If you are a diver or simply someone who loves to get in touch with nature, there are places on the planet where it is possible to indulge your passion. Some of them are famous for diving spots while others will offer you the opportunity to see that particular flora and fauna that only can be found in these parts of the world.
The following list was prepared based on the opinion of several people who have actually dived in one or more of these places.
With that said, let’s take a look at five best places for diving enthusiasts!
#1 Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
This place is situated in South Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, which is also called Gebel El Sheikh. It’s one of the oldest diving areas in the world and was registered as a marine reserve since 1981.
There are several diving locations here which offer you different types of water depths ranging from 3 to 30 meters. Most famous places include Ras Mohammad, Brothers Reef, Mussam, and Sharm el Maya.
The place is rich in marine life due to the surrounding algae which creates perfect conditions for their development. You can see them in shallow waters or if you are more experienced, even at 30 meters depth near Ras Mohammed National Park .
There are over 400 types of coral around the shoreline while the water temperatures reach 24 degrees Celsius all year round. The visibility is also at 8 meters and because of these great conditions, divers can admire various sea animals such as sharks, dolphins, and moray eels.
#2 Bonaire, Netherland Antilles
Located in the Leeward Antilles island group in the Caribbean Sea, Bonaire is a well-known location for divers as it’s one of the best places to see clown fish as well as other exotic sea animals.
The area has actually been used as a military base but was abandoned in 1980 and later turned into a marine park. It now boasts vivid coral reefs which are home to more than 15 species of coral and a large number of reef fish.
The water depth varies from 0 to 40 meters, the temperature is between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit while visibility reaches 20 meters. Despite the fact that it’s one of the most popular diving spots in the world, Bonaire has managed to keep its natural beauty so you can see corals, sea fans, and sponges that are thriving in their natural habitat.
#3 Belize City, Belize
Situated on the Caribbean Sea coast of Central America, this place is great for all levels of divers as it offers underwater terrain suitable for both beginners and advanced level scuba diving.
The diving spots in Belize are concentrated around the barrier reef which extends up to 70 kilometers offshore. Snorkeling is also possible in this place since you will see lots of fish and other marine animals.
The variety of marine life in Belize includes barracudas, red snappers, groupers, dolphins, and sea turtles. The area is perfect for underwater photographers as it offers different types of marine species which are great for taking photographs.
The water depth varies between 3 meters to over 100 meters while the scenery here is breathtaking so you will never feel bored diving in this place. After you dive, you can go visit nearby Maya ruins since the inland features the largest and densest concentration of pre-Columbian ruins in all of Central America.
#4 Bunaken Island, Indonesia
If you desire to see one of the most beautiful corals in the world, then this island is a place not to be missed since it has over 400 types of hard and soft corals. This place is blessed with countless underwater marine species, including sharks and rays!
Bunaken Island is located in North Sulawesi province in Indonesia. It’s a great place for divers since the water temperature is around 26 degrees Celsius all year round while visibility reaches 30 meters most of the time. The water depth varies from 10 to 40 meters.
There are many different diving spots in Bunaken where you can see a variety of fish and coral species, but the most popular one is called Three Sisters since it offers three large rocky outcrops which create a labyrinth of channels and caves perfect for snorkeling. If you have an advanced level license, you can also dive at deeper parts of the sea where even king fish are waiting for you.
#5 Cayman Islands
This place is excellent for scuba diving since it’s blessed with many coral reefs. There are also lots of wrecks here so snorkeling enthusiasts can find sunken ships, tanks, cars, and aircrafts that are now home to various sea animals.
If you want to learn how to scuba dive, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places for you since it has many diving schools offering courses for all levels. There are also guided tours for first-timers so you don’t need any experience to dive here.
The Cayman Islands are located in the Caribbean Sea, near Cuba. You can visit two of the three islands which are Little Cayman and Grand Cayman since they both offer fantastic underwater scenery for scuba divers. Both spots are blessed with colorful reefs, barracudas, stingrays, nurse sharks, spiny lobsters, and turtles. The water temperature varies between 77 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit, while the visibility reaches 50 meters.
#6 Koh Tao, Thailand
If you’re into night diving, then this place is perfect for you since it’s home to a huge number of aquatic species that come out during sunset and nighttime. There are also lots of dive shops that offer night diving for beginners as well as advanced level divers.
When you visit this place, you will see amazing corals and lots of tropical fish. If you love to take underwater photos, then this is a great spot since the underwater scenery here is very beautiful and not to mention exotic! There are also many shallow dive sites where you can enjoy having fun with your friends.
Koh Tao is located in the Gulf of Thailand, it’s also called “Turtle Island” since there are lots of sea turtles that you can easily find here. You can visit The New Heaven Reef which has a great variety of over 12 species of soft corals as well as two species of sea whips. This reef is where you can find the underwater version of the Grand Canyon, so it’s definitely worth checking out!
#7 Layang-Layang (Swallow Reef) Malaysia/Brunei
It’s a popular spot for snorkeling and scuba diving since there are many colorful corals, tropical fishes, and lots of soft corals. If you’re into wreck diving, then this place is the best since there are over 30 wrecks here that are inhabited by various aquatic species including sea turtles. You can also see dolphins if you come here between November to June.
The water temperature ranges from 28 to 32 degrees Celsius while the visibility can reach 30 meters. The average depth of this place is around 8-20 meters and you can easily find sandy and rocky areas here.
#8 Malapascua, Philippines
This place is perfect for first-time divers since the underwater scenery is really beautiful and there are also lots of turtles and white-tip sharks here. You can also see the thresher sharks which you will only be able to see in Malapascua, as well as various species of tropical fish such as angelfish and butterfly fish.
The best time to visit this place is from April to October when the water is clear and there are fewer divers. So, if you want to enjoy the place without too many people swimming with you, then avoid visiting here during summer and autumn since it gets crowded at this time.
Also known as “Donsol,” this place has a temperature of between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius so don’t forget to bring your wetsuits. You can visit Pandanon Island where you can find a huge variety of fish such as barracudas, bumphead parrotfish and sailfin tangs.
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