Top 10 Most Awesome Scuba Diving Spots Ever
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Savannah Sher
Thanks to Getty Images for the pictures and videos!
The Earth is mostly made up of water, and there are wonders beneath the waves. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we're counting down our picks for the the Top 10 Awesome Scuba Diving Spots.
For this list, we're looking at the coolest and and most unique destinations around the world that all scuba devotees need to check out.
The Earth is mostly made up of water, and there are wonders beneath the waves. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we're counting down our picks for the the Top 10 Awesome Scuba Diving Spots.
For this list, we're looking at the coolest and and most unique destinations around the world that all scuba devotees need to check out.
Top 10 Most Awesome Scuba Diving Spots Ever
The Earth is mostly made up of water, and there are wonders beneath the waves. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we're counting down our picks for the the Top 10 Awesome Scuba Diving Spots.
For this list, we’re looking at the coolest and and most unique destinations around the world that all scuba devotees need to check out.
#10: Silfra, Iceland
When people think of incredible scuba diving, they probably imagine warm climates and schools of tropical fish. So you might be surprised to hear that one of the most awe-inspiring spots to dive is actually in one of the world’s coldest countries: Iceland! Located inside Thingvellir National Park you’ll find Silfra, a fissure where you can actually dive between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. As if the concept alone isn’t mind-blowing enough, the very cold water coursing through the rift is incredibly clear, which affords divers some seriously stunning views.
#9: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
From some of the coolest waters to some of the warmest . . . we’re now heading to the gorgeous waters of Indonesia. The Raja Ampat islands, located off the north west coast of West Papua, have become a destination for divers from around the world. You’ll have the chance to see stunning creatures like manta rays, sharks and barracudas as well as other underwater life forms and incredible coral gardens. The Papua Diving Resort is one of the most popular places to get started, but it’s also possible to visit via a liveaboard trip, and “eat, sleep, dive.”
#8: Navy Pier, Australia
To see many of the most incredible underwater sights that the world has to offer, you have to go out relatively far into the ocean to find areas at least somewhat undisturbed by humans. At Navy Pier in Western Australia however, it’s possible to see impressive amounts of sea life right beside the shore. In fact, one reviewer called the area “the best shore dive on the planet”. It’s important to keep in mind that the name “Navy Pier” is literal, and this site isn’t actually open to the public, meaning you have to go through a private company to see these sights.
#7: Kona Coast, Hawaii
Under the sea, it doesn’t really matter if it’s night or day… or does it? You might think that if you swim deep enough the time of day should be irrelevant, but in fact, of course, certain sea creatures act differently in the later hours. That’s what makes the Manta Ray Night Dive in Hawaii so special. You get to see the manta rays at dinner time because there are special lights set up to attract plankton to the area . . which just so happens to be the manta rays favorite food. Seeing these gentle giants hunting is a bucket list experience.
#6: Cocos Island, Costa Rica
300 miles off the coast of Costa Rica you’ll find the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cocos Island. If you want to see marlin, dolphins, sailfish and sharks (and you know you do!) this is definitely the place to go. Most divers will have the opportunity to see the hammerhead sharks that populate the area, but if you want to be really certain of catching a glimpse, make the trip between June and November. There are about 20 different dive sites off the island, but Bajo Alcyone’s seamount is considered by many to be the best.
#5: Great Blue Hole, Belize
The entire Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the wonderfully-named Great Blue Hole is perhaps the most well known part of that system. This marine sinkhole was ranked in 2012 as the number one entry on the Discovery Channel’s list of "The 10 Most Amazing Places on Earth". Divers who venture down will be able to explore this underwater wonder, and hopefully see fish like the Midnight Parrotfish and Caribbean reef shark. It’s important to note that you have to have logged at least 24 dives to qualify to make the trip.
#4: Shark & Yolanda Reef, Egypt
In a particularly politically volatile part of the world, off the Sinai Peninsula near Ras Mohammed National Park, lies a reef that has been described as featuring an “underwater landscape that will make your head spin”. This destination requires a guide; the currents here can be dangerous, but also provide a drift diving experience like no other. You’ll be able to see turtles, pelagic fish, batfish, unicorn-fish and scorpion fish. Also, the wreck of the ship Yolanda decades ago left the seabed strewn with hundreds of toilets and porcelain plumbing fixtures. Weird and wonderful.
#3: Red Sea, Egypt
Also located nearby in the Red Sea, near the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, is another dive site that features a very cool shipwreck. While there are actually even more shipwrecks you can explore in Egypt, the one we’re going to recommend here is the SS Thistlegorm. The reasons so many ships have met their end in this region are those strong currents and the reefs, which, of course, also make for fascinating dive sites. The delightfully-named British Merchant Navy ship SS Thistlegorm sunk in 1941 with a variety of World War II war supplies on board, including a motorbike and a truck, both of which remain preserved underwater.
#2: Blue Corner, Republic of Palau
This archipelago nation bordering Micronesia is one of the biggest diving hot spots in the world, with approximately 41 thousand divers visiting each year. The particular features that make diving in gorgeous Palau a not-to-be-missed experience are the abundance of sea walls and steep drop-offs, as well as the chance to dive among sharks. The Blue Corner Wall makes for a great dive for those with more experience, since the strong currents can make the trip extra challenging. If you can manage it though, you’ll be rewarded with views of sea life unlike anywhere else.
#1: Sipadan Island, Malaysia
We’re going with a tried-and-true, legendary destination with our number one pick, which scuba aficionados broadly consider to offer some of the very best diving in the world. Sipadan Island, in the Celebes Sea off Borneo is famed for its pelagic wildlife and biodiversity, from sharks to a dizzying array of turtles to massive schools of fish like barracuda that can block light due to their density. The icon Jacques Cousteau made the area famous years ago when he filmed and extolled its virtues, but its subsequent popularity has done nothing to diminish its charms. The island itself is mostly closed off to visitors, so stay at a resort or lodge in nearby Semporna, and get diving!
The Earth is mostly made up of water, and there are wonders beneath the waves. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we're counting down our picks for the the Top 10 Awesome Scuba Diving Spots.
For this list, we’re looking at the coolest and and most unique destinations around the world that all scuba devotees need to check out.
#10: Silfra, Iceland
When people think of incredible scuba diving, they probably imagine warm climates and schools of tropical fish. So you might be surprised to hear that one of the most awe-inspiring spots to dive is actually in one of the world’s coldest countries: Iceland! Located inside Thingvellir National Park you’ll find Silfra, a fissure where you can actually dive between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. As if the concept alone isn’t mind-blowing enough, the very cold water coursing through the rift is incredibly clear, which affords divers some seriously stunning views.
#9: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
From some of the coolest waters to some of the warmest . . . we’re now heading to the gorgeous waters of Indonesia. The Raja Ampat islands, located off the north west coast of West Papua, have become a destination for divers from around the world. You’ll have the chance to see stunning creatures like manta rays, sharks and barracudas as well as other underwater life forms and incredible coral gardens. The Papua Diving Resort is one of the most popular places to get started, but it’s also possible to visit via a liveaboard trip, and “eat, sleep, dive.”
#8: Navy Pier, Australia
To see many of the most incredible underwater sights that the world has to offer, you have to go out relatively far into the ocean to find areas at least somewhat undisturbed by humans. At Navy Pier in Western Australia however, it’s possible to see impressive amounts of sea life right beside the shore. In fact, one reviewer called the area “the best shore dive on the planet”. It’s important to keep in mind that the name “Navy Pier” is literal, and this site isn’t actually open to the public, meaning you have to go through a private company to see these sights.
#7: Kona Coast, Hawaii
Under the sea, it doesn’t really matter if it’s night or day… or does it? You might think that if you swim deep enough the time of day should be irrelevant, but in fact, of course, certain sea creatures act differently in the later hours. That’s what makes the Manta Ray Night Dive in Hawaii so special. You get to see the manta rays at dinner time because there are special lights set up to attract plankton to the area . . which just so happens to be the manta rays favorite food. Seeing these gentle giants hunting is a bucket list experience.
#6: Cocos Island, Costa Rica
300 miles off the coast of Costa Rica you’ll find the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cocos Island. If you want to see marlin, dolphins, sailfish and sharks (and you know you do!) this is definitely the place to go. Most divers will have the opportunity to see the hammerhead sharks that populate the area, but if you want to be really certain of catching a glimpse, make the trip between June and November. There are about 20 different dive sites off the island, but Bajo Alcyone’s seamount is considered by many to be the best.
#5: Great Blue Hole, Belize
The entire Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the wonderfully-named Great Blue Hole is perhaps the most well known part of that system. This marine sinkhole was ranked in 2012 as the number one entry on the Discovery Channel’s list of "The 10 Most Amazing Places on Earth". Divers who venture down will be able to explore this underwater wonder, and hopefully see fish like the Midnight Parrotfish and Caribbean reef shark. It’s important to note that you have to have logged at least 24 dives to qualify to make the trip.
#4: Shark & Yolanda Reef, Egypt
In a particularly politically volatile part of the world, off the Sinai Peninsula near Ras Mohammed National Park, lies a reef that has been described as featuring an “underwater landscape that will make your head spin”. This destination requires a guide; the currents here can be dangerous, but also provide a drift diving experience like no other. You’ll be able to see turtles, pelagic fish, batfish, unicorn-fish and scorpion fish. Also, the wreck of the ship Yolanda decades ago left the seabed strewn with hundreds of toilets and porcelain plumbing fixtures. Weird and wonderful.
#3: Red Sea, Egypt
Also located nearby in the Red Sea, near the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, is another dive site that features a very cool shipwreck. While there are actually even more shipwrecks you can explore in Egypt, the one we’re going to recommend here is the SS Thistlegorm. The reasons so many ships have met their end in this region are those strong currents and the reefs, which, of course, also make for fascinating dive sites. The delightfully-named British Merchant Navy ship SS Thistlegorm sunk in 1941 with a variety of World War II war supplies on board, including a motorbike and a truck, both of which remain preserved underwater.
#2: Blue Corner, Republic of Palau
This archipelago nation bordering Micronesia is one of the biggest diving hot spots in the world, with approximately 41 thousand divers visiting each year. The particular features that make diving in gorgeous Palau a not-to-be-missed experience are the abundance of sea walls and steep drop-offs, as well as the chance to dive among sharks. The Blue Corner Wall makes for a great dive for those with more experience, since the strong currents can make the trip extra challenging. If you can manage it though, you’ll be rewarded with views of sea life unlike anywhere else.
#1: Sipadan Island, Malaysia
We’re going with a tried-and-true, legendary destination with our number one pick, which scuba aficionados broadly consider to offer some of the very best diving in the world. Sipadan Island, in the Celebes Sea off Borneo is famed for its pelagic wildlife and biodiversity, from sharks to a dizzying array of turtles to massive schools of fish like barracuda that can block light due to their density. The icon Jacques Cousteau made the area famous years ago when he filmed and extolled its virtues, but its subsequent popularity has done nothing to diminish its charms. The island itself is mostly closed off to visitors, so stay at a resort or lodge in nearby Semporna, and get diving!
