Author: Matt

  • Scuba diving in the St. Lawrence river

    Scuba diving in the St. Lawrence river, specifically the stretch between Kingston and Montreal, doesn’t seem obvious from above the surface. But with a long history as a shipping channel, there are numerous historic shipwrecks all along the river that make for some very interesting dives. Many wrecks have been underwater for more than 100 years!

  • Preparing for your first scuba liveaboard

    On a scuba liveaboard, you eat, sleep and dive for a week without ever touching land. They’re the perfect way to do a lot of scuba diving with ease and comfort. If you’re planning your first liveboard trip, we share some tips for preparing for your scuba liveaboard.

  • The ancient obelisks of Rome

    Ancient Egyptian and Roman obelisks are scattered throughout Rome, often in front of history churches. Learn about their history and current locations.

  • The historic churches of Rome

    We explore some of the most interesting historic churches, basilicas and cathedrals in Rome, from early Christianity to the Renaissance, briefly outlining their history and cultural significance.

  • Stay on a houseboat in Paris on the Seine River

    On our last trip to Paris, we stayed in a houseboat on the Seine River, next to the Jardin des Tuileries, steps away from the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, and within walking distance to the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Les Invalides, Panthéon, and more!

  • 2 days in Verona

    2 days in Verona

    While many know of Verona as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (and The Two Gentlemen of Verona), it should be on more people’s radar because of it’s Roman history, impressive Venetian architecture, and rich arts and culture scene. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

  • 4 days in Trieste, Italy

    4 days in Trieste, Italy

    Trieste is an important port city on the northern Adriatic Sea. Over the course of its history, it has gone from being part of the Roman Empire, to the Republic of Venice, to Austria-Hungary, to its own Free Territory, to present-day Italy (among others). So much to explore in just 4 days!

  • Visit the massive karst cave systems of Northeast Italy and Slovenia

    Less than 50 km apart in Northeast Italy and Slovenia are two impressively large cave systems. Grotta Gigante near Triste, Italy features a massive main cavern while the Postojna Cave features over 24 km of cave tunnels. Both have been welcoming tourists for over 100 years.

  • Scuba diving in cenotes in the Yucatán, Mexico

    A cenote is a natural pit or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater, found throughout the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Some are large, open-water pools while others are small cracks in the earth. The cenotes were the water source for the ancient Maya; today they’re a popular tourist attraction for swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers. And there are options for scuba diving in the cenotes for all levels of certified divers. I’ll explain the different options and what to consider.

  • Product review: Pandora Tool v3.0 scuba multi-tool

    As a scuba instructor, I need to make sure my scuba gear is working perfectly, and I need to be ready to help students with any issues they may encounter with their gear. Read my review of the Pandora Tool v3.0, which I truly think is the best scuba multi-tool on the market.