We all have a list of things that we want to do before we die. It might be skydiving, seeing the Eiffel tower or maybe it is as simple as mastering how to make an excellent sausage roll. It’s pretty personal. But, there are some things in the world that are so beyond beautiful that if you don’t see it in person, you might not believe it was real.
Specifically, we are going to look at water-based activities.
Photo by Andrew Bain on Unsplash
Whale Watching
They are substantial majestic creatures, and when you see the tail break through the surface of the water, it is going to be something that you will never forget. It might be that we feel so small in comparison, or that they move so slowly yet elegantly, or that they seem to have their air of wonder about them. There are a few options for whale watching.
San Juan Islands, Washington – You can see orcas, humpbacks, and gray whales (plus more). They tend to be clustered off the coast, and there are even pods. From springtime to fall is a great time to see them, and there are cruise options available too.
Okinawa, Japan – January to march you can see Humpback whales galore. There are many boats that will take you out to see the whales, and you can get pretty up close and personal to the 15-meter behemoths.
Deepsea Diving
It might be one of those things that you have seen one too many ‘sea’ based movies, and you will forever believe that Jaws in the water. But, every year, millions of people every year chose to head into the deep blue sea (see what we did there?) and experience something that cannot be described. If you are really serious about seeing more of the world, and what it really has to offer then a Sipadan dive package is going to be money well spent for you.
“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free.” — JACQUES COUSTEAU, Time Magazine, March 28, 1960
Polar Bears
Okay, well, they go in the sea – so it counts. The Svalbard Islands is heaving with more polar bears than it knows what to do with. For many years people have been able to go and stay on an island where polar bears often roam around. It is a certified sustainable destination and with good reason. There are roughly 3,000 inhabitants, and they are serving up delicious Arctic food too. Although you can stay anywhere on the island, you will need a guide to make sure that you are safe when you go polar bear, whale and Northern Light watching.
There is a big world out there, sure, but what is in our oceans is stunning beyond belief, and you have the opportunity to go and see it any time you like. It might take a few years of saving, but in the end, when you have stories of polar bears, whales, and lights that dance across the sky… it was worth it.
