For quite some time, Aquarena Springs was home to an amusement park in San Marcos, Texas, but unfortunately that’s no longer the case. However, the place is now run by Texas State University and they’re happy to show you all of the treasures found under the sea.

To keep things preserved for future divers you are not just allowed to jump right into the water here, as you need to take one of the monthly dive authorization courses. Hit the water with conservationists and dive experts to learn the dos and don’ts diving in this area—like when to keep your hands to yourself. Just be prepared to shell out around $230 for the pleasure to do so. ]]> kjb 2011-01-13T13:01:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/12/28/7124/6482

We understand that it’s hard to get the money together to head to the Caribbean to dive, but there’s always plenty of underwater options here in the good ol’ nifty fifty. If you’re looking for something a little more unique and affordable there’s always “The Pelham Keys” in Pelham, Alabama. It might be a strange scuba spot, but all that means is that the diving fun is just a little different.

The place is just around 20 minutes south of Birmingham, and it’s an over 26-acre limestone quarry that has now been filled in with over 850 million gallons of spring fed water. Expect clear waters as you swim through and explore some of the park’s undersea treasures. No coral reefs here, but there is a school bus, sailboat, and two different fire engines. ]]> kjb 2010-12-28T14:40:59-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/7/22/8444/95245

Palau may have gotten its big break at show business and tourism when the cast and crew of Survivor stuck around for a season, but the island nation has plenty of cool stuff to make it stand out on its own. There’s great year round weather, lush scenery, and beautiful beaches; however, the best thing going might just be its strange scuba spot.

The country is home to Jellyfish Lake, which is a spot that offers an experience that justifies its name. Located among the Rock Islands, it features thousands and thousands of jellyfish that move about the lake on a daily basis. It's a snorkeling-only location, but we think that hardcore divers won’t mind shedding all that gear for a unique experience within this underwater world. ]]> kjb 2010-07-22T16:21:11-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/9/4/72552/08713

Scuba diving is definitely a great way to get in touch with your inner Flipper, but all that equipment is a drag on your freedom and anyone who has ever gone snorkeling wishes that there were a way to just have a few more seconds underwater. Well, if you decide to take a class with Performance Freediving, the dream can come true.

Instead of just seconds under the sea, you’ll now be breaking personal records of both time and depth. Some people easily hold their breath for over five minutes and can dive to over 100 feet below the surface. There’s even classes that focus on spear fishing, in case you get bored during your dive and want to hunt for some dinner. ]]> kjb 2009-09-04T12:59:46-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/25/15487/3638

Wanting to do something active to counterbalance all the beer and pie, we bought tickets for an adventure cruise on a big catamaran called Island 'Ting. Casting off from the docks at 10:00 a.m. under the guidance of Captain Johnny, we broke our fast with scrambled eggs and juice and headed to an offshore reef for snorkeling. As was the case with the previous evening's sunset cruise, it was interesting to get to know the crew, which generally consisted of lifestyle junkies who take fun, low-paying, seasonal jobs around the world. Our snorkeling instructor Misty, for example, alternated between sailing jobs in Key West and Maui, and a fire fighting job in Oregon. ]]> Victor Ozols 2009-04-25T15:48:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/7/124532/7575

When the Animal Overlords take over, we can rest assured that our own Shira Levine will be safe from persecution.

We're going to try to be more thoughtful the next time we eat sushi and just stick with the faux crabmeat after indulging in peaceful day at the Georgia Aquarium. This the only place in the world where you can swim in a giant fish tank with a couple of 23-foot long whale sharks.

The Atlanta fish farm hosts "Swim with Gentle Giants," swimming and diving tours in their football field-sized, eight-million gallon Ocean Voyager tank. To say the underwater experience is thrilling is an understatement.

These fish (which include massive manta rays and sting rays, guitarfish, zebra sharks, cownose rays and wobbegong sharks) are as friendly as puppies and kitties. They like to swim up really close and skim along your body before darting off into the faux deep blue.]]> shiralevine 2009-04-09T15:14:02-05:00 33.7622905 -84.393905 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/20/656/81144

Much like we found something to do in Las Vegas during the day, we have a suggestion for exploring Hawaii at night.

If you’re on the Big Island of Hawaii and somehow find yourself tired with the usual surf and sand activities, then you may want to check out some of the island’s undersea offerings once the sun goes down.

Join one of the many guides off the Kona coast and get down with the manta rays. No need to fear these big critters as they don’t have any teeth or barbs--maybe they're even friendly? There are plenty of opportunities for both snorkelers and divers, so there’s really no excuse to dive in after hours.

Once the sun sets, you’ll meet your guide and review the do's and don'ts. Most of the tours offer up a midnight plankton snack for the rays as well as underwater lighting to get their attention. All you do is float, watch, and try to stay calm as the rays “fly” past you. Depending on your guide, it should set you back about $100 a person.

Related Stories:
·Manta Ray Dives Hawaii [Official Site]
·Jack's Diving Locker [Official Site]
·Big Island Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: TANAKA Juuyoh] ]]> kjb 2009-01-20T15:15:52-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/