Forget Resolutions. Make Plans for 2018.

Travel More

The beauty of travel is it is a cure for what ails us.  The act of traveling provides us with a sense of escape.  An abandoning of the everyday stressors.  Travel helps us feel more relaxed, happier, healthier, rejuvenated and prepared to be more successful upon our return to work.

Worried about when to take that well-deserved vacation?  Pick a slow time of the year for your business.  Then commit.  Book well in advance.

Be a Global Citizen

Travel enforces the reality that we are all part of a larger global community.  Travel across international borders fosters a greater appreciation for other countries & cultures.  Make a concerted effort to spread your wings and travel farther from home.

Be Kind to the Environment

Select a destination that is eco-concious and offers sustainable travel and conservation programs.  Make a pledge this year to give back to Mother Nature.  Be conscientious, appreciate your beautiful surroundings, and be a good steward.  Be aware of and limit your plastic use, and choose coral-safe sunscreen and body-care products.

Conquer a Fear

Push yourself out of your comfort zone.  Broaden your horizons.  Voyage to a resort off-the-beaten path.  Go on a shark dive.  Zipline through a jungle canopy.  Be adventurous.  Be bold.  Try something new.  The options are endless.

Get in Scuba Shape

Outsiders and newbies may not realize this, but as an experienced diver, you know scuba requires strength, muscular endurance, and a good range of motion.  As divers, our experience with conditions like strong currents, cold water, poor visibility, and other challenging conditions can sometimes test our metal.  As a fit diver, we are more likely to dive more often, be safer, and push ourselves to advance our training.  The benefits of being a fit scuba diver include easier handling of gear, better use of air, and a greater enjoyment of the sport.

Strengthen a Relationship

Travel has a magic which brings people together and deepens relationships through shared experiences.  Whether it be a spouse, parent, sibling, or dive buddy, spending quality time together forges a lifetime of memories and strengthens those existing bonds.

Go Slow and Take Time

Go slow and discover things most "tourists" might miss.  You've traveled half-way around the world to experience this destination. Take time to soak in the sun, learn the history, absorb the culture, and savor a delectable delight as you encounter all the different and wonderful things this corner of the world has to offer.

Inspiration is the impetus for planning.  I hope I have inspired you to discover our big, beautiful world in a way that will satisfy your soul.  Time to make those plans.

Like what you've read? Want to learn how to better enjoy your scuba diving vacation? Maybe you'd like to travel with Delightful Departures on an upcoming adventure? Become part of the Delightful Departures community. Discover different destinations and travel tips in our biweekly newsletter. In addition, you'll receive our FREE "Know Before You Go" guide just because. Join today.

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Even on Vacation - Take Time to Stop and Smell the Roses

Do you ever find yourself completely exhausted at the end of your vacation?  Do you get home and realize you never took a break to rest while you were away?  Do you get so caught up in trying to see everything, and do everything you could in that short bit of time, that you never stopped to take a breath?  Well, even on a dive vacation, I suggest you don’t dive the entire time.  You need to shed that gear and enjoy your surface interval.  And for you avid photographers, both above and below the water, you must pull the camera away from your eye once in a while and soak in your surroundings beyond the viewfinder.  As the saying goes, “take time to stop and smell the roses”.

Then one day I chose to leave my camera on the boat...

After getting my first underwater camera I couldn’t dive without it.  Every time I went into the water, it was attached to my gear.  I was afraid that I might miss out on an opportunity to capture that magic image; that one perfect moment; that one rarely-seen critter.  I was constantly seeing the underwater world through my lens only, and missing out on the whole big picture.  But then one day I chose to leave my camera on the boat and just dive.  Wow, it was almost a relief.  I found my air consumption slowed and my sphere of vision grew.  The dive was almost more relaxing.

Now I’m not saying that when I dive without my camera I don’t miss out on opportunities for great images.  There have been those times where I’ve had amazing experiences that I wished I had captured with my camera, but that’s ok.  It is a constant joke amongst my dive buddies, that if it wasn’t captured on camera, then we didn’t really see it, but I realize when those times happen what I actually take away from that dive is the full experience.  How that wonderful animal interacts with those around him and how it is an important part of that whole environment.  I may not have a picture to take home with me, but I have a great fish story to share with my dive buddies, and that’s great too.

So how do we balance experience and relaxation?

We all know vacations are a wonderful thing.  They are our opportunity to discover a world outside our everyday life.  They are a chance to learn new things and experience all sorts of stuff.  And vacations are supposed to be a breather from our hectic schedules.  So how do we balance experience and relaxation?  I think it is a matter of remembering “everything in moderation”.  For me, I find it necessary to just find a few moments some time in my day to just stop and decompress.  Did you go out for your morning dives and come back to the resort for a delicious lunch?  After lunch, head over to that lovely hammock just beckoning to you and give your body some time to digest its food while you kick it and grab a few winks or enjoy a good book.  Or how about taking advantage of your resort’s spa services?  I love a relaxing evening massage before I retire to my room.  It really unwinds my muscles after an exhilarating day of diving and helps me to have a deeper sleep.  Maybe it is a romantic stroll on the beach while enjoying a warm tropical sunset with your loved one.  And how about on that last day of vacation, when all your gear is getting a chance to dry before packing?  You might find some time to sit around your laptop with your group of dive buddies and share your photos, fish stories and a lot of laughs.

Don’t forget the relaxation part.

So remember, your vacation is your chance to get away and relax.  Don’t forget the relaxation part.  Reality will be waiting for you when you get home.  Always take time to stop and smell the roses.  Make sure it is a deep, relaxing breath before you move on.

Do you have any favorite relaxation tips you’d like to share?  Something that helps you overcome the possible stress of getting to that fabulous resort?  Or maybe something to help you unwind while heading back to reality?  I’d love to hear from you.  I can always use some great words of wisdom.

Like what you've read? Want to learn how to better enjoy your scuba diving vacation? Maybe you'd like to travel with Delightful Departures on an upcoming adventure? Become part of the Delightful Departures community. Discover different destinations and travel tips in our biweekly newsletter. In addition, you'll receive our FREE "Know Before You Go" guide just because. Join today.

Become a Scuba Travel Insider

CONTACT LIZ TO PLAN YOUR CUSTOM VACATION NOW

Save 10% on your purchase when you apply the coupon code:  delightfuldepartures

Your Comfort Zone is the Danger Zone to Your True Travel Experience

I think my desire for exploration and adventure was born in the back of my family's station wagon. As the youngest daughter of a Navy officer, moving from station to station consisted of packing up as much as we could in the moving van, then smooshing the rest of our belongings, along with ourselves and the family pets, into the largest vehicle we had and hitting the road. As I sat on the back bench seat of that station wagon, I watched out the tailgate window the receding view of the place I had been, while in my mind I was dreaming of the place I was heading next.

Being a military brat left me with an unquenchable thirst to experience the world. I want to see as much of its wonders as I can before I die, from its people and all the different cultures, to its natural beauty both on land and under the sea. This desire has a profound effect on my vacation choices. I don’t often return to a place I have visited before. Why, you ask me? Because there are so many other places I have yet to see.

Don't you want to see and experience something new?

Don't you want to see and experience something new? There is a whole world out there to see, smell, taste and experience. Often times I find travelers who get set in their ways. They found a destination once upon a time, a long time ago, where they felt comfortable and year after year they return to that same spot, never trying anything new. Sort of like migratory birds, huh? Why would you limit yourself to the same old thing year after year? Are you afraid to visit destinations you don't already know? Why? Take a chance.

I am an advocate for leaving your comfort zone at home.

I am an advocate for leaving your comfort zone at home. Break away from the danger of your hum-drum comfort zone and visit someplace you have never been before. I find travel to a new destination exhilarating. Yes, I get a little nervous at first not knowing exactly how things are going to go, but that is what makes it an adventure.

While you are at that new destination, make sure to experience its soul as much as you can. Take time to visit with and get to know the locals. And don’t forget, you never learn more about a culture than through its food. I’ll grant you that sometimes this type of experience may be a little scary and not so palatable to your taste buds, but you never know. You might find a new type of cuisine you love. Also, don’t forget to enjoy a cultural experience too. Maybe it’s a visit to a museum, a local market day, or an exciting carnival. And last, but not least, do something adventurous, like zip-lining, white water rafting, a helicopter ride, or a hike in a rainforest.

Use your travel specialist as your resource for possibilities.

Now you ask, how are you supposed to find out about your next destination and all it holds in store? Use your travel specialist as your resource for possibilities. Let them know where you've gone in the past and activities you've enjoyed. Whether you prefer to travel alone or in a group. If you prefer modern, metropolitan resorts or something a little rustic and out of the way. Maybe you are looking to celebrate an occasion and need suggestions on doing something special. Let your travel agent know your needs and desires, then give them the opportunity to find that place you've always wanted to go but never knew. That's our job. That's why we're here for you. We lay the groundwork for your next worldly discovery, so that there is no need for you to worry...just enjoy the journey. Do you know where do you want to discover next? Or do you just want to take a leap into the unknown?

Like what you've read? Want to learn how to better enjoy your scuba diving vacation? Maybe you'd like to travel with Delightful Departures on an upcoming adventure? Become part of the Delightful Departures community. Discover different destinations and travel tips in our biweekly newsletter. In addition, you'll receive our FREE "Know Before You Go" guide just because. Join today.

Become a Scuba Travel Insider

CONTACT LIZ TO PLAN YOUR CUSTOM VACATION NOW

Save 10% on your purchase when you apply the coupon code:  delightfuldepartures