Extreme Adventure: Best Places For Scuba Diving Part 1

Do you dream of exploring the marine world at close quarters? Does the thrill of diving give you an adrenaline rush? Then, you must try scuba diving on your next vacation. The peace you find underwater is quite unparalleled to any other experience. You will have the opportunity of seeing splendid corals, beautiful tropical fish and may even get a chance to explore the inside of a cave or a wreck while on a dive! Here’s our pick of the best places for scuba diving around the world.

 

Australia

Stretching for 2,300 kilometres along Australia’s north-eastern coast and encompassing more than 4,000 separate reefs, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best places for scuba diving. There are some 1,500 species of fish and other forms of marine life including turtles, dolphins, porpoises and dugongs. It is also home to countless shipwrecks. The Great Barrier Reef is so large that it can be seen from space and it’s quite impossible to explore all of it in one lifetime!

It’s a great place for scuba newbies as well as experienced divers. Encounter giant grouper fish, manta rays, sea turtles, barracudas and various species of sharks, not to mention colourful corals and millions of tiny fish as you go diving here. Cod Hole, Osprey Reef and Ribbon Reefs are some of the popular dive spots. The famous Yongala Wreck dive site where the SS Yongala sank in 1911 can be found here. It is one of the top attractions but due to strong currents, this location is only open for experienced divers.

Best time to go: June to August is the best time to go diving. If you go between November and May, beware of the jellyfish!

 

Egypt

Egypt has a lot to offer besides its admittedly rich culture and history. Believe it or not, scuba diving in the unique land-locked Red Sea is a must-do. The most popular diving spots include Dahab, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El-Sheikh. You will encounter gorgeous corals, schools of reef fish, dolphins, sharks and more when you opt for the southern itinerary to Elphinstone Reef, Brother Islands and Daedalus Reef.

The northern itinerary has several wrecks you can explore. Go for some spectacular wall dives at the Shark Reef in Ras Mohammed National Park.

Best time to go: Though the winter months are the most popular, the Red Sea is one of the best places for scuba diving  year-round, thanks to its warm waters.

 

Caribbean

The Turks and Caicos Islands are blessed with a colourful underwater life and the world’s third largest coral reef can be found here. Many of these islands are also uninhabited so it’s a wonderful way to get away from the crowds. Grand Turk, Salt Cay and Grace Bay are the popular dive spots.

The southern Caribbean island of Bonaire has a protected marine park. Apart from Bonaire Marine Park, popular sites include Angel City, Calabas Reef and Windsock Steep.

Best time to go: The Caribbean is another year-round destination for scuba diving, though you should avoid October and November around Bonaire as surges tend to reduce visibility. Chances of spotting humpbacked whales are higher between December and March.

 

Thailand

Brilliantly coloured corals, underwater mountains, pretty little fish, massive whale sharks and everything in between – you’ll encounter many of these in Thailand’s clear waters. The Mu Koh Angthong National Marine Park is ideal for diving. It is an archipelago of 42 islands situated close to Koh Samui that has emerald-green waters and a diverse marine life. Other popular dive sites include Similan Islands, Surin Islands and Koh Phi Phi.

Don't miss the wreck close to Anemone Reef near Koh Phi Phi and the diving spots at Tarutao National Park at Ko Lipe, Koh Pung and Stonehenge. Thailand is a safe scuba diving destination so it’s perfect for first-timers.

Best time to go: November to April is the best time to here. June to September is also a good time in some parts of Thailand. Avoid the monsoon season for diving.

 

Maldives

Sandy white beaches, stunning coral reefs, a dazzling array of marine life – scuba diving in Maldives is quite a treat. There are more than 1,000 islands around 26 coral atolls. Despite the severe damage suffered by these coral reefs in the 2004 tsunami, they have made a dramatic recovery. You are likely to spot whale sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, moray eels and more when you go diving in the Maldives.

Broken Rock, Madivaru and Gangehi Kandu on Ari Atoll, Cocoa Thila on South Male Atoll, Banana Reef on North Male Atoll and Turtle Point at Addu Atoll are popular dive sites. You can take a liveaboard service where you can spend a few nights on a boat and go dive site hopping. Maldives is one of the few places where most of the resorts have a coral reef at their doorstep and a diving centre to help you learn scuba diving.

Best time to go: January to April are the best times. At other times, the weather is either unstable or the visibility is affected due to plankton in the water.

Best Places for Scuba Diving: Part 2

(Blog ordered by Deep Kalra)