Scuba diving is now the most popular recreational water sports in the world as shown by the increasing numbers of enthusiasts, scuba diving sites, and companies selling scuba diving equipment. From a vast array of marine life to exotic shipwrecks, there’s so much to experience when scuba diving. With that said, scuba divers have different criteria when choosing the best site. Here are the 5 Best Places To Go Scuba Diving and why they are so fascinating.
* Maaya Thila, MaldivesWith beautiful coral reefs, underwater flora and fauna, and a diversity of sea life, Maldives is a scuba diving hot spot. With a diameter of only 80 meters, scuba divers can easily circumnavigate it in one dive. You’ll be sure to find many different types of fish, including Moorish Idol, tall fin batfish, and parrotfish. Grey reef sharks also inhabit the area, but it’s unlikely you’d encounter one.
* The Blue Hole, BelizeA large underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize, the Blue Hole has become a largely popular tourist destination due to the famous diver Jacques-Yves Cousteau naming it one of the best places to dive. At 1,000 feet (304 m) across and 400 feet (121 m) down, divers usually take several dives, visiting different parts of the Blue Hole.
* Kailua Kona, HawaiiA huge marine reserve once considered the largest in the world (Australia now holds that title), Kailua Kona, Hawaii is home to a host of marine animals, including colorful tropical fish, giant sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, whales, and many more. Lodge in the historic coastal town of Kailua Kona to be close to great diving spots.
* Sipadan, MalaysiaThe only oceanic island in Malaysia, Sipadan is one of the best destinations to go scuba diving. It’s teeming with marine life, including hard and soft corals, hammerhead sharks, white tip sharks, leopard sharks, and sea turtles. From April to June, you can get great visibility from up to 154 feet (50 m).
* Bonaire, Netherlands AntillesBonaire stands out among its sister islands Aruba and Caracao for being a spectacular scuba diving destination. A marine park with over 100 diving opportunities, you’ll never have a lack of options on your summer vacation. We’d recommend 1000 Steps, Hilma Hooker, and Salt Pier. Since it is also a marine park, expect to see the underwater world untouched and unspoiled. It’s best to visit during the months of September to December when the sea is calm to explore the reef for nurse sharks, sea turtles, and parrot fish.