Fantastic Diving Spots Down Under

Whether you're an amateur diver, or an experienced one looking for a new challenge, you'll want to visit Australia so that you can dive along the Great Barrier Reef. The Barrier Reef is 1,250 miles long and stretches from New Guinea to Queensland. Diving in this area of the world is an experience that you won't forget since it's filled with the wonder of natural elements combined with some of the most amazing sea creatures of the world.

Over 2000 small reefs come together to be referred as The Great Barrier Reef. The entire great barrier reef is littered with thousands of small islands made of coral. All these islands creating a wonderful spectacle of color and light throughout the ocean.

The water is warm and you will literally swim with the fishes when you dive along the Great Barrier Reef. Don't forget an underwater camera to record all the wonders that you see.

Australia offers many diving opportunities and a wide variety of places to choose from. When on a dive holiday, it is better to be forearmed with information so as to get the diving experience that you want.

Pixie Pinnacle is amongst the most popular diving places in Australia. Pixie Pinnacle is located near Lizard Island and comprises of a large coral that is over ninety feet in height. Some of the sea creatures that you wil see on this dive include clownfish, rabbitfish, lionfish, nudibranches, and honfish. While on this dive you can also see the Coral Sea just beyond the Barrier Reef.

Lizard Island has another famous diving spot - 'Cod Hole'. Some of the sea animals that can be seen when on a dive off Cod Hole are the moray eel, the Napoleon wrasse, and large groups of cod - that is from where this spot gets its name.

For a diving site that is livelier with sea creatures you might want to head to Yongala Wreck. You can find this diving spot south from Cod Hole by 200 miles. The coral in this area of the Great Barrier Reef is thick, making it a great hiding place for eagle rays, jacks, flowery cod, and the barramundi cod. If you're lucky you may be able to see a turtle or two.

Remember to follow safety practices and the marine rules governing diving in the Great Barrier Reef. It is so important to remember that the reef is a living animal because it's composed of coral. Treat it with respect at all times. Be especially aware of displacing sand when using your fins. Sand will harm the sea animals as well as the coral.

As a must not do, do not ever feed any of the sea animals that you encounter during your dives. Fish are known to become repeat pests when you feed them and can therefore, make them react aggressively to all divers. Dive to savor these wonders with your eyes and make sure you do not seek souvenirs. The beautiful coral, shells, and rocks that you see maintain the environmental balance for the animals that live in that area. Just give yourself the luxury of trapping all these wonders in an under water camera.

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Paintball Is A Bang-Up Sport For Anyone

Ron Fowler said it feels like being hit with a wet towel. Bryan Vasaris said it's like being snapped with a rubber band or stung by a bee. Being shot by a paintball gun doesn't sound very fun. So why is paintball one of the fastest growing sports in America, according to the National Sporting Goods Association? "It's a stress relief, because you can go out and shoot at people and not dangerously hit them," Vasaris said. "But it's also being with a group of guys that you like to hang around with."

The most commonly played paintball game is "capture the flag." There are rules variations, but the object is for a team to capture the opposing team's flag while protecting its own. Players eliminate opponents by shooting them with their paintball guns.
The games can be played outside in an open field or forest, or inside at a specially designed facility with inflatable bunkers and other obstacles. "It's not the hide-and-seek game everyone thinks," Vasaris said. "It's really action-packed and fast-paced." Players use carbon dioxide- or nitrogen-powered guns that fire thin, gelatin capsules filled with non-toxic paint - the "paintballs."

Vasaris, 22, who has been playing paintball since he was in high school, will be a senior at the University of Cincinnati this year and is the president of the school's paintball team. He said getting shot isn't as bad as it seems. "After the first time, I didn't even think about getting hit," Vasaris said. "There is such an adrenaline rush that you don't even feel it."

For those who want to experience that rush, there are plenty of paintball facilities around Cincinnati. A good place to start for beginners is the Hueston Woods Paintball Club at Hueston Woods State Park.

Tom Arvan, who has been the paintball club's general manager for 12 years, likes to promote the game to new players. "My personal enjoyment is seeing the kids play and seeing first-time players come off the field with a grin on their face," Arvan said.
Hueston Woods is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and offers two fields, including one that is wooded with some constructed obstacles. The cost to play is $27, which includes a gun, a carbon dioxide tank, 200 paintballs and protective gear. Players who have their own equipment pay $12. The fields are open Monday through Friday by reservation for groups of 15 or more. Arvan said Hueston Woods has catered to birthday parties, bachelor parties, fraternity and sorority parties and corporate outings. "We have had high praises from corporate groups for team-building," Arvan said. "It's a game that really fosters some friendship and sportsmanship."