Though life on land is quite amazing in its own way, many will tell you that life beneath the waters is even more astonishing. Extreme, Exotic and Fascinating – scuba diving is all about exploring and enjoying the colorful life below the sea, a sight you don’t get to see often. So, if you are looking for something more than extraordinary and have a few adventurous bones in your body, do not look further and read on to get acquainted with some of the best travel destinations for scuba diving that promise tons of adventure, great sensations and memorable vacations.
Fiji Islands, South Pacific
With 800 picturesque islands sprawling over 80,000 square miles of ocean, a fantastic variety of colorful soft corals, diverse selection of tropical marine life, and a wealth of specialist scuba diving resorts, not to mention excellent visibility and stable year-round warm water temperatures; it’s easy to see why Fiji diving is considered among the world’s best. Known as the ‘Soft Coral Capital of the World,’ Fiji offers a wealth of diving experiences, catering to divers of all levels and interests. White Wall in the Somosomo Strait, Jim’s Alley in Gau Island, Black Rock Cavern in the Island of Koro and Coral Gardens in Makogni Island are a few of the many dive sites Fiji has on offer, while Fiji diving is also noted for some of the best shark dive in the world that is sure to delight every diver.
Australia
There are many things that characterize Australia, one of the most amazing and beautiful places on Earth that people should visit in their lifetime – unusual animals like Kangaroos and Koalas, fascinating architectural wonders like the Sydney Opera House, stunning natural wonders, like the fabulous Golden Coast – a paradise of golden beaches, sparkling blue waters, sizzling nightlife and beachfront boulevards and more much more. You can book your stay in Gold Coast with and find the best deals in the area. But when it comes to visiting below the ocean’s surface, one particular part of Australia’s marine heritage stands out above all others. This is the world-famous Great Barrier Reef – a diver’s paradise, ranked as both Australia’s and one of the world’s top scuba destinations. It is the largest coral reef system in the world and the only living thing on the globe that can be seen from space. With year-round mild climate and vast coral reefs, the Great Barrier Reef hosts a constant flow of divers realizing their diving dreams and offers a wealth of dive sites, perfect for all levels of divers.
Belize
Another great destination that offers exhilarating diving at all ability levels is definitely Belize, a picture-perfect getaway on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America, blessed with the second largest barrier reef in the world, three magnificent atolls, an endless array of dive sites teeming with more than seventy types of hard corals and nearly four hundred species of tropical fish and one awesome Blue Hole. Jacques Cousteau first brought Belize into the limelight when he documented his dive on Belize’s famous Blue Hole. Ambergris Caye – the largest island in Belize, is justly the most popular attraction to the tourists, with 25 miles of Belize’s spectacular barrier reef sitting less than a mile offshore, teeming with vase sponges, tube sponges and coral pinnacles that are home for countless miniscule creatures awaiting discovery. Shrimps, tube wombs, brittle stars and tunicates of every imaginable color are often overlooked by the diver.
Galapagos
A dreamscape travel destination that inspired Charles Darwin to develop the theory of evolution, the enchanting Galapagos Islands welcome divers from around the world to indulge in world-class diving found in few places on the planet. Unusual oceanic currents bring life in myriad forms to this remote, volcanic archipelago, including marine creature like whale sharks, hammerheads, sea lions, golden rays, penguins and marine iguanas to name but a few. In the crystal clear waters of the Galapagos Islands, visibility is simple fantastic, ranging from 5 to 25 meters, making it perfect for underwater photographers, looking for truly majestic encounters. Academy Bay is one of the many dive spots in Galapagos, catering to both novice and intermediate divers, which offers a diverse waterscape with milder current than the rest of the islands. Other popular dive spots include: Floreana Island on Punta Ayora, where dolphins are often spotted during the boat trip to and from the islet, Santa Cruz Island, Beagle Rocks and Pinzon.