Sea of Stars, Vaadhoo Island, Maldives

In Maldives is a 1,192 island nation called the Vaadhoo Island located in the Indian Ocean and Laccadive Sea. It is Asia’s smallest and most geographically dispersed nation with the islands spread over 90,000 square kilometers. It is known for being a heaven on Earth. Its glittering water has been named the ‘Sea of stars’. The mesmerizing shining water looks like a mirror that reflects the sparkling stars above. Glowing waves in the Vaadhoo Island can be explained by bioluminescence or biological light, a chemical process in the body of animals in which liberated energy is released in the form of light which is used as a defence mechanism to either distract or confuse the predators.  In the Vaadhoo Island, this stunning phenomenon of bioluminescence is demonstrated by a species of phytoplanktons (the marine microbes) called dinoflagellates.

The phenomenon of bioluminescence can be seen in other places of the world as well like in Norfolk, UK, Zeebrugge, Belgium, Toyama Bay, Japan, Bali, Indonesia.

this is the microscopic view of bioluminescence

Socotra, Yemen

Socotra is considered to be a unique archipelago in the Indian Ocean for the diversity of its exotic flora and fauna. Its weird alien plants are the result of island's long geological isolation together with unbearable heat and drought. One of the most unusual Socotra's plants is the dragon's blood tree, resembling a strange umbrella. Aboriginals believed its red sap to be the blood of a dragon.

Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off of the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef atoll about 65 miles from Placencia.

It was formed as a limestone cave system during the last ice age when sea levels were much lower. As the ocean began to raise the caves flooded, and the roof collapsed.

This site was made famous by Jacques-Yves Cousteau who declared it one of the top ten best scuba diving sites in the world. Since then thousands of divers have made it the reason they have come to dive in Belize.

In past years diving The Great Blue Hole meant visiting Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, or Belize City. Now you can dive the pristine southern reef of Belize and include the Blue Hole as part of your vacation.

The hole is almost perfectly circular, over 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep, and is almost surrounded by fringing reefs which make for an excellent snorkel adventure.

While the snorkelers explore the fringing reefs, divers descend along the wall to a depth of 130 feet. At a depth of 120ft divers can clearly see the stalactites which were form from dripping water when the cave was above sea level.

The second dive is done at Half Moon Caye Wall which is known for its abundance of Marine life. The seascape is cover with varieties of sponges, sea fans, and a wide variety for corals which makes for a kaleidoscope of colors.

Between or second and third dive we visit Half Moon Caye National monument  for lunch on the beach. The most famous inhabitants of this island are its Red- footed Boobies and Frigate birds which nest on the caye. There is viewing platform in the heart of the colony that lets you enjoy the birds from up close.

The Third dive is done at the Aquarium. The site is named for the wide variety of small resident reef fish on the reef top and along the edge of the wall.