Top 10: Scuba Diving Destinations
© Harry Marks
When the waters are clear, the marine life's
abundant and the temperatures are ideal, nothing comes close to the thrill
scuba diving provides. The ability to explore the mysterious sea entices
many travellers to visit some of the world's most accessible and picturesque
coasts. That's why, with summer nearly here, it's worth checking out the 10
best scuba diving sites.
Whether you're a seasoned diver or are strapping on a wetsuit and oxygen
tank for the first time, these destinations will be unforgettable. They have
been chosen for their consistently great diving conditions and the unique
experiences they offer.
Number 10
Beqa Lagoon, Fiji
Approximately an hour's boat ride from the main island of Viti Levu, Beqa
Lagoon is a world-renowned diving spot. Its colourful soft corals and unique
underwater topography make it an exciting experience even for the most
seasoned divers. Boat tours leave daily from Viti Levu and give visitors the
freedom of at least two long dives during a trip to Beqa Lagoon.
Ask your tour guide to take you through Caesar's Rocks, Nisici Rocks and
Side Streets, three especially prime areas filled with cool formations,
tropical fish and blue ribbon eels. The best time to visit these spots is
during the Fijian "winter," from May to October.
Number 9
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
Instead of offering the gratification that sister islands Aruba and Curacao
are known for, Bonaire is mainly designed for one activity: scuba diving, of
course. A marine park encompasses the island and boasts over 100 diving
opportunities. Designating the waters as a "park" means the wonders that lie
within are protected, leaving divers with an unspoiled look at the
underwater ecosystem.
Once accustomed to the Caribbean waters, visitors can move from the shore to the deeper sea. Several local companies will ferry you out to prime spots, where you can explore the reef and search for sea turtles, parrot fish and nurse sharks. This activity is best experienced between September and December, when the sea is calmest.
Number 8
Yap, Micronesia
You may have never heard of this little island, but ask any true scuba diver
or Animal Planet-loving dude about Yap and he'll surely respond approvingly.
The island (located only 6,000 miles from Los Angeles; an hour's flight from
Guam) is known for its pristine water and abundant marine life. In fact,
ecologists, explorers and general nature enthusiasts visit because it's the
best location to spot the mysterious manta ray.
Best visited during the December through April dry season, this spot's simple purity makes it unique; no resort hotel or loud pub can be seen on its beaches. Instead, all you get is some of the world's best diving opportunities, replete with underwater caverns, and shark and sea turtle sightings, in addition to the numerous rays.
Number 7
Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
Four secluded islands just off of Mozambique's coast await jet-setting scuba
divers. In addition to the reefs and clear waters that divers expect, the
Marine National Park also offers supreme night diving and wreck exploration.
You can swim through these sunken ships or, as is more common, make friends
with grazing manatees and curious dolphins.
The diving is mostly done in open waters, within view of the islands. The best time to go is in June, July and August, when the heat becomes bearable. If you're interested in visiting the Barazuto Archipelago, however, make sure to check government travel advisories, as Mozambique still suffers from unrest following a long civil war.
Number 6
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Known as the king of all Caribbean diving sites (and there are many), the
Caymans boast all the features scuba divers demand. First, the weather is
pretty much beautiful year round, with rain occurring only in spurts during
the summer months. Second, the water is warm and clear, ideal for exploring
Grand Cayman's reefs and watching stingrays and angelfish in their habitat.
Third, visitors have access to both well-known and untouched scuba areas. A
little research will lead you to operators who are willing to take you to
the most secluded spots... if you're into that.
Peak tourist times -- when you're likely to kick another diver with your flipper -- are mid-December to mid-April. The summer months are quieter, but rain and hurricane threats tend to scare visitors away.
Number 5
Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
An increasingly popular tourist spot, the islands of Turks & Caicos offer
just as much fun under the water as they do above it. Located north of the
island of Hispaniola and considered part of the Bahamas, T&C's central point
is Grand Turk, truly a scuba diver's wet dream.
Thanks to the government's goal of protecting its prized natural environment -- preventing large-scale development of the Grand Turk bays impeding access to prime spots -- divers simply get to swim around untouched reefs, dunes and drop-offs.
A 15-minute boat ride by one of three tour operators brings you to the best areas, where batfish, dolphins and eels abound. Peak tourist season (mid-December to mid-April) makes the cost of these tours skyrocket, so your best bet is to visit between April and July, just before the weather becomes unbearably hot.
Number 4
Ambergris Caye, Belize
You'll feel like a real explorer while swimming through the warm Caribbean
waters of Belize. It's an underrated vacation spot and most people don't
even know that Belize is in Central America, just south of Mexico.
This all works in the favour of scuba divers, who can enjoy the depths in
peace before resting on the beach. The prime diving sites are located around
San Pedro, Belize's busiest tourist spot. There you can swim alongside nurse
sharks and stingrays in Shark Ray Alley, glide through the coral of the
Barrier Reef, and take underwater photos of eye-catching marine life. A
guide brings you through all these attractions, which are encompassed by the
Hol Chan Marine Reserve. If you'd rather explore on your own, boat trips
bring you to neighbouring keys, which feature caverns, wrecks and lots of
freedom.
Best visited during the dry season of November to May, the Ambergris Caye
has all you could ask for when it comes to scuba diving.
Number 3
Phuket, Thailand
There's a reason Phuket is known as the "Pearl of the South." The waters off
its coast are teeming with life and there's a range of diving opportunities
to take part in, from coral fields to shipwrecks and caves.
To experience this amazing spot properly, hard-core divers opt for a
"live-aboard" cruise, where, as the name indicates, you board a boat and
dive for days on end without setting foot on land. It's on these trips that
you're most likely to pet a docile whale shark, swim with manta rays and
explore grottos.
Those who want to remain near land can take advantage of numerous day trips
that bring you to one or two out of more than 15 great diving spots in the
Andaman Sea. Either way, head to Phuket between October and May, once
monsoon season dies down.
Number 2
Ras Mohammed National Park, Red Sea, Egypt
One of the busiest and most exhilarating places to scuba-dive in the world,
the Red Sea, and the Ras Mohammed National Park in particular, offers sites
to match every skill level. The deep reefs and occasional strong current
make exploration a challenge, but once you've gotten used to the
environment, diving in the Red Sea becomes a blast.
At Ras Mohammed, six autonomous areas can be explored, often on a two- or three-day trip. Reachable only by boat, each spot is memorable: Shark Reef boasts a steep drop and loads of groupers and stingrays; Yolanda Reef holds the remains of a shipwreck; Anemone City has more anemone and small fish than you'll ever see on the Discovery Channel; The Shark Observatory boasts great visibility and several caves; and Jackfish Alley and Ras Zatar provide great photo ops and more cave exploration.
All this is best explored from March to August (the hottest month), when the water temperatures hit the low 80s (°F).
Number 1
Heron Island, Queensland, Australia
This island may be unknown to you, but surely you've heard of the Great
Barrier Reef. The king of all scuba diving sites, the Reef is the world's
largest and houses thousands of species of fish, great white sharks and many
other natural treasures. At the heart of it all is Heron Island, a small,
unassuming place with arguably the best scuba diving you'll ever experience.
A coral cay, Heron offers more than 20 true diving sites, most of them less
than 15 minutes from your small resort hotel. Those looking to pick it up a
notch can partake in adventure or night diving as well.
You'll find these activities available year round, but the conditions are
particularly great between April and September. Watch out for poisonous box
jellyfish from October to May.
© Harry Marks