We’ve shed some light on strange Scuba spots across the globe, but we’ve never seen a strange Scuba contest before. However, that’s exactly what you’ll find if you’re headed down to the Florida Keys around Halloween this year. Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort has been running an underwater pumpkin carving contest for a few years now, and this year’s competition is set for October 25.

Divers will do their best to carve out the most creative designs while avoiding reef fish and other critters at the bottom of the sea. Contestants will get pumpkins that have already been hollowed out and are just waiting for some creative carvings. Of course there will be prizes awarded to the top three jack-o'-lanterns, so plan something good. We’re thinking that designs inspired by the ocean probably have a good chance of winning. After all nothing screams Halloween more than a spooky dolphin or ghoulish fish. ]]> kjb 2009-09-24T10:33:48-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/8/19/9198/19503

If you’re still catching your breath after swimming with the sharks, you might want to consider a more low-key choice for your next underwater adventure. Nothing screams calm, cool, and collected than a trip below the water to swim with a manatee or two. We still don’t understand how sailors once mistook these creatures for mermaids, but maybe you can get close enough to figure it out for us.

American Pro Dive will be happy to help you have a close encounter with these big guys and gals. No need to know how to scuba dive, as there’s an option to snorkel with them in the Crystal River as well as in Homosassa, Florida. Instructors will hit the water with you to ensure that the manatees, and you, don’t get too frisky.

Tours run throughout the year in the Crystal River, but it’s winters only for the location in Homosassa. Don’t worry, they have heated and enclosed boats so you can stay comfy when above the water, and flattering wet suites will help you keep toasty when you enter the manatees’ home turf. If you want to turn your whole trip into a Discovery Channel special, you can even take a specialty class following your excursion to learn more about the cute critters.

Related Stories:
· American Pro Dive - Manatee Tours [Official Site]
· The One Seattle Place Where Starbucks Doesn't Rule: Underwater [Jaunted]
· Active Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Smudgie's Ghost] ]]> kjb 2009-08-20T14:29:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/8/18/8058/86269

Water—especially rain—is one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of Seattle. Despite all this water, underwater activiies are not exactly as synonymous with Seattle. That’s slowly changing thanks to a local Scuba club and their shore dive adventures into Puget Sound.

The Scuba Schools Group has a location in Seattle, and they’d be happy to have you join them in one of their club dives. Don’t worry though, there’s no secret handshake or membership dues at this club, just a bunch of people enjoying the underwater universe. Best of all, the club dives are free, so just bring your gear and get going. Just make sure you have some experience doing cold water dives, because even though its summer, the water is a little chilly.

On August 29, the dive crew will be hitting up the Alki Junkpile. It’s kind of an artificial reef, Seattle-style, where they’ve seen some “cute” grunt sculpin on recent dives. If you can’t make it to that dive, there’s also one planned off the Keystone Jetty on September 27. You’ll be burning through your digital camera battery as you snap off pictures of rockfish and other critters. There’ll be a cookout after the dive, so be a pal and bring something to throw on the grill.

Related Stories:
· Seattle Scuba Shore Diving [Official Site]
· Say Mazel Tov To Underwater Weddings [Jaunted]
· Scuba coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Dan Hershman] ]]> kjb 2009-08-18T15:39:36-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/29/8911/12802

There’s nothing more special than a bride’s big day, especially when that day takes place under the water. Pro Dive International, out of Ft. Lauderdale, is looking to get into the underwater wedding ceremony business. They’re recruiting priests and pastors to help facilitate their new service, but right now they are focusing on Jewish weddings—complete with the groom smashing a light bulb with his flipper.

The company is testing out using microphones underwater so that the bride and groom can clearly understand “I do.” Video is streamed back to the boat where friends and family can watch, and of course, wonder why their loved ones chose this unique kind of wedding. As long as there’s an open bar, we're sure an underwater wedding is just as good as any other.

For now the dive shop is getting everything ready, but they expect that full wedding packages will be available soon. They’re thinking that things will start at $1,500, and like most weddings, the price will go up from there depending on what you want. At least you can cut out the cost for flowers at a SCUBA wedding, but a nice bouquet of seaweed and algae should compliment any color wetsuit.

Related Stories:
· Pro Dive International [Official Site]
· Fort Lauderdale Scuba Shop to Perform Underwater Wedding Ceremonies [Sun Sentinel]
· Scuba coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of a happy couple: vonlohmann] ]]> kjb 2009-07-29T09:15:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/22/204057/950

If you get a break from the totally rough job of relaxing 24/7 on the islands of Hawaii, you might want to venture beneath the surface of the water. That's because aside from pretty fish, there's a well-preserved shipwreck to check out--if you know where to look.

The YO-257 sits off the coast of Oahu near Diamond Head, and has been hanging out there since 1989. It did originally serve as a fuel boat during WWII—the YO stands for Yard Oiler. After a couple different owners, it was sunk pretty much for our enjoyment. It now sits in 20 feet of water where it provides shelter for the local fishies and gives seaweed a new place to grow. ]]> kjb 2009-05-26T13:57:00-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/20/71249/1485

We were tipped off as to this scuba Missouri spot by Travis Marshall, a freelance writer who specializes in scuba diving/watersports and adventure travel coverage.

About an hour outside of St. Louis sits what was once the world’s largest lead mine. For years, things inside this big hole in the ground were business as usual, as workers came and went through its myriad tunnels and passages during the course of a regular workday. It’s difficult to imagine now, that any of the miners would think their daily office would eventually be turned into a unique scuba location.

Once work ended at the Bonne Terre Mine, the owners turned off the pumps that kept things dry, and sure enough the place filled with crystal clear water. Divers come year-round from all over to check out the billion-gallon lake resort, with specific attention to viewing underwater artifacts from years past, thanks to the 100-foot visibility.]]> kjb 2009-05-20T12:51:58-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/15/73312/1368

With the economy in the toilet, you might not have the funds to head out on once in a lifetime diving trip, and with that Swine Flu constantly lurking around every corner the only safe place is under the sea. That’s why we’ve compiled some strange SCUBA spots right here at home. If you’ve got a better one (or a worse one), please let us know!

Close encounters with the sharp teeth of sharks or eels may put a damper on a tropical dive, which is the perfect reason for the more finicky to look for a diving spot a little more inland. As far as we know, there’s no sharks within the Clear Spring Scuba Park in Terrel, Texas. However, we just pray to the diving gods that no alligators or crocs have been illegally dumped in by locals trying to keep them as pets.

True to its name, the lake’s visibility is at least 20 feet this week, so you’ll have no problem investigating below the surface. Under the surface you'll find all kinds of bass, sunfish, catfish, and turtles. It kind of looks like you’re diving at the local pet store, but please remember that it’s not, and don’t bring home any fish in little water-filled baggies. There's even a wreck to swim through: the SS Minnow, though not of Gilligan's Island fame.]]> kjb 2009-05-15T10:11:55-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/