in the sand or squid in the shallows on the swim out. Once you arrive at the site, the mini-wall descends sharply to around 60 feet (18 m). Turn northeast (right) or south (left), depending on the direction of current. With the prevailing current you will turn right. Keep your eyes on the wall as you descend, watching for octopus that blend into the background with fluid color changes.

Turning left you will find several wide swim-through canyons, with tarpon lazily hanging around. Their silver scales flash in your torchlight, which they'll sometimes take advantage of to hunt. I like to turn right, past an old tube sponge that often hides lobster, shrimp, eels or (sadly) the occasional cluster of lionfish. Overhangs on the mini-wall are ideal places for lobsters, eels and octopus. You've also got a good chance of seeing a turtle here. Coral and rocky outcrops provide more opportunities to see lobsters, sleeping grouper, or Pederson or coral shrimp. I love finding arrow crabs, strange spider-like creatures that remind me of the (British) children's television character Wizbit.

Staying at the base of the wall keeps you between 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m). You can log some decent bottom time on the way out before rising to the top of the wall for your return trip. On the way back, keep your eyes open again for rays, flounders, and other bottom dwellers in the sand. The light of the Macabuca Bar guides you in, with the promise of a rewarding Caribbean beer.

Guest author Jez Snead lives in Grand Cayman and tries to dive as much as possible. He blogs sporadically on diving and other topics he finds interesting and is always happy when people stop by.

The post Dive Site: Turtle Reef, Grand Cayman appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

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3 Decorating Ideas for Winter Window Treatments

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3 Decorating Ideas for Winter Window Treatments

Inspire your windows with these 3 decorating ideas for winter window treatments and keep cozy during these cold months.  Consider the following ideas: adding a cheerful statement, considering bold prints and dressing up plain curtains.

Image Source: Flickr

Adding a Cheerful Statement
Think big and bright when making these bold ornaments. Red and green scrapbooking paper in fun patterns adorns shapes cut from poster board. We found ornament silhouettes online then enlarged them to suit the window. Glue three papers onto each ornament. Punch a hole at the top, then hang them on red cording or yarn taped to the top of the window. A valance of live greens finishes the display. Source: MidwestLiving

Considering Bold Prints
Bright florals that attract traditional tastes and graphic geometric patterns that offer youthful spunk are some of the bold prints being seen on windows lately. "With pattern becoming more important, it will change the way a designer designs for the window and how the client views her [or his] window fashion," says Barrett. Source: HGTV

Dressing up Plain Curtains
Although it's hard to go wrong with simple, solid sheers or panels, why not take them a step further? Give them a custom look by painting on a pattern or stencil, try glueing on embellishments such as silk flowers, beads or pom-poms. Or add bands of contrasting fabric to the bottoms of curtains that need a little boost.
Budget: Modest. Pretty trims can be had for a few dollars, and unadorned curtain panels for not much more. You also can go heavy on humble fabrics and light on expensive ones to get a more upscale look for less cash.
DIY: Absolutely, whether you're working the sewing machine or wielding a glue gun. Source: DIYNetwork

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

The post 3 Decorating Ideas for Winter Window Treatments appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.

from Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters http://ift.tt/2iGAiSO

3 Decorating Ideas for Winter Window Treatments

Inspire your windows with these 3 decorating ideas for winter window treatments and keep cozy during these cold months.  Consider the following ideas: adding a cheerful statement, considering bold prints and dressing up plain curtains.

Image Source: Flickr

Adding a Cheerful Statement
Think big and bright when making these bold ornaments. Red and green scrapbooking paper in fun patterns adorns shapes cut from poster board. We found ornament silhouettes online then enlarged them to suit the window. Glue three papers onto each ornament. Punch a hole at the top, then hang them on red cording or yarn taped to the top of the window. A valance of live greens finishes the display. Source: MidwestLiving

Considering Bold Prints
Bright florals that attract traditional tastes and graphic geometric patterns that offer youthful spunk are some of the bold prints being seen on windows lately. “With pattern becoming more important, it will change the way a designer designs for the window and how the client views her [or his] window fashion,” says Barrett. Source: HGTV

Dressing up Plain Curtains
Although it’s hard to go wrong with simple, solid sheers or panels, why not take them a step further? Give them a custom look by painting on a pattern or stencil, try glueing on embellishments such as silk flowers, beads or pom-poms. Or add bands of contrasting fabric to the bottoms of curtains that need a little boost.
Budget: Modest. Pretty trims can be had for a few dollars, and unadorned curtain panels for not much more. You also can go heavy on humble fabrics and light on expensive ones to get a more upscale look for less cash.
DIY: Absolutely, whether you’re working the sewing machine or wielding a glue gun. Source: DIYNetwork

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

The post 3 Decorating Ideas for Winter Window Treatments appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.

from Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters http://ift.tt/2iGAiSO