Geology Holidays

I was recently lucky enough to experience some first class diving in Barbados. The island itself is full to brimming of exciting geology as it’s one of the only Caribbean islands that is not volcanic. Go under the warm tropical waters and you will find an abundance of fantastic marine life, wrecks and geological features. I managed to take this picture whilst snorkelling on Turtle Beach, it’s not the best picture, but you can imagine the amazing sites you will see.

The islanders or ‘Bajans’ are the friendliest, happiest people you will meet and it won’t take you long to relax in when you get there, one thing to note is ‘bajan time’ which means if you say turn up at 7, they will turn up at 9! Barbados is an island where you throw all your cares away, sit back and enjoy the rum. Taste all the different foods, enjoy all the beaches, swim in the warm tropical seas and you’ll wish you weren’t leaving!

Aruba has incredible dive spots for both scuba diving and snorkelling. The waters surrounding Aruba are filled with stunning coral formations and shipwrecks including the Caribbeans largest ship wreck, the Antilla. Snorkel one of the largest wrecks in the Caribbean, the visibility can be hundreds of feet in the clear waters or just soak up the warm sun.

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Cancun is on the East side of Mexico, on the Yucatán Peninsula, known as the Mexican Caribbean. Home to stunning white sand beaches, great weather and an all round idyllic holiday feel. There is something for everyone, from shops to bars and traditional to modern. Cancun is great for families or for a great party holiday.

The whole of the Yucatán Peninsula hides an underground secret. Made from limestone the peninsular has become an easy target for underground rivers to be formed which in turn have created a ‘Swiss cheese’ type formation full of holes. Some of the rivers in this vast system run for over 96 miles! It is this immense quantity of water that helps to keep the peninsular lush with jungle. Full of huge Stalactites and Stalagmites you can descend into a Cenote (sink hole) and swim or dive in this vast underwater oasis.

A great holiday deal;



A great hotel deal;

The Maldives are the Jewel of the Indian Ocean. Over 1000 islands make up this incredible idyllic holiday destination. Only 200 islands are inhabited, 88 of which are exclusive holiday resorts. Long stretches of palm tree laden beaches and crystal clear waters brimming with reef life whales, dolphins and more fish of varying bright colours than you can imagine.

The islands hold the record for being the lowest country in the world and this is due to their unique geology. The islands are a chain of Atolls which are eroded volcanoes or islands from millions of years ago. Coral reefs form and grow to form what you see today, many of the Islands in The Maldives are formed of ancient reefs and coral sand. It is said many atolls can take up to 30 million years to form! The Maldives are currently under threat due to rising sea levels.

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Nassau is the Capital of the Bahamas, and is home to some breathtaking beaches. White sands, warm blue seas, palm tree’s and secluded hideaways make Nassau a popular tourist and honeymoon destination. Nassau is also home to some amazing bright carnivals such as Junkanoo which occurs every Boxing Day and is similar to the World famous Mardi Gras. If you want great food, amazing beaches and a holiday in Paradise, Nassau is for you!

The Bahamas is home to over 5% of the Worlds coral. Most of which can be found in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea National Park. The Exuma Cays stretch for over 90 miles and is a long chain of more than 360 cays and islands. The Cays vary in size from small barren sandy bits of reef to small islands with trees. The water visibility is 25-45m making it an incredible place to explore by snorkeling or scuba diving. There are sheer walls of reef that are home to thousands of sea species and corals, so make sure you take your underwater camera!

Santorini is a group of islands that formed when a volcano collapsed. It is situated in the Aegean Sea about 20okm South of the Greek mainland. Home to some incredible beaches over looked by stunning volcanic cliffs it is no wonder many say Santorini is the Ancient Atlantis. There are some fantastic restaurants serving great freshly cooked food that is often accompanied by home grown wine grown on the volcanic slopes. Houses cling to the cliff sides and are painted a striking white. Try getting a donkey up the hillside rather than walking, it’s much easier!

This group of Islands was created when a huge volcano erupted in around 1650BC and collapsed, creating the caldera you see today. It is estimated that 61 cubic kilometers of magma must have been thrown out of the inner depths of the volcano to create what you see today. This makes it one of the three largest eruptions of the past 5000 years. The small island in the center of the bay is a small volcano that is still active.

Dubrovnik is in the very South of Croatia and is a fantastic city! Full of music, culture, art and fabulous events throughout the year! You can swim, climb, dive or just laze around on the beaches. The city is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and has more history squeezed into the city than you can imagine,

The Dalmatian Coast is is a stretch of about 1,100 miles of coves, caves, channels and over 1000 small islands. Home to hundreds of completely unspoilt beaches and fantastic geology. The area it’s situated in, The Adriatic is the bluest patch of sea on the planet when seen from space. The coastline is formed of two rock formations running parallel to the coast, one is harder than the other, and when eroded, you get what is seen today.

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You can’t beat Cape Town for sun, sand, sea and lot’s of great memories. It has everything you need for a great holiday – bars, shops, cafe’s, beaches, mountains and friendly people. Great wines are an added bonus! If you like outdoor adventure then hit the waters for a dive or the mountains for a hike.

The Cango Caves are truly spectacular, they formed millions of years ago when water began trickling down a small ridge of limestone that runs parallel to the Swatberg Mountains. They now stretch for over 3 miles, the largest cavern being 107m long and 6m high. The caves are situated near Oudtshoorn which is famous for Ostrich, you can even have a ride on one at one of the farms!

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Kemer is a seaside resort found on the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey. The western Taurus Mountains lay behind the town and until recently the town was only accessible by boat. The town has everything you need to enjoy a relaxing holiday including bars and cafe’s or for the more adventurous you can try diving the ‘Three Islands’ visits the Beldibi Caves or take a walk or jeep ride up the Taurus Mountains.

The Chimaera was an ancient Greek fire-breathing  monster which gives its name to this phenomenon. The Chimaera is a place where gas seeping from deep within the Earth spontaneously catches fire. Although this is great witnessed in the day, it’s recommended you go at sunset and take a torch for the walk back down. It is truly mystifying!

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Sharm El Sheikh is the place to go if you love to dive, want to try diving or fancy some snorkelling. It has clear tropical waters brimming with all the colours you can imagine, fish, coral reefs and wrecks are just some of the things you can discover. If diving isn’t for you then why not relax on the long stretches of white sandy beach. Or the local bedouin tribes with their colourful tents or the desert or the mountains. You will never be stuck for something to do.

Geologically, Sharm El Sheik is very interesting, from Mt Sinai, to the Sulphur Springs, the desert, the beaches, the underwater geology and the Sinai Peninsular itself. One of the most fascinating and incredible sites to see is the Coloured Canyon. Yellows, blues, reds, purples and greens are amongst some of the colours you will see in the canyons. Here old rivers have cut their way through the rocks creating incredible views of the layers deposited through time.

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