1. Matthew Bellamy and Peter Facinelli

This is fun – you can play the degrees of Twilight game – Matthew Bellamy is in Muse, Stephanie Meyer’s – author of the crapulent Twilight novels – favorite band.  Peter Facinelli plays Carlisle Cullen, vampire doctor and lead of the Cullen vampire family, in the movies based on the novels.  Neat, huh?  Matthew Bellamy is engaged to Kate Hudson, who recently had his baby (they named him Bing) and Peter Facinelli is married to Jennie Garth.  They have three kids, named Luca Bella, Lola Ray, and Fiona Eve.  So, to sum up the similarities, which are not purely physical:

-blue/green eyes
-thin nose
-straight eyebrows
-similar lips
-blonde wives
-wives who are not very good actors
-weird kid names
-both affiliated in some way with the Twilight franchise – Bellamy’s music features prominently in the films, Facinelli acts in them.

2. Gwen Stefani and Holly Madison

Two blondes.  Very different career-wise.  Very similar looks-wise.  Gwen Stefani is a California Girl raised in a Catholic family.  Holly Madison, born Holli Sue Cullen, was born in Oregon and her religious upbringing is not mentioned on wikipedia.  Because honestly, would I bother looking elsewhere for information about her?  Gwen Stefani is a pop star, clothing designer, philanthropist, wife, and mother of two.  Holly is a former Hawaiian Tropic model who had a relationship with Hugh Hefner, starred on a reality program about it, and was on Dancing with the Stars (ie where reality stars go to die).  Holly has had multiple plastic surgeries, has dated many musicians, and is currently performing in a topless burlesque show in Vegas.  So let’s go over the similarities.  There aren’t many.

-blonde but probably not natural blonde
-brown eyes
-perfect nose (Madison’s is fake)
-perfect bodies (Madison’s is fake)
-similar skin tone

3. Heath Ledger and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Heath Ledger, a well-respected and much-mourned Australian actor, died in 2008 because of a bad combination of prescription drugs.  He was The Joker in The Dark Knight, for which he was awarded a posthumous Oscar, and had been nominated for an Oscar for his work in Brokeback Mountain, and he enjoyed playing chess.  Joesph Gordon-Levitt, an American actor who got his start as a child, starred on Third Rock from the Sun, and went on to be in movies and on television.  Let’s go over the similarities and coincidences, shall we?

-similar facial hair
-similar eye shape
-similar jawline
-large foreheads
-dark eyes and hair
-they both appeared in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You
-Joseph Gordon-Levitt will appear in the next Batman installment, Ledger appeared in the last one
-Ledger had an interest in directing.  So does Gordon-Levitt

4. Jeffery Dean Morgan and Javier Bardem

It’s kind of creepy how much these guys look alike.  I mean, I don’t even need to point out the physical similarities because these guys look almost EXACTLY alike.  So, I’m skipping the whole “they have the same chin” bits and getting to whether or not they have anything at all in common.  At first glance, not much.  Dean Morgan is from Seattle, and Bardem is from the Canary Islands.  That’s in Spain.  Upon second glance, these guys have very little in common, other than their looks.  Bardem is an award-winning international actor – Dean Morgan has done a lot of television and 15 movies, most notably Watchmen.  He’s won no awards as of yet.

5. Jennifer Garner and Hilary Swank

Admit it.  If someone said to you, before you saw this side-by-side, that Jennifer Garner and Hilary Swank looked alike, you may not have agreed.  But, taking a look at them right next to each other, there are some definite similaries in their appearances.  Garner, a Houston native who grew up in West Virginia, has had a successful television and film career, and is married to Ben Affleck.  They have two daughters.  Swank is a two-time Academy Award winner and is divorced from Chad Lowe.  Let’s go over the similarities, which are purely physical.

-similar beautiful lips and teeth
-similar chins
-similar jawline
-brown eyes
-skin tone

6. Chad Smith and Will Ferrell

I know, right?  The drummer for The Red Hot Chili Peppers and comedic actor Will Ferrell look so much alike!  But do the similarities end there?  Smith is a famed drummer, not only for his work with RCHP, but his project band Chickenfoot, with music powerhouses such as Joe Satriani, Sammmy Hagar, and Michael Anthony.  Smith is has three children from a previous marriage, and two with his marriage to an architect named Nancy.  They got married in the Bahamas, and Smith does charitable work and enjoys the Detroit Pistons and watching Saturday Night Live.  When Smith appeared on Saturday Night Live, he wore a T-shirt that read “I am not Will Ferrell.”  Ferrell is a comedic actor who got his start on Saturday Night Live.  He has only been married once, to a Swedish actress named Viveca, and they have three kids.

-similar eyes
-similar eyebrows
-similar face shape
-curly hair
-Smith watches SNL, Ferrell has starred on it

7. Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman

There are a lot of similarities (physical ones) here, except for Knightley just looking more, well, British.  Knightley was born in England, and has done movie acting and theater.  Portman was born in Isreal and is an Oscar-winning film actor.  The two of them look so much alike that when Keira Knightely played Sabe – Queen Amidala’s double in Star Wars Episode I:  The Phantom Menace, that when in full makeup their mothers could hardly tell them apart.  Let’s take a look at the similarities:

- brown eyes, shaped similarly
- dark brown hair
- similar lip shape
- similar eyebrow arch
- similar noses – Knightley’s is a bit thinner
- appeared in Star Wars Episode I:  The Phantom Menace as people who were supposed to look alike – and they did
- both very active in charitable organizations and political organizations

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1. Egyptian Cobra at the Bronx Zoo

A snake with deadly venom that can kill a person within 15 minutes of a bite – it was this particular breed of snake that escaped the Bronx Zoo in New York, much to the terror of the staff. The Egyptian cobra got out of the reptile enclosure leaving everyone in the area on guard and just waiting for the slithering fiend to get hungry and make itself known.  Luckily, it had a Twitter account…

2. Bruno the Orangutan

Bruno was an orangutan at the Los Angeles Zoo. He was 29 years old and apparently didn’t feel like staying in his enclosure anymore. He broke through the netting and prompted an evacuation of the entire area as the staff searched for him on zoo grounds.

3. Tatiana the Siberian Tiger

Tatiana was a Siberian tiger at the San Francisco Zoo. She got out of her enclosure somehow. People still don’t know how she managed it. However, once she got out, she mauled two men. It’s unclear as to whether or not these men were taunting her, but it’s a tragedy in any case.

4. Nine Monkeys Flee the Lab

Animal testing labs are known for their tight security, but that didn’t stop nine monkeys that slipped out of the lab at Oregon Health & Sciences University. It took hours to track them down.

5. Susie and Bunny – The Circus Elephants

Two Asian elephants by the names of Susie and Bunny got out of their enclosure while the Garden Bros Circus was on a rest stop somewhere in Toronto, Canada. The two elephants roamed free for a few hours, leaving the third elephant in the act back in the pen asleep. They were captured and returned to the circus without incident.

6. Ichiro the Chimpanzee

Ichiro the chimp was advanced in age when he slipped out of a door that had been left open at the Ishikawa Zoo in Japan. He was caught and placed back in his enclosure, but before being captured, he grabbed a tranquilizer gun out of a guard’s hand!

7. Molly the Cow

Molly has had quite a life. The cow managed to escape a slaughterhouse in Queens, New York, wander along a highway and dodge cars that passed by for a mile before it was captured over an hour later. After all she’d been through, Molly was given over to animal control by the slaughterhouse and she now resides in an animal sanctuary.

8. Karta the Orangutan

Yet another orangutan made it onto our list. Karta was a 27-year old female orangutan at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia. She placed a stick in the wires of the electric fence, stacked up twigs and debris and climbed over the glass and concrete wall to escape. Karta sat perched on the fence for over 30 minutes then climbed back inside on her own.

9. Chuva the Macaw

Chuva was a blue and gold macaw at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. She apparently got tired of her situation and escaped the confines of the zoo by taking advantage of her “out of cage” time in the outdoor parrot gardens. Even though her wings were clipped, she got out of the gardens and into the parking lot, snuck inside an RV and made it 20 miles away before she was found.

10. Juan the Bear

Juan was a bear living in the Berlin Zoo. He was apparently tired of the quiet life and escaped. However, how he did it is what’s impressive. To get past the moat that surrounded his enclosure, Juan hopped on a decorative log in the moat and used it as a raft to paddle to the other side. No one was hurt and Juan was returned to his enclosure without incident.

Witness animals antics for yourself; find zoo Chessington holidays at ChessingtonHolidays.co.uk

Karaoke

Most of us have found ourselves standing in front of a mirror with a hairbrush as a microphone belting out those Michael Jackson classics. Well, with karaoke becoming an ever growing industry, there’s no need to keep the spotlight to the confines of the bedroom. These days there are bars and venues dedicated solely to the cause of pure, unashamed singing!

Most bars or pubs will have specific karaoke nights which are great for the confident performers of the group, however for those more self-conscious there are specific venues with private booths. Hiring one of these ensures it’s just you and your friends on the hen party, a microphone, and a list of songs that would take the rest of time to sing through!

Combine that with a personal waiter there to ply you with drinks and you can’t really go wrong. Karaoke is both a fun and alternative hen party activity where you and your friends can let your hair down and really enjoy yourselves. Plus it doesn’t matter if you can’t sing because chances are neither can the rest of the girls!

Cocktail Making

What girl does not like cocktails? It’s not difficult to understand why cocktail making is so popular with hens when it involves learning how to make crowd favourites such as Cosmopolitans and Mojitos! The cocktail master class goes even further than this though with teaching the history of cocktails, where spirits come from, what spirits go in which cocktails and why.

You’ll even get the chance to invent your own cocktail to commemorate the special occasion, and often a bit of light hearted competition can help break the ice between a group of hens, some of whom may be meeting each other for the first time.

Cocktail making (or Mixology as it’s technically known), is a skilled and impressive art when done professionally and makes for a very entertaining and laid back event.

Pamper Day

With the big day approaching there is no better way to relax the pre-wedding nerves than with a dip in the jacuzzi followed by a luxurious massage on a hen weekend.

Pamper days are increasingly popular and this is not surprising considering they involve being utterly spoilt. Whether it be a simple pamper afternoon with a manicure or pedicure, or instead a full blown spa weekend away with all the works; jacuzzi, sauna and massage, it’s all about being made to feel special.

A lot of hotels nowadays include spas, so one of the best ways to enjoy being pampered is in the comfort and ease of the hotel you’re group are staying at. Ultimately though, whichever way you choose to spend the pamper day or hour, you and your friends will leave feeling completely restored and ready for the big day.

Salsa Dancing

Originating from the traditional “Cubon” dance in Cuba in the 1920′s, Salsa has since developed into various new styles due to its popularity and influence all over the globe. From Latin American influences, to Australian and even British, the Salsa variations range from New York Style; “Mambo on 2” to Columbian Style; “Cali-Style”.

The appeal of the dance is the sexy and fun feeling it gives, the vibrant and positive music and somewhere along the way, there is hopefully going to be a handsome Latin American teacher! Salsa dancing is an energetic and fun experience for a hen party and will definitely guarantee you all have a good laugh.

Makeover

With the wedding day drawing ever nearer, a bride to be will not only be looking for the perfect dress, she’ll be looking for ideas for a whole look to go with it. This is what makes a professional model makeover a great hen party idea. Not only can you take some tips away with you but it’s a great way to feel special before the big day!

The makeover itself usually takes place in a studio, and is put together personally so that it best represents your personality. The photographer will then capture a number of shots of you all looking stunning which you can then take home with you.

A lot of girls dream about having a photo shoot, so this is a great hen party idea as you’ll all feel extra special, and there definitely won’t be any complaints from hen’s husband to be!

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10.The Solendon

The Solendon is a small mammal that is indigenous to Cuba and Hispanola. This creature very closely resembles the Shrew in the fact that it has a long snout and scaly tail. However, the Solenodon has a flexible snout as opposed to the Shrew. Another distinctive feature of this animal is the fact that it is extremely poisonous. The Solenodon is the only mammal that can inject its prey with rattle snake poison. So it is best to stay back if you encounter this critter, as they will bite at the drop of a hat.

9. The Kakapo

The Kakapo is the only flightless parrot on this planet. While its feathered cousins travel by air, this species chooses to walk or climb from place to place. This bird can be found in New Zealand and is often referred to as the owl parrot. This creature got its nickname from the disc shape that its feathers create around the eyes. This parrot also sets precedence as being the largest breed of parrot weighing in at eight pounds.

8. The Olm

The Olm is an amphibian that is indigenous to Europe, mainly to be found in Italy. This creature has a long white body with four small legs. Upon first sight it looks very similar to a small snake. This creature spends its life in underground caves and consequently has under developed eyes and is completely blind. While the Olm cannot see that does not mean it is completely defenseless. The Olm compensates for lack of sight with extraordinary hearing and sense of smell.

7. The Bumblebee Bat

The Bumblebee Bat can be found in the limestone caves of Thailand and Southeast Burma. This species of bat is very small. An adult Bumblebee bat measure only one inch from head to tail. This breed of bat has another distinguishing feature, which is its pig like snout.

6. The Icthyophis Kohtaoensis

The Ichthyophis Kohtaoensis is a rare amphibian that is native to Cambodia, Loas and Thailand. This creature has a long snake-like body with a pointed tail. This reptile has a dark gray body with a yellow belly. The one feature that makes this amphibian is unique is the fact that it has two muscles that control the jaw.

5. The Frilled Shark

The frilled shark is an oddity in the animal world. Until the nineteenth century researchers thought this animal had died out with the dinosaurs. However, this was proven to be untrue from the accounts of fisherman and the discovery of carcasses of this creature. This shark looks very much like an eel in the fact that it has elongated body. The Frilled Sharke has a triangular shaped head with a long gray body. This shark does not have the large distinct dorsal fins that most have.

4. Monito Del Monte

Monito Del Monte is the Spanish term for “little monkey”. But this name is deceiving. The Monito Del Monte is actually a marsupial that lives in Chile and Argentina. This species of mammal was thought to be extinct over eleven million years ago. However, modern day explorers discovered this creature in the modern age. This small marsupial has the body of a mouse with brown fur and large, pointy ears and a long tail. The distinguishing feature of this animal is its large eyes and the fact that it lives In the trees of the rain forest. The long tail helps this animals swing from the branches in order to travel.

3. The Addax

The Addax is also called the screw horn Antelope. This species of Antelope resides in very few places in the Sahara desert. While they look like many other species of Antelope, upon further inspection they are actually very different. This species has square teeth like that of a cow. Also, the antlers on this species are extremely long and curved, thus the nickname of screw horn Antelope.

2. The Dugong

The Dugong is a large marine animal that very much resembles the Manatee. While these creatures are in the same family called the Sirenia, they differ from the Manatee. The Dugong can be found in the waters north of Australia and into the Indio-Pacific region. The mammal has a long gray body with paddle like fins towards the head. The distinct features that this species posses is its fluked tail. The tail of this animal looks similar to a dolphin tail. Also, this creature has a mouth that flairs out at the side and is in a more down turned position, making it easy to graze on the vegetative life on the ocean floor.

1. The Saola

The Saola is by far the most rare mammal on Earth. These creature are native to Vietnam and Laos. This animal grows to a height of about 3 feet. It closely resembles the goat in stature as well as some of its features. The mammal has a small tail and long pointed ears. However, this animal is different in the fact that it has a very distinct pattern of white spots and stripes on its face.

Nicole Kinsman

Green Island, Queensland

photo credit: bkang83

Although only reachable by boat, the Great Barrier Reef’s Green Island has it all- fine white sandy beaches, crystal clear blue water, and absolutely stunning snorkelling and diving opportunities. It’s a favourite with reef tour providers so it’s not hard to find a boat to take you out there and bring you back, and despite the island’s tiny size and environmental protection status there is a full compliment of ice cream and sandwich shops.

Green Island is protected from wave action by the reef so there isn’t much swell. The gently shelving main beach is an ideal place for kids to play. Snorkellers can see turtles, clams, coral and tropical fish in huge numbers, and what’s more, they can see them in calm waters ideal for those who aren’t 100% confident in the water.

Bondi Beach, New South Wales

Possibly the most famous beach in the world. It’s a short bus or car trip from the centre of Australia’s largest city (Sydney) but the locals recognise the value of Bondi. The water is clean and blue and the beach itself is kept nice and tidy. While it’s busy for an Australian beach it’s nothing like as jam-packed as popular Mediterranean resorts. If you want to avoid the crowds come early in the morning.

Bondi is a surf beach- in fact, you can learn the basics at the Surf School- but most visitors prefer to play in the waves, lie on the sunny sand, and generally relax and have a good time. The beach is lined with high-end cafes filled to bursting with cool drinks and gourmet snacks, and the famous Bondi Lifegaurds are almost always on patrol.

Monkey Mia, Western Australia

his beach may have the friendliest dolphins in the world. They come right up into the shallows and are just as curious about humans as we are about them. It is, without doubt, one of the surest places to see dolphins up close and in the wild. Several pods make regular stops and over the last five years there have only been a handful of days when Monkey Mia wasn’t visited.

Human tourists are asked not to touch the dolphins but they usually do come in close. They’re not in the least bit afraid of people and even little kids can have a real encounter with a playful, intelligent wild dolphin. Add that to almost year-round sunshine and stunning white sand beaches.

Jervis Bay, New South Wales

Time to get away from the crowds? The beaches of the Australia’s south eastern coast are some of the most under-rated in the world. The water isn’t as warm as it is in Queensland but you can get into the water without fear of crocodiles, deadly jellyfish, sea snakes, stonefish, and other warm-water nasties. Air temperatures can get up above 100F in the summer so it’s well and truly warm enough to swim here. Jervis Bay is a gem. The beaches are white sand, the sea is incredibly clear, and the crowds are somewhere else.

Much of the surrounding landscape is National Park. This is a beach to pick if you want unspoiled beauty and peace and quiet rather than a full compliment of modern conveniences. Think typical Australian coastal settlement rather than sophistication and five star hotels. It’s just over two hours from Sydney by car.

Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

photo credit: Incommunicado aka Max

Rarely spoken of and even more rarely visited, except by those who’ve been there before. Wineglass Bay is a perfect crescent of white sand lapped by amazingly clear blue water on one side and lush greenery on the other. Above are a magnificent stack of cliffs known locally as the Hazards.

You can’t drive right up to the sand. The closest carpark is an hour or so away but don’t be put off. You’ll be walking through pristine National Park and the walks that take in both the beach and lookout points are some of the best in Australia. Don’t forget your camera!

Jess Spate now lives in the UK and works for American companies like Fountain Spirit and Sustainablog, but she spent more then 20 years in Australia and still thinks the beaches there are the best in the world.

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Box Jellyfish

One of the deadliest creatures to inhabit the Australian waters is the Box Jellyfish, otherwise known as Sea Wasp. The Box Jellyfish is a bane to anyone who dares swim along the coast of the Great Barrier Reef.  It sticks its 80-centimeter long tentacles into its victim’s body and delivers a whopping lethal dose, killing a 150 pounds person in about three minutes. The venom attacks the nervous system, the cellular structure and body organs. This jellyfish kills more people than do all the sharks, snakes and saltwater crocodiles of Australia.

Irukandji Jellyfish

This deadly 2.5 centimeter long jellyfish is quite hard to spot in the water owing to its tiny size. The venom secreted by this tiny jellyfish is 100 times as potent as that of Cobra venom, and about 1000 times as potent as that of Tarantula venom. Irukandji jellyfish prefer to live in the warmer coastal waters. When this jellyfish attacks, the stingers attach themselves into the victim’s flesh. The sting causes a delayed pain reaction. If sufficient venom is injected, death occurs in minutes. In the last few years, several deaths are attributed every year to the Irukandji jellyfish.

European Honey Bee

This humble little bee is the deadliest of all Australian creatures. This bee alone is responsible for an average of 10 deaths per year in Australia.  These bees attack when their hives are disturbed and they swarm all over their ‘attacker’. Multiple stings from these bees results in anaphylactic shock, which leads to Anaphylactic shock and possible heart failure if emergency treatment is not immediately given.

Taipan

The coastal Taipan is the largest poisonous snake in Australia and the third largest most poisonous land snake in the world. This snake haunts sugarcane fields in search of rats; its dark brown skin allows it to blend in with the earth, making the perfect camouflage. This snake frequents Queensland in the North and in areas where the weather is mild. The Taipan, as a rule, does not come close to human inhabitations; however, if threatened, this snake will keep striking until it delivers a lethal dose of its toxic venom into the human’s body. If not treated with antivenom immediately, almost 75% of all Taipan bites will be fatal.

Saltwater Crocodile

Crocodile eating a shark

The Saltwater Croc is the world’s largest reptile, found along Australia’s northern coast and for about 100 kilometers or so inland. The Saltwater Crocodile can be anywhere from 4 to 7 meters long.

It snaps its long jaws around the prey’s body and rolls powerfully, throwing the struggling victim off balance and then drags it underwater. With a powerful crunch of its jaws, the crocodile crushes the bones of the victim’s body. The croc will take nearly any animal that dares to enter its territory, be in on in the water or on dry land.

The Australian Saltwater Crocodile was credited with the death of over 400 Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. However, nowadays, only one or two fatal attacks are reported per year in Australia owing to stringent warning methods and precautions.

Blue Ring Octopus

The Australian Blue Ring Octopus is a deadly poisonous creature that lives in the warm, shallow reefs of Australia. This octopus gets its name from its distinctive blue rings on its tentacles. It paralyzes its victims with venom and uses its beak to tear off pieces, after which it sucks out the flesh. They’re too small to cut a human to pieces. However, they can deliver sufficient venom to paralyze a human and disable respiratory system. Death can occur in a matter of hours or days. Currently, there’s no anti-venom for the blue ring octopus’s venom.

Australian Stonefish

Another prime example of Australia’s deadly marine creatures is the stonefish that inhabit shallow coastal waters. Brownish in color, the stonefish has no problem camouflaging itself as a rock, which is why it’s named the stonefish. Each one of its thirteen sharp dorsal spines is filled with extremely toxic venom, toxic enough to kill a human in two hours.

Stepping on a stonefish can be fatal, unless care is given immediately. Deaths by stonefish are hard to confirm but current statistics show 4 to 5 deaths a year owing to this fish.

Australian Brown Snake

Unanimously accepted as one of Australia’s more deadly creatures, the brown snake’s venom can cause death to humans very quickly if immediate care is not given. These snakes are so venomous that even young snakes are capable of killing a human. This 1.5 meter to 2.3-meter long snake usually feeds on mice, rats, small birds, lizards and even other snakes. Eastern Australia is home to these snakes. Less than two people die of brown snakebites in a year in Australia.

Great White Shark

photo credit: Sara&Joachim

The Great White Shark is a solitary animal and is found on all Australian coasts and in other places throughout the World. Equipped with 2,800 sharp slanted teeth that help them hold their prey in their mouths, they usually attack their prey once and wait for the prey to bleed to death. A number of white shark attacks are reported every year; however, increased awareness and immediate emergency care has ensured that these attacks don’t all translate into deaths.

Funnel Web Spider

These spiders lurk around and penetrate people’s shoes with their fangs that are filled with ample venom glands. They can even penetrate through fingernails, leather coats and clothing. You can find these spiders in Victoria, New South Wales, or Queensland. If first aid and antivenom are not administered, death can occur within an hour.

Teena Celis is content developer for gifts for men Company Adrenalin offering over 2000 experiences all across Australia.

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Where is the best diving to be found is a matter of personal taste, but for my two cents worth, here are my top 5 picks in no particular order:

Cozumel – Mexico

Nestled off the eastern shore of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, lies the island of Cozumel made famous by Cousteau who claimed the island to be the very best dive location in the world.  Cozumel may or may not be the best dive location in the world but there is no dispute that it deserves a space in the top five dive locations in the world.

The water is crystalline blue, exotic wildlife, unspoilt beaches though commercialization is getting there and the island is essentially a community of some of the best divers and instructors you will find anywhere in the world.  You can source great training here and for those who are experienced and want a permanent reminder, you can hire photo-dive guides who will take you to the best dive locations around the island and act as your underwater photographer.

Outside of the water, there is great food, great nightlife and plenty to get up to without getting your feet wet.

The Great Barrier Reef – Australia

The Great Barrier Reef hits the top slot for many divers but I’m of the opinion that a lot of this is hype and not so much down to the diving aesthetics.  Some places just breed a reputation which is out of whack with reality, but so saying, this is still one of the great dive locations of the world.

I particularly like the Reef because you can find new dive locations which are off the beaten track.  One of my pet hates is to go dive a location which has been marketed to me as “untouched”, only to find a veritable beaten, underwater track has been blistered by the time I arrive.  The Reef has a lot of visitors for sure, but it  covers a huge expanse and has to be one of the most beautiful spots in the world irrespective of its divers reputation.

Sharm El-Sheikh – Egypt

Egypt is not simply the Pyramids, camels and desert – it is home to one of the best dive locations in the world and here you get the opportunity to dive on several wrecks in the Egyptian Red Sea.  The most notable wreck is the SS Thislegorm, a British merchant ship which sank in 1941 and today, you can find yourself instantly transported back to a World at War, with a cargo of motorcycles, trucks and military equipment waiting for you to explore just over 50 feet before the sea surface.

Sharm El-Sheikh is not for beginners – the water is full of currents and eddies while strong winds attack the surface, but it does also offer the opportunity to dive for pearls.  Not saying you can make your own pearl jewelry with what you find, but it’s one of the better places in the world to do so.

Sulawesi Island – Indonesia

Sulawesi Island must be a contender for the definitive top slot of dive locations.  I know the Great Barrier Reef is almost universally and continuously cited but Sulawesi for my money has a far better setting, more interesting dive spots and there is no dispute that there are more species of flora and fauna here than on the Great Barrier Reef!

The site is also 100% green – coral destruction and poaching is non-existent (or so low it doesn’t matter).  Dive operators who misbehave are removed – fast!  What is left is an environment which has allowed biodiversity and natural chaos to rule supreme and this is the main reason why the 186,000 acres of Bunaken National Park on the northern tip of Sulawesi Island have become so popular.

Expect lots of rules but then again, follow them to the letter and spirit because this place is magical.

The Maldives

The Maldives makes it into the top five because I especially like the food and culture around the area.  There is something to be said for basing yourself on one of the innumerable islands with your own bungalow and sharing said island with at most , three or four other bungalows.

Set in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives provide an archipelago composed of hard rock with protrusions around which lagoons and channels have been formed.  The location is ideal for both beginners and experienced divers, but you should ensure you have a dive guide to get the very best out of the time underwater.  Wreck divers will find they are in paradise here too with the Maldives Victory, a ship which sank after hitting one of the islands in 1981.  Banana Reef is great for coral fans and for the stark, raving mad, you’ll find plenty of killer sharks at where else, but Shark Point.

While you may not be able to set any depth records at any of these locations, you’re sure to have an amazing experience no matter which one (or ones) you visit.

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See the Barron falls from the bottom, and watch the tourists at the top wondering how to get where you are.

9. Climb Walsh’s Pyramid for amazing Views.

It’s steep and long, but it’s worth it.

8. Walk from Holloways Beach to Yorkeys Knob.

Even better with a loved one.

7. Go for a Wednesday afternoon sail with the Cairns Cruising Yacht Club.

If they need crew, it’s free.

6. Watch the reef boats come back in from the Marina.

And play pick the most sunburned English backpacker.

5. Float down the Mulgrave river from Ross & Locke reserve to Gordonvale.

If you haven’t got a boat blow up an inner-tube.

4. Enjoy a swim and a cool drink at Lake Placid.

The swims free, the drinks are cheap.

3. Walk the Red Arrow track for views of the city.

Or run, thats what most cairns people do.

2. Swim at Crystal Cascades.

Rockpool after rockpool, waterfall after waterfall.

1. Spend an afternoon in the Lagoon.

The Lagoon at Cairns, Australia

No crocs, no sharks, no jellyfish, just cool clear water.

Source: http://www.visitcairns.com.au

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