Scuba Diving Article

Top 10 Scuba Sites in the World

I've never really been fond of "Top 10 Lists" - after all they are highly subjective. And when it comes to putting together a Top Ten List of Scuba Sites - there are so many factors involved - Top 10 for what? For Marine Life? For Coral Colors? For Beginners? For Divers named Shirley? - Well you get the point. Still if you cruise the various "Top Tens" that have been put together over the years by the various dive magazines and dive enthusiasts you will find certain places that make the lists over and over again, despite the parameters, and so for what it is worth here is our list (in no particular order) of "The Top 10 Dive Sites in the World."

1. Thailand's Adaman Sea - From Barrier reefs, Corals, Wrecks and Caves the waters of the Adaman Sea off of Thailand's Coast offer everything a Scuba Diver is looking for and more.

2. Darwin Island in The Galapagos - Easily one of the best Dive Sites to see large Sea Creatures. Sea Turtles, Hammerhead Sharks, Sea Lions and Seals abound here. Sighting a Whale Shark is not uncommon.

3. Bonaire - Unlike its cousins Aruba and Curacao, Bonaire in the Antilles is known for one thing - Scuba Diving. The entire island is a protected marine habitat, and probably the largest unspoiled underwater ecosystem on the planet.

4. Cozumel, Mexico - Cozumel is surrounded by reefs and clear warm waters. There are underwater formations with many swim-through opportunities and coals teeming with marine life, and visibility on a good day as far as 200 feet. Cave divers will find excitement in the fresh water caves of the Cenotes.

5. Yap, Micronesia - This little Island about a 1 hour flight from Guam is the only place on the planet that your are guaranteed to see Manta Rays, and not just a fleeting glimpse but you can get up and close and personal to these gentle giants as they hover in large groups to feed and clean themselves.

6. Fiji - is the Soft Coral Capital of the World and home to several legendary scuba dive sites such as "The Great White Wall" and the "Yellow Tunnel." Fiji's clear waters offer the best opportunities for underwater photography and videography according to the pros.

7. Florida & The Florida Keys - Florida undoubtedly offers the best scuba sites on the North American Continent. The Keys are home to the third largest Coral Reef on the planet and the only Natural Reef on the East Coast. For ease of travel especially for U.S. divers, economy, and shear diversity of Dive sites Florida makes this list.

8. Grand Cayman - From shallow reefs to deep drop offs, Grand Cayman makes the list for its warm clear waters with visibility to 150 feet, diversity of marine life, and variety of dive sites for divers of all skill levels

9. Belize - like Bonaire, Belize is not well known among average tourists but is a scuba diving hot spot, and no "Top Ten" could be complete without including Belize

10. Heron Island, Australia - Home to Australia's Great Barrier Reef The "Holy Grail" of all scuba diving sites, The Great Barrier Reef is the largest in the world. Thousands of species of fish, great white sharks and many other marine creatures make it their home. At the center of it all Heron Island, a small, unpretentious locale - that subjective or not will likely be number one on any Scuba Top Ten List you read.