Ask scuba divers what attracts them to the sport, and they'll probably tell you that it's the exotic underwater world. A dive in Japan, however, often means endless train rides, big crowds, small spaces and exorbitant sums of money -- all too similar to the everyday world.
With an estimated half-million active divers here, it's not surprising that the country's best underwater sites are overrun. What's a diver to do?
Fortunately, some of the world's best diving is only a few short hours away, in Southeast Asia. With a discount flight and a carefully chosen package, you can enjoy tropical diving for no more than it costs to battle the underwater crowds at home.