| 8 mins read
Emily Meadows
While on a seaside holiday, some of us may wish to float on top of the water and conveniently snorkel our way through a destination. If you would rather be underwater, scuba diving amid all the action, then these are the best spots for you! While some are more dangerous than others (think staring into the eyes of a shark) they all provide an unforgettable experience.
1. Maldives
Crystal-clear waters paired with pristine white sand beaches, makes Maldives a very popular destination, more so with underwater aficionados. Head here to scuba dive and you may come face to face with some of your greatest fears. Meet a hammerhead shark up-close and personal by heading over to Rasdhoo Madivaru, or Hammerhead Point very early in the morning.
If you want to see Manta Rays, head out to Manta Point in Baros. For the more experienced diver who is comfortable with strong currents that require hooking up to a rock, Maavaru Kandu is for you. Located in the northern part of Ari Atoll, there is a spot here which the Manta Rays have adopted as a cleaning station. So, make your way there and sit still, before you know it a ray will be approaching you. Go a little bit south to Broken Rock in South Ari Atoll to dive in a very deep canyon covered in softer corals; the colours are truly beautiful.
Again, this dive is for experienced divers as the currents are strong. For the best dive in Male, get over to Kandooma Thila, an underwater world enriched with magnificent marine life and breath-taking scenery. A little spot here in the west called Jack Corner, is the best place to be when the current is going out. Chances here are pretty high that if you're in good conditions you will see groups of Dogtooth Tuna, Eagle Rays, White-Tip Reef Sharks, and Barracuda.
There is even a small cave here to explore. Head to the top of the reef, and you'll be rewarded with sightings of many different turtle species. When you're finally done under water, grab a spot on those pristine white-sand beaches we mentioned before and soak up the sun.
2. Philippines
The Philippines are awesome because they are made up of so many little islands, over seven thousand to be exact. Every island has something unique to offer, and the coral reefs are amazingly well preserved, especially the ones at Palawan which is why it is considered one of the best diving experiences in the world. There are several diving spots on this part of the islands, each one with something different to offer.
If you want a mix of everything, diving at El Rio y Mar will help you find a shipwreck, enter a marine life preservation area, see lots and lots of turtles, and hopefully spot a Dugong as well! If shipwrecks are your goal, head over to Coron, where you will find both wrecks and caverns to explore.
El Nido will be most suited to everyone's tastes if you've got a mix of divers, snorkelers, and sunbathers in your group. But if you want what many consider to be one of the best diving spots in the world, book a trip over to the Tubbataha Reef in the National Park, a memorable diving experience to put it subtly.
The Philippines as a whole, are full of diving adventures. So, if Palawan isn't on your schedule, maybe one of these spots is. When you're done with your scuba-diving adventures, consider heading back over to Manila, the capital city of the Philippines and take an Island Hopping tour around the city for a full day of water sports.The Filipinos are also an extraordinarily welcoming community, and you will find the guides here extremely friendly and fun.
3. Koh Tao, Thailand
You will find some impressive scuba diving in Thailand at the White Rock in Koh Tao. Arrive here to find a huge coral garden that is surrounded by two big granite boulders, and the depth of water here makes it suitable for all levels of experience. While underwater be sure to look for turtles, Titan triggerfish, six-banded angel fish, butterfly fish, and even barracudas! This spot is also known for its night time dives, and rare sightings of whale sharks too! To get to Koh Tao you can hop aboard this ferry.
4. Indonesia
Made up of over eighteen thousand islands, Indonesia has the largest variety of underwater life than any other spot on the planet, and is even part of the “Coral Triangle.” The most well-known dive spot is off Papua, called Raja Ampat. If you talk to anyone about traveling in Indonesia, this is a spot that is often brought up. There are around fifteen hundred small islands that make up this specific area, and is home to over twelve-hundred different marine species. You will need to make your way to Sorong, the gateway to Papua and meet local guides that can help you design your scuba itinerary.
5. Ecuador
Charles Darwin was the first to make the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador famous and the vast amount of wildlife found here continues to keep the reputation of the island up. But it isn't just wildlife on land that is of interest here in the islands; the underwater marine life is incredible and one of the best places in the world to go scuba diving.
The Galapagos have been a protected island for quite some time now. Pair those conservation efforts with the naturally occurring nutrient-dense waters (aided by the nearby volcanoes), and you've got yourself a dense diving area. Expect to see whales and rays of all kinds, sharks, pelagic fish, and marine iguanas, the list goes on. Keep in mind that currents are strong here, and hence experience is absolutely necessary. There are limitations on the number of divers that can go out each day in order to protect the marine life, so be sure to research your options on the dates you will be there.
Most travelers choose to spend a week or two at sea on a live aboard to fully experience the area, specifically the dive sites of Darwin Island and Wolf Island. Both have dense populations of sharks, as well as, Eagle Rays and dolphins. There is also Punta Vincente Roca, which offers a cold-water diving experience. On land you will see animals such as sea lions and penguins, but under the water you may see seahorses, batfish, or horn sharks. If you are headed to the Machalilla National Park, you can stop by Isla de la Plata for a dive as well. And if you want to come up close and personal with even more unique wildlife, journey through the islands with a local guide.
6. South Africa
If you've never heard of the sardine run that goes along South Africa for a few months each year, then you're missing a key part of why scuba diving here is so good. The natural phenomenon happens when billions of little sardines spawn at Agulhas Bank and then migrate along the east coast of South Africa. Stop by Aliwal Shoal and during the summer months and you may be able to witness the sardine run yourself. Predators flock to the area to try and get a taste of the little fish. Any other time of year, this spot is still incredible with diving excursions to find dolphins and sharks, or deep sea sites as well. And if you'd rather be inside of a cage when you come face to face with a shark, there are options for that too.
7. Malta
Malta is an ideal diving spot, with clear waters and high levels of visibility, and more so, no known dangerous sea creatures. Check out Lantern Point, where you can dive through a tunnel wide enough to manoeuvre around, into the depth of the water over fifty meters. The sea creatures that await you at the end of the tunnel include fire-worms, purple heart urchins, and spiny starfish. There are also several organized dives into shipwrecks all over Malta, andtours that will take you on a week-long adventure through the wrecks; you will be spoilt for choices here.
8. Brazil
Brazil offers some of the most diverse diving options on our list. Not only can you dive coral reefs here, but you can also dive ship-wrecks, or rocky sites. A spot that is a favourite among divers is Laje de Santos Marine Park close to San Paulo. The area is known for its dense population of Devil Rays that can grow to sizes of 3,600 lbs. and even sometimes leap out of the water. Head to the Marine Park from May to September for the best chance to meet a Manta Ray in person. And if you are really trying to expand your diving experiences, think about taking a free-diving expedition out onto the Amazon River to meet a pink dolphin or giant otter face-to-face.
“Emily Meadows is the author of Emily's Guide to Kraków. She currently resides part of the year in Ocean City, Maryland and the other part in Aspen, Colorado in the midst of her travels.”
Image detail and license: https://flic.kr/p/qbrmZ8 (Les Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0)