If diving the Caribbean is on anyone's agenda, let me suggest Bonaire. A former Dutch colony that made the decision to be a dive destination, they protect their reef very well and most of the diving (almost 100 sites) are shore dives. Get a package at Wanna Dive or Buddy Dive, if you want a bit more creature comforts, that includes the pickup truck and all the tanks you can use. Parts of the island are enclosed in a double reef system that is unbelievable. I was living in Washington DC before coming to Australia and going twice a year for a couple of weeks...I still haven't done all the sites. If you get to Wanna Dive, tell Bart Bill said howdy.

Came to Adelaide from the US. Arrived right after Christmas to find trees and carols during high summer, pretty novel for someone from the northern hemisphere. Having not been killed crossing the street during my first few weeks (I kept looking the wrong way!), I'm hoping to complete my 3 year contract teaching at the uni.