Tell us what you want
Our thoughtful experts are ready with ideas, inspiration and advice for your next journey.
Life is in the detail
Avoid the crowds that congregate at Angkor Wat at sunrise, and instead head to the ruins of Preah Khan, which is almost deserted and incredibly atmospheric at first light.
Jacqui - Original Diver
Jacqui Brooks
Original Travel Expert
I have extensive travel experience throughout Far East, Australasia & Pacific Islands, North America and Indian Subcontinent.
My travels
Travel Things I Want To Do Before I Die
- Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
- Return to New Zealand in summer time, so that I can tackle the Tongariro Crossing, and spend a few days kayaking and camping in Abel Tasman
- Spend a week diving in Raja Ampat
- Learn the Argentine Tango in Buenos Aires
- Explore the Galapagos Islands, and snorkel with sea lions
Best Moments
- Staying with the Iban Tribe in their traditional wooden Longhouse in Malaysian Borneo. The food, dancing, and rice wine (!) made for a very memorable evening
- Riding pillion on a vespa through the city streets of Ho Chi Minh, visiting local restaurants and bars, and sampling some 'delicacies'
- Sky diving over Lake Wanaka in New Zealand, on a crisp winter morning!
Toughest Travel Moment
- Sampling the Vietnamese delicacy of Duck Embryo from a lovely street vendor in Hanoi, and pretending to enjoy it so as not to offend her
Weirdest Travel Moment
- The near final leg of a 24 hour overland journey from Lombok to the Komodo Islands, using public transport. Arriving in the town of Bima in Sumbawa, we were transferred to a smaller 'bus' for the journey on to the ferry port. Our bus was missing half a windscreen - the driver's side - and so he wore a motorbike helmet for the drive. Needless to say, I avoided that side of the bus.
Explore my blog posts
Diving the Tiputa Pass in Rangiroa
Some decisions in life are hard to make. But deciding to go to Rangiroa in French Polynesia to dive with sharks is an easy one. Rangiroa is part of the Tuamoto Archipelago and is only an hour's flight from Tahiti. Being the second largest atoll in the world, it boasts some of world's best…
When and Where to see our Marine Life Top 5
Wondering where to go to tick off some bucket list species? Look no further. In this blog we go over our top five marine animals (featuring hammerheads, manta rays, turtles, humpback whales and whale sharks) and talk about the best locations and time of year to dive with them. So, if you…
Top Dive and Travel Combination Holidays
We know you diving fanatics love the ocean, but ever thought of extending your trip to discover more? Look no further, here are our top five dive and travel combination holidays so that you can gain even more from the destination you visit both in, and out of the water! This list is by no…
Our Top Bucket List Diving Experiences
Looking for ideas for your next diving holiday? Here are our top bucket list diving experiences to inspire your next diving adventure with Original Diving.
The Top Five Places To Learn To Dive
Divers are really astronauts; gliding weightless through the ocean we observe alien worlds carpeted in vast fields of colourful corals with equally bizarre, enthralling inhabitants - from the foreign clicks of dolphins communicating to minute technicolour slugs (nudibranch). And best yet,…
Longer Term, Longer Haul
What with all the recent confusion surrounding air bridges, travel corridors and quarantine, short-term travel is still very much up in the air. Or not. It's hard to keep up, sometimes. Looking further ahead, though, we believe that a year hence travel will have returned to at least a…
Virtual Diving
Some in the travel industry fear the emergence of virtual tourism; we're not in that camp. We know that seeing somewhere on a screen - even if you are able to turn your head or move your mouse to see more - is no substitute for a real dive in a gloriously remote location. What virtual…
Dive Under The Radar
The world's best dives: regularly topping just about everyone's bucket list, and for good reason. But the world's ocean covers a mind boggling 139,000,000 square miles, and as the world's largest playground (official title), there are endless opportunities for adventures. Whether you're a…
Ten Reasons Why You Should Become a Certified Diver
A whopping 14 million viewers were wowed by the groundbreaking docuseries, Blue Planet II, when it first aired in 2017, and people's fascination with all things ocean-related continues to grow, from Ocean Film Festivals popping up across the world to power-house brands creating fashion from…
Top Dive Sites in Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat has many names; Four Kings; the crown jewel of the Coral Triangle; the underwater Serengeti; the end of the rainbow (okay, that one was us), but no name can quite do justice to the diving in Indonesia's Raja Ampat. Home to the highest marine biodiversity on earth, descending into…
The Best Macro Diving in the Philippines
When it comes to diving, it's safe to say that the Philippines offers a bit of everything and on my recent adventure there, I was lucky enough to have a taste of some of the best sites across the country; from thresher sharks in Malapascua to the beautiful coral reefs and walls around Bohol,…
Where to Dive in Spring
Spring in Blighty: a season typified by daffodils in full bloom, the half-forgotten sensation of warm sun on bare skin and channelling The Sound of Music while frolicking through fields. But lest we forget, the British weather can be rather… unpredictable. Elsewhere, however, some of our…
The Top Dive Sites in the Deep South of the Maldives
It's no secret that the glistening lagoons, atolls and channels that marble the Maldives harbour some of the best diving in the world, and yet some of the best sites remain relatively unknown. Often hailed in hushed tones as the Galapagos of the Maldives, divers can mingle with all the 'big…
Where to Go Diving in 2020
Whether you're interested in learning to dive or an old hand looking to expand your portfolio of deep sea adventures; a trend-setter among your dive buddies or simply curious on where the best places to dive are this year; discover our definitive list of the best places to go diving in 2020…
The Top Seven Short Haul Diving Destinations for 2020
Itching to get your wetsuit back on but don't want to fly halfway across the world? Fear not, as there is some incredible diving just a hop, skip and a jump from the UK, meaning you can have breakfast in Blighty and be sipping on cocktails after an epic dive by dinner (and we're not talking…
Where We've Been in 2019
21st December 2012 was supposed to mark the end of the world, according to Mayan prophecies anyway. Thankfully, we've lived to see the decade end - and boy has it been a corker. The last decade has seen the creation of iPads, Fitbits and 4G, and the first image of a black hole was unveiled.…
Diving the Tuamotus, French Polynesia
French Polynesia is a watery wonderland for divers. Boasting some exceptional big fish diving (think wild dolphins, schools of over 200 reef sharks, manta cleaning stations, fish spawning, big schools of barracuda and jack) in warm, tropical waters, there is so much to explore above and…
Off the Grid in the Banda Sea
Nutmeg. Flavour saviour of curries, the razzle-dazzle in puds, elixir to mulled wine... you get the gist. But have you ever considered where it originated? Introducing the Banda Islands (otherwise known as the "Spice Islands"), the sole producers of nutmeg and mace in the 17th century and…
Insider Guide: Underwater Photography
Ever been baffled on how underwater photographers snap the most minute creatures in such magnificent detail? Perhaps wondered whether the winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year were carefully planned or super lucky (or both!)? Us too, so we interviewed professional underwater…
Conservation in the Maldives
A glistening archipelago of pearl drop islands, turquoise lagoons and incredible (understatement alert) diving, the Maldives is one of the most coveted paradises on earth, yet also one of the most fragile. However, where unregulated fishing practices, plastic-pollution and climate change are…
Five of the Best House Reefs
Coral reefs are some of the world's most colourful and diverse ecosystems, and a hidden treasure to feast the eyes upon for any scuba diver and snorkeller. But why should you wait for a boat trip from your hotel when you can access these underwater Edens straight from the shores of your…
Our Top 5 Destinations for Epic Marine Encounters
From seals, to humpback whales, to hammerhead sharks. You'll want to pack a couple of logbooks for these mad marine destinations…
Top Five Dive Sites for Blackwater Diving
Ever been night diving? Blackwater diving is night diving on steroids. But rather than exploring reefs, divers are suspended in the pitch black of the open ocean. Why? Because that's when the diurnal migration (aka the world's largest migration) occurs, with countless platonic animals of the…
Meet the rest of the team
We’re seasoned travellers who combine our personal insights and exceptional knowledge to create memorable trips and experiences.
Start creating your tailored trip today
Build a tailored itinerary
Working with you we'll craft an unforgettable trip and tailored itinerary.
We've got you covered
We're here to help with everything while you're away from the smallest to the biggest request.
Inspired by my trips or expertise? We are all seasoned travellers here with the inside track on the most memorable adventures.
Call us on 1-800-652-1972