The DIVER Travel Planner

NORTH AMERICA
Florida/California
Marine life: Florida's undersea life is most prolific in the Florida Keys, with shallow reefs attracting many small fish and guarded by shoals of large fish including barracuda. There are also numerous wrecks which have been colonised by many forms of flora and are now home to huge numbers of fish. Inland springs provide the chance to dive with manatees. California's coast has kelp forests and anemones, sea-lions, whales and great white sharks.
Type of diving: Variety of diving in Florida from easy to deepwater wrecks and springs. California has wrecks, pinnacles and sea mounts and rocky reefs as well as kelp forests. Most diving on both coasts is from dive boats. Technical diving available in Florida and California.
Major diving areas: Florida Keys including Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Key West; various east coast sites up to West Palm Beach; and inland springs in central Florida. Top California areas include San Diego, the Monterey Peninsula for its kelp, Laguna Beach and Catalina and Santa Barbara islands.
Cost: Moderate.
Seasons/climate: Sub-tropical in Florida. Hurricanes are a threat from June to November. Diving all year. Florida Keys waters range from 24°C in winter to 29°C in summer. California has a Mediterranean-type climate, which is arid except in winter. Waters there range from a chilly 10°C in the north to 15-21°C on the Mexican border.
What to wear: Out of the water - light tropical clothing, and raingear for afternoon rains, in Florida. Medium-weight clothing for California, with warm clothes for nights. In the water - 5mm wetsuit for Florida, and 7mm wetsuit, semi-drysuit or drysuit for California.
Hazards: Normal reef hazards and strong currents in Florida. Strong currents and fogbanks off some California coasts.
Currency: US dollar.
Electricity supply: 110/120V.
Inoculations: None needed.
Visa required: No - most visitors can use a visa waiver form.
Getting there: Direct flights to Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Tipping: 10-15 per cent.
Information: Florida Tourism Information Service (0891 600555*). Website - www. fla-keys.com/diving or www.florida-scuba.com. California Division of Tourism (00 1 916 322 0972). Website - www.gocalif.ca.gov.
Tour operators include: Virgin Holidays is among the many general tour operators featuring Florida and California. Contact local centres including Amy Slate's Amoray Dive Resort (00 1 305 451 3595) in Florida or Scuba San Diego (00 1 619 260 1880) in California.

Canada
Marine life: British Columbia's nutrient-rich waters support a multitude of life including kelp forests, nudibranchs, anemones, wolf fish, king crabs and giant octopus. East-coast Canada's waters are less prolific but still have a variety of coldwater species.
Type of diving: For the hardy and experienced. Strong currents in the channel between Vancouver Island and the mainland are some of the fastest in the world and waters rarely exceed 8°C. Nova Scotia's seas are even colder and can be subject to heavy swells and currents.
Major diving areas: Vancouver Island, Queen Charlotte Strait, several sites along Nova Scotia's coast including Lunenberg, and Lake Huron.
Cost: Moderate.
Seasons/climate: British Columbia has a maritime climate, and can be pleasantly warm in summer but cool and wet in winter. Summer visibility is reduced to a few metres by plankton blooms in summer, with December to March the best time for diving. Nova Scotia and lake diving are possible only from May to October.
What to wear: Out of the water - warm clothing, and raingear. In the water - semi-drysuit or drysuit.
Hazards: Very strong currents, and cold water.
Currency: Canadian dollar. Ł1=C$2.35
Electricity supply: 110V.
Inoculations: None needed.
Visa required: No.
Getting there: Direct flights to Halifax (7 hours) and Vancouver (9 hours).
Tipping: 10-15 per cent.
Information: Visit Canada Centre (0906 871 5000*). Websites - www.canada tourism.ca and www.island.net/~surfer and www.chebucto.ns.ca.
Tour operators: No British tour operators offer diving packages in Canada. Many general operators feature flights, accommodation and holidays in British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Contact local centres including Divers World (00 1 902 876 0555) of Halifax, or Nova Scotia Octopus Adventures Dive Centre (00 1 250 723 3057) in British Columbia.

Appeared in DIVER - June 1999