Top Scuba Diving Spots
The underwater environment is vast; a rich and diverse domain where each and every dive site offers something new and unique. Selecting the best scuba diving in the world is no easy feat. We have chosen ten dive destinations that showcase the best scuba diving in the world, ranging from tropical to cold water locations and covering all four corners of the globe. We have included the top sites to encounter amazing wildlife from large pelagics to macro critters and highlight some once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will have you reaching for your wet suit.
Ras Mohammed, Egyptian Red Sea
Located about 30 minutes to the south west of Sharm El Sheikh, Ras Mohammed National Park is one of the most beautiful dive sites in south Sinai. Created in 1983 by the Egyptian government, the park spreads over 185 square miles and includes: an underwater territory, the topside Isle of Tiran and a mangrove, a crucial piece of environment for aquatic life but also for a lot of birds (including the white crane!)
The seabed is protected and enjoys a thriving marine life, exceptionally diverse for the Red Sea. There are numerous dive sites in the park, so you can come back several times and never dive the same site twice!
Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea
The SS Thistlegorm is one of the most legendary dive sites in Egypt's Red Sea and arguably, among the planet's most impressive wrecks. This fascinating WWII era ship lies in the Strait of Gubal - a narrow passageway of water connecting the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea - where it was brought to rest in 1941 following a German air attack.
Every SS Thistlegorm dive treats guests to a wartime history lesson, with eerie artefacts including locomotives, tanks, army trucks, jeeps, and motorcycles. A tour of the surrounding seabed reveals a wealth of other interesting items, with military boots, rifles, and spare mechanical parts scattered as far as the eye can see. In fact, there's so much to see here that you'll need at least two dives to explore the ship's full exterior - in fact, you could take the plunge on this site every day for weeks and not see it all!
Penetration is possible into the Thistlegorm's cargo holds, where the most interesting and photogenic relics are found. You can also pay a visit to the stern to see this ship's towering machineguns and anti-aircraft guns still pointed skyward in preparation for an attack.
Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, Australia
Beyond the continental shelf that harbors the Great Barrier Reef, lie the isolated reef systems and crystal clear waters of Australia’s Coral Sea. The region covers over 1 million square kilometers – three times the size of the neighboring Great Barrier Reef – and is scattered with spectacular coral reefs, in an undersea world of ancient mountains, rising thousands of feet from the ocean floor.
In this oceanic wilderness, where man’s influence is relatively insignificant, pelagic fish populations abound including grey whalers and white tip reef sharks, hammerheads, tuna, barracuda, big eye trevally, mackerel and manta rays. Rare sea creatures such as the Nautilus and Lacey Scorpion fish inhabit these waters, alongside an incredibly diverse range of corals, including massive soft corals and gorgonian fans far from land, with the sea floor far below, the Coral Sea is also known for its blue clear waters and underwater visibility, which ranges between 30 and 100 meters.
Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman
With its year-round warm waters and abundant marine life, Bloody Bay Wall is one of the most gorgeous drop-offs in the Caribbean. No matter how many times you’ve dived this spot, Bloody Bay Wall will always provide a memorable experience. The vertical drop-off is teeming with colorful reef fish including a variety of angelfish, parrotfish, anthias, and surgeonfish. Within the nooks and crannies of the wall, especially around Three Fathom Wall, find moray eels, lobsters and crabs as well as squirrelfish and blennies. You are also likely to encounter large Nassau grouper, which like to roam the walls around Marilyn’s Cut. Looking out into the blue, you might spot Caribbean reef sharks, sea turtles, and the occasional blacktip reef shark.
Maaya Thila, South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Maaya Thila is one of the most prominent Maldivian dive sites, and is often included lists of the top 10 dive sites in the world. The site lies at a distance of around 8km/5mi to the northwest of the island of Ukulhas, and has become a well-established Protected Marine Area. It is a pinnacle, the top of which is covered with vibrant coral reef with regular reef marine life. It goes down to more than 30m/98ft deep where big fish are commonly seen. The site is also acknowledged for the presence of sharks. The site is suitable for night diving as well as day diving. However, the currents are unstable and often unpredictable, so this site should not be attempted by novice-level divers.
Palancar is one of the most extraordinary reefs, divided into 4 sections which include the Palancar Caves, Palancar Bricks, Palancar Horseshoe and Palancar Gardens. This dive is usually done as a multi level drift dive that ends about 7m/25ft on the top of the reef. Giant corals growing here form high towers, spires and caves, buttresses, gullies and canyons. The beginning of Palancar reef is known as the Palancar Bricks (a deep dive with many varied combinations of coral growth), and from there it’s about 4,9km/3mi of caves, canyons, overhangs and gardens. Palancar Horseshoe, located 1,4km/0,88mi from Palancar Bricks, is a large horseshoe shaped notch in the wall of Palancar, packed with series of giant coral heads. It is full of varied corals, sponges and a variety of marine life. 526m from Palancar Bricks folows the Palancar Caves site. It has deep buttresses, tunnels, caves and large caverns that sit along the edge of a sloping wall. Palancar Gardens (situated 756m from the previous site) is a great dive for beginners and a good place to encounter stingrays. The site features towering rock spires and cliffs that are covered with colorful corals (including black corals), gorgonians and purple and orange sponges.
Dos Ojos is a flooded cave system located at the south of Playa Del Carmen and north of Tulum (Quintana Roo, Mexico).
Dos Ojos has remains in the top 10 longest underwater cave systems in the world. It contains the deepest known cave passage in Quintana Roo with 118 meters / 396 feet of depth, located at The Cenote Pit.
Some underwater caves were filmed for an IMAX Film in 2002, called “Journey Into Amazing Caves”. Also, some parts of the Hollywood movie “The Cave” (2006) were filmed in the “Dos Ojos” cave system.
Water temperature is 24 to 25 °C (77 Fahrenheit) throughout the year, and the maximum depth near the “Dos Ojos” Cenotes is approximately 10 m (33 feet). The water is exceptionally clear.
There are a few varieties of fish living in the cavern and two types of freshwater shrimp. There is also a Bat Cave in which you can see the bats at the surface.
Fish Rock Cave at South West Rocks is voted among the top ten dives in Australia, and you can expect to dive with friendly turtles (all year round), grey nurse sharks (especially April-November) and masses of schooling fish which feed in the passing currents. Expect to see schools of pelagics, giant Queensland groper, rare black coral gardens, huge wobbegongs, anemones, clownfish, shells, lionfish, lobsters, large stingrays, migrating humpback whales and much, much more.
One of the most legendary surfing beaches in Australia is the world-famous Bondi beach. Situated about 4 miles from the center of Sydney, it’s a major tourist attraction and often the first stop when visitors arrive in the city. It’s also a favorite for locals, too. With jaw-dropping views, crystal-blue waves (with lefts and rights), and a consistent swell year-round, it’s no surprise that Bondi draws passionate surfers who wish to catch waves at this iconic warm-water destination throughout the year. In addition to the surf and sand, Bondi is also famous for the lively culture, as it’s home to bars, restaurants, boutique shops, food markets, and lovely hiking trails.
One of the most legendary surfing beaches in Australia is the world-famous Bondi beach. Situated about 4 miles from the center of Sydney, it’s a major tourist attraction and often the first stop when visitors arrive in the city. It’s also a favorite for locals, too. With jaw-dropping views, crystal-blue waves (with lefts and rights), and a consistent swell year-round, it’s no surprise that Bondi draws passionate surfers who wish to catch waves at this iconic warm-water destination throughout the year. In addition to the surf and sand, Bondi is also famous for the lively culture, as it’s home to bars, restaurants, boutique shops, food markets, and lovely hiking trails.
Utila has gained recognition among travelers for being a fun and affordable place to visit. It’s unique in many ways with visitors acclaiming both the authentic feel of the island and the friendliness of the locals. Striking up conversation is easy and because of the wide variety of visitors from around the world, you’ll likely find yourself chatting it up with strangers from across the globe.
Sitting on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest reef system on the planet, Utila is host to world class diving. With over 60 buoyed dive sites, there is plenty to explore. Wrecks, caves, huge drops offs, and sea mounds all around the island provide changing dive scenery to ensure every dive is unique and memorable.
Perhaps most famously, Utila is known as the Whale Shark Capitol of the Caribbean. It is one of the only places on the planet where they are documented in every month of the year. Migrating great distances to visit Utila’s waters, they are mostly found on the north side of the island where they feed on the scores of plankton pushed up to the ocean’s surface by currents.
Utila truly has something for everyone. Come see for yourself!
