Top 10 dive sites in the World
This special lists the top diving sites in the world according to our Greenbookings staff writer.
Cozumeland the Mayan coast, Mexico
The island of Cozumel, off the Mayan coast, is close to the hugely popular resort town Cancun. The island is surrounded by gorgeous reefs and pristine clear water; perfect conditions for scuba diving. Its main attractions are an underwater cave and a 40-seater airplane. But do not overlook the Mayan coast itself. The near shore reef is perfect for beginners and there are underwater caves for the more advanced divers. On a good day, visibility can be up to 200 feet. Gentle currents running parallel to the reef are a drift diver’s dream. There are 19 popular scuba diving reef areas, including great locations teeming with marine life.
Belize
Boasting the second largest barrier reef in the world, Belize an English speaking country in Central America has a lot of dive sites on offer. It has some of the world’s best preserved marine ecosystems, 3 of the 4 atolls within the Caribbean (including the famous blue hole) and hundreds of different species of fish. Visibility can be poor, except along the leeside of atolls where it can reach 100 feet.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef gives you all kinds of possibilities; you can strap on a snorkel and explore the reef or stay under 20 feet for hours on a scuba tank, whichever you prefer. This enormous world heritage site would take years to fully explore through scuba diving and every time you dive here you’re sure to discover something new. If you’ve never dived before then don’t worry, this is the perfect place to get your PADI diving certificate. Simply said The Great Barrier Reef is a must-see for every diver. Daily dive tours are organized from Cairns and Townsville.
Turks & Caicos
Located close the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos stays sheltered from heavy currents and underwater visibility here is excellent all year round. The islands function as a summer gathering place for giant manta rays and have many sheer vertical drop offs. There is enough to keep you entertained during your diving adventures at Turks and Caicos.
Sulawesi Island, Indonesia
Indonesia offers an abundance of scuba diving opportunities but if you only have time to visit one then you can’t go any better than the island of Sulawesi. This island, and especially the Bunaken National Marine Park, offer some pristine diving sites with an abundance of fish and biodiversity. Sulawesi is also a great spot to get your PADI diving certificate. Makassar is the largest city on this island.
Little and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands are known for being a tax haven, but it is also home to one of the most beautiful underwater paradises in the world. Visibility is often between 80 and 150 feet in this paradise, and as such it is revered by scuba diving enthusiasts. The shallow reef surrounding the islands mixed with sheer 12,000 feet drops make this a favorite destination of many divers.
The Fiji Islands, South Pacific
Fiji, besides being one of the more easily reachable destinations in the Pacific, offers an incredible scuba diving experience. They sometimes call it the soft Coral Capitol in the world and the visibility and water quality are fantastic all year round.
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egyptian Red Sea
This Egyptian resort town offers some of the best all year round diving and due to its location, it’s appealing to European divers. The conditions are hard on beginners but this makes the reward all the greater. Shipwrecks such as the SS Thistlegorm make it that this is one of the top 10 diving sites in the world.
The Maldives
The Maldives is a popular honeymoon destination, besides being a fantastic dive site. The shallow lagoons around the many islands are great spots for beginning divers. The Channels between the islands are for the more adventurous and advanced divers. If you’re lucky, you might even see some big sharks at Sharks Point.
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
Bonaire, one of the smaller islands of the Netherlands Antilles, offers some of the best diving in the Caribbean. The arid climate and little rainfall make sure that visibility is fantastic all year round. The waters around the island are teaming with life due to the fact that it is a marine reserve. Once you’ve dived here you will understand why it is a favorite among underwater photographers. Kralendijk has a few good hotels to stay in.
