EU Hopping

In 2011 Manchester was officially the fastest growing city in Britain with around 10,000 people flocking to the city in just 12 months. It’s not surprising – it’s probably one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the UK, it has an unrivalled night-life, and its bars and restaurants have international renown such as the traditional fare of Sam’s Chop House which opened in 1872, or the home comforts of the Northern Quarter Restaurant.
So, when you’re not here to sample the culinary delights or see the small hours in the night-life what else is there to do?

A view of the Manchester City Centre Skyline.

People’s History Museum

- Leftbank, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3ER The origins of this museum come from the Trade Union, Labour and Co-operative History Society. It’s one of the best collections in the country of material telling the story of the working people of Britain, the fight for democracy, and how lives were lived over the course of the last 200 years. It has a permanent collection, but it does host temporary collections, focusing on areas of importance to the people of Manchester and Britain. On display until 17 June 2012 is “Picturing Politics – exploring the political poster in Britain.” More than 60 iconic images covering generations of politics in Britain explore the way that the parties spoke to the people and how, over the years, this form of communication has evolved.

John Rylands Library

- The University of Manchester, 150 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH With its Victorian Gothic design it looks more like a cathedral than a library. John Rylands died in 1888 and was one of the city’s most successful industrialists, accumulating a personal fortune of £2.75 million. In memory of this great man, his wife, Enriqueta, commissioned the library in 1890 which now contains some of the most Britain’s, and indeed the world’s most significant literary artefacts including the St John Fragment, the oldest known piece of the New Testament.

Heaton Park

- Heaton Park, Prestwich, Manchester M25 2SW Located just four miles north of the city centre, Heaton Park is Manchester’s largest green space. From here have stunning views over the town and of the Pennines. It’s ideal for the whole family with cycle paths and walks, playgrounds, rowing boats, an exquisite 18th century mansion, and a petting zoo. You’ll also find it’s a prime spot for local astronomers and there are even beekeepers! The park is also used for major music and events, so it’s a good idea to have a look at the events page before you go, you might end up seeing something exciting.

National Football Museum

- Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester M4 3BG On 6 July 2012 the National Football museum opens to the public in the stylish Urbis Building, right in the heart of the city. It will be the world’s biggest football museum containing the finest artefacts from the beautiful game. Even if you’re not a football nut, you’ll still surely appreciate the splendid collection which includes: The FIFA World Cup Collection which takes you through the history of the sport’s biggest prize; The People’s Collection which is an ever growing exhibit full of donations from members of the public; and the Sir Stanley Matthews Collection containing the belongings and achievements of one of the greatest men ever to grace the field.

The Urbis Building, home to the National Football Museum.

Band on the Wall

- 25 Swan Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 5JZ One of the most iconic music venues in the country – Joy Division and Buzzcocks first played here – Band on the Wall has placed itself firmly on the world music stage. It was the heart of Manchester’s punk scene in the 1970s, and is situated in an old Victorian pub near the fashionable Northern Quarter. Its previous life in the early 1900s was as a cinema, but in the 1930s it became a hub for emerging jazz talent. The Grade-2 listed building was reopened in 2009 after an extensive refurbishment and is now the perfect place to chill out with a drink and some food before the gig.

When you’re looking for somewhere to stay hotels in Manchester range from the surprisingly affordable luxury to the ultra-chic dwellings on the Riverside, but either way you’ll never be far from the world class attractions.

Image Credits: Sue Langford and Gene Hunt.

Santa Ponsa is a resort in the southwest of Mallorca of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Just a small village prior to 1960, Santa Posa has since experienced a large boom in tourism and has become popular for families on holiday. Check out the following things for families to see and do in and around Santa Ponsa.

Activities

Hit the beach. The beach is one of the most activities in Santa Ponsa, both as a place for relaxation and for fun in the sun. The main beach is located across the street from the hotels and apartments so visitors don’t have to go far for a splash in the blue waters. A line of pine trees offers shade on the beach while sunbeds and parasols can be rented as well. Shallow waters offer safe swimming and a variety of water sports are available with equipment to rent on the beach. If a more secluded beach is preferred, a fifteen minute walk away will lead visitors to a protected cove where there is less of a crowd.

Boat trips around the southwest coast can be organized from Santa Ponsa’s main beach and marina. Guests can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the coastline as well as the opportunity to dive and swim in the seas from the boat.

Dining and Entertainment

The city centre of Santa Ponsa offers a wide selection of live music, bars, cafes and restaurants with many of them catering to the influences of the British, Irish and Scottish that often frequent the resort. The atmosphere of the resort and its entertainment scene are mostly family oriented.

Shopping

Santa Ponsa visitors can find fresh produce and goods at the market in Calvia as well as the Saturday morning street market in Palma.

Sports and Leisure

Golf lovers will be delighted to know that Santa Ponsa has three excellent golf courses. Sports fans can also attend a football game at the ONO Estadi Football Stadium in Palma.

Local Attractions

There are many attractions nearby in Palma, which is approximately 12 miles away. Visitors can travel between Palma and Santa Ponsa by taxi or bus. Buses depart every 35 minutes from Palma throughout the day.

Bellver Castle, one of the most popular local attractions, is less than eight miles from Santa Ponsa and is fairly near Palma. Constructed for King James II of Aragon in the 14th century, the castle served as a military prison in later centuries.

Also in Palma, the Mallorca Cathedral is well worth a visit. Founded in 1229 by King James I of Aragon, the Gothic designed church is surrounded by the walls of the Old Town. From its lofty position, visitors can get splendid views over the Parc de la Mar and the Mediterranean Sea.

For a whole day of family fun, take a short drive, taxi or bus to Cavia to visit Marineland and watch the exciting dolphin show. For water fun and adventure, families can visit the Western Waterpark in Magaluf. During tourist season, a free bus service is offered daily from Santa Ponsa to the waterpark.

Beautiful beaches, loads of fun activities and attractions all make Santa Ponsa an ideal holiday destination for families. Plan today for unforgettable family holidays.

Royalty and artists alike have always praised purple, and iconic literature has even suggested that God himself might be thoroughly annoyed if one were to walk past a field of purple without noticing it. Religious or not, the Lavender Trail in Provence, France is bound to make holidaymakers fall in love with the colour, offering a delightful Summer sejourn, with beautiful flowers, soothing aromas, and the opportunity to revel in the glorious French Sun. The perennial lavender blooms from late June through August, and is one of the most popular seasonal attractions in Provence.

A typical cycling scene from the Luberon.

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5826094654/

The Benefits
If you’re a cyclist, the Luberon Lavender Trail is ideal and will allow complete absorption into the French culture, as they pass through rustic villages and share your passion for cycling with the welcoming communities, where you might be fortunate enough to partake in a Lavender Fete. Here you can buy homemade lavender soaps, oils, bunches and remedies. Tourists can choose from a wide variety of cycle routes which will take them past vineyards, orchards and amazing views of the countryside, and all sorts of places to visit along the way, whatever their interest. Another wonderful thing about the trail is that the cycle routes are suitable for novices and seasoned cyclist in equal measure, allowing for relaxation and exercise as they explore the beauty of rural France.

The Sights
As well as the lavender fields and fetes, Luberon also has a lavender museum, where tourists can find out all about the diverse uses of this revered plant, from medicinal and culinary uses, to cosmetic applications. The museum opened in 1991, and boasts a collection of Lavender based artefacts which date back to the 16th century. As well as taking part in the informative audio tour, which details the history of the plant, activities at the museum include involvement distillation of these hardy perennial plants, a historical tour, and even a lavender quiz for the youngsters, making the museum trip a fun day out for all the family.

A clearly marked cycle path at Pont Julien in the Luberon.

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/5840761620/

The Accommodation
After a day of immersing yourself in the horticultural heaven, you’ll be looking for a place to wind down and get a good night’s sleep. Luberon boasts a range of wonderful accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets. If you’re looking for further exploration of the breath-taking Luberon architecture, why not opt for a cosy cottage in the medieval town of St Remy de Provence. The cottages range from two bedrooms to five, making them suitable for anything from a couple’s holiday in the most romantic country in the world, to an activity holiday for all the family.

If you’re looking to come home to something a little more modern after your foray into French history and culture, there’s something to be said for villa rental, where holidaymakers can often get a sleek, modern apartment with a private or communal pool, so that after a day of cycling in the heat, you can cool off in the water before relaxing on the terrace.

For lovers of the perennial lavender, this Luberon, Provence is an amazing idyll steeped in centuries of history and culture. It provides a rare opportunity for tourists to escape the bustling mundaneness of urban life and be at one with nature, while sampling some of the best culinary delights that France has to offer.

Cheap European Flights up for grab on CheapOair.co.uk

Everyone is in a panic buying petrol, the pumps are dry and people are still queuing in the station forecourts. But if you are in central London, you will not need to worry about petrol. There is so much to see in London in one area, that you won’t even have to think about getting on a bus or catching a cab to get to all the different places you need to see. One area where you can go shopping, eating, partying, all in one place is Piccadilly.

Piccadilly is one of the longest roads in London. It leads up to Regent Street and Trafalgar Square on one end and the other leads out to Buckingham Palace and out west to Chelsea and Hammersmith. There are many tourist attractions along this one street:

Green Park
A 47 acre park, situated in between Constitutional Hill, Piccadilly and Queen’s Walk. In the summer you will always find people having picnics, sunbathing, children playing games, lining up to get an ice cream from the many vendors in the park. Green park is accessed by many different paths which people use as walking routes into work. It is also used by runners and joggers and when I worked in Mayfair, I often ran in the park at lunch time. Green Park has just opened its step free access entrance after 2 years of construction, allowing more people to come and enjoy the open space and its surroundings.

Green Park, London.

Mayfair
As you are walking down Piccadilly away from Piccadilly circus, the most expensive and exclusive area, known as Mayfair is located on your right. Mayfair is worth a visit if you are in London for the weekend. One of the most well known streets in Bond Street, home to the luxurious and designer brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada. You will also find Saville Row which is between Bond Street and Regent Street and is where the flagship Abercrombie and Fitch store is located

Fortnum and Mason
Along Piccadilly are many well known shops, one of the most famous department stores Fortnum and Mason is also located here. It was set up in 1701 by Willian Fortnum and Hugh Mason and is internationally recognized for its high quality goods. It has also held many Royal Warrants over the past 150 years and have many visits from the Royal family. At the beginning of March this year, Kate the Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen paid a visit to the shop where they had tea with the 150 staff and the Queen officially open the Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon.

Fortnum and Mason.

The Ritz
One of the most famous hotels in London and in the world. This 5 star luxurious hotel was opened in 1906 with its rooms overlooking Green Park. If you cannot afford a stay in the hotel which can cost anywhere from £250 a night, The Ritz is also known for its afternoon tea which takes place in the Palm Court. You will need to book in advance and adhere to the dress code of no jeans and trainers if you are to be allowed in.

Clubbing
The celebrity haunt of Mahiki is located just off of Piccadilly. Mahiki is well worth a visit but make sure you get in before 9:00 when there is a £15 cover charge. Drinks are rather expensive with the famous treasure chest costing £100. If you do not fancy partying with the celebs, there are lots of traditional pubs to visit in the area. The Clarence serves good food and drinks at affordable prices and is located just a couple doors down from Mahiki. Further down Piccadilly is Shephard’s market, home to many British pubs, Italian, Turkish and Indian restaurants. The place is always buzzing especially in the summer, when the courtyard is filled with tourists and locals enjoying a few beers in the evening sunshine.

Author Bio
Jo Turnbull is a travel blogger, writing about places to visit all over the world. You can catch all her travel tips on her blog being30.com

There are plenty of things to see and do in Nottinghamshire making it a top holiday destination. Visit Sherwood Forest and here tales of the legendary Robin Hood and visit one of the many children’s attractions or head off to the countryside for a nice walk or bike ride, the choice is endless.

Enjoy Days Out in Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest Country Park covers an area of four hundred and fifty acres and you will find here some of the oldest trees in England, including the famous Major Oak, which is reportedly eight hundred years old. A good place to start your journey in to the forest is at the Visitors Centre where you can visit the exhibition ‘Robyn Hodes Sherwode’ and stop off for a bite to eat at the Forest Table Restaurant. The Park hosts the annual Robin Hood Festival every summer and it recreates a medieval atmosphere. You can meet jousters, strolling players, rat-catchers and fire eaters. Find out more about the Sherwood Forest Holidays from here.

A view from within Sherwood Forest.

Situated at the heart of the forest is the village of Edwinstow and the High Street is two minutes’ walk from the Visitors Centre. In the village you can pay a visit to Saint Mary’s Church, which is mentioned in the Doomsday Book and is allegedly the place where Robin Hood married Maid Marion. The church tower is around seven hundred years old and the font dates back to the fourteenth century. The oldest

remaining part of the church is the priest’s doorway in the chancel which is from the time of the Normans.

Explore the Vibrant City of Nottingham

The city of Nottingham is has a vibrant nightlife and fantastic shopping facilities. It is noted nationally for the quality of the bars and restaurants and a great place to start your visit is at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, which is said to be the oldest inn in England. You can visit the ancient cellars and learn all about the history of the place. There are caves within the building and you can hear tales about the ghosts that haunt them.

Underneath the city is a labyrinth of Anglo-Saxon tunnels which have been put to many uses over the years. Take a guided tour in to the caves and visit the Enchanted Well and a medieval tannery. Back above ground and Nottingham Castle is a great place to visit. Dating back to the seventeenth century, this imposing building features exhibitions and a fantastic art gallery. Your children will love the interactive displays and the medieval style playground.

Take a Day Out to Explore Newstead Abbey

Twenty minutes outside of Nottingham is the splendid Newstead Abbey House and Gardens, which was once home to the poet Lord Byron. The gardens are open all year round and cover an area of three hundred acres which have open parkland and formal gardens. Stroll around the grounds and see ponds, lakes and waterfalls. After which you can head inside the house you can visit the medieval cloisters and the private apartments of Lord Byron and a view a number of his personal artefacts. Should you feel the need for refreshments you can call into the café and have a nice cup of tea or coffee and relax.

A view of Newstead Abbey.

Nottinghamshire has so many visitors’ attractions that it is not possible to mention them all here. Come to Nottinghamshire for a holiday and have a good look around and enjoy yourself. If you are looking for accommodation the Log Cabin Holidays in Nottinghamshire could be just what you are looking for.

Nijmegen, oldest city in the Netherlands, has delighted visitors since Roman times. A city of over 160,000 inhabitants in the eastern Netherlands near the German border, Nijmegen is an easily accessible tourist destination located in the hills overlooking the River Waal.

The starting point for your visit should be the free House of the History of Nijmegen information center located in the mediaeval chapel ‘de Mariënburgkapel’ in the center of town. Its displays cover the history and layout of the town, and it also has helpful staff offering free electronic, hardcopy, and oral tourist information, including guides to the city`s many hotels, bed and breakfasts, and youth hostels.

Art and Archaeology

“Nijmegen” is actually a corruption of “Noviomagus,” the name of a Roman city settled in the second century, remains from which can still be seen on the original site and in Museum Valkhof in Nijmegen and the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden. As well as a civilian town the area also was home to the Hunerberg legionary base, part of which has been reconstructed, and the Kops Plateau fort in Roman times and a Frankish castle. Charlemagne, after celebrating Easter in Nijmegen in 777, had a palace constructed which was unfortunately demolished in the eighteenth century, but the tenth-century chapel built by Frederick Barbarossa and surrounding Valkhof Park, with bike paths and river views, can still be enjoyed by travelers.

Near the remains of the Roman town and medieval chapel is the Museum Het Valkhof, home not only to archaeological treasures but also to a wide range of older and modern paintings, silverware, and Antwerp tapestries.

Other museums include Museum Park Orientalis (ancient Middle East), Africa Museum (African art and culture), and the National Bevrijdingsmuseum (World War II museum).

Restaurants and Entertainment

A wide range of cafes, clubs, bars, and restaurants, offering Dutch and international cuisine, cluster near the historic down town Grote Markt, the Waalkade (river walk), and several other neighborhoods near the town center. Make sure to sample a rijsttafel, a Dutch-Indonesian dish consisting of around forty small side dishes accompanied by several different types of rice.

For dancing, try The Matrixx club or check out Nightclub Doornroosje for concerts and dance parties. Thursday is traditionally ‘student night’ during the university term; be prepared for some very lively serious parties.

For more traditional entertainment, you can choose the Stadsschouwburg city theatre, Vereeniging concert hall, Doornroosje Cultural, Open-Air theatre De Goffert, and several smaller theatres and cinemas.

Transportation

Travel to Nijmegen by air, train, or bus. Nearby airports include Airport Weeze (45 km, served by Ryanair and others), Eindhoven Airport (60 km), Flughafen Düsseldorf (110 km; major international hub but inconvenient transit connections to Nijmegen), and Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport (135 km; major international hub with convenient and inexpensive direct train service to Nijmegen)

There are four train stations (Nijmegen, Nijmegen Dukenburg, Nijmegen Heyendaal and Nijmegen Lent), of which the central one connects to major national and international lines. City buses connect to all major tourist destinations.

Nijmegen is designed for cycling with plentiful bike paths including a 18 km. fast cycle highway or “fietssnelweg” connecting it to Arnhem. The river and Maas-Waal Canal, although designed for freight transport, make excellent walking or biking routes. Bicycles, widely available for rent, are really the ideal way to see the area. While enjoying your cycling experience, don’t miss the Nationaal fietsmuseum Velorama in the Waalkaade, the Netherlands’ only bicycle museum.

Nijmegen International Four Day March

At the heart of this mid-July festival celebrating the liberation of the Netherlands from the Nazis, is a four day commemorative walk, consisting of 30-50 km. per day. As well as being the world`s largest walking event, it is accompanied by a music festival and other events. Book hotels early as the crowds fill up Nijmegen and neighboring towns.

Andy Johnson is a content creator for I-dish.com.

Europe is one of the best tour and vacation destinations out there. It is home to some of the most impressive countries. However, having to deal with flight ticket booking, hotel accommodations booking, destination planning and other related things can really get tiring. Thankfully, there are travel agencies or tour operators you can hire to do the job for you. In this article, you will find guides on how to get the best tour packages from travel agencies.

Find a Reliable Company
There are many new travel agencies that pop up year after year. And while they do mean to give an exceptional service, nothing really replaces years of experience. As such, it is usually wise to trust travel agencies that have been around for quite a while already. A little caution needs to be taken though because a company has that been around for many years does not mean they are the best in the field. Do some research and look for reviews and comments from others who have availed of their services. These should be easily available online especially at a site like TripAdvisor.

Find a Suitable Package
There are many different kinds of travel package deals. Each one is designed for specific situations. So to get the best value out of your money, it is best if you choose a package that is most suitable for your situation. There are packages for people traveling alone, and couples traveling together. There are even packages for large groups such as families, groups of friends and employees of the same company.

Make Changes to the Package
Do not just accept any travel package deal as they appear. For example, if you are travelling with five people and the travel agency only has a package for six people, there is no need for you to pay the full amount. You should negotiate with the agency to make necessary adjustments to the package. This should be something that they offer to their customers. Therefore, it is important that you study every detail of the deal that you are purchasing.

Look For Hidden Charges
The marketing strategy of some tour agencies is to make the face value price seem as affordable as possible. Sadly, many agencies do so by excluding some of the expenses from the face value. These are called ‘hidden charges’ or ‘undisclosed charges’. You need to look for these. Just ask the right questions and you will find out. Actually, these agencies will likely tell you if you ask. You need to do this so you can get a better picture of the expenses that you will incur.
This guest post was written by Nicholas Martin who is addicted to traveling the world. He writes for Passport Visa Travelers Guide where you can find out how to obtain a passport fast and travel bloggers sharing international travel tips.

Do you love dogs? Ever dreamed of steering your own dog sledge? You might be surprised that this is possible as a full weekend activity in the Brandnertal area of Austria.

Husky Toni, a Vorarlberg legend, offers you this. Toni has various breeds of snow dogs including Siberian Huskies, Eskimo, Samoyeds and Malamutes.

The photo above dogs happy at work with their sledge.

Image Source:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/10seppalasleddogs.jpg

I have known Toni since I was born, as he lived near my grandparents place – I was always impressed, about the love he has towards animals and this can be felt at his Husky Workshops. The workshop starts with a snow shoe hike, where one Eskimo dog is connected to every snow shoe hiker.

Visitors can learn to work with the dogs and you can see how much the dogs love to work in the snow. At lunch you get some hot soup and hot tea prepared on a open fire. Afterwards you will learn the job of a “Musher”. Toni will show you how to steer a dog sledge and you can go for a ride out with the dogs on the beautiful Tschengla high plateau.

As the sun sets you will enjoy some mulled wine at the open fire and Toni might tell you something about his adventures with the dogs. Afterwards you can enjoy a mouth-watering meal in one of the Hotels of the Brandnertal. On the second day of your weekend you can complete further rides with Toni, or you might want to try an airboard run – this is a type of surfing on snow.

Husky Toni also offers a Children’s Dream activity. This is specifically designed to help children to bond with the Husky Dogs. This is often treated as a therapy for terminally ill children or children recovering from illness.

This article was authored by Gernot Schweigkofler, a passionate Austrian travel entrepreneur. Gernot is based in Vorarlberg, Austria – visit his website happyheartofeurope.wordpress.com for more information about Austria, Switzerland, Southern Germany and Central Europe.

St. Gallen is probably the most important city in Eastern Switzerland. It is beautifully located on hills near Lake Constance and it features several beautiful places to see.

The cities name comes from Saint Gallus, an Irish monk, who founded a hermitage in the area in the 7th century. About 100 years after his death an Abbey was built, named after Saint Gallus and a monastery developed there and the city developed. In the 14th century St. Gallen became a part of the Confederatio Helvetica – Switzerland. Nowadays St. Gallen is no longer a catholic city, the population are mainly protestant.

But the Abbey of St. Gallen is still the place to see – it became a UNESCO world heritage in 1983 (together with its library). It was built in the 18th century and is a beautiful example for Baroque churches. Parts of the eastern crypt reach back to the 9th century.

The Abbey of St. Gallen

Image Source: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3311/3432434480_b2578cc667_m.jpg
Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhowells/3432434480/

The most important place to see is the Library of the Abbey of St. Gallen – it’s the oldest library in Switzerland and famous for its collection of medieval hand writings and some of the oldest printed books that still exist. The library hall in Rococo style is considered to be on of the most beautiful of this style. The library is open for the public – but all books that were printed before 1900 must be read inside the libraries Reading Room.

To learn more about the history of the Abbey and of the City of St. Gallen I strongly recommend you to take part of a public tour. The excellent city guides make this a very worthwhile experience and you will learn a lot about the history of St. Gallen.

Another place that should not be missed is the University Campus – the Hochschule St. Gallen is not only one of Europe’s leading business Universities, it is also a place of arts. Pieces of art from world famous artists like Arp, Richter, Giacometti or Miró can be discovered on the Campus.

When walking through the pedestrian area of St. Gallen, it is recommended to take a look at the windows. There are 111 oriel windows in the streets, which give reference to the wealth of the textile manufacturers, who lived in the City center of St. Gallen. Another must do activity is to have an original St. Galler Bratwurst. This sausage is probably the best in the World and you can also visit a lot of small restaurants in the city. During lunch time a lot of the local business men and women, can be seen eating their St. Galler in the streets: just follow the crowds and you will find the most popular places.

Another thing to do in Switzerland –and in St. Gallen, is to have some chocolate. Just opposite the Cathedral you can find the Chocolaterie – do not miss out on it.

Author Bio
This article was authored by Gernot. He is a passionate traveller, who runs a tourism company in Vorarlberg, the most western region of Austria, just across the border from Switzerland. Gernot is blogging his insider tips and “must sees” of Vorarlberg, Austria and its surrounding regions at happyheartofeurope.wordpress.com. If you have any questions, Gernot is more than happy to answer travel questions about Austria, Switzerland, Southern Germany and Central Europe. Gernot also tweets under the name of ElCattivo__7.

Not all of the great dives happen in the warm waters of the Caribbean. Europe has some amazing dive sites which offer excellent visibility in the water and a whole host of marine life for you to interact with. This list will provide you with some ideas of what type of dives are available and where you should go to experience them.

The Booroo – Isle of Man
Fabulously diverse underwater life makes for an interesting dive here. You will be hard pressed to find bare bedrock in the Isle of Man as the fast flowing current attracts a huge amount of marine life to the area.

Diamond Rocks – Kilkee, Ireland
An incredible dive off the west coast of Ireland; the bay here is home to a mass of marine life. There are gullies and rocks to explore, and you will discover that the clear waters of the bay offer excellent visibility.

Blockship Tabarka – Scarpa Flow, Scotland
A shallow water dive (never exceeds 18m), the blockships were vessels that were scuttled during WWII to prevent submarines entering the channel. It has since become home to a massive amount of life, offering visitors a surprisingly beautiful underwater landscape.

The Wreck of the Zenobia – Cyprus
This ferry lies on its side off the coast of Cyprus. A starting depth of 15m descends to a depth of 42m. It is a massive wreck and will take more than the one dive to fully explore. This is a great dive that offers plenty of swim throughs and excellent visibility and is generally regarded as the best wreck for recreational diving.

Cirkewwa – Malta
Another wreck, this time the Rozi MV, but this is not just about the wreck, you also have incredible underwater topography too. Fantastic visibility offers glimpses of the barracuda, octopus and morays that inhabit these waters, it has even been known for dolphins to come and check out the divers too.

Blue Hole – Gozo
This is one of those sites where you feel as though you could be diving off the very ends of the Earth as you peer over the sheer drop off, into the vast blue of the water beneath you. Excellent visibility and sheer jaw dropping scenery makes this a great dive.

Diving at the Blue Hole

Secca della Columbara – Italy
Considered to be one of the best in the whole of the Mediterranean; it offers a steep wall dive and the two part wreck of a 73m merchant vessel that sank in 2005. Here you will encounter barracuda, giant amberjacks and grouper.

Eddystone Reef – England
This dive site is 12 miles off of Plymouth on the English Coast. Dive depth can vary from 8-60m. Ancient wrecks and a 17th Century anchor have all been colonised by jewel anemones.

Chios Island – Greece
Valleys and pathways between giant rocks, and underwater caves are what await you here, as well as sheer vertical walls and colourful reefs, teeming with marine life.

Fanore – Ireland
This is a shore dive into the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean. With a vast amount of marine life to encounter, it’s a great dive site for those who are newly qualified.