Following Cartagena we headed further north around the coast to Taganga, a small town located on the Caribbean Coast. While it was described as a "small fishing town" in our guide book, it was more of a diving and partying haven for local and foreign tourists alike. Set in a bay surrounded by lush bush lined hills and facing directly west, it was a beautiful setting to chill out with a cocktail and watch the sunset. The bay was also located right next to the Tayrona National Park, a area of protected bush and jungle with a reef lined coast - perfect for diving.
We stayed in a great spot up on the hill (and, despite the 150 m walk uphill on a rocky path in the heat) it was nice to be able to get away for the heat and busyness down at the waters edge. The town, while full of a few gems, was also sadly quite littered with rubbish, tacky stores and very sad looking stray animals. Despite all that it had a good vibe and most days would have Colombian music blasting from the kiosks along the road.
Paul and I both were keen to take the opportunity to learn to dive (in one of the cheapest spots in the world) but were also quite terrified to be honest. Would I like the eerie quiet of being under the sea, shackled to a lifeline of air? Well I did. We both did. It was an amazing feeling breathing under water, floating feeling like flying, being able to go right up to the sea life, them unfazed by your presence. We completed a PADI Open Water Diving certification, a three day course with a lot of reading, tests and practice in the pool and ocean. It took a little while to get used to, but once we had managed to master equalising and breathing slowing through the regulator, it started to feel more free than anything swimming in the ocean and marveling at the shear mass of sea life. We are now certified to dive down to 18 m :)
We stayed in a great spot up on the hill (and, despite the 150 m walk uphill on a rocky path in the heat) it was nice to be able to get away for the heat and busyness down at the waters edge. The town, while full of a few gems, was also sadly quite littered with rubbish, tacky stores and very sad looking stray animals. Despite all that it had a good vibe and most days would have Colombian music blasting from the kiosks along the road.
Paul and I both were keen to take the opportunity to learn to dive (in one of the cheapest spots in the world) but were also quite terrified to be honest. Would I like the eerie quiet of being under the sea, shackled to a lifeline of air? Well I did. We both did. It was an amazing feeling breathing under water, floating feeling like flying, being able to go right up to the sea life, them unfazed by your presence. We completed a PADI Open Water Diving certification, a three day course with a lot of reading, tests and practice in the pool and ocean. It took a little while to get used to, but once we had managed to master equalising and breathing slowing through the regulator, it started to feel more free than anything swimming in the ocean and marveling at the shear mass of sea life. We are now certified to dive down to 18 m :)
The view from our hostel on a rainy day.
Paul enjoying the view.
Taganga Beach.
An amazing sunset.
Sinking to the bottom.
Floating.
Paul sneaking up behind me.
Our group during the course.
Running through some exercises under water.
On the boat.
Heaps of fish!
All OK!
Me and Paul.
Our hostel.
A scorpion in our bathroom...
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