We’re counting down our picks for the top ten scuba diving destinations in 2021. Are you a fan of our posts? Be sure to comment to travel and Ring the bell to be notified about our latest posts. For this list, we’re looking at countries, States and islands around the world that are ideal for under the sea exploration.
Number 10 Florida
If you live in the States and don’t want to travel abroad, Florida is among the best spots for scuba diving for experienced snorkelers. Looking to get their feet wet should consider the shallow yet stunning dry Tortugas National Park. The Rainbow River’s waters are also shallow for laid back divers who want to go with the flow first. Slightly more seasoned scuba divers who are ready for the next step. You can swim with manatees at Crystal River and turtles at West Palm Beach. FL has. A variety of sunken ships to explore, such as the Benwood wreck in Key Largo. To make the most of your trip, visit the Devils den and Blue Grotto back to back for a cavern adventure that cannot be topped.
Number 9 Belize
If the Mayan civilization fascinates you just as much as underwater exploration, this Caribbean country is a must visit located between Guatemala and Mexico. Belize is surrounded with glorious diving sites from Ambergris Caye, Belize’s biggest island. You can make your way to diving spots like Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan Marine Reserve just off the coast of Belize City. You’ll find the great blue hole be iconic and massive. Marine sinkhole. Famed underwater researcher Jacques Cousteau went as far as to name it. One of the five best scuba diving areas on Earth. This World Heritage site is smack dab in the middle of the lighthouse reef. A Wonderland of coral that stretches almost 22 miles.
8 Egypt
When people think of Egypt, the Great Pyramids and spectacular desert landscapes typically come to mind. This country’s awe. Inspiring landscapes aren’t just above land, however. Egypt is also one of the top destinations. For scuba diving, which is to be expected when the Mediterranean Sea is on the northern coast and the Red Sea Riviera lies along the eastern coastline. If you want to explore the Mediterranean, we’d recommend making your way to Alexandria from this city you can dive to the depths of Cleopatra’s underwater palace. As for the Red Sea, the blue hole is just north of Dahab, while Shadowmachine is famous for its coral reefs. Whenever Egypt hits especially high temperatures, diving is the perfect way to beat the heat.
Number seven Hawaii
Whether you want to go parasailing or catch some waves, Hawaii is a dream destination for anybody who loves the water. Naturally, this extends to scuba diving as well as snorkeling. The Aloha state is rich with breathtaking marine life. Although the manta rays are arguably the main attractions when the sun goes down on the Big Island, divers and snorkelers can get up close and personal with these so-called Devil Fish which are actually quite harmless. Depending on where you choose to dive. You could also encounter a squirmy octopus, a Bale of turtles, or a coral reef beaming with aquatic life. If that’s not exciting enough for you, maybe swimming with the school of Galapagos Sharks will do the trick.
Number 6 Bahamas
Perhaps even more so than Hawaii. The Bahamas is usually what comes to mind when people think of an island paradise. What makes it an especially great spot for divers is the sheer amount of variety from sharks to dolphins. There is a diverse array of sea creatures to get acquainted with. Blue holes, underground caves and undersea wrecks are among the numerous sites to choose from, guaranteeing that each diving experience will be unique and especially cool. Spot to explore is the Bimini Road or the Bimini Wall. This underwater rock formation has also been called the road to Atlantis, with some speculating that it was once a highway to lost civilization. Whatever you believe, it’s still a wonder to behold.
5 Australia
Australia’s endangered Great Barrier Reef. Is every bit as majestic as its animated counterpart in Finding Nemo? While we definitely wouldn’t recommend taking any clown fish from their anemone, you should definitely check out this massive coral reef system. Being the largest in the world, there’s plenty to cover. The outer reef is probably the most accessible site, but if you venture further, the young gallery and the ribbon reefs await. Aside from the Great Barrier Reef, you can travel West to explore the second largest reef, Ningaloo Reef and South to Cage. Dive with sharks in Port Lincoln. Those who love boating as much as they love diving should consider making this a liveaboard trip. To explore. Remote areas.
Number 4 Mexico
In addition to the Gulf of Mexico, this country fronts on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Cozumel, Mexico’s largest city in the Caribbean, is famous for its marine park where more than 260 species of fish do their thing. While the Gulf is overflowing with natural beauty. What makes it unique are the artificial reefs made from decommissioned oil rigs. Although the Pacific Coast isn’t as well known for diving, the ocean does possess some underrated sites like the Revillagigedo Islands. To get there, you can take a boat from the Baja California Peninsula, which hosts its own fair share of fun diving spots like La Paz and Cabo San Lucas from the Socorro Islands to Playa del Carmen. You cannot go wrong.
Number 3 Galapagos islands
The Galapagos Islands make almost $143 million annually from tourism. So outsiders are more than welcome. That said, humans can be a threat to the ecosystem if they don’t act responsibly. That means, among other things, maintaining your boat to prevent seawater contamination. If you take the proper steps though, there is no reason why divers can’t enjoy the wonders that these islands have to offer. Of course, the main draw is getting to encounter the sea turtles, but you’re also likely to come across seals, dolphins, and even Penguins year round, depending where you dive for newcomers Academy Bay. Camano Island and North Seymour are all good places to start off. For experienced divers, try swimming with the Hammerhead and Galapagos sharks at Wolf Island.
Number 2 Philippines
So while Mindanao does have more than 1000 sea creatures, Luzon and Visayas are the most popular areas for diving on Luzon, the Philippines largest island you can add to Anilao, Batangas, a gateway to the countries. Best muck diving. As for Visayas, Cabilao Island features dive sites like Fallen Tree and Gorgonians Wall. Few divers would dispute, however, the fact that no trip to the Philippines would be complete without a visit to Tubbataha National Park, especially if you’re a diver with a bucket list located in the center of the Sulu Sea. This reef has almost 600 fish species as well as various sharks and dolphins.
Number one Indonesia
There are over 17,000 islands in Indonesia. As such, narrowing down where to dive is no easy task. If we had to single out the best of the best, however, the island of Sulawesi has some of the best sites for muck diving, as well as reef diving. The USAT Liberty shipwreck is close to Tulamben Bali, which is also a top spot for walls, corals, and sea creatures. If marine life is what you’re looking for, over 1500 fish species and more than 500 coral species can be found at the Raja Ampat Islands. Obviously we can’t list. Every marvel to be found here. But these biodiverse waters include dolphins and jellyfish. Not to mention whales.
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