Scuba diving is on the bucket list of most people. However, most travelers may not realize that some places offer a much superior scuba diving experience than others.
Now, I don’t know about you, but personally, when I want to do something, I go all in. Therefore, if I am looking for a scuba diving destination, I will go for the best thing available. So should you. I mean, you deserve an exceptional experience during your scuba diving vacation, don’t you?
So, here’s our quick review of the top seven places to travel to when you are looking for a top-of-the-line scuba diving experience:
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Mexico
Mexico has some absolute gems for scuba divers. Socorro Island, for example, is a favorite to many scuba divers. It is one of the few islands worldwide where divers can swim alongside humpback whales.
You may also encounter friendly dolphins, giant manta rays, and hammerhead sharks.
Socorro Island is an outstanding destination, but it may be a bit too much for absolute beginners. But guess what? Even newbies have a diving spot in Mexico. Head over to the Yucatan peninsula and enjoy a calm diving experience. You will find lots of cenotes in the area.
The cenote dos Ojos, for example, has incredible underwater caves worth exploring.
Cozumel also has its good share of underwater attractions. There are multiple reefs in the area, as reported in this URL. There are some wreck diving opportunities at Cozumel too.
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Costa Rica
Costa Rica is home to Cocos island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island has a wide array of aquatic animals such as whale sharks, manta rays, and scalloped hammerhead sharks. The island is located towards the pacific.
When you go to the eastern Costa Rica coast of the Caribbean sea, you will encounter shipwrecks and amazing coral reefs. You may also see seahorses, eels, reef sharks, turtles, and other creatures.
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The Philippines
Fun fact of the day, the Philippines has over 7,000 islands! The country, therefore, offers a multitude of diving opportunities.
The best part? Different spots offer a different experience. So whether you are looking for underwater selfies with aquatic animals or a shipwreck, the Philippines has just the perfect spot for you.
For example, Subic Bay has sunken warships you could explore. That is because the area was once a naval ship base for the US.
Coron Island also presents wreck diving opportunities. There are warships under the water and beautiful coral reefs. The scenery at Coron island is also unforgettable.
If it’s marine creatures you’re interested in, go to Boracay. You will find parrotfish, angelfish, puffers, and other reef fish. Sea snakes, eels, and stingrays also wander around these waters sometimes.
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Indonesia
The Philippines has over 7,000 islands; do you know how many Indonesia has? More than 17,000!
Indonesia is also known for having over a third of the planet’s reef fish species and about three-fourths of the coral species in the world. There’s so much to see when diving in Indonesia.
You can start your diving trip in Bali. You will encounter sunken ships, temples, and coral-coated pinnacles.
When you’re ready for the ultimate experience, head over to the remote region of Raja Ampat, the island has vibrant sea life with some rare aquatic species being discovered all the time. Indonesia is a dream location for any scuba diver.
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French Polynesia
French Polynesia comprises several islands, including Bora Bora, Tahiti, Tetiaroa, and Moorea. These islands provide all sorts of diving experiences. You can do wreck diving at Faa’a lagoon in Tahiti. You will come across seaplanes and world war II minesweepers.
Bora Bora, on the other hand, gives you first-class coral reef exploration. There are even overhangs and swim-throughs.
If you want to see more reef fish, coral canyons, and caves, go to Tetiaroa.
There’s just too much you can do in French Polynesia, and that’s the destination is a must-go.
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New Zealand
New Zealand (Poor Knights Island, in particular) presents both warm and cold water aquatic creatures. The island experiences currents of warm water coming from the coral sea sweeping towards cooler waters.
That allows both warm and cold water creatures to survive on the island. So you may come across parrotfish, sea turtles, blue maomao, and scorpionfish in the same waters.
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Australia
Australia houses the Great Barrier Reef. This UNESCO World Heritage site has the largest collection of coral reefs on the planet.
Expect to see a diverse collection of corals, mollusks, sponges, anemones, fish, and other marine animals.
Honestly speaking, there are many amazing scuba diving destinations. We couldn’t cover them all, but the list above captures our favorite spots. Is there a diving spot you think deserved to be in our top seven list? Let us know.