Escape for the Weekend

Bahrain, officially, the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island state on the same-name archipelago in the Persian Gulf in the South-West Asia, the smallest Arab state. Bahrain consists of three relatively large islands and many small ones in the 16 km east of the coast of Saudi Arabia, and is connected to the country by the King Fahd Causeway. The total area of Bahrain is 765 square kilometers; the population is about 1.3 million people. The capital of the country is Manama. The official language is Arabic.

The national currency is the Bahraini dinar. Tourists can exchange money in banks or exchange counters. Try to exchange all the dinars before leaving Bahrain – the exchange rate overseas can be rather unprofitable. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted.

The Bahrain Archipelago consists of 33 flat islands. The terrain is mostly desert. The climate is arid, with hot dry summers and mild winters. The best time to visit Bahrain is from November to March, when the heat is not so exhausting.

Airports

Bahrain International Airport (BAH), the international airport of Bahrain, which is located around 7 km from the capital Manama.

Islamic culture and arts, history and cuisine, and, of course, orient hospitality of Bahrain will impress any guest of the country. Natural beauty of Bahrain combines hot deserts, sand dunes and unique flora and fauna. No wonder that, according to the Bible, the Garden of Eden was located here. Since ancient times Bahrain has been famous for wonderful pearls, which even became one of the symbols of the state.

Bahrain is a perfect destination for those who are fond of outdoor activities: here you can go water skiingand snorkeling, ride on horses and camels, play volleyball and tennis, do falconry, dive in search of pearls, take part in high-speed car racing, and play golf. Those who like shopping will be glad to visit Old Manama Souq, where they can buy various locally made crafts, sweets and spices, and gorgeous jewelry. Connoisseurs of architecture and history will surely like the traditional houses of Muharraq, the former capital of Bahrain; Bahrain Fort, built in the 16^th century; the largest mosque of Bahrain – the Al Fateh Mosque; and ancient burial mounds, the oldest of which were made about five thousand years ago.

Diving in Bahrain

The warm and comfortable waters of Bahrain are a real diving paradise. Here you can meet surgeon fish, clown fish, lion fish, snapper, trigger fish, turtles, rays, grouper, crayfish and even whale sharks and barracudas. The artificial reefs off Bahrain are inhabited by crabs, sea snakes, nudibranches and the largest groupers in the Persian Gulf.

Many divers come to this archipelago to try the famous pearl diving, which appeared on Bahrain’s coast about 5000 years ago.

In Abu Thalma, where the depth is from 6 to 14 meters you can enjoy abundant marine life and beautiful corals.

In Najwah you can see whale sharks and watch various marine specious, usually met in the Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef and the Maldives.

Those who like wreck diving can explore the Fifi, a small tugboat wreck, sunk in the 1980s and located at a depth of 6-8 meters; the Caisson, inhabited by plenty of fish; or the Sestan wreck, situated 15 meters deep off Bahrain’s eastern coast.

Belarus officially the Republic of Belarus formerly known by its Russian name Byelorussia or Belorussia is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital and most populous city is Minsk. Over 40% of its 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) is forested. Its major economic sectors are service industries and manufacturing.

Airport names shown in bold indicate the airport has scheduled service on commercial airlines.

City served	Province	ICAO	IATA	Airport name	Coordinates
Public airports
Brest	Brest	UMBB	BQT	Brest Airport	52°06′30″N 023°53′53″E
Homiel (Gomel)	Homiel	UMGG	GME	Gomel Airport	52°31′37″N 031°01′00″E
Hrodna (Grodno)	Hrodna	UMMG	GNA	Hrodna Airport	53°36′07″N 024°03′13″E
Minsk	Minsk	UMMM	MHP	Minsk-1 Airport	53°51′52″N 027°32′22″E
Minsk	Minsk	UMMS	MSQ	Minsk National Airport (Minsk-2)	53°52′56″N 028°01′50″E
Mahilyow (Mogilev)	Mahilyow	UMOO	MVQ	Mogilev Airport	53°57′17″N 030°05′42″E
Polatsk (Polotsk)	Vitebsk			Polotsk Airport	55°24′42″N 028°44′54″E
Vitebsk	Vitebsk	UMII	VTB	Vitebsk Vostochny Airport	55°07′35″N 030°20′58″E
Military airports
Gomel (Homiel)	Homiel			Pribytki Air Base	52°18′18″N 031°09′48″E
Luninets	Brest	UMNL		Luninets Air Base	52°16′30″N 026°46′30″E
Machulishi	Minsk	UMLI		Machulishi Air Base[1]	53°46′24″N 027°34′48″E
Orsha	Vitebsk			Balbasovo Air Base	54°26′24″N 030°17′48″E
Pastavy (Postavy)	Vitebsk			Postavy Air Base	55°07′00″N 026°45′42″E
Polatsk (Polotsk)	Vitebsk			Borovitsy Air Base	55°36′30″N 028°40′42″E
Vitebsk	Vitebsk			Vitebsk Air Base	55°15′18″N 030°14′48″E

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. Here's the map. And this is about all we can tell you about Belarus. There is little information about diving there, we can only find one dive centre and, what there is, is in Russian! So, if anyone can help us out with this, please contact us!

Belgium is a country in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands. Belgium has three official languages, which are Dutch, French and German. The capital is Brussels.

Belgium is full of various tourist attractions.

In Brussels, which is not only the capital of Belgium but also of the entire European Union, you can visit a plenary of the European Parliament. The entrance is free of charge. In front of the Parliament building there is the "Heart of Europe", a 12-meter-high sculpture symbolizing the united Europe.

In the park "Mini Europe", located in Brussels, you can see the most famous sights of the whole Europe in one place. The park, which opened in 1989, contains more than 350 copies of the world-known attractions: the Eiffel Tower, the Doge's Palace, Big Ben, the Leaning Tower and many other memorable places of 80 European cities.

In Liege, the oldest and the largest city of Wallonia, you will see Saint Lambert Square, the Museum of Walloon Art and Walloon life, the stunning Town Hall and the stony laces of St. James Church.

In Bruges, whose unofficial name is the "Venice of the North", you can take a ride along its charming channels, look at the city from the top of the tower of Belfort (Belfry of Bruges), or stroll through the romatic medieval streets and enjoy the intact architecture of the 14th century.

In the town of Binche, near Mons, you can see colourful and joyful Belgian, which takes place in February, a few days before the start of the Catholic Lent.

Those who like hiking, cycling, nature and tranquility, usually go to the Ardennes, whereas those who prefer sun, sea, and water sports, choose the coast.

The climate of Belgium is temperate, with mild winters and cool summers.

The national currency is euro. All major cards are usually accepted.

Airports

Brussels Airport (BRU)

Antwerp International Airport (ANR)

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL)

Diving in Belgium

Belgium may not seem to be an obvious diving-destination. However, diving in Belgium can be more diverse than many divers could guess.

Experienced divers can assay their strength in the North Sea. There they can explore such wrecks as the SS Trifels, a German cargo ship sunken in 1941 by a torpedo and lying at a depth of between 24 and 36 meters, and the MS Birkenfels, resting at 36 meters deep.

Flanders offers many natural dive sites, such as lakes and sand pits filled with water – these dive sites are often shallow and boast various fish life. And in Wallonia there are a lot of interesting quarries. One of the best quarry dives in Belgium is Carrière la Croisette, an old marble quarry, which is nowadays a privately owned dive site with excellent facilities. Another perfect dive site in Wallonia is La Gombe, where you can see rich fish life, a sunken airplane and submerged trees.

In Belgium there is the world's deepest diving pool, Nemo 33. It consists of flat platforms located at various depth levels and is filled with non-chlorinated, highly filtered spring water, whose temperature is maintained at 30 °C. In the pool there are several simulated underwater caves at the 10 m depth level.

Belize is a country located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America and formerly known as British Honduras. Belize is a part of the British Commonwealth. The eastern side of Belize is washed by the Caribbean Sea, and in the south and west it borders with Guatemala. The climate of Belize is characterized as tropical and cyclone-prone, so the state periodically suffers from severe hurricanes and storms. The capital of the country is Belmopan.

Despite the small size the territory of Belize contains an impressive number of attractions, famous all over the world, among which there are historical monuments left by the Maya; Barrier Reef, the length of which is nearly three hundred meters; and a truly global "celebrity", whose scope strikes (123 meters deep and 305 meters wide), -- Great Blue Hole, which attracts to Belize the most experienced divers of the planet.

The largest city in the state - the same-name Belize – is famous for its architectural delights, among which special attention of tourists should be paid to St. John Cathedral and the Museum of Belize, located in a 19th century building, which formerly was a prison.
Those who are interested in the local cultural heritage should also visit the Maritime Museum, which contains an impressive collection of models and nautical instruments; the Belize Zoo, which contains more than one hundred representatives of the local fauna; and the Coastal Zone Museum where you can see the exposition of coral reefs.

The local currency is the Belize dollar, which peacefully coexists with the US dollar.

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE)

The largest airport in the state, which has international status. It is located 16 kilometers from the city of Belize and serves the vast majority of local and international flights.

Belize City Municipal Airport (TZA)

That municipal airport, which serves Belize local airlines, has at the same time an international terminal.

Diving in Belize

Belize has a deserved reputation of one of the most attractive diving regions. And it's not only because of excellent underwater visibility, which is more than 20 meters; a unique coral reef, whose length, according to some experts, can compete with the Great Wall of China; or the rich underwater fauna, but also because of a real jewel of Belize – the Great Blue Hole. The Internet photos of this miracle, made from the air, attract crowds of divers yearning for "miraculous" diving; and legendary Jacques-Yves Cousteau did not fail to include the Blue Hall in the top ten world's best diving areas.

The Great Blue Hole is a vertical karst cave, whose 123-meter depth fascinates the entire world diving community. The diameter of the crater is just over 300 meters, and the transparency of the water in the cave is truly unique – the underwater visibility here can reach 50 meters. Thousands of years ago the cave was not so remarkable – it was on the ground, "growing" stalactites. Now, after the cave went under water, these stalactites attract divers from all over the world. Along with the stalactites, in the cave you can find some shark species so beloved by thrill-seekers.

Besides the "blue wonder of the world", in Belize there are other, albeit not as well-known but no less fascinating places suitable for high-quality diving. For example, in a fairly popular aquarium and on the Cathedral Reef you can take in relaxed diving that produces calming impression due to the shallow waters and low flow. Coral reefs almost come to the surface here, so at one dive you can see a lot of marine life - tropical fish, shellfish and bright molluscs.

Those divers, who appreciate great depth, will like such places as Elbow, Que Brada and Tarpon Caves, famous by accumulations of tarpon, barracuda, sharks and pelagic fish. Those, who dive in the Silver Caves and Angel Fish Wall, will appreciate the unusual underwater topography of the dive areas - exploration of small tunnels, caves and wonderful unexpected crevices will captivate even the most jaded divers. Here you can see black coral trees, purple sponges and gorgonians, and swim with octopuses, lobsters, nurse sharks, black basses and eagle rays.

You can enjoy excellent diving near Ambergris Caye Island, in the National Park Half Moon Caye, and in the marine reserve Gladden Spit, the central part of the Great Barrier Reef in Belize.
The ideal time for diving is the period from November to May, but in April in the waters of the Belize coast tiger sharks and humpback whales can be met, so from April to June divers should be particularly careful.

Brazil is the largest country in South America, occupying 8.5 million square kilometers and populated by more than 202 million people. It has borders with all South American countries except Ecuador and Chile and is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of the country is Brasilia. The official language is Portuguese.

The national currency is the Real. You can exchange money in banks or in shops with signs showing "Cambio". Credit and debit cards are widely accepted.

Due to the large size Brazil’s terrain is very diverse and includes hills, mountains, plains, highlands, and scrublands. The climate of the country consists of five major climatic subtypes: equatorial, tropical, semiarid, highland tropical, temperate, and subtropical.

You will probably want to start your acquaintance with Brazil from Rio de Janeiro. In this city, located at the foot of Corcovado mountain with the blessing Christ the Redeemer statue, you can enjoy famous mountains, landmarks, beaches and Carnival festival.

Nature lovers should not miss a breathtaking spectacle of Iguazu Falls cascading among lush exotic wildlife.

In Olinda tourists can immerse into tranquilling atmosphere of colonial architecture, combining with beautiful nature.

Another colonial pearl is Parati, charming by tropical forests, waterfalls, emerald sea and coastal mountains.

Do not forget to enjoy watching dance-like sparring of capoeira; shopping at Brazilian street markets; immersing into nature in a huge national parks the Chapada Diamantina and the Parque Nacional da Tijuca; seeing the rare shade of blue on the slopes of Pedra Azul; and basking on Florianopolis and Northeast beaches.

São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU), the main international airport serving São Paulo.

Brasília–Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB), located in the Lago Sul administrative region of the Federal District of Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG), the main airport serving Rio de Janeiro and the largest airport in Brazil.

Tancredo Neves/Confins International Airport (CNF)

Viracopos/Campinas International Airport (VCP)

Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (SSA)

The underwater world off the coast of Brazil is famous for its biodiversity: here you can meet pinner dolphins, nurse sharks, green sea turtles, and even whales. Those who like wreck diving will find many interesting objects here.

In the Fernando de Noronha Marine Park, located on the archipelago of 21 islands, there are 15 different corals and 230 species of fish. The most interesting diving sites are Naufragio do Porto, Ilha do Meio, Pedras Secas, and Ressureta. The water visibility is up to 50 meters and the water temperature is about 27 degrees. Here, at a depth of 60 meters, you can see the wreck of the NaelIpiranga, a corvette sunk in 1987.

In Angra Dos Resi, which includes more than 300 islands, you will find more than 12 different diving spots with different caves and passages. Here you can also explore the Pinguino Wreck, a cargo vessel sunk in the late 60-s and located at a depth of 10 meters.

In Laje de Santos Marine Park, São Paulo you can meet giant manta rays, explore the wreck of the fishing boat Moreia, sunk in 1995 and located at a depth of 22 meters, and see Anchor Ledge, inhabited by big groupers and pelagic fish.

Arraial Do Cabo, which is situated 200km from Rio, has perfect underwater visibility and diving conditions suitable even for inexperienced divers.

Off the Abrolhos Archipelago Islands you can see the rarest coral reefs, inhabited by various marine species.

The best fresh water diving place in Brazil is Bonito, in the Rio da Prata. Inside the Abyss Anhumas there is a large crystal clear lake and high cones of limestone, which look like a part of lunar landscape.

The Republic of Bulgaria is a south-east European country, which occupies about twenty percent of Balkan Peninsula, and is washed by the Black Sea. The nearest neighbors are Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Romania and Macedonia. The country is famous for diverse landscape, where hills and plateaus coexist with deep river valleys and mountain ranges, among which there are the Balkan Mountains, the watershed between the Aegean Sea and the Danube. The climate of Bulgaria is continental and Mediterranean.

In the Bulgarian capital Sofia, which is considered to be one of the oldest cities in Europe, you can explore various archaeological sites such as towers and gates of Serdica, St. Sophia Church, built in the 11th century, and the largest Bulgarian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, in the gloomy crypt of which you will find the Museum of Icons. Connoisseurs of architectural masterpieces should visit the oldest metropolitan church of St. George, the building of the National Assembly of the 19th century and the Sofia Mineral Baths, which replaced the famous Roman baths. Those who are interested in cultural and historical heritage should take a tour around the Gallery of Foreign Art, the National Museum of Ethnography, the National Gallery of Art and the Museum of Natural History. You should also pay attention to the Botanical Museum and Gardens, and the Zoological Museum.

Another place of interest is town of Veliko Tarnovo, is a real reserve where you can see such architectural delights as the Tsarevets fortress, the royal palace, an ancient monastery of St. Peter and Paul, built in the 13^th century, as well as ancient churches of Forty Martyrs and St. Demetrius, founded in 10-11^th centuries. It is worth visiting local museums of the Renaissance and the Second Balkan kingdom, and amazing caves of Stara Planina. In the city-museum Nessebar you can admire many architectural artifacts of antiquity, among which there is the church of St. Stephen, built in the 11th century, and the magnificent Church of Holy Virgin. If possible, you can visit Varna and its cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, famous for unique frescoes; the Maritime Museum and the only Dolphinarium in the Balkans; Gabrovo with its ethnographic park-museum of Etara; Plovdiv, with its gate Hisar Kapija of the 2nd century, the ancient Roman theater Trimontium and the Museum of Archaeology, Ethnography and National Revival; Shumen with its 12th century’s castle and the beautiful Tombul mosque of the 18th century.

The national currency of Bulgaria is the Bulgarian lion.

• Bourgas International Airport (BOJ), Burgas

• Varna International Airport (VAR), Varna
• Sofia International Airport (SOF), Sofia
• Gorna Oryahovitsa International Airport (GOZ), Gorna Oryahovitsa

• Krumovo International Airport (PDV), Plovdiv

Located on the Black Sea coast Bulgaria offers its guests a wonderful opportunity for exciting high-quality diving. Black Sea waters are characterized by rich underwater world, where you can find unique species of colorful fish, including bright mullets and gobies, as well as seahorses, jellyfish and crabs. You can get a lot of unforgettable emotions, exploring the harsh underwater rocks or searching for the lost sea treasures. Spectacular diving can be practiced on the northern coast of the Black Sea near the city of Varna and in the south near Bourgas.

A popular destination for deep-sea diving is the famous resort Pomorie with its picturesque lakes and estuaries; Mermaid (Rusalka) rich in secluded coves and unique underwater landscapes, with its complex of four dozen underwater caves; Yailata, where you can explore ancient wrecks; Resort of St. Constantine and Helena, with many small coves surrounded by steep rocky cliffs; and Sozopol - immersion in its marine world will bring a lot of delight both to beginning divers and to experienced ones. The waters of Sozopol keep many ancient wrecks, as well as the remains of ancient household items and submerged buildings, belonging to different epochs.

Also, you can enjoy high-quality diving in Elenite, Sunny Beach, Golden Sands, Ravda, Tsarev, Albena, Varna, Burgas, Nesebar and Silistar. A dive club in Sofia offers an unusual service – you can get an unforgettable experience of extreme ice-diving in Lake Iskar.