Top 10 Scuba Diving Spots in the World
It’s a big world out there waiting to be discovered. But, did you know, water covers about 71 percent of the earth's surface? And if you’re sick of the mundane and want a different type of adventure, you have plenty of options. Why not discover the underwater world like Trippy user
Juliette Perrin did.
Juliette asked:
I am fond of scuba diving, and I plan to travel soon, so I am wondering the best spots you have ever been?
We have the top scuba diving spots for Juliette and you:
1. Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Raja Ampat, located in the remote Papua island of Indonesia is an ideal scuba diving spot for those who like a remote and sparsely populated destination with sapphire waters, untouched reef, and deserted beaches. See tasseled wobbegong sharks, pygmy seahorses, rainbow-striped mandarin fish, manta rays, and millions of fish.
Getting there will take you several days. You’ll need to find a flight to Sorong airport (SOQ), followed by a ferry to Raja Ampat.
For additional information, visit
Stay Raja Ampat.
2. Ningaloo Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef and the eastern coast of Australia are not the only scuba diving spots in Australia. On the west coast is
Ningaloo Marine Park, a World Heritage site, and the world’s largest fringing reef.
To those who prefer spots that are quiet, the good news is Ningaloo is the least visited coral reef in Australia. See manta rays, humpback whales, whale sharks, turtles, tropical fish and more without the crowd. The most famous species in Ningaloo are the whale sharks. Whale sharks stay at Ningaloo Reef for a few months after the full moon in March.
3. Bonaire
Rick Schulze from Denver, Pam Lassers from Michigan and Christopher Woodrow from Illinois recommended
Bonaire. Rick wrote:
The best place I've ever been diving is Bonaire. The island doesn't offer much above the surface, but it has amazing dive sites. Many sites are accessible from the shore; you don't need to take a boat, and you don't need to go very deep. Travel well and be safe!
Pam:
The best diving we have experienced in the Caribbean is Bonaire, in the southern Caribbean. This tiny island is made for diving with 20+ shore drives, deep walls, sloping drop-offs, exciting wrecks and a double reef system. We recommend Dive Friends Bonaire and like the Sand Dollar Condominium Resort.
According to
Bonaire Tourism Board, Bonaire offers 365 days a year of pristine underwater environment for scuba diving. There are 63 official dive spots with more than 350 fish species and 57 species of soft and stony coral.
4.Bay Islands, Honduras
Kasey Curtis said:
The Bay Islands of Utila and Roatan off the coast of Honduras are amazing. In fact, Alton's Dive Center in Utila is continually sighting and swimming with dolphins and whale sharks, if that interests you. (I'm not being paid to advertise, I just had a great experience there). I saw many critters there that I've never seen before, including seahorses. Fun!
The plus to diving in Honduras is the cost is 1/2 the price of diving in other places. The other plus is lodging is free when you dive, so it's even more affordable.
The best time to dive at the Bay Islands is April and May when it is dry and warm. If you like to see whale sharks, you’re better off going there from mid-February to April.
For the best scuba diving school, Trippy user
Andy Huang recommended Bay Islands College of Diving in Utila:
I went there in the summers of 2011 and 2012 and got both my open water and advanced open water certifications there.
5. Phi Phi Island, Thailand
Rebecca Beacham from Brooklyn said:
You could also go over to Southeast Asia - Thailand has some fantastic options at great prices. Check out Koh Tao or Phi Phi Islands.
You can catch a flight from Bangkok to Krabi and take a 90-minute ferry ride from Krabi to Phi Phi Island. Phi Phi is in the Andaman Sea. The best time to visit is from November to mid-January when it’s least humid and the water is calmer.
6. Sipadan Island, Malaysia
Sipadan Island is in the Celebes Sea off the coast of Borneo Malaysia. To get there, fly to Kuala Lumpur (capital city of Malaysia) or Kota Kinabalu and catch a connecting flight to Tawau. From Tawau, take a 90-minute drive to Semporna. You’ll join a scuba diving tour company that will take you to Sipadan Island, about 45 minutes’ boat ride from Semporna.
The island only allows 120 permits for divers per day. To avoid disappointment, book your diving tour in advance. For additional information check out
Asia Diving Vacation.
7. Curacao
Peter Keuler recommended
Curacao. He wrote:
I really enjoyed Curacao. All of my dives were shore dives, very easy, but very spectacular. Wrecks, reefs, great fish, and coral! Plus it's a great island!
Curacao offers 65 diving sites with fun sites where you can see sunken ships and sea turtles. According to
PADI, the best dive sites are on the southwest coast of Curacao.
8. Silfra Fissure, Iceland
For a different type of scuba diving, go to Iceland. Trippy user
Cameron Stark wrote:
On my bucket list, based on recommendations of friends and locals, is Silfra, where the North American and Eurasian plates meet. Imagine 100+m visibility and water so clean; you could take your reg out and drink it... Although it is 2c, so a dry suit is a must and I wouldn't recommend taking the regulator out.
At
Silfra in Thingvellir National Park, you’ll dive in crystal clear freshwater spring between two tectonic plates – North America and Eurasian. See unique underwater rock formations and lava fields.
9. Bora Bora
If you like scuba diving and luxury travel, we suggest going to
Bora Bora. Stay at the InterContinental Resort & Thalasso Spa. This overwater bungalow resort houses TOPDIVE Moorea dive center that caters to novice and experienced divers. You don’t have to leave the resort to go scuba diving. Everything is in-house, which means you don't have to travel for miles to get to a dive spot.
Also read
5 Day Trips to Take in Bora Bora.
10. Cahuita, Costa Rica
Lola G from Ireland said:
I recommend Cahuita. It's on the Caribbean side and not crowded! I stayed at Cahuita National Park Hotel which had ocean views and was right next door to the National Park. It's budget-friendly, and the rooms are spacious. The town has a good selection of bars and restaurants. If you have the need for a more happening night out, it's not too far from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
Scott Beckett from Florida agreed:
The Caribbean Coast has some of the largest underwater National Parks in Costa Rica. Cahuita National Park.
Marino Ballena National Park at 13,300 acres houses the largest coral reef on the Pacific Coast of Central America.
Cahuita is in the southern Caribbean coast is a laid-back and low-key paradise compared to the other scuba diving spots in Costa Rica. To get there, either fly to San Jose or Limon. Ground transportation for San Jose or Limon is readily available.
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