Below is our translation of the article, in which you can get acquainted with 25 islands, where the best snorkeling and freediving in the world (according to the authors). See where you have already dived, and where you only dream of getting. Our eyes widen, and the soul asks to go, because so far have visited only two of them :)

# 25: Plaza Sur, Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos harbor many wonders, but few are as beautiful as the sea lions.

You need to take a boat from Puerto Ayora on the main island of Santa Cruz to Plaza Sur. This place is home to thousands of sea lions. If you dive into shallow water, you will make a splash among the young individuals, which will immediately swim closer to see you. Adults will be more careful: mothers will stay on the sidelines, looking after babies, and males may even growl warningly if you get too close. If you stay at a safe distance, you can consider yourself part of a party where playful creatures perform acrobatic stunts in your honor! :)

No. 24: Uepi, Solomon Islands

Uepi island the resort on the edge of the Morovo Lagoon in the Solomon Islands is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with one of the most incredible marine life- nautilus pompilius. This cephalopod is known for its adorable shell, highly prized by collectors, but the creature itself is even more charming. Exactly the same as the fossil, which is 400 million years old, the nautilus pompilius lives at a depth of 250 to 300 meters, where it rests until sunset. In the evening, he rises to clean up to a depth of 180 meters. Over the long hours, the hotel staff gently lifts it from the depths. Plan to hit the reef at the first rays of the sun to see water pulsing through the siphon as you dance around the corals of this unreal creature. After that, the personnel lower the nautilus back to the depth, where it is released.

No. 23: Bimini, Bahamas

To increase your chances of accidentally meeting dolphins, remember the advice from the lovable folks at Bimini Undersea Adventures: the more relaxed you swim, circling around and acting like a fish, the more likely you will eventually encounter a curious dolphin's gaze. For the first time, casual encounters with dolphins began to be organized 15 years ago and the enthusiasm has not faded since then. Summer is the best time to find Atlantic spotted dolphins in the coastal waters of Bimini, thanks to calm sea... But the company is recruiting groups from 6 people throughout the year. Of course, the meetings are not guaranteed, because it is not us, but the dolphins who decide when to meet with us and for how long.

No. 22: Maldives

Looking for luxury with snorkeling? You can stay at Poseidon Undersea Resorts and feel like you are diving in your room. Or visit Veligandu Island Resort, a tiny islet on the edge of an atoll 25 kilometers west of international airport in Male. When you get off the plane, you will be greeted by an endlessly blue landscape of houses on stilts and beautiful beaches... Grab your gear and run to explore the huge natural aquarium that starts as soon as the sand runs out. The waters are calm and the atoll reef teems with some of the most amazing fish species from the Indian Ocean.

No. 21: New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Restorf Island, 10 miles from New Britain north of Papua New Guinea, is a place to meet creatures you've never seen before. Spiny sea devil, triggerfish and other strange creatures inhabit the shallow waters and the reef walls surrounding the island.

No. 20: Rurutu, Tahiti

From August to October, southern humpback whales swim into the waters of the Tahiti islands to mate and leave offspring. Rurutu (an island 350 miles southwest of Tahiti) is one of their favorite stops. Raie Manta Club is the only whale diving and snorkeling company on the island. From the very beginning of the journey, the scientist on board will tell you about the whales. As usual in such cases, the meeting of these amazing animals is not guaranteed. When the boat approaches a single whale or a flock and you descend into the water with visibility of at least 30 meters, it may seem that you are floating in the air. Snorkelers cannot get close to whales, but sometimes they are curious and go up to the surface on their own. It is better to book such a trip in advance.

No. 19: Les Medes Islands, Spain

You could not even think that Spain is a worthy place for snorkeling. Don't talk about it in the tiny Mediterranean town of L "Estartit on the main island of the Costa Brava, which boasts a dozen dive shops. They will probably tell you that the famous Les Medes archipelago (less than a mile from the coast) is famous for the richest marine life in the Mediterranean. reservation wildlife includes 7 uninhabited islands and dozens of rocky reefs where watching schools of stingrays, barracudas, eels and octopuses is common. Trips to the sheltered waters of Les Medes take place all year round.

No. 18: Fernando de Noroњa, Brazil

The often overlooked National Marine Sanctuary lies south of the equator at Atlantic Ocean 338 miles from the Brazilian coast. This place is a World Heritage Site, and a limited number of visitors can come here every day. You can book a trip from the port of Santo Antonio on the main island that gave its name to the entire archipelago and visit Baia de Golfinhos (Dolphin Coast). It is home to hundreds of dolphins, which often show their magical jumps to tourist boats. Then, head to Baia Do Sancho for snorkelling, where you can meet up with massive sea turtles. From August to December, the sea is the most calm.

No. 17: Corn Islands, Nicaragua

Until now, the Caribbean is a secluded, secluded spot perfect for snorkelling if you know what to look for and where. Big Corn Island in Nicaragua invites you to meet angel fish, southern stingrays, green moray eels ...

No. 16: Menjangan, Bali

For a long time Menjangan gained a reputation among divers. We love this place very much and have written about it. The island is part of the West Bali National Park, which means that fishing and animals are prohibited. The shallow waters of the island are a paradise for marine life. At a depth of 20 meters, huge formations of coral mushrooms are the most incredible shapes to catch the important sunlight. The sea in these parts is calm throughout the year, but the best time to visit is from April to November, when the visibility reaches 30 meters. Trips to the island can be booked in the town of Pamuteran in eastern Bali.

No. 15: Sipadan, Borneo

This entire island in northeastern Borneo is surrounded by hard corals that suddenly sink to a depth of almost 600 meters. Such a sharp cliff allows thousands of colorful tropical creatures to appear in one place at the same time. Near Sipadan, both those who live in shallow waters and large creatures such as barracudas, sharks, large sea urchins and sea turtles get along well. To protect this natural wonder, there are no resorts on the island since 2005. Tourists are brought here from neighboring island Mabul and Kapalai. You can also come from Semporna, which is located in Borneo. The island is the most amazing place for divers, but snorkelers will not be bored here either.

# 14: Lord Howe Island, Australia

The southernmost coral reef in the world is home to over 490 different species of marine life from tropical and temperate latitudes. A limited number of guests can visit Lord Howe Islands each day. Here you can catch the feeling of complete isolation. The best snorkeling sites in this UNESCO World Heritage Site are located in the quiet, shallow waters of a wide lagoon near west coast islands.

Although the island is named after the cackling seagulls that are often found on this tiny islet 11 miles from big land, Placencia, Laughing Bird Caye is the best place to meet underwater creatures. The local reef was simultaneously given the status national park and World Heritage, the result is a pristine ecosystem of soft and hard corals and schools of angel and clown fish darting in front of your mask. Several operators from Placencia transport small groups to these remote locations... The ranger station is open daily and they will happily explain interesting features ecosystems.

# 12: Stingray City, Grand Cayman

Get to know in person the friendliest Caribbean stingrays in Stingray City in the Caymans. This reef bank near North Sound was once where fishermen cleaned their traps, which attracted stingrays back then. These graceful winged vacuums will hover and suck squid bait out of your fingers. This action can get a little crazy when they start bumping you while waiting to feed, but it's completely safe and fun. Think of them as puppies with flippers. Most resorts and dive shops in Grand Cayman offer daily trips to the area.

# 11: Jost van Dyck, British Virgin Islands

While Jost van Dyck is famous for its white sandy beach and Soggy Dollar bar with some of the best crazy cocktails, the east end of the island attracts eagle rays, trachinotuses, tarpons, ocean trigger fish and other bigs. All these joys go in addition to the postcard Creole wrasse and parrotfish :)

# 10: Raja Ampat, Indonesia

This region of the Indonesian archipelago has become world famous for its unimaginable biodiversity of coral reefs. Most of the islands in the Massoula region are so sheltered from the harsh oceanic conditions that exotic soft corals of all colors, from fiery orange to light lavender to hot pink, can be found a few feet from the surface. V last time ichthyologists (people studying fish) counted 1704 different kinds in Raja Ampat. Until recently, it was possible to get to know this region only on a dive safari from Sorong to Papua New Guinea. Misool Eco Resort promises that a few steps from the bungalows you will see the most beautiful underwater places in the world.

No. 9: Culebra, Puerto Rico

Few travelers reach Culebra, which is 25 miles from Puerto Rico. Fewer still reach Flamenco beach - better place on the island for encounters with Bissa turtles, Kalmar and angelfish among the fingers of the reef.

# 8: Catalina Island, California

Dive into the waters of the Lovers' Cave on Santa Catalina Island. Just 22 miles offshore Los Angeles you will be swept away by a forest of algae. Beams of light dance and sway under the green canopy of kelp (seaweed that can grow a foot a day). Bright orange garibaldi lights up the scenes with a neon orange presence.

№ 7:

Dominica is home to 9 active volcanoes... Experience geothermal activity by snorkeling around the effervescent Champagne Reef on the western side of the island near Soufriere. The waters of the springs, enriched with sulfur, are sent by currents to the waters of the Caribbean Ocean. This sea not only tickles bubbles of seltzer water bubbling from the reef. Reef valves also attract unusual critters, from sea cocks to Caribbean reef squids. The reef is accessible from the shore, but you can also rent a boat.

# 6: Maui, Hawaii

A few miles south of Lahaina, a snorkeling beach was found on Maui at Papalaua Wayside Park. A wonderful beach stretches along the coast, covered with trees. At the eastern end, with the unconventional name "Coral Garden," hundreds of coral heads catch the sun's rays in clear sapphire water. Bright yellow butterfly fish abound in the coral maze. Lazy green sea ​​turtles here, too, can often be found. Always keep an eye out for humuhumu nukunuku apuaa, a dynamic Hawaiian triggerfish whose name is as fun as it is difficult to trace. It is better to snorkel here in the morning, when the wind is calmer.

# 5: Dry Tortugas, Florida

From Key West, you can fly by seaplane (70 miles can be covered in 40 minutes), and when you land, you can explore the snorkeling wonderland at Dry Tortuga National Park. The reefs of the national park are possibly the least visited in the States. This is probably why they are home to a huge variety of Caribbean fish and living corals. When you get out of the water, you will be able to enjoy more than just beautiful beaches but also exploring the ruins of Fort Jefferson, which was built in 1846.

# 4: Bonaire

Follow veteran cave explorer Hank Sanders to one of more than 200 Bonaire caves and discover how sea level changes create limestone caves often hidden in drylands with tiny entrances. There you can find stunning fossilized corals, and pools with fresh water filled with stalactites and stalagmites - truly a place for adventurous snorkeling :) To get in and out of the cave you need good shoes and a minimum level of physical fitness.

# 3: Bligh Waters, Fiji

Fiji's most beautiful reefs are located in a remote region called Blaye Waters (halfway between the most large islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu). Here, unimaginable seamounts rise hundreds of feet from the ocean floor, ending at the water's surface and creating oases of marine life. Get ready to admire the colorful plumes of soft corals, schools of rainbow fish and the macroworld of multicolored invertebrates that constantly compete for your attention. The site is located quite far from the coast, there are strong currents, so good behavior on the water is required.

No. 2: Islas de la Bahia,Gonduras

Still think size doesn't matter? Then you probably haven’t snorkeled with the largest fish in the sea - the whale shark. Over 40 feet long, these huge animals look intimidating. In fact, they are completely harmless and feed only on plankton and the smallest inhabitants of the sea. When this slowed-down monster rises to the surface, grab your gear and jump into the water. You can swim very close while it eats. Best time for meetings with whale shark here from February to May, but, of course, there are no guarantees.

№ 1: Big Island, Hawaii

We bet you've already thought about giving up everything and having a leisurely, relaxed vacation somewhere closer to the sea. Great idea, but we know that your restless nature will prevail over fatigue and after a day of "seal" rest the soul will ask for some activity. The best way in such a situation: buy or rent a mask, snorkel, fins and go to explore the underwater life. In the latest issue of the heading, we understand where and how to swim with a mask, and also come to the conclusion that snorkeling can be your personal discovery-2016. Pay attention: the creation of this category has become possible thanks to friendly support - a card of profitable payments, which was created especially for active travelers.

Why is it a must to try snorkeling?

Snorkeling is extremely exciting. A minute to put on the snorkel and find a comfortable position in the water - and you forget about everything and plunge into another world. The main thing is not to get carried away and do not forget that for your own safety nothing can be touched with your hands.

No preparation needed. This activity has no contraindications for health or physical endurance.

You don't need to be able to swim to do this. You don't even need to be able to properly float to snorkel - life vest does not in the least interfere with watching the underwater life.

Snorkeling costs almost nothing. An entry-level mask and snorkel will cost you € 15-20, lay the same amount on simple fins. An organized swim with included equipment will rarely cost more than € 30.

7 great snorkelling spots

L'Ile de Riou, Marseille, France

This secluded beach was recognized as the best for snorkeling and diving not only by 34travel, but also by the main organization for training divers in France (Fédération Française d "Etude et de Sport Sous-Marin). boat or boat from Marseille, and therefore here you will feel really secluded. Needless to say that on the spot you can observe the rich and untouched underwater life. Now the location is used as the starting point of diving expeditions in the archipelago. Interestingly, in 1950, on In the afternoon, they found a huge number of ancient Roman amphorae and jugs - if you go with a group, they even promise to show some of them.

The study of the seabed must be combined with the study of the main port and heart of Provence - Marseille. Narrow streets leading to a huge port, the most delicious bouillabaisse (of course, because it was invented here), basilicas and cultural centers- we have a perfect plan for you. When traveling in France: in addition to the fact that a 1.5% refund is credited to your balance from each purchase through PayOkay, the card allows you not to think about whether you have changed enough currency to take with you. The fact is that the exchange rate for settlements in foreign currency with a card is the most favorable - you can pay for everything with PayOkay with a clear conscience.

Equipment. Usually included in tours. Order or check with the Tourist Center of Marseille - they will help with the finished trip and with ways to get to national park on one's own.

How to get there? You can fly to Marseille from Vilnius on Ryanair - with a transfer in Brussels or Rome. One-way tickets in summer will cost around € 100.

Isola Rossa, Sardinia, Italy

The beaches around this pretty little town are famous for their picturesque red cliffs - which is where the name of the place comes from. And although it is full of sandy beaches, the water remains perfectly clear, and the number of people with masks is not annoying. Moray eels are easy to spot in the area, and the fish and corals are as vibrant as in the Caribbean. The former fishing village itself is just a few streets, two pleasant beaches in the town itself (Longa and La Marinedda) and another half an hour away. Isola Rossa has two main diving centers where you can rent a mask and snorkel.

Equipment. Rent professional equipment from one of the diving centers (especially if you want to make a one-day excursion to the Maddalena archipelago) or buy the basic version right on the spot - you will keep within € 25-30.

How to get there? The plan is as follows: from Warsaw you fly to Milan by Wizz air, and then transfer to Ryanair to the main city of Sardinia - Cagliari. From there, an unforgettable 6-hour journey awaits you (first by train to Sassari station, and then only a bus is available).

Illes Medes, Costa Brava, Spain

The Medes Islands is a marine reserve in Catalonia (since 1983), on the very border with France. Precisely because of the nature conservation status and the fact that there are many rocks here, fans of water skiing do not bother either fish or divers with masks. The fish here are small, but of all possible colors. Of the larger ones, you will see guppies and even barracudas. The main thing is not to touch anyone with your hands! You can only get to the islands in an organized way. At the northern end of the beach at L "Estartit, there are many companies offering snorkelling and diving tours, and you can also get a ticket for a glass bottom boat if you feel reluctant to get into the water yourself.

Equipment. Will be issued on the spot. It is possible with your own, of course, but this will not affect the price. A tour with delivery and one hour of pure sailing will cost € 27. For example,.

MTBank CJSC, UNN 100394906, OKPO 14619370

Phuket is often called the pearl of the Andaman Sea. And in the vicinity of Phuket Island there are many smaller islands. Many of which are considered some of the best diving spots in the world.

And now I will reveal one secret. You can enjoy the underwater world of the Andaman Sea without going somewhere far from the island.

But the truth is not at all, for this you need to know the right places. And so that all this brings pleasure and not annoying, it is desirable to sort out the equipment a little more in advance. This is what will be discussed. Snorkeling - where, when and how.

Snorkeling is the little brother. Swimming with a mask, snorkel and sometimes fins. Such a small set of equipment allows you to swim in the water for a long time in a semi-submerged state and spend hours exploring the mysterious underwater world. All this equipment you can easily buy not far from the beach or hotel in any diving center or, yes, a minimarket. Depending on the quality, the cost of a mask with a snorkel varies from 600 to 3000 baht. The higher the price, the better the quality. It is better to approach the choice of a mask more carefully. Now I have three masks at home and unfortunately only one of them suits me. Actually, this is my first article about snorkeling in Phuket. There will be several of them. And in this article I will describe one of the places in Phuket where you can do good snorkeling and where there is something to see. And in the next article we will talk about the equipment and how to choose it correctly.

Remember before that I wrote about in Phuket on Kata Beach? So one of the places for Snorkeling is located in the same place, in the southernmost part of the beach. Those. if you look facing the sea, then to the left. You will see a small rock ledge. If you stand next to this ledge, you will see big Stone in water. And about 10 - 15 meters away there will be another stone. Sometimes it can be seen from the sea sometimes not - it depends on the ebb and flow. There are few corals on this stone and some living creatures periodically gather there. But more interesting are the corals on the left, five to seven meters from the shore, if you swim to the left behind the rocky ledge. You can see a lot of interesting things there.

An interesting bottom, colorful corals and small bizarre reefs gather many different inhabitants of the underwater world.

It will be easier to navigate according to the scheme that I drew (sorry for the quality of the homemade scheme).

Unfortunately, snorkeling is not always possible in the vicinity of Phuket. There are big waves in the sea, especially on east coast this is where the most nice beaches and major hotels. It is especially dangerous to swim when big waves near rocks rocks. And besides, the waves raise a lot of sand from the bottom, the water becomes cloudy and almost nothing is visible. The situation is the same after the rain. Usually on the day when it rains and on the day after the water is muddy a few meters from the shore, it is useless to dive - you cannot see anything (this does not happen with diving - different depths. You can dive in the rain).

In the next article I will write in more detail about the equipment, what is needed and for what. And how to choose it correctly.

P / S. generally it would be nice to collect detailed descriptions main places for snorkeling in Phuket. Write about interesting places where you dived with a mask.

We have lived in Vietnam for a long time, traveled around a lot of beaches, I will gladly tell you about some of the most beautiful ones! If you stay in the city of Nha Trang, then do not limit yourself to swimming on the city beach, so you will not see the real one! Rent a motorbike and drive outside the city! The road to the beach itself is already a great reason to go there, you will see all the flavor and beauty of Vietnamese nature and its inhabitants! Huge majestic mountains under the green edge of the trees, indescribable beauty! Drive about an hour towards the north, about 50 km from Nha Trang. There are very few tourists on the beach, only guests of the White Sand Doclet Resort. White sand, turquoise water, this is truly heaven! You can rent sun loungers and eat in a cafe on the seashore. If you go to this beach, you will be guaranteed excellent emotions and complete relaxation!

I also want to tell you about Jungle Beach. The name speaks for itself, really jungle! Nobody knows about this beach, except for local Russians and foreigners. It takes a little over an hour to get there, also heading north. A large sand beach several kilometers, unforgettable views, bamboo bungalows sheltered in the shade of palm trees and sky-colored water! Be sure to drive along the mountain road near the beach, there is something to see and what to photograph! Seascapes, fishing villages, huge rocks, you will be captivated by the beauty of nature!

Well, if you can't get out of the city of Nha Trang in any way, then go to the beach, which is located in the An Vien area. An area with many European standard villas. There is a small private beach... To be surprised, go there at night! Take a dip in the water and you can observe the glowing little plankton underwater, a very mesmerizing sight! You float, and glowing waves are emitted from you, you can feel like a fairy or a wizard!

23.10.2014.

In an article about me, I wrote that we love to get the accurate and comprehensive information we need in one place, and not climb over several sources, putting together a puzzle. In this article I will tell you about a very interesting place for diving and freediving lovers, located three kilometers from the center of Protaras, and I will give exact guidelines on how to find it, since we ourselves had to wander a little in search of it.

Tatyana and I are very fond of swimming in the sea with a mask and a snorkel. Perhaps this is even putting it mildly. It's closer to the truth to say that we are fans of this. When we were living in Moscow - and we lived in the capital at one time for a year and a half - we even underwent training at the Aquanaut diving club in the Olimpiyskiy sports complex. With this club we went to Egypt to pass the exam on "open water", ie. scuba diving in the Red Sea. My personal achievement is diving to a depth of 42 meters. Yes, it was great, it was exciting, it was a real introduction to the underwater world. I even have three scuba diving certifications, including current diving and deep diving.

But, frankly, our diving adventures ended there. Since then we have been swimming only with a mask and a snorkel, i.e. we are engaged in snorkeling, as it is now called. But on the other hand, this hobby turned into a passion for me (to a greater extent), and for Tatiana (to a lesser extent). I went even further. Somehow I happened to see documentaries about freedivers who dive with breath-hold to great depths and can be underwater in motion, i.e. swimming, up to four minutes.

Then I thought that this was given only to unique individuals with special innate abilities. Around the same time, I saw the feature film Blue Abyss, starring my favorite actor, Jacques Renaud. The film is based on documentary events and tells about Jacques Mayol and Enzo Molinari, legendary freediving personalities, who were among the first to discover the unique human ability to dive to very great depths while holding the breath.

I just fell in love with this movie. I've watched it several times. A little later, I turned to materials on the topic of freediving on the Internet and, to my surprise, I learned that holding your breath for a long time is a skill that is very developed through training. Who suddenly becomes interested, google it, and you will find a lot of materials on this topic. In general, I decided to try practicing my breath holding. I will not describe the training processes, I repeat, all this is on the Internet. I will only say that I have achieved, in my opinion, very significant results in a fairly short time. My personal maximum achievements to date:

- dive to a distance - 75 meters under water without fins in a 25-meter pool;
- diving into the sea to a depth of 12 meters (I am sure I can go deeper, I just haven't found an accessible place deeper than 12 meters);
- static breath holding, i.e. delay in complete rest, without movement - 6 min. 15 sec.

I am pleased to correct my achievements, namely: my new personal record for depth - 20 meters without fins. This is how I managed to dive in the winter of 2016 in the Philippines.

To be honest, I do not differ in the regularity of training, but in general I have learned my abilities and some subtleties in managing these abilities, and now my favorite hobby, my passion, is, of course, freediving, diving while holding my breath. I am writing about achievements not in order to boast, but in order to show that everyone can develop the ability to hold their breath for a sufficiently long time. Among other things, it is very healthy. It is no coincidence that in yoga the practice of pranayama (breathing practice) is a whole science. Age does not matter, I am also far from the first youth. Once I encouraged Tatiana to do exercises for holding her breath. After a breathing warm-up, for the first time in her life, to her great surprise, she was able to hold her breath at rest for two and a half minutes. That's it! Try it, it's very useful and enjoyable.

Tatyana does not dive under the water, she swims on the surface with a mask and a snorkel, but when there is at least some living creatures in the water - fish, corals, mollusks - she also forgets that there is also a shore, and that you can also kick on to move on land.

The introduction turned out to be quite lengthy, but it gives an understanding of our special attitude to snorkeling, to observing underwater life. And in this article I will tell you about what I managed to see and what I managed to enjoy in the waters of Cyprus, specifically, in the sea near Protaras.

Actually, you can see something in the water through a mask even on the main beach of Protaras, at least closer to the pier, where there are pebbles and where we swam. You can find and sea ​​urchins in minks, and fish-flutes swim on the top. But the most beautiful in Protaras is - and indeed it is - a beach called Fig Tree Bay (Fig Tree Bay).

The name comes from the fig trees that once grew here in a large number, and above all on a small island opposite this beach. This islet can be seen in the photo. Now he is naked, but the name of the beach remains. We did not swim on this beach, we just passed by many times and photographed it from all sides. But if you pass Fig Tree Bay and go further, moving away from the long beach coast, then you will stumble upon a small amazingly beautiful cove, sheltered from the wind, very cozy and deep enough.

The depth at the exit from the bay to the sea reaches 6 meters. I say this not roughly, but absolutely precisely, because I always swim with a dive computer on my arm, which measures both the depth and temperature of the water. I did not see any particularly interesting animals here, but I swam to my heart's content near the bottom. Already returning, closer to the coast, quite at a shallow depth I met such an animal.

This is not an underwater cucumber or a snake, of course, it is some kind of worm, rather long, 50-60 centimeters, and 4 centimeters in diameter. Shy. When I tried to shoot him on video, approaching him, he began to hide. Well, there was also a school of fry grazing at the very shore in shallow water.

That, in fact, is all. But the cove is very soulful, and snorkeling here in clear water, with visibility for several tens of meters, will definitely give you pleasure.

Tatyana, as I said, does not dive under water, but she perfectly plunges into the abyss of the Internet and finds there a lot of extremely useful and interesting information... So, she dug up that further away, three kilometers from the center of Protaras, there is the Green Bay beach (Green Bay), and there, near this beach, there is a place where at the bottom there are statues of Aphrodite and Apollo, various figures, columns. These are, of course, not antique artifacts. It was the diver who brought them there and flooded them to make it more interesting to dive. I looked at pictures of the diver being photographed next to these statues. According to the stories, the depth in this place is 10 meters, and it is quite close to the coast. So this is exactly what I need! And Tatiana and I decided to go find this Green Bay beach and this place.

I have already written many times that we love walking. We do not take motorbikes, we only move by taxi when necessary, sometimes we take bicycles, but even then only to ride. And so - everything on its own two feet. I agree, of course, that on the same motorbike you can see much more interesting things. But until now, somehow it did not work out for me to master a motorbike. Maybe, being now in Vietnam, somehow I will ripen on occasion.

In general, one fine day in the morning Tatyana and I went along the coast of Protaras in search of the Green Bay beach. No matter how you look at the sea in Cyprus, you will not get tired of enjoying the purity and transparency of the water. This is because there are mainly rocks, stones, there is nothing to disturb the water with, therefore the water is always azure and crystal.

How much we had to stomp, we did not really imagine, we just walked along the coast, as always, looking at and photographing what the eye would fall on.

The wanderer on the deserted shore is me.

I must say that the area along the coast runs wild almost immediately behind the Feg Tree Bay beach, more precisely, behind the cove mentioned above. There are many abandoned and dilapidated hotels. Either hands do not reach to restore, but, most likely, finances. Remember the worst financial crisis that Cyprus recently experienced? Probably, this also affects.

Here the whole palace stands aloof and silent, with closed blind windows. And palm trees, like on crutches.

But right there, next to these pictures of neglect, nature pleases with its unfading beauty, past which we simply cannot pass without capturing it.

And Tatyana also pays attention to all kinds of grass, if you can call grass these fleshy, well-fed succulents, spread out under the palm trees in a colorful living carpet.

Moving further and further from the central, civilized region of Protaras, we began to meet small cozy beaches, where people get by transport - bicycles, motorbikes, and even by cars. Here's one.

By the way, near this beach we met two divers who were already taking off their equipment near the car. Hearing that they were communicating in Russian, they approached and asked how we could get to the beach with sculptures under water. They gave us a direction, suggesting that we can get there and along the coast, but they themselves go there by car along the road on the other side. Therefore, there was no more precise answer. But we got a guideline that we need to get to Green Bay beach (Green Bay), there we will see ships, yachts, masts - this will be the very place. But they also warned that these sculptures are located quite far from the coast and at a depth of about 10 meters.

Well, let's go look for the masts near the shore. And soon we saw them. There they are in the photo in the distance, on the horizon, barely visible, and you can still stomp and stomp before them, given that we repeat all the coastal tricks, and do not scald directly. Yes, and we have to go under the open sun, which, without hesitation, frankly roasts us.

Two barely noticeable lines on the horizon are masts. We go there.

On the way we passed several more secluded places for swimming.

In the end, we came out to the inhabited and equipped, but also very compact beach near the large hotel Cavo Maris.

I even posed at such a slide on wheels, which, apparently, they roll into the water and arrange a micro-water park for children. I would like this in childhood!

And here is the Cavo Maris hotel itself. This is a view from the sea.

And this is how it looks from the side of the road, if you get to it by bus.

It is no coincidence that I have here photographs of this hotel. It serves as a great reference point to find the spot where the statues are at the bottom. From the beach from the hotel you can see this place. As it turned out (but we found out later), this beach is Green Bay. At least, its left side, because behind the cape, near which yachts and boats are moored, there is also a beach, and it seems to be called Green Bay too. In any case, we did not receive absolutely accurate information from anyone - neither on the Internet, nor from the divers we met - where exactly we should look for these sculptures. Therefore, they walked rather at random, in the direction of the ship's masts. In the end, we got to them.

So what? Where to go? Here they are, the masts, and here it is, the sea. And where to dive? It's not like swimming back and forth in a hotel pool. There are such open spaces, and you need to know exactly where to swim and where to dive. Plus or minus 100 meters - well, it doesn't work. Directly near the ships, no beach, no entry into the sea was observed. Just a dock and that's it, yachts docked.

The beach in the bay, a little to the side, a small beach, but there are even umbrellas with sun loungers. Kind of like the right side of Green Bay.

But there was no hint of a 10-meter depth in the foreseeable expanses. And where to swim from? That is the question. Already the masts were left behind.

We got to another very cozy and uncrowded beach, completely closed from the waves. I was about to get into the water, but, first of all, rain suddenly started falling out of nowhere. And, secondly, he asked a Russian peasant emerging from the water where the statues were under water. And he showed me the way back to the same ship masts. Well, what are you going to do!

Whatever one may say, but you need to go to these very yachts and look for where to dive there. We went back and turned to the berths. Here it is the road to the yachts, past the gate to the territory of some villa.

Here is the pier, near which yachts and boats huddle.

Nearby on the cape there were several cars, near which the diver swarmed.

Let's go find out the truth from them. There were no Russians, but my uncle, judging by his purest English - an Englishman, told where to swim and where to dive. As it turned out, you need to swim from this narrow and cleanest bay.

Which I did immediately. In this photo, I indicated with a red marker the place where you need to swim and dive in order to see the sculptures.

You just need to, without turning anywhere, directly swim out of the bay into the open space. And there, not reaching a little to the line of the buoys, the bottom relief will sharply go down, dropping to a depth of 10 meters. This is where the statues of Aphrodite, Apollo, horses, antique columns and other things will stand at the bottom. True, even here I circled around the buoys, swimming back and forth in search. In addition, in the open sea, in contrast to the closed bays, there was a small wave, which made it difficult to calmly observe the bottom. And the depth is decent, the bottom is not very clear. I was already desperate and was going to return, not salty, but in one of the dives, already emerging, with peripheral vision I saw the cherished figures. Honestly, by that time I was already pretty tired, and therefore I have only one short video, not the most successful one, but still you can see the sculptures for which we have come such a long way in the sun.

I made some freeze frames from the same video.

Hurray-ah-ah !!! I found them! I dived towards them! I filmed them! Now you can come back.

On the way back, already in the bay two meters below me, I suddenly met a couple of divers.

It turns out that while I was floundering in the abyss in search of statues, Tatyana watched as the instructor taught and gave instructions to the girl in the bay before diving. Here I met them, returning to the shore. While I was warming up and drying myself, and Tatiana was swimming with a mask along the bay in shallow water, the diving couple came back.

Finally, we were getting ready to go home, i.e. to the hotel. The day has long passed past noon, and they wandered around, baked in the sun and floated. Returning, on the beach near the hotel, Cavo Maris took another photo, in order to also mark the place where the sculptures were flooded from the other side.

And in order to make it completely clear and finally arm those who, after reading this article, want to go diving in these places, so as not to get lost like we do, I marked all the landmarks on the Google map.

In conclusion, it remains to add that this is a very interesting place for divers and freedivers. There is no point in swimming there for snorkelling. It is deep there, this time, and secondly, you need to swim far enough out into the open sea. But for those who, like me, love the depth, love the freedom of movement under water, and just want to test themselves, this place will undoubtedly bring great pleasure.