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I Wore This Shirt and Hoodie at My Sweatiest. Yet, They Never Stank.

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Everyone sweats. There should be no shame associated with the fact that your body, like everyone else’s, perspires. Sweating allows your body to maintain an appropriate temperature by cooling down your skin, therefore it’s essential for your proper functioning — especially now that the world is heating up at an alarming rate. The only problem with perspiration is that is tends to smell bad. Of course, antiperspirant, meant to prevent sweating, and deodorants, used to help mask the odor of sweat, work to a certain extent, but it can take a lifetime to find the one product that works perfectly for you, if that even exists. What I have discovered, however, is that certain clothing can help. Specifically, Merino wool clothing.

At 38 years of age, I’m still looking for the antiperspirant or deodorant that will work for me. That may be because I’m shopping at the local health store in order to avoid supposedly bad-for-you ingredients such as parabens, triclosan, phthalates, propylene glycol, and aluminum. While I shower and apply my granola deodorant daily, the fact that I walk between three and six miles every day, and bike, garden, exersize, and hike regularly, means that I’m sweating, and eventually stinking. It’s nothing a quick shower and a change of clothes can’t fix, but before that can happen, the situation can be embarrassing. I have tried several types of anti-sweat shirts in the past, with various levels of satisfaction, but I have hit the jackpot with Ibex’s Merino wool clothing.

Earlier this year, I was gifted two Ibex Merino wool clothing items: the 24-hour Short Sleeve Low Crew and the Shak Hoodie. On Ibex’s website, all of these items promise to have “odor-control” or “antimicrobial” virtues that allow users to wash them less often.

I decided to put the 24-hour Short Sleeve Low Crew and the Shak Hoodie to a long-term sweat experiment to test out the brand’s promises: I wore them in both extremely sweaty and social situations for weeks without washing them once. You can call me a dirtbag, but I like to think of myself as a very thorough reviewer.

Ibex’s Shak Hoodie

Photo: Natasha HallThumb holes on Ibex's Shak Hoodie. Photo: Natasha HallZippered pockets and the two-way frontal zipper on the Shak Hoodie. Photo: Natasha Hall

I started by wearing the Shak Hoodie daily from the day I received it, i.e. February 14, 2024. I decided that, for the purpose of this experiment, I would wear it daily, but not necessarily all day, every day. For example, I wore it in the morning after getting out of bed and before my shower, during my work day at home to stay warm, to go on my daily walks, to bike, to cover up after aerobic classes, to garden, to meet friends at the café, etc. In the nearly three months of my acquiring the hoodie, I washed it once. And that was six days ago, i.e. April 26, 2024. Before stuffing it in the washing machine, I sniffed all the areas that should be stinking after such a long usage, and I can attest that there there was no hint of body odor. The only reason I washed it was to test out how this 100-percent Merino wool garment reacted to being machine-washed on a regular cold cycle. The answer is: It did not shrink, nor did it lose its color, lose its shape, or change textures. It remained exactly the same.

What I like about Ibex’s Shak Hoodie beside the fact that it’s stink-free

While the antimicrobial quality of the Shak Hoodie is its best asset, it’s not its only great feature:

This hoodie keeps you warm by virtue of the fact that it’s made of Merino wool, but also thanks to clever design elements like its high neck that can be zipped all the way, and its thumb holes that prevent any drafts from coming in.The zippered pocket, which are not only practical to keep your hands warm but also to keep all your belongings safe.Despite being made entirely of wool, the Shak Hoodie is very flexible and does not get in the way of movements, no matter what you’re doing. It’s made of wool, but it’s not itchy.It’s extremely good quality. After extensive use, I can’t find any stray stiches or areas that have stretched out or lost their shape.It’s true to size.The choice of colors that Ibex offers for this hoodie may be limited but they are true to what you see on the website. I picked the color Sitka and it’s exactly what I expected it to be.

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Ibex’s 24-hour Short Sleeve Low Crew

Photo: Natasha Hall

Much like with the Shak Hoodie, I wore the 24-hour Short Sleeve Low Crew shirt for weeks without washing it. But I upped the antes by wearing it in super sweaty situations like step classes, uphill bike rides, hikes, and heavy-duty gardening in the sun, as well as in social settings with a pair of jeans. While I did not wear it daily, I wore it at least three times per week in a variety of situations from March 8, 2024, to April 26, 2024, when I stuck it in the wash with the Shak Hoodie. It seems inconceivable that this shirt, which was in direct contact with my skin for so long, would not stink after what I put it through, but it did not. Not even a little bit. The fact is I couldn’t even smell my deodorant on it. Ibex delivers on its promises — and some.

What I like about Ibex’s 24-hour Short Sleeve Low Crew apart from its odor-free feature

Because I’m busty, I wish the neck line of this shirt was a little lower for it to look less boxy and more flattering. Apart from this one design element, the 24-hour Short Sleeve Low Crew has some great assets:

It’s not ichy or stiff despite being 100 percent made of wool.It dries very fast after a sweaty session, never leaving you cold.It’s true to size.It has no tags or labels that could itch or create discomfort. Instead, the information for the shirt is printed on the inside.Like for the Shak Hoodie, the choice of colors is restricted but the ones available are rich and beautiful. I chose the color tobacco, which is very much like a mustard yellow, and it looks exactly like what is displayed on the website.

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Take the Train Between These Two South Florida Cities for a Car-Free Seaside Escape

South Florida hosts abundant outdoor fun and active adventures. That’s in addition to its notably vibrant nightlife scenes, consistently sunny skies, and seemingly endless beach destinations. Thing is, I-95 can be a nightmare of congestion and parking is rarely free near the beach. For those who don’t want to be tied to a rental car during their getaway, Florida’s Tri Rail train service takes travelers from Miami to West Palm Beach and makes stops in many spots along the way. Here’s how to plan an epic vacation in two major SoFla cities — Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach — two walkable destinations with reliable public transit-equipped, sans car.

Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.

Start your journey in Fort Lauderdale — a city known for the arts, shopping, and dining

Photo: Jillian Kain Photography/Shutterstock

The Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach areas are easy to navigate even without your own automobile wheels. If it’s too far to walk, use the circuit service in Fort Lauderdale and the Freebee service in Delray Beach. Both on-demand app-based services will get you around town at a lower cost than a rideshare service.

Sailing through Fort Lauderdale’s 300 miles of waterways and canals via the city’s Water Taxi Service from 10 AM through 10 PM daily is a relaxing, unique way to explore the city from a beautiful setting. The captains and crew onboard operate like tour guides, offering insider local insight into the area while you’re gliding along the water (and many of these highlighted sights can only be seen by boat!).

These covered boats arrive approximately every 35 to 45 minutes at each stop, traveling northbound and southbound between 20 stops in the city — including popular destinations like the shops and restaurants on Las Olas Boulevard, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, and a few waterfront bars and restaurants perfect for a sunset dining and drinking experience. Choose between a few ticket pass types, including the full-day pass for $40, a reduced-price evening pass, and the multi-day pass.

Wander down Las Olas Boulevard, an east-west running street that runs all the way to the beach and serves as one of the most popular shopping and dining districts in Fort Lauderdale. This palm-tree-lined street and promenade is very walkable, making it a great place to spend an afternoon stopping into shops and exploring on foot. Stop into one of the cute fashion boutiques or grab a bite at one of the bustling sidewalk cafes. Admire the artwork at one of the local galleries, or grab a drink in one of the buzzy bars.

Photo: Darryl Brooks/Shutterstock

For an unparalleled wellness experience, the 4,000-square-foot Conrad Spa at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach. The standout personalized service alone might be enough reason to embark on a restorative journey here — but the deliciously recharging treatments certainly make it worth spending an afternoon indulging in self-care.

Visitors can choose from various treatments, from body wraps to facials, massages, couples treatments, and nail services inspired by the natural elements in the oceanfront environment. Pre- and post-treatment, use the locker room area’s rainfall showers and steam rooms. There’s also an indoor relaxation lounge with fresh, healthy snacks and drinks (including bubbly). While on-site, spa guests can also enjoy the resort’s amenities like the pool, hot tubs, and high-tech fitness center.

Outdoor adventure lovers – or those seeking a serene escape – should visit Hugh Taylor Birch State Park (known informally as Fort Lauderdale’s “Central Park”), which is located steps away from the beach and a great place to hike, bike, fish, kayak, or just sit down and relax in the fresh air with a picnic. It’s even accessible via the water taxi service.

For some insight into the area’s history, visit Bonnet House Museum & Gardens tucked away along Fort Lauderdale Beach along the miles of modern-day beachfront development. Across more than 35 acres of breathtaking natural beauty, visitors can embark on a self-guided or guided tour of the property, which includes the main house, outdoor spaces, and grounds showcasing the distinguished albeit mysterious Bartlett family’s history and eclectic belongings — including prized artwork like paintings, sculptures, and floral collections.

Where to dine in Fort Lauderdale

Photo: Felix Mizioznikov /Shutterstock

Grab a coffee and a pastry at the Instagrammable Ann’s Florist & Coffee Bar, and wander around inside, admiring the adorable floral-themed goodies and beautiful bouquets at the on-site shop. Be sure to try out the “sparkling wine vending machine” for a special and fun experience.

At Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria on Las Olas, dive into one of the in-house, daily-made pasta dishes, bread, gelato, pastries, or cookies. If the weather is nice, grab a seat on the back patio, bursting with fresh flowers and surrounded by exposed brick facades, making the dining experience feel like a real trip to Italy.

For upscale Italian fare in a breezy, elegant environment, stop by Vitolo at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, which aims to blend old-world culinary traditions with a modern South Florida spirit. This ocean-adjacent restaurant serves a range of exquisite dishes like fresh burrata, pizza, and seafood in a setting that’s extremely accommodating of dietary restrictions. If the weather is nice, try to get a spot on the outdoor Terrazza, which encapsulates an atmosphere reminiscent of a rustic Roman trattoria adorned with design touches like lush lemon trees and antique wine barrels.

Olive & Sea is a tasty, water-taxi-accessible rooftop restaurant serving fresh Mediterranean cuisine overlooking the Intracoastal waterways. It can be a great place to pop in for a happy hour drink or sunset cocktail, weekend brunch, romantic dinner, or any outing paired with an impressive backdrop of panoramic water views.

Photo: Brian Logan Photography/Shutterstock

Fort Lauderdale nightlife

Wind down after a night out (or amp yourself up for a night on the town) with a craft cocktail in Room 901 at the Hyatt Centric Las Olas. This reservations-only speakeasy-style bar is unmarked, which helps to create an exclusive atmosphere inside. It’s nestled into a corner of the ninth floor at the Hyatt Centric Las Olas hotel and feels like taking a step back in time. Vintage decor and dim lighting set a sultry mood in an intimate space where guests will enjoy an experience featuring highly personalized service via a private bartender. Choose from a specially curated menu of light bites and a lineup of hand-crafted signature cocktails for an unforgettable experience in one of the trendiest destinations in the city.

Visit Spinnaker After Dark at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach (even during the daytime) for a handmade craft cocktail with a stunning view of the Intracoastal Waterways and the Atlantic Ocean in a laid-back setting. It’s a great spot to grab a happy hour drink and watch the sunset.

For buzzy rooftop vibes, visit Rooftop @1wlo, where visitors can admire sights of the Fort Lauderdale skyline in a lush setting in a spirited atmosphere above Las Olas Boulevard. The open-air patio setting features eclectic lounge and bar seating and has been described as feeling like “a garden in the sky” with its lush decor and vivacious atmosphere. It’s a vibrant destination to grab a bite or a drink and people-watch.

Spend the night at the W Fort LauderdalePhoto: Diamond PRPhoto: Diamond PRPhoto: Sobe VeganPhotos: Olivia Harden

The luxurious and trendy 440-room (100% of which offer water views) W Fort Lauderdale is lively and fun — but not overzealous. It’s set in a great location just a few steps from the beach. The building itself appears to mimic the appearance of a ship’s sail, and there are other subtle design touches on-site that also pay homage to its beachy location, like the blue and white wavy carpeting in the guest rooms, which appears to mimic the movement of the ocean below your feet.

Visitors will check in at the fourth-floor lobby, which is dubbed “The Living Room” by W brand standards (and it does feel more like a friend’s eccentric living room than a traditional hotel lobby) and boasts a bar helmed by friendly bartenders serving traditional cocktails and bites with a South Florida twist.

There are two pools on the property. “WET East” is perched on the roof facing the ocean, featuring transparent pool walls and a menu of delightful vacation cocktails set to the sounds of DJs spinning on weekends in a “high-energy sunbathing mecca” that’s fun for any age. And across the property, “WET West” feels like a more serene and secluded sun-soaked oasis with Intracoastal waterway views and an infinity-edge hot tub.

Amenities included in the price of an overnight stay include access to W-branded bike rentals to explore beyond the hotel (for those who want to leave, that is), access to the bright and clean fitness center, and complimentary admittance to the daily beachfront fitness classes like sunrise beach yoga or Bootcamp.

The hotel’s on-site spa, AWAY Spa, is a vibrant respite from the sun and offers wellness experiences ranging from traditional massages to the “Quick Fix” menu of offerings like a 10-minute neck, back and shoulder massage or a 15-minute eye brightening facial touch-up. There’s also a full “glam station” for those seeking a professional hair and makeup session.

The property feels more like a hip art gallery or museum than a hotel, with its numerous art installations scattered throughout the common spaces, including eye-opening sculptures, thought-provoking paintings, and tantalizing interior design visuals. It’s a Fort Lauderdale experience in and of itself.

Book The W Fort Lauderdale

Taking the train to Delray Beach

Photo: Microfile.org/Shutterstock

Travelers can use the Tri-Rail to explore nearly 74 miles between Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties for an affordable rate. The trains are air-conditioned, double-decker cars, and most Tri-Rail trains are even equipped with one dedicated bicycle car per train set. Trains arrive every 30 minutes during weekday peak hours and 60 minutes off-peak, including weekends and holidays. On weekends, tickets cost a discounted flat fare of just $5 for a whole day of unlimited use in any direction. On weekdays, it’s $3.75 for a one-way fare between these two cities. It’s a seamless, five-stop, 30-minute Tri-Rail train ride to the Delray Beach station from the Fort Lauderdale station.

What to do in Delray Beach

This vibrant, artsy South Florida city sits halfway between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Delray offers a smaller, more intimate community-feeling vibe than its larger city counterparts — but still boasts ample entertainment and adventure opportunities enjoyed in larger cities.

Visitors will encounter residents and tourists of all ages and backgrounds. There is no shortage of trendy spots here to dine, drink, relax, play, and explore — from the bustling downtown area known for its galleries and buzzy nightlife to the relaxing beaches with clean air, sand, and salty seas.

Photo courtesy Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority

Stroll down Atlantic Avenue, the city’s main drag, boasting shops, restaurants, art galleries, and bars. Soak up the sunshine on the beach, or walk the paved pathway that parallels the sandy shoreline and showcases sights of the sparkling ocean. Delray Beach is also known for its bustling art scene, brimming with charming art galleries featuring the works of local and international artists.

History buffs and pinball fanatics should check out Silverball Retro Arcade — a retro pinball museum featuring over 100 classic pinball machines and arcade games like Skee Ball, free to play once on-site.

Visit the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens and take a guided tour, or stroll solo along the meandering pathways through the 16 acres divided into six vibrant gardens inspired by traditional Japanese design. It’s gorgeous — and a unique opportunity to become immersed in Japanese history and culture through exploring the grounds or participating in a traditional tea ceremony.

Dining and nightlife in Delray Beach

Photo courtesy Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority

Delray Beach has many interesting spots to grab a bite, from fresh seafood to unique international cuisine options. Stop into the City Oyster & Sushi Bar waterfront restaurant for a fresh sushi and seafood lineup. For more waterside views, visit Deck 84 — a casual but elegant eatery set by the Intracoastal Waterway serving “classic American fare with a coastal twist,” with great happy hour specials and frequent live music.

Those seeking somewhere hip and artsy should visit Dada, set inside a historic house dating back to 1924. Admire the eclectic vintage decor and dine on global dishes in what’s self-described as a “nonconformist setting.” The bohemian vibes extend outside to the property’s beautiful open patio and lawn space — grab a table in the fresh air if the weather’s nice because it’s a great spot for people-watching.

When the sun goes down, Delray’s nightlife scene heats up. Grab a drink and try something new at The Wine Room Kitchen and Bar. This tasting hall-style outpost offers visitors the opportunity to explore and diversify their palette over a variety of varietals without committing to an entire glass or bottle. The self-serving mechanism is stocked with a constantly rotating selection of nearly 200 wines — doling out tastings in 1 oz, 2.5 oz, or 5 oz pour sizes. Visitors can grab a glass and pair it with one of the global cheeses and charcuterie boards on-site, expertly curated by international cheese expert (and James Beard Award-winner) Max McCalman.

For an active and fun social outing, visit THRōW Social — an Instagrammable, vibrantly flamingo-pink-themed lounge and bar space that feels like something straight out of a movie set. Cheeky decor, including faux-grass walls, neon signs with saucy phrases, and jungle-themed wallpaper, make this spot a buzzy space to hang out with friends for many hours. The outdoor courtyard space has a similar, spirited vibe with a retractable roof for shade and an abundance of games (think: axe-throwing, adult-sized Jenga, cornhole, and more).

There’s a fun cocktail menu with plenty of choices, but the crowd favorite is called a “Patrón Tree” and is exactly what it sounds like — four different flavored margaritas served by way of miniature Patrón bottles in a tree-like, tower-shaped structure.

For relaxation, visit the 8,000-square-foot, award-winning spa at The Seagate Hotel & Spa for a rejuvenating experience like a massage, facial, or body treatment. Plus, spa guests are granted all-day access to the pool, steam room, tranquility room, whirlpool, pool bar, and on-site fitness center.

Spend the night at The RayPhoto courtesy The RayPhoto courtesy The RayPhoto courtesy The RayPhoto courtesy The Ray

The Ray Hotel Delray Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton is known by both locals and visitors to be a trendy and spirited spot to spend time in Delray Beach. Featuring a modern design inspired by the hotel’s boisterous and artsy surroundings in the Pineapple District of downtown Delray, it feels modern and grown-up — but with an inkling of naughtiness felt in the atmosphere.

It’s just a mile from the beach and two blocks from Atlantic Avenue, the city’s bustling primary road. With just 141 rooms, there’s an intimate vibe on-site immediately felt upon strolling off the street into the airy lobby, whic is decorated with lush plans, golden lighting, and tropical, bohemian-feeling furniture.

Don’t miss the 22,000-square-foot rooftop pool deck, which features an upscale bar and restaurant, or the impressive fitness center, equipped with plenty of cardio and weights equipment to keep in shape while on the road.

There are two on-site restaurants, a lobby bar, and a coffee shop — and additional amenities like a golf cart transportation service, complimentary beach loungers, hotel bikes, and rentable surfboards and paddle board equipment for guests.

Rooms at The Ray are bright and airy, boasting sunbathed balconies or terrace spaces for relaxing in the fresh air. Roms are outfitted with upscale design features like handwoven rugs, elegant glass furnishings, and vivid wall art. Overall, it’s an upscale and zesty place to spend a night or enjoy a drink or dinner in Delray Beach.

Book The Ray

Or, those searching for somewhere more “home-like” to set as a home base can book a stay at Crane’s Beach House — a charming boutique property just steps from the beach that features house-style suites and villas. Guest accommodations here include fully equipped kitchens, separate bedrooms and living rooms, patios or balconies, a separate dining room area, and a lushly landscaped outdoor garden. It’s a great spot for longer stays and those seeking a kitchen to cook in.

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Disney World Becomes the First US Theme Park With a Michelin-Starred Restaurant

Victoria & Albert’s, within Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, just became the first restaurant owned and operated by a US theme park to be awarded a Michelin star.

The dining experience transcends everything you’d expect from a typical theme park restaurant, offering an intimate and unparalleled foray into the world of fine dining. It’s fast becoming one of the hardest reservations to snag, not only in Florida but in the US at large.

The lavish dining room. Photo: Walt Disney World

The dining room’s decor embraces timeless elegance, drawing inspiration from the Victorian era. The walls, adorned with soft hues of gray and gold, provide a serene backdrop for the meticulously curated artwork, each piece chosen to complement the overall ambiance of refined luxury. Overhead, a grand rotunda dome bathes the space in a warm glow.

Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Photo: Walt Disney World

Chef de cuisine Matthew Sowers has curated a multi-course tasting menu that celebrates contemporary American cuisine with a global influence. Each dish is a symphony of seasonal ingredients, prepared with meticulous technique and presented with artistry. Sowers has spent nearly 20 years working at the restaurant.

Head sommelier Israel Perez has also dedicated over two decades to the establishment. His wine list, with a collection of over 500 wines from 35 regions, offers a sommelier-guided journey through diverse varietals and vintages that perfectly complement the tasting menus.

“Just like a dance, there are many tiny steps that come naturally after years of dedication. Everything is done with purpose, and it is beautiful when the tempo is perfect,” says Perez at the awards ceremony.

Wagyu A-5 Miyazaki with potato rosti and romesco. Photo: Walt Disney WorldChef preparing a dish at Victoria and Albert's. Photo: Walt Disney WorldSpectrum of Chocolate, an ombré delight featuring specialty sourced chocolates with accents of vanilla, Champagne, and Grand Marnier. Photo: Walt Disney WorldGuajillo Spice cocktail. Photo: Walt Disney World

Drawing on influences from Asia to the Nordics, there are two tasting menus to choose from, a seven-course and a nine-course, from $295. Wine pairings start at $115. Each menu showcases Sowers’ masterful creativity. The second adds two main courses, offering an even more comprehensive exploration of Sowers’ culinary repertoire. This menu pushes the boundaries of flavor and technique, showcasing the chef’s ability to blend global influences with American ingenuity. It is a true chef’s table experience.

John Berko, director of food and beverage for Walt Disney World Resorts, Executive Chef Kevin Chong, Chef de Cuisine Matthew Sowers, Culinary Director Scott Hunnel and Sommelier Israel Perez, maître d’hotel at Michelin star ceremony, Tampa. Photo: Walt Disney World

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by Michelin for the innovative dining experience our team brings to life here at Victoria & Albert’s,” says Sowers. Sowers praised everyone working at the establishment, recognizing that the star is very much a team effort.

Victoria & Albert’s has a strict dress code. Guests are expected to dine in semi-formal to formal attire, and children under the age of 10 are not permitted in the dining room. Many Disney resorts offer babysitting services which can be booked in advance.

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The World’s Biggest Naked Cruise Returns in 2025

For most people, a vacation is a change to shed the stress and challenges of everyday life for a while. But for roughly 2,300 people in February of 2025, a vacation will be a chance to shed something else: clothing.

The cruise, called “The Big Nude Boat,” is the latest offering from Bare Necessities, a company that charters nude cruises around the world. The 2025 Big Nude Boat sailing runs from February 3 to February 14, departing from Miami, Florida, and making stops in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Dominica, Martinique, and St. Lucia. The cruise will be aboard the Norwegian Pearl, owned and operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines but chartered by Bare Necessities.

The Big Nude Boat cruise will be onboard the Norwegian Pearl, but guests will need to be dressed when the ship is in port. Photo: Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock

If the idea of heading out on a naked cruise seems a bit too much like something from a rated-R movie, think again. Bare Necessities hosts only “naturist” cruises — cruises meant for people who prefer socializing and living in the nude in a completely non-sexual way. That’s opposed to “lifestyle,” or swingers cruises, meant more for people who associate nudity with intimate or flirtatious behavior.

In fact, The Big Nude Boat has strict rules against anything that could make fellow passengers uncomfortable, clothed or not. Naturally, “fondling or inappropriate touching of personal body parts or those of someone else” is completely off limits. Other no-go behaviors include taking photos of anyone (dressed or otherwise) without their permission, doing anything dangerous or rude to other guests, or wearing “lingerie, fetish-wear, [or] excessive genital jewelry.”

Cruise-goers on the naked cruise need to follow other rules related to decorum and hygiene, too. While on board, cruisers must be dressed in the dining rooms and sit on a towel everywhere on board (including staterooms), rather than putting bare bottoms on shared surfaces. And the nudity only extends so far. While cruisers can be completely nude on “at sea” days, when anchored in port, or on a few select excursions, guests need to be dressed while the ship is docked at ports, and on any of the traditional excursions. Nudity is also not allowed on the cruise shuttles or while port authorities are on board.

 

 

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Pricing for the naked cruise is only slightly more expensive than what you’d pay for a standard cruise of a similar length on the Norwegian Pearl. The Big Nude Boat starts at $2,000 per person for an inside cabin, while a 14-day cruise with similar destinations through Norwegian starts around $1,800 with taxes and fees.

While the Big Nude Boat is the world’s biggest naked cruise — the Norwegian Pearl is nearly 1,000 feet long with a crew of 1,100 — it’s not the only option for naturists from Bare Necessities. Also coming up are smaller cruises through Greece and Vanuatu, though each sailing is capped at around 220 guests. Nudists looking for a more intimacy-focused naked cruise may want to consider options from a company like Lifestyle Cruises (slogan: “Surrender Yer Booty.”) No matter what cruise you pick, don’t forget your ocean-safe sunscreen. 

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The Inland Empire Is California’s Underrated Outdoor Adventure Hotspot

Tucked away in the southeast corner of California are 27,000 square miles of overshadowed land that other states would tout as their main adventure destination. There is no debate that California reigns supreme as the outdoor adventure hub in the lower 48, so it’s no wonder that places get overlooked, but this neglected adventure hotspot, claiming 16% of California’s landmass, is home to rock climbing, skiing, National Parks, glamping, kayaking, hot springs, boating, hiking, fishing, desert bathing, photography, off-roading… Feel free to catch your breath and process that shortlist of what the Inland Empire offers its visitors.

Planning an outdoor adventure road trip around the Inland Empire

The eastern boundary of this massive swath of land stretches from Riverside in the northwest to Temecula in the southwest. Drawing two straight lines across the map eastward until you run into the state borders of Nevada and Arizona, you now have the boundaries of the Inland Empire. Within this landscape, there are 13 endangered animals, two mountain ranges, a very salty lake, a couple of forests, two deserts, and countless Joshua Trees lining the dirt backroads. The Inland Empire is overwhelmingly big —
so, where do you start?

Getting to and around “the” Inland Empire

Photo: Dalton Johnson

When picking flights, snag yourself a window seat to gawk at the Pacific Ocean as you fly over Los Angeles into “the” Ontario airport. Now that you are in Southern California it’s time you learn a little bit of the local lingo. You’ll start to pick up on the overuse of “the”; the highway number, the hotel name, the rock climbing spot, etc. Head to your preferred car rental and grab your road-tripping vehicle. Make sure to select a capable ride that also has decent mileage so you can explore the Inland Empire without breaking the bank.
From the Ontario airport, stay your first night in the outskirts of Riverside so you can wake up early and hike San Gorgonio Peak, the highest point of the Inland Empire and Southern California.

Tips for a great hike up San Gorgonio Peak:

Mentally prepare for a long day, 18 miles round trip, and 5,000 feet of vertical gainPack at least two liters of water and snacksIf you are feeling ambitious, try to reach the summit for sunrise for 360-degree views of the LA area. You can backpack in the area if you can snag a permit, which allows you enough time to watch the sunset from the summit.Use sunscreen, it’s easy to get sunburnt here even on cloudy daysI haven’t seen the big bear, but the lake is dreamy

Photo: NikTheMechanic/Shutterstock

Once you have had enough city life and are ready to escape to a mountain paradise, hop on the 215 to the 18 for fifty miles to reach Big Bear. This dreamy lake destination in the Inland Empire got its name from a grizzly bear population that was eradicated in 1845 and is now home to a small, and typically unseen, black bear population. Big Bear has boomed in popularity extending beyond ski season into summer. During the summer months, Big Bear is a destination lake for residents around the Los Angeles area to escape the heat and cool off while splashing around in kayaks, fishing, or stand-up paddleboarding.

While many recognize Big Bear for the skiing and lake access, Big Bear offers hikes that overlook the evergreen landscape surrounding the azure lake leaving you with a visceral feeling, especially at sunrise or sunset. So, pack your boots and camera, because, who knows, you might be lucky enough to spot one of the black bears eating berries or a cotton candy sunset. Several of the hikes around Big Bear are in the 30-minute to 2-hour range, so you can easily stack a few hikes into a single day. If you are in search of a Big Bear experience different than most, come during the shoulder season. During autumn and spring, Big Bear has fewer visitors and is often filled with colors from either spring flowers or fall foliage.

A few places around Big Bear you don’t want to miss:

Pine Knot should be on your beach list and the perfect spot for a kayak. You can rent kayaks around town or head to the marina so you do not have to fumble around with transporting a kayak in your rental car.For a stellar hike, the 2.7 miles out and back on Castle Rock Trail offers a grand view of the lake and surrounding area.Rock climbers head to Castle Rock to test your trad placements or Holcomb Valley Pinnacles to clip some boltsWhere to stay: Big Bear is more developed than the rest of this road trip and boondocking isn’t advised. Make sure to book your campsite next to the lake well in advance or find a cute cabin in the woods.The place where two deserts meet

Photo: Dalton Johnson

The Inland Empire is home to two deserts, the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. To properly experience both tack some miles onto the odometer and drive a loop around the northeast region of the Inland Empire. Throughout this loop, you can visit the southern parts of Death Valley National Park, folic in vast desert landscapes without another soul around, camp for free under the stars on BLM land, hike in the Mojave National Preserve, and wander the lands where a giant sloth used to roam, Joshua Tree National Park. If you go clockwise through the desert, you’ll surely be a little bit tired, so before your head nods while you drive, snag a coffee at Joshua Tree Coffee Roasters and head into the national park for some adventure.
Joshua Tree National Park contains the convergence of both deserts which can be seen along with Joshua trees and the Cholla Garden. At first glance, Joshua Tree appears to be extraterrestrial, but it’s full of rock climbers, highliners, hikers, influencers, van lifers, gray nomads, and road trippers. It’s also an epic place for stargazing. This mix of granite mounds and desert attracts all kinds of humans from a wide breadth of backgrounds. So, if you are looking for a stellar adventure in the place where two deserts meet, make sure to stop in at Joshua Tree.

Must Visit Places in Joshua Tree National ParkIntersection Rock is steeped in folklore from the Stone Monkey rock climbers and is the epicenter of the park. Snag a campsite here and you can launch into any activity quickly from this junction.Skull Rock is a roadside attraction often swarming with influencers at sunset, but there are better spots to capture that perfect photograph. Cholla Garden or the Hemingway Buttress are more stunning landscapes, but a longer hike.Where to stay: You have three options. First, there is free camping on BLM land outside of Joshua Tree National Park, but the commute into the national park from the BLM land will cost you the same as a campsite inside the park, so snag a campsite if the dirtbag climbers aren’t there already. Your third option is to stay in a Joshua Tree Airbnb or hotel. For the best vibe, Autocamp is my choice as you stay in Airstreams just outside the park.
Note: If you are familiar with California deserts, you would refer to the Sonoran Desert of California as the Colorado Desert, a specific sub-desert of the Sonoran.Coachella Valley is not only for festivals

Photo: Felipe Sanchez/Shutterstock

While Coachella attracts a crowd ready to dance and Stagecoach brings the cowboys and cowgirls, Coachella Valley offers way more adventure than it does festival life. Maybe hard to believe, but the warm weather of Coachella Valley is another massive area that contains Palm Springs, an endangered family of big horn sheep, the northern section of the Salton Sea, and the rock climbing have Lynn Hill claimed as “her favorite climbing place” the Tahquitz mountains. So, you can believe this is an ideal spot to winter over while the rest of California’s outdoor destinations are under snow.

What to do in Coachella Valley:

Find and photograph the Bighorn sheep, they are typically spotted around the winding hill climb of Highway 74 to Coachella Valley VistaIf golf is your thing, Coachella Valley is home to 124 courses, so don’t forget to pack your clubs and polo shirtRock climbers can cut their teeth in Lynn Hill’s favorite stomping grounds, TahquitzWhere to stay: When in Coachella Valley park your van at Caliente Springs Resort for a night of hot spring soaking and warm showers to clean up before you head back to the city to finish your tripCheck out Matador’s guides to hiking in the Coachella Valley and the best hotels in Coachella ValleyDon’t forget to look up at night

Photo: kesterhu/Shutterstock

As you leave the Los Angeles area behind, be sure to look up at night. If you have a clear night, your eyes will adjust and the city glow will fade into the Milky Way. Stretching across the night sky throughout the Inland Empire, the night sky is a main attraction for astrophotographers and city slickers looking to set their eyes on Orion, Cassiopeia, Ursa Major, and so many more constellations residing in the northern hemisphere skies.

Tips for capturing astrophotography:

Find a spot far from light pollution that ideally has rock formations you can stand onBring a tripod and mirrorless camera or use a current iPhone with night modeFind the Milky Way core, this changes throughout the yearSnap photos by trial and error, try different landscapes and anglesAttempt to put a person in the frame, hence the first tip, make sure they hold steadyWhere to stay: Throughout this road trip, access to free camping on BLM Land is omnipresent. Your best bet for up-to-date information is to download iOverlander and head to the nearest spot. Pro tip, download your maps to the locations so you can access them offlineMore like thisWineFor an Epic Southern California Wine Weekend, Look to the Inland Empire

Peak Baggers Take Note: Colorado’s Famous 14ers Just Got Shorter

For many mountaineers, summiting the tallest peaks is the ultimate badge of honor. In several states, that means tackling 14ers, a term used to describe mountain peaks higher than 14,000 feet. Peak bagging, as the activity of chasing those great heights is called, is especially popular in Colorado, whose 50-plus 14ers number more than any other state. But a new study by researchers at the National Geodetic Survey just shrunk Colorado’s highest peaks.

The study, published in the Journal of Geodesy, set out to analyze the current summit elevations of Colorado’s 14ers using two types of data: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDar), which uses remote sensing to evaluate the Earth’s surface, and geoid models, which measures elevation based on sea levels. The takeaway? In general, the summits of Colorado’s famous 14ers are more than five feet shorter than they were once recorded to be.

There are two reasons for this: For one, environmental changes such as rising sea levels are impacting mountain elevations. But the researchers also found that the original estimates for Colorado’s peaks, which dates back to the 1950s, were about three feet too high.

According to the new data, none of the 58 peaks in Colorado that were originally considered to be 14ers were eliminated, and no new peaks were added to the list. There were, however, changes to the order of Colorado’s tallest peaks. Notably, Huron Peak in the Sawatch Range of the Rockies now ranks the lowest, barely qualifying as a 14er at 14,004.1 feet. Mount Elbert remains the tallest peak in the Sawatch Range, North America’s Rocky Mountains at large, and Colorado’s highest summit at 14,437.6 feet. It’s also the second tallest peak in the contiguous US after California’s Mount Whitney — whose summit measures 14,505 feet.

Mount Massive, Mount Harvard, Blanca Peak, and La Plata Peak round out Colorado’s five tallest 14ers, towering between 14,423.9 and 14,343 feet. Two summits also received a special mention for being just shy of 14er height: Grizzly Peak A at 13,994.9 feet and Sunlight Spire at 13,994.3. Capitol Peak, known as the hardest Colorado 14er to summit, ranks 31st on the list at 14,136.3 feet.

There’s another helpful piece of data included in the findings: All peaks listed also come with “uncertainty estimates” ranging from six to eight centimeters given the difficulty of gathering elevation data in rugged mountainous areas.

More like thisHikingThis Is Why Capitol Peak, Colorado, Is the State's Hardest 14K Mountain

Explore the UK by Foot and Train With This Comprehensive Listing of Hikes From Train Stations

There’s a way to spend time exploring England, Wales, and Scotland’s countryside without having to rent a car and learn to drive on the left-hand side of the road. The rail network in Britain is incredibly vast and allows travelers to go just about anywhere, even to very rural locations, for the price of a train ticket or a BritRail Pass. Even better is that train stations in Britain are often very close to hiking or walking trails, or work as a trailheads. That means you can see huge swathes of country, including its lesser-visited bucolic nooks and crannies, by using two affordable, convenient, and incredibly sustainable modes of transport: the train and your two feet.

A new website will help you plan such a trip: Railwalks. All you need to do is to visit the website, select the area you’d like to explore, go through the list of resources available, and pick a walk you can take from the train stations in the area. The walks listed include linear, loops, and station-to-station walks, so you can still catch a train at the end of your day (or days) roaming.

Caerfai Bay on the Wales Coast Path. Photo: Charlesy/Shutterstock

One of the most famous and most scenic walk in Britain is the 870-mile-long Wales Coast Path which you can easily reach by rail. All the information to get to the trail by train is available on Railwalks by selecting Wales as your preferred area and looking at what the From Rail to Trail resource offers.

Photo: RailwalksPhoto: RailwalksPhoto: Rail to Trail

The same goes for the world-famous Lake District in the county of Cumbria in the northwest of England. A series of rails trails have been developed so you can visit this magnificent part of the country in the most sustainable way there is. All of the information you need about the Lake District’s rail trails is available on Railwalks.

Steve Melia, the founder of Railwalks, started by creating his own compilation of walks by rail on his website The Green Travel Writer and then collaborated with Slow Ways, an organization whose goal is to create a national network of walks that connect all of Britain’s cities, towns, and national parks. Together, by combining their data, they are expanding the knowledge of previously little-known walking routes for everyone to enjoy. Both Railwalks and Slow Ways are crowd-sourced and rely on hikers to share their favorite walking routes or their newly discovered hikes with them so the network never stops growing.

More like thisTravelThis Is the Best Way for Travelers to See the UK by Train

Austin’s P+K Bungalow Is Ideal Lodging In The Heart of the City

In the vibrant city of Austin, Texas, where options for accommodation are plentiful, finding the perfect blend of comfort, location, and cool factor, can feel like a daunting task. But look no further than P+K Bungalow. This Airbnb is a cozy retreat, where retro vibes meet modern amenities.

Traveling to Austin or San Antonio? Check out Matador’s accommodations guides: Book These Guest Favorite Airbnbs in Austin 9 San Antonio Airbnbs Within Walking Distance of the Riverwalk and Downtown The best Austin Airbnbs for large groups The Best Airbnbs in Austin for a Bachelorette Getaway 15 Airbnbs in Austin for a BBQ- and Music-Filled Trip

We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

As you step inside, the bright coral walls paired with the beautifully illustrated wallpaper will immediately catch your eye. The decor is a fun balance between chic sophistication and quirky nostalgia. But what truly sets P+K Bungalow apart are the retro touches scattered throughout. The giant gumball machine in the living room will practically beg you to drop a quarter in and give it a whirl. Feel free to spin some classic vinyl from the eclectic collection on the vintage record player. And if you’re craving a nostalgic gaming experience, the Super Nintendo console is ready to go, stocked with dozens of favorites like Super Mario Kart and Donkey Kong Country. The trip down memory lane will add an extra layer of enjoyment to your stay.

 

@epic.stays Make the most of your #Austin getaway with this stunning #Airbnb that’s walking distance to downtownP+K Bungalow in #Texas @Pink Plankton #airbnbfinds #austinairbnb #texastravel #usatravel ♬ Home – Good Neighbours

P+K Bungalow is well equipped with everything you could need on your trip, and then some. You’ll find a fridge full of cold drinks and a basket of snacks upon arrival. The patio out front has a cozy fire pit with logs ready to go. The bungalow sleeps up to four people on its king-sized bed in the bedroom and a comfy pull-out couch in the living room. There is even a massage gun you can use to wind down after a day of exploring the city.

Photo: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: Airbnb

The bungalow is conveniently located on the western edge of downtown Austin. The neighborhood is calm and quiet, but you’ll be just steps away from trendy restaurants, food trucks, trails, and even the first-ever Whole Foods Market. The rest of Austin’s downtown attractions are all within walking distance.

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More like thisMusic + NightlifeThe 7 Best Places to See Live Music in Austin

Why Wilmington, NC and Its Island Beaches Belong on Your Must-Visit List

Calling a place a “must-visit” is a lofty claim. On North Carolina’s southern coast, Wilmington lives up to the label, with island beaches, land and sea adventures, and an exciting culinary scene that should rocket the city to the top of your list.

Situated on the banks of the Cape Fear River, Wilmington is a gateway to the family-friendly shores at Carolina, Kure, and Wrightsville Beaches. Whether you decide to stay riverside, oceanfront, or anywhere in between, you’re never more than a few minutes from award-worthy dining, bike tours to breweries and beyond, and accommodations that’ll make you regret having to return home. Factor in how easy the city is to reach by car or plane, and you’ll see why Wilmington and its beaches are the perfect choice for your next trip.

A tour for every traveler

Photo: Wilmington and Beaches

Whether you’re gearing up for your first or 15th visit to Wilmington, there’s no better way to get to know the area than on a tour. Options are plentiful, ranging from kayak excursions and guided bike tours to walking tours and narrated horse-drawn carriage rides through the National Register Historic District in the heart of downtown.

New kayak tours hosted by Wilmington Outdoor Adventures let nature lovers experience the area’s diverse ecosystems by paddle power. For an easy outing, check out Greenfield Lake, Wilmington’s largest urban lake, where you’ll float among cypress trees and spot plenty of wildlife. Opt for a more strenuous excursion to Masonboro Island, a secluded barrier island, for your chance to see more coastal wildlife, including bottlenose dolphins. The all-female crew at Coastal Eco Adventures also leads intimate charter boat expeditions to Masonboro Island and the area around Wrightsville Beach. Try the oyster-focused tour to visit seed nurseries and estuary farms, then wrap up with a tasting experience.

On land, e-bike around town with Wilmington Bike & Brew Tours for an educational (and hoppy) way to see the Port City. Beyond downtown, the Carolina Beach Experience gives you four hours in Carolina Beach — from the state park where Venus flytraps grow wild to a walk along a vintage boardwalk. Take your time there, and be sure to stop at Britt’s Donuts or Latella Gelato for a sweet power-up.

Fans of the Outlander books or TV series have two choices for delving into southeastern North Carolina’s connection to Scottish heritage: the Outlander in Cape Fear cruise by Wilmington Water Tours and the Burgwin-Wright House & Garden’s Outlander in Cape Fear walking tour. Sign up for one or both — no kilts or bagpipes required.

A world of cuisine in one scenic city

Photo: Wilmington and Beaches

Wilmington’s best-kept secret is officially out: The food scene is on fire. The city’s chefs have been busy racking up awards, including recognitions from the James Beard Foundation (JBF) and North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA). But the best part? Wilmington has restaurants for every palate, occasion, and price point.

Head downtown for fresh and creative seafood dishes at Seabird. Nowhere is Chef Dean Neff’s commitment to artistry and seasonality more evident than in the restaurant’s seafood tower, piled high with pickled shrimp, oyster escabeche, smoked fish, and more. It’s one reason Neff is up for JBF’s 2024 Chef of the Year.

If sampling the best of the Beard nominees is your thing, make reservations at Catch and Olivero. At Catch, Chef Keith Rhodes finds inspiration in international flavors, Gullah traditions, and regional delicacies. In the burgeoning Castle Street Arts & Antique District, Chef Sunny Gerhardt helms Olivero Kitchen + Cocktails, borrowing from his family’s New Orleans roots to craft inventive yet homey dishes. Also in the Castle Street Arts & Antique District, the recently reimagined Rx Chicken & Oysters features seafood that’s farmed and fished by Chef-Owner James Doss and his wife. Nearby, celebrity Chef-Owner Vivian Howard (another JBF nominee) serves pies and pasta that will transport you to Naples with a single bite at Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria.

It’s not all seafood and Southern cuisine in Wilmington. The new G Prime Steak & Cellar delivers a high-end steakhouse experience. At Tequila Comida & Cantina, rooftop cocktails and scenic river views complement big-flavored Mexican and Tex-Mex fare like chili-marinated mahi-mahi.

Dreamy accommodations to call home

Photo: Wilmington and Beaches

Sure, you can use your hotel loyalty points when you come to Wilmington, but you can also consider a more unique stay. Reserve a houseboat at The Cove Riverwalk Villas to stay right along the award-winning Riverwalk on the Cape Fear River. Or perhaps go the bed and breakfast route — C.W. Worth House and The Verandas have both been named among the country’s most charming B&Bs. ARRIVE Wilmington caters to the boutique hotel crowd and is slated to expand by 50 rooms by year’s end. Wilmington also has stays for those looking for the super stylish — try The Hive or DREAMERS by DW for meticulously designed rooms and convenient, walkable locations.

Even more accommodations await shoreside. At Wrightsville Beach, a pair of oceanfront resorts positions you steps from the sand. Lumina on Wrightsville Beach, a Holiday Inn Resort sits on the north end near Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier and a stunning stretch of shoreline. To the south, Blockade Runner Beach Resort has been a Wrightsville Beach fixture for more than 50 years, with retro-modern rooms, farm-to-table dining at EAST, and activities like surf and sail lessons, SUP yoga, and a variety of cruises.

Lessons in water sports, history, or both

Photo: Wilmington and Beaches

With Wilmington as your home base, you’re minutes away from a trio of island beaches that have distinct draws: Easygoing Carolina Beach brings on the fun with summer amusement rides at its boardwalk. Kure Beach evokes the nostalgia of beach vacations gone by and is prime for nearby nature hikes or afternoons at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. And Wrightsville Beach beckons with Caribbean-hued waters, ideal for water sports. Together, these beaches create blissful inroads to the outdoors, from sunbathing, beachcombing, and splashing in the waves to more energetic activities like surf lessons and scuba diving.

For combo beach days and educational outings, visit Fort Fisher State Historic Site at Kure Beach to see where the Civil War’s largest land-sea battle was fought. Be one of the first people to experience the new visitors center coming this summer, offering 24,000 square feet of insights into artillery, battle strategy, and the role the US Colored Troops (USCT) played during the Civil War. Additional features will open in the fall, so you’ll want to plan multiple visits to see it all.

If you love stories from the past, you’ll also appreciate the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, which you can see from nearly every foot of the Cape Fear Riverwalk; Cameron Art Museum; and Wilmington’s 230-plus-block National Register Historic District, a one-stop shop for period-era mansions, museums, and other landmark attractions. They’re all must-visits in a destination that’s full of them, so get yourself to Wilmington for a trip you’ll never forget.

8 of the Best Shore Diving Destinations in the World

Scuba diving offers a chance to see a part of the world only a very, very small fraction of people ever get to experience. You get to see rare animals, feel what it’s like to escape gravity for a while, and get to breathe underwater while going eye-to-eye with colorful fish. What could be better?

Well, one thing could be better: getting that experience without having to deal with crowded scuba diving boats and early morning wake-up calls.

Fortunately, there are plenty of places in the world where you can shore dive, and the best shore diving resorts and destination have access to nearby reefs, gentle beach entries, and shipwrecks sitting just a few dozen meters from shore. Not having to rely on boat operators (or share a boat with divers of unknown abilities) offers the freedom for divers to dive when they want, where they want, as many times as they want.

The world’s best shore diving destinations range from the coral-laden shores of Bonaire to cold-water bays and kelp forests around San Diego.

Want to dive the Kubu Wreck (also called the Boga Wreck) in Bali? Good news: it’s a shore dive. Photo: DiveIvanov/Shutterstock

The shore diving locales below cater to a range of diving styles and experience levels. It’s a loose guide, so don’t let it deter you from going somewhere you really want to visit — every location below will usually have at least one or two sites suitable for beginners, and diving is technically available year-round in most places. If you’re a beginner considering Bonaire or Curaçao, you’ll be happy to know those two islands are known for having some of the easiest (and most impressive) shore diving in the world.

Most places where you can dive have one or two available shore diving sites, even if most of the diving is usually done from boats. So if you happen to be somewhere where diving is available, it’s worth asking if the nearby shops have any shore dive sites they could take you to.

Local dive shops are your very best source for trip-planning information and are usually happy to answer any questions that help you become a more informed and prepared diver.

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Jump to:Bonaire, Dutch AntillesBali, Indonesia San Diego, CaliforniaThe Hawaiian Islands Tulum and Playa del Carmen, Mexico Red Sea, Egypt Monterey and Big Sur, CaliforniaCuraçao, Dutch Antilles Shore diving Q & A Shore diving on Bonaire

The Hilma Hooker is easily accessible from shore. Photo: Bonaire Tourism

Peak season for diving: December through AprilGood for beginners? YesAverage peak season water temp: Low 80 degrees F

Bonaire, a small island in the Dutch Caribbean, has a well-deserved reputation among divers for having the best shore diving in the world. The island has more than 80 dive sites accessible directly from the shore, making the island hugely popular with divers who value freedom and flexibility in dive planning.

Bonaire’s reef system runs along the entire leeward (western) side of the island, and some sections of coral reef start just a few steps from the shore. Depths at nearly all sites are suitable for beginners,  and it’s easy to navigate between dive sites as there’s one loop road that follows the coastline. Nearly all dive resorts on the island offer packages that include a rental car and unlimited tanks, so you can drive directly to whatever site you want to visit.

The Bonaire National Marine Park protects the entire coastline, ensuring healthy reefs and an abundance of fish and marine critters. Expect to see vibrant coral formations teeming with colorful fish, turtles, or maybe octopus and and rays. Eagle-eyed divers might even spot the occasional elusive seahorse or frogfish. However, Bonaire isn’t the place to go for sharks — which could be a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about sharks.

The calm currents and excellent visibility, often exceeding 90 feet, make Bonaire ideal for all skill levels. Beginners can build confidence in the shallow reefs, while experienced divers can explore deeper walls and swim-throughs. Bonaire also boasts an extremely well-preserved wreck: the Hilma Hooker, a freighter that ran aground in 1985 and is now a popular dive site teeming with marine life.

Bonaire Dive Resorts

 

 

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Dive resorts are very popular in Bonaire, and a few dive resorts even have house reefs so you can dive from the resort without needing to hop in the car. Resorts that don’t cater exclusively to divers will almost always still offer diving as an activity, since it’s the reason many travelers visit the island.

Buddy Dive: Among the most well-known of the dive resorts on the island, with a house reef, large dining area, and full on-site gear shop. A few dive packages are available, including ones with unlimited tanks and rental cars.Captain Don’s Habitat: Another popular location for divers, and has an excellent house reef and reasonably priced week-long dive packages.Harbour Village Beach Club: A bit more luxe, with more resort-style offerings. The house reef isn’t as large, but it has a small shipwreck, and you can shore dive or jump on one of the several daily dive charters that leave from the resort.Divi Dive Bonaire. The house reef isn’t as impressive as some of the other resorts, but the five-minute walk to town is hard to beat, especially for non-divers in your group.Shore diving in Bali, Indonesia

A diver on the USAT Liberty. Photo: Shahar Shabtai/Shutterstock

Peak season for diving: June to NovemberGood for beginners? YesAverage peak season water temp: Low 80 degrees F

Bali, the “Island of the Gods,” is a paradise for scuba divers, and shore diving enthusiasts are well catered to on the island. With more than 50 shore diving sites accessible directly from the beach, Bali offers incredible freedom and flexibility for independent divers. Much of the shore diving is on the east coast near towns like Amed and Tulamben. Amed offers a laid-back atmosphere with numerous dive resorts and guesthouses catering specifically to divers, while Tulamben is famous for the wreck of the USAT Liberty, a World War II shipwreck teeming with marine life and accessible directly from the shore.

A nice bonus to diving in Bali is that there are plenty of dive sites accessible by boat, so you can blend shore and boat diving, based on your preference. There are a handful of more advanced (and semi-world-famous) dives around the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Menjangan Island, on the north side of the island, is part of a protected national park with exceptionally healthy marine life. If you visit the Nusas, be sure to do a dive to the manta ray cleaning station, where giant rays and mola molas are common sightings.

Bali has a dry season from April to November and a wet season from December to March. The dry season offers the best diving conditions with calm seas and excellent visibility, but the wet season can still be a good option for diving, with occasional rain showers and slightly lower tourist crowds.

Water temperatures remain pleasant throughout the year and are general quite warm (though the Nusas can have much colder thermoclines, requiring a five-mil). If encountering mola molas is on your wishlist, aim for a trip between July and October when sightings are most frequent around Nusa Penida.

In Bali, it’s required that you use the services of a dive guide or shop, and hotels do not offer self-guided house reef diving. But that’s a perk, as renting a car in Bali can be a bit of a pain, and guided shore dives usually include transportation from your hotel.

Bali dive resorts

 

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Bali is one of the most popular islands in the world for travelers, with a range of accommodations to suite all tastes. You’ll find everything from affordable hostels to mid-range dive resorts to extremely luxurious full-service resorts. Fortunately, the towns of Amed and Tulamben aren’t as touristed or as expensive as more popular destinations like Ubud or Seminyak.

Amed Beach Resort: Very reasonably priced and comfortable beachfront resort, starting around $45 a night and home to Two Fish Divers.Bali Dive Resort and Spa: Dives start around $45 each and get progressively cheaper as you add more. There’s also a property in Tulamben; both have pools and spas. Nitrox is free for certified divers.La Bila Dive Resort: Also in Amed is La Bila, with bungalows in a Balinese garden and included daily breakfasts.Baliku Dive Resort: Check out Baliku if you prefer better views over waking up on the beach. Cliffside villas start around $38 a night and the property is home to Adventure Divers Bali.

More Bali lodging recommendations: Bulgari Is Bringing Its Luxury Design to This Beachside Bali Resort The Best Bali Airbnbs and Hotels To Embrace Nature in Luxury This Rainforest Hotel in Bali Has One of the Coolest Infinity Pools in the World This Balinese Hotel’s Infinity Pool Hangs 300 Feet Above the Indian Ocean

Shore diving in San Diego, California

Photo: NaturePicsFilms/Shutterstock

Peak season for diving: July-SeptemberGood for beginners? Depends; best to go with a guide for your first timeAverage peak season water temp: Mid-60 degrees F (but varies quite a bit)

San Diego is one of two excellent places in California for shore diving. San Diego may not be tropical, and the water is often chilly enough to demand a seven-mil or a drysuit, but the payoff is access to unique shore diving sites with healthy marine life like sea lions. Divers can choose from underwater canyons, kelp forests, and areas to see small leopard sharks.

Popular sites include La Jolla Shores, a protected cove with calm waters and a shallow reef teeming with fish life. The site in front of the Marine Room restaurant is known for leopard sharks, and experienced divers will find steep drop offs to the north of the Marine Room, just a short swim from shore.

La Jolla Cove is home to a thriving underwater ecological reserve where you can dive through kelp forests (which feels like diving in an underwater forest) and see rocky reefs teeming with colorful fish and playful harbor seals. Depending on the weather, entry and exit may be in strong(ish) waves. Be sure to wear booties as the entry can be rocky, and carry a diving knife since the kelp can occasionally get tangled on hoses. Because of the waves and currents, it’s usually best for experienced divers only.

Visibility in San Diego varies depending on the location and season, typically ranging from 15 feet on a bad day to 60 or 70 feet on a good day. Water temperatures are chilly year-round, averaging in the low 60s to low 70s. The water is warmest in August and September, but you can expect the calmest waves and best visibility from June to October. La Jolla Dive and Zach’s Scuba Shack are the main dive shops in La Jolla (though you can lobster dive in season with La Jolla Watersports).

San Diego dive resorts

 

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It goes without saying you’ll find every kind of accommodation under the sun in San Diego. If you’re diving, you’ll want to stay in La Jolla, since the traffic to get there from other parts of town can be quite bad (and parking in La Jolla is tough). Unfortunately, there are no dive-specific resorts around La Jolla. But most resorts in La Jolla or in the greater San Diego region may be able to recommend a few nearby dive shops.

More San Diego lodging recommendations: 5 San Diego Bed and Breakfasts to Book on Your Next SoCal Trip The Top San Diego Hotels Near Downtown and the Beach 8 of the Prettiest Airbnbs in Downtown San Diego, California  Get Green at These Cannabis-Friendly Airbnbs in San Diego

Shore diving in Hawai’i

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Peak season for diving: June to SeptemberGood for beginners? Depends on the siteAverage peak season water temp: High 70 degrees F

Headed to Hawai’i? If so, you’ll find shore diving on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai.

Oahu has more than 40 named dive sites, including a handful of beginner-friendly shore dive sites. Some of the best shore diving sites include Hanauma Bay, a world-famous nature preserve with calm, protected waters and abundant fish life; as well as Electric Beach (off Kahe Point Beach Park), popular for larger creatures like dolphins that like to play in the current. At Electric Beach, you’ll have about a 200-foot swim to get to the dive site, and may have to carry your gear through some mid-sized waves.

On the north shore, head to Shark’s Cove (named for the shape of the shoreline, not actual sharks), for swim-through lava tubes and lots of colorful fish. Lanai Lookout, also on the north shore, is known for eagle rays and reef sharks, as well as the occasional whale. But it has a steep, tricky entry, and can get some very strong waves, so it’s only for advanced divers, and should be done with a guide the first few times.

On Kauai, the shore diving is on the southern part of the island near Koloa Landing. The sites are in protected coves with very easy entries and basically no waves or currents, and it’s almost impossible to dive there and not see a sea turtle. It’s one of the easiest beginner shore dive spots in the Hawaiian islands.

If you’re on Maui, most diving is on the west side of the island, with a lot of variety. You can do night shore dives at Mala Wharf, or do a wall dive at Black Rock. Local operator Banyan Tree Divers has a good guide to popular Maui shore dive sites on its website, but it’s not an exhaustive list, as the island has dozens of potential shore-entry dive locations. Of the Hawaiian island, Maui is probably the best bet if you want to avoid boat diving entirely.

Finally, if you’re headed to the Big Island, you’ll want to base yourself on the island’s northwest side, where most of the shore diving sites are located. Of particular note is a site called “Nudi Madness,” and if you’re obsessed with nudibranch, you’ll be pleased to know it’s exactly what you think. The visibility isn’t great, but the site is shallow so you can spend all your time looking for the colorful, whimsical nudibranch that call the site home. Their numbers are at their peak in the summer. Kona Honu Divers has a great map of all the best shore diving sites.

Hawai’i dive resorts

 

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Your search for lodging in Hawai’i should start with which island you want to visit, followed by making sure there’s a dive shop nearby. But since pretty much every coastal town in Hawaii has a dive shop nearby, that’s not hard to do. There aren’t many dive-specific resorts in Hawai’i, but many dive shops have partnerships with hotels. For example, the Grand Wailea Maui works with Dive Wailea, and Aloha Scuba Diving Company is inside Oahu’s Ala Moana Hotel.

More Hawai’i lodging recommendations: The Finest Resorts in Honolulu for the Ultimate Family Vacation or Romantic Getaway 8 Maui Beach Hotels With the Best Views in Hawai’i These Hotels on Hawai’i’s Big Island Showcase the State’s Best Beaches The Most Luxurious Resorts on the Hawaiian Islands for a Vacation of a Lifetime Kauai’s Coolest Hotels Offer a Truly Relaxing Beach Escape

Shore diving in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, Mexico

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Peak season for diving: December to AprilGood for beginners? Select cenotes are beginner friendly, but having an AOW cert will give you more optionsAverage peak season water temp: Low-to-mid 70 degrees F

Tulum isn’t really shore diving — it’s cenote diving. But the concept is the same, as you’ll park just steps from cenotes (tropical sinkholes) and walk to your entry point. Cenotes are formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock and are usually connected by underground tunnels, creating a network of caverns, tunnels, and open water areas. The visibility is usually fantastic.

Tulum has more than 60 accessible cenotes, and most dive shops go to at least a dozen or so. Some cenotes are cavern-like, with sunlight filtering through openings overhead that creates an ethereal underwater light show. Others are open-air cenotes, resembling shallow lakes with lush vegetation along the edges. The most adventurous dives venture deep into the labyrinthine cave systems, requiring specialized training and equipment. And on some deeper cenotes, you can pass through a sulfur layer that looks like an underwater river.

Cenote diving emphasizes proper technique and respect for the delicate environment, since it doesn’t take much to make a stalactite break (and kicking up silt can reduce your visibility to almost nothing). You don’t need to be a certified cave or cavern diver, but having an advanced open water certification is a must, as is excellent buoyancy control. And you’ll want to carry at least two flashlights. Aktun Ha, also known as Carwash, is one of the closest cenotes to Tulum and very popular with beginner divers.

Entry points vary depending on the cenote. Some have convenient staircases leading down to the water, while others might require a giant stride entry from a floating platform. Most dive shops are located in and around Tulum Town, rather than at Tulum Beach (where traffic is a pain to deal with, anyway). Good options include Koox Diving, the Cenote Guy, and Agua Clara Tulum, among others.

You can dive year-round, but the dry season is December to April and offers the best diving conditions with minimal rain. The shoulder seasons (May/June and September to November) are less crowded and cheaper, but the cenotes will have poorer visibility after heavy rain. If you’re hoping to dive with the bull sharks off Playa del Carmen, visit between November and March.

 Tulum and Playa del Carmen dive resorts

 

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If you’re diving in Tulum, you’ll want to stay in Tulum Town or the northern end of Tulum Beach, as the extra time it’ll take you to drive to the southern parts of Tulum Beach can easily add 45 minutes to your commute. There aren’t any formal dive resorts in Tulum, though there are a few resorts with on-site dive shops in Playa del Carmen (about 40 minutes north), which is also near some divable cenotes. Options include the Iberostar, which works with the highly regarded Dressel Divers, or Ah Xok Suites, partnered with Phantom Divers.

More Tulum lodging recommendations: The 8 Best Hotels in Tulum for Photo-Worthy Jungle Vibes
9 Gorgeous Airbnbs for Your Tulum Bachelorette Party These Top-Rated Tulum Airbnb Rentals Put You Right Near the Beach
Pablo Escobar’s Former Mansion Is Now a Luxury Hotel in Tulum, Mexico
The Rosewood Mayakoba Is the Perfect Mix of Luxury and Wellness Near Playa Del Carmen

Shore diving on the Red Sea, Egypt

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Peak season for diving: Year-round (more or less)Good for beginners? YesAverage peak season water temp: From the low 70s F to high 80s F

The Red Sea’s water clarity, shipwrecks, and large pelagics are already enough to land it on most divers’ bucket lists. But add in the fact that diving there is relatively inexpensive, and that the resorts along the Red Sea are home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Africa, and it’s no surprise that it’s becoming more and more popular.

If you’re into shore diving, you have multiple places to choose from. While you’ll likely want to do some boat dives to reach the Red Sea’s deeper sites (or maybe even a liveaboard, as they tend to be quite affordable), you’ll find that many towns have resorts with house reefs and easily accessible shore dives.

High season for diving in the Red Sea is spring and fall, with water reliably in the high 70s/low 80s Fahrenheit and visibility reliably exceeding 100 feet. The water is still warm in the off-seasons (summer and winter), but remember that the temperatures on land in summer can be unbearably hot. Visibility can also be a bit reduced in the summer due to the occasional plankton bloom.

If you want to see hammerheads around Marsa Alam, visit between May and July.

Red Sea dive resorts

 

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Marsa Shagra: Near Marsa Alam,  this is an exceptional places to stay, with glamping-style luxury tents (or more traditional rooms) sitting just steps from the Elphinstone house reef. It’s more than a mile long, and guests get unlimited access to diving it, including zodiac rides if needed to the farther corners.Marsa Nakari: This resort is 30 minutes south of Marsa Shagra and owned by the same operation (Red Sea Diving Safari). It has six separate dive sites along its house reef.Wadi Sabarah: A new, luxurious eco-resort and botanical garden with a healthy house reef that’s managed by Emperor Diving. It’s an ideal place to stay before or after heading out on one of the company’s many liveaboard diving trips.Fort Arabesque Resort, Spa, and Villas: This is a great pick around Makadi Bay, just south of Hurghada. It works with Hurghada’s iDive shop, which offers shore diving, boat trips, and speciality options like night diving.Stella Makadi:  A big, luxurious hotel on the beach with lots of pools and a large house reef.Serenity Makadi Beach: Another luxurious hotel with a house reef.Shore diving around Big Sur/Monterey, California

Starfish cling to the seafloor in a forest of giant kelp. Photo: Ethan Daniels/Shutterstock

Peak season for diving: Late fallGood for beginners? No, it’s best to have an AOW cert and experience in cold waterAverage peak season water temp: Mid-to-high 50 degrees F

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, just south of Monterey in Big Sur, is a unique underwater experience accessible via shore diving and one of the prettiest state parks in California. This marine protected area is home to healthy kelp forests, rocky reefs teeming with life, and frequent sightings of charismatic fauna like otters.

Diving is done from Whaler’s Cove, via a boat entry ramp. It’s not difficult, but it can get slippery, so make sure you have booties with grip. There can also be waves and currents, so take your time with the surface swim on your way out to sites like Middle Reef and Worm Patch.

The main draw to shore diving at Point Lobos is the fact that the underwater world at Point Lobos is a kaleidoscope of color. Dozens of fish species live in the safety of the kelp forests, including colorful (and easy to spot) garibaldi. You’ll also likely see plenty of sea stars, rockfish, and eels, and otter and harbor seal sightings are very common, too. If you’re lucky, you may even see a few sharks or notice whales breaching in the distance.

Diving at Point Lobos has a daily cap of 20 divers and reservations are mandatory for all divers. You can make them up to two months in advance via the park website. There are no dive support facilities in the park, so make sure you have all your own gear or go with a guide from a shop like Spangler’s Scuba or Sac City Scuba. Both operators can take you to other shore dive locales around Monterey, too.

The best shore diving conditions around Point Lobos are in the summer, from roughly May to October. Expect calmer seas and better visibility (up to 60 or 70 feet, if you’re lucky), as well as slightly warmer temperatures. However, the water is always on the chilly side, only peaking in the low-to-mid 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Most people wear dry suits, though a head-to-toe seven-mil kit should be fine for one or two dives if you aren’t dry suit certified.

Big Sur/Monterey dive resorts

 

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If you’re diving at Point Lobos, you’ll want to stay in the southern part of Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea. You could also stay in Big Sur at one of the smaller resorts along Highway 1, but just remember that they’re mostly along one-land roads, which means traffic can be pretty bad in the peak season and on weekends.

Shore diving in Curaçao

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Peak season for diving: Year-roundGood for beginners? YesAverage peak season water temp: Low 80 degrees F

Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island very close to Bonaire, has nearly 40 shore diving access points, some of which have multiple sites within them, making it a haven for divers seeking freedom and flexibility. It’s not as many divers as Bonaire, but the island is larger with more developed towns and more choices for large luxury resorts, making Curaçao potentially a better pick for groups who want diving to be only part of their vacation.

Most of the best shore diving sites are on the island’s south coast, which is surrounded by a healthy reef. Since many of the coral formations begin just steps from shore, shore diving is popular with divers of all levels, and dives can be as shallow as 30 feet or so. Entry points vary, but many of the most popular sites have purpose-built entry platforms or sandy beach areas where you can be in shallow surf to put on your fins and tank.

Like Bonaire, Curaçao’s reefs are very healthy and robust. This is for several reasons, one of which is that the islands are rarely hit by hurricanes, which can damage and destroy shallow reefs. Angelfish, butterflyfish, and colorful juveniles are a common sight, as are sea turtles, barracuda, and even the occasional octopus. The clear water, shallow depths,  and brightly colored critters also make it very popular with underwater photographers, as photos retain more color the closer you are to the surface. If there’s one site not to miss on the island, it’s Alice in Wonderland, with reliably clear water and some of the brightest reefs you’ll ever see outside of a fish tank.

Year-round, visibility is generally excellent, ranging from 60 to 100-plus feet, depending on location and season. While some divers may opt to wear just a rashguard, most divers will likely want a three-mil wetsuit to stay warm during multiple days of diving.

Curaçao dive resorts

 

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Many resorts near the best shore diving sites on the southern coast cater specifically to divers, with on-site dive shops, gear storage, tank fills, and easy access to house reefs for shore diving. Budget-friendly options like guesthouses and vacation rentals are also available. Popular dive-specific resorts on Curaçao include:

All West Curaçao: A beachfront building with multi-room apartments and unlimited tanks, on its own house reef. Packages include car rentals.Lionsbeach Dive Resort: A full-service resort with a house reef, on-site dive shop and four on-site restaurants.Sunscape Curaçao: An all-inclusive resort (owned by Hyatt) with a house reef that’s part of the Curaçao Underwater Sculpture Garden.Marazul Dive Resort: A small, laid-back resort with beachfront villas, a house reef, and lots of nearby dive shops.

Ultimately, nearly every resort and hotel on the island is used to having divers visit, and the sheer number of dive shops means you won’t have to walk far from your resort to find one. Like in Bonaire, most divers do self-supported dives by renting a car and driving to the entry points, rather than going on guided dive trips.

What is shore diving?

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Choosing between shore diving and boat diving depends on what you’re looking for in your underwater adventure. Shore diving offers a taste of freedom and convenience. You can pack your gear, head to the beach, and explore the underwater world directly from the shore. There’s no waiting on other divers or having to plan your day around a boat schedule. You set your own pace and dive whenever you’re ready, as many times as you want. However, shore dives are typically shallower and limited to whatever you can reach in a short swim from land.

Boat diving provides a more structured experience with a guide or divemaster at the helm. They take care of navigation, brief divers on the site, and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Divers will need to follow the guide and have access to an expert to help them assemble and check their gear, which can be good for beginners.

Boat trips can also reach deeper sites and offshore locations, opening up a wider world of marine life encounters, wrecks, or underwater walls that wouldn’t be accessible from shore. The downside is that boat diving typically comes with a higher price tag compared to shore diving, plus crew tips. And you usually don’t get to do more than two dives per day on a boat-diving scuba vacation.

Pros of shore diving

Shore diving entires can be as basic as simply walking into the water. Photo: Alexandr Jitarev/Shutterstock

Shore diving boasts several advantages for scuba enthusiasts. First and foremost, it offers incredible freedom and flexibility. You ditch the rigid schedules of boat trips and dive on your own terms. This spontaneity is a big draw for many divers, as is the fact that it’s cheaper (you only need to factor in gas and parking, especially if your resort package includes unlimited tanks).

Another perk is the ease of logistics. With shore diving, there’s less gear to lug around since you enter the water directly from the shore, and you don’t have to haul your stuff in and out of a crowded boat or get ready in a hurry to time the currents correctly. You also don’t need to do backroll entries (though that’s a skill every diver should know), and you can say goodbye to getting seasick before your dive starts. Shore dives can also be a great way to develop your self-reliance as a diver. Since there’s usually no dive guide on hand, you’ll hone your navigation skills and become more comfortable planning and executing your dives.

Cons of shore diving

You’ll skip the hassle of dealing with a boat, but may still have to carry your dive gear along beaches or down rocky and slippery staircases. Photo: blue-sea.cz>/Shutterstock

While shore diving offers freedom and budget-friendly perks, there are also some drawbacks to consider.

One challenge is entry and exit. Unlike the ease of climbing onto a boat platform, shore entries can be tricky, especially with factors like waves, currents, or uneven rocky terrain. These conditions can make carrying your gear and navigating entry/exit points more difficult and potentially hazardous. They can also be quite easy, but it really depends on the site and conditions.

Another con is self-reliance. Without a dive guide on shore dives, the responsibility for navigation, dive plan execution, and awareness falls entirely on you and your buddy. This can be daunting for new divers and requires a strong foundation in dive safety procedures, gear assembly, and some basic navigation skills.

Finally, shore dives typically limit you to shallower depths. Breathtaking coral reefs and interesting underwater features are often accessible from shore, but if you’re hoping to encounter specific marine life like sharks or explore deeper wrecks and walls, boat diving may be the better option.

Tips for shore diving

Always dive with a buddy. Photo: Juice Flair/Shutterstock

Be good at navigation: Most tropical shore diving is done at your own leisure, so you usually won’t have a guide. Fortunately, navigating on shore dives is easy: go left or right from the site buoy, and turn around when you get to your halfway point. You’ll want to have you own compass to make sure you keep going in the right direction (and should pay attention to your depth, obviously). Using your own compass on shore dives is a good way to practice in an easy navigable environment, which can be a useful skill on future dives.Always dive with a buddy: No exceptions. Don’t shore dive alone, ever.Swimming: You may have a surface swim to get to the buoy or site marker. Take your time and don’t exhaust yourself by fighting the waves too hard to get to the buoy. Scuba diving is not a race and it’s fine to have a nice leisurely float before you descend.Booties: You will definitely want booties for shore diving almost anywhere in the world. You’ll need to carry all your gear through parking lots, down cement stairs, across rocky beaches and across sea shells — the list goes on. You’ll want booties with some grip that protect your feet, not just a thin Aqua Sock.Go against the current: If you start your shore dive and notice a gentle current, start your diving by diving against the current. This is basic diving 101, but it’s a good thing to remember for shore dives.Turtle navigation: If you get lost on shallow shore dives (like those in Bonaire or around hotels with house reefs), you can always navigate sea turtle-style. After doing your requisite safety stop, make a slow ascent to the surface, then just look around until you see your car or entry point.Shore diving with a guide: Guides are rare for shore dives in tropical and resort destinations. But for any shore dive in a new location with any factor that compounds the difficulty — be it a tough entry/exit, poor visibility, cold water, or strong currents — you’ll want to bring a local guide with you the first time. In any place you’ve never dived before, it’s a good idea to have someone with you who knows the site, conditions, and entry/exit routine. Shore diving without a local divemaster can be extremely risky. More like thishttps://matadornetwork.com/read/beginner-scuba-diving-gear/