FREE TOP DIVE SITES OF THE WORLD PDF

Jack Jackson | 160 pages | 05 Dec 2013 | IMM Lifestyle Books | 9781780096407 | English | London, United Kingdom 50 Best Dive Sites in the World | Sport Diver

Shipwrecks, nudibranchs and terrifying journeys under huge ice sheets all feature in our round-up of the top ten dive sites around the world. If you're unable to travel at the moment because of coronavirus but love , our images will keep you underwater dreaming. It may be a humble creature, but the sardine can put a pride of lions or a herd of buffalo to shame. Almost every year around June, enormous shoals Top dive sites of the world the fish, millions strong and kilometres long, swim up the South African coast towards Mozambique. Once under water, it becomes apparent that the sardines have company. They have been tracked by thousands of hungry , dolphins and game fish such as bluefish and tuna intent on gorging themselves silly on an incredibly easy target. The water here is nearly always Top dive sites of the world and the reefs exquisite. Wide fields of soft corals stretch off into the startlingly clear blue gulf, schools of anthias shimmering over the various fans, sea fingers and sea whips. Huge heads of stony, hard corals grow literally as big as a house, their limestone skeletons supporting an abundance of marine life, including turtles, rays Top dive sites of the world moray eels. Endless species of multicoloured fish goggle back at you from all sides. The reeftop is fairly flat and relatively shallow — around 8m deep — but when you swim to the edge you are looking into the abyss, m straight down a vertical wall of coral. Bloody Top dive sites of the world Wall is over 3km long and dotted with coral arches, chimneys and sand chutes. Giant barrel as tall as a man cling to the wall, while barracuda, Nassau groupers and turtles patrol the wall. The waters around Little Cayman are among the clearest in the Caribbean, let alone the world, and floating over the drop-off is a unique experience — as close to skydiving under water as you can get. Teeming with marine life, Palancar is just one small part of the Mesoamerican Barrier , which stretches from Mexico to Honduras, but it is in a prime position to flourish. Just off the southwest corner of the island of , and part of a larger ring of coral around much of the island, it is washed by slow, steady currents that keep the water clear and bear nutrients from nearby mangrove swamps. Bumped by clumsy snorkellers, battered by hurricanes and boiled by freakish spikes in water , Palancar not only survives but prospers as a fascinating and complex ecosystem. Lobsters pick their way delicately along outcrops, feelers blown by the , while blue-green parrotfish gnaw at the coral with their beaky mouths. Striped clownfish hide in the protective tentacles of an anemone, immune to its toxic sting; mellow turtles graze on ; a graceful ray glides by. The brilliantly turquoise waters here hold over two thousand species of fish, including serpent-like moray eels, bulbous napoleon wrasse and huge, elegant manta rays. With visibility of up to 40m, diving in this remote archipelago, km southwest of Sri Lanka, is understandably big business, and established dive centres at most resorts offer reef and , as well as the opportunity to dive at night. Reef sharks are one of the main attractions in the Maldives and are reassuringly unlikely to be aggressive towards divers. Often sighted gracefully skimming the edges of the reef, the grey reef , distinguished by a lighter strip on its dorsal fin and a black flash across the edge of its tail, can reach up to two metres in length. Once immediate thoughts of have been banished, gliding through the sparkling Indian Ocean only metres from a great predator as it slinks its way around the coral is thrilling. The water is clearest Dec—March, but Top dive sites of the world is the best time to see manta rays, as a rise in plankton attracts them to the reefs. Well out of sight of land and almost km southeast of Puerto Princesa in Palawan, this World Heritage Site is only accessible on live-aboard boats when seas are favourable between March and June. Rise at dawn for a quick dive among the turtles and small sharks before breakfast. You can do deep dives, night dives, drift dives, all kinds of dives. For a real buzz, dive deep over one of the many coral walls that seem to plunge into infinity, and hang out for a few minutes with giant manta rays, black-tip reef sharks and, just possibly, cruising hammerheads. Most divers catch a glimpse of a shark in Fiji, usually a small blacktip or nurse shark prowling the edge of the reef. But to see the big boys — 4m tiger sharks or mean-looking bulls — you need to take a deep breath and head to Pacific Harbour on the south coast of Viti Levu. While this could be considered a novel method of suicide, the dive has a flawless safety record and is a great way to learn about these much- maligned creatures. championed the as one of the top ten Top dive sites of the world sites in the world. And with their warm currents, crystal-clear visibility and a host of undersea attractions, his judgement is understandable. Near-vertical rock faces drop m through a labyrinth of caves, fissures and rock arches teeming with rainbow-coloured fish, crabs, soft corals, kelp forests and shellfish. Blue, humpback, sei Top dive sites of the world minke whales also drop in from time to time, and dolphins are not uncommon. A typical day might include an hour-long cruise out to the Top dive sites of the world followed by a drift dive through a sandy-bottomed cave populated by stingrays and lit by shafts of sunlight. How to go when travel is possible again? Fly to Moscow. Board a hour train Top dive sites of the world to Chupa, a polar station in the northernmost stretches of the European continent. Zoom from the lodge out over the frozen White Sea by snowmobile. Saw through the 1. Jump in. With base layers, undersuit and on, the only part of your body to get cold will be your face, but make no mistake: it will be numb within seconds. Connected to the world above via a single safety rope, use your underwater torch to follow your guide down past ice hummocks, rifts, cavities and caves, minnowing under tall arches and vertical rocks overgrown with sea anemones and sponges. At Rough Guides, we understand that experienced travellers want to get truly off-the-beaten-track. 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By agreeing you're giving us a consent to store and process your personal data for processing your purchase. I have read and agree to the Rough Guides Terms and Conditions. Cookies Used Required. Best Scuba Diving in the World - Bluewater Dive Travel

Pick a destination or scroll down to read the entire list:. Located miles off the west coast of Ecuador, the isolated volcanic cluster of the Galapagos Islands offers an abundance of unique biodiversity, quite unlike anywhere else in the world. There are two dive areas in the Galapagos that really stand out for us as first-class. Firstly, around Wolf and Darwin Islands Top dive sites of the world can dive with the world-famous schools of scalloped hammerheadsalongside Galapagos and silky sharks, turtles, mantas, and regular appearances from whale sharks. In contrast, at Punta Vicente Roca, arguably the best cold-water dive site in the world, watch the mysterious Mola mola visiting cleaning Top dive sites of the world amongst a huge variety of smaller fauna such as the red-lipped batfish, frogfishes, barracuda, seahorses, and large schools of salemas, which offer wonderful opportunities for underwater photographers. The Galapagos Islands provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience and photograph species found nowhere else. Diving Season: Diving is year-round, however, the season is split between the warmer manta season December - May and cooler season June - November. Top dive sites of the world Level: Diving the Galapagos is for advanced divers and those with a tolerance for cold water a 5 or 7mm is essential. There are often currents, down-currents, , and choppy surface conditions, and negative descents are commonplace. Where to Stay: Due to the remoteness of many of the dive sites, visiting on a is definitely the best option. Non-Diving Activities: Most will include at least one land-based excursion with a licensed Galapagos naturalist. Expect to see giant tortoises, land iguanas, and a variety of seabirds such as Top dive sites of the world famous blue-footed boobies, great frigatebird, and flightless cormorants. Wildlife is as fascinating on land as it is underwater. Join our next photography workshops on the Galapagos Master :. Nearly sq. Furthermore, divers are spoiled by an abundance of reef fish and over 50 species of coral and species of ; an overwhelming plethora of life unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. The island is also one of the few places where divers can safely get up close and personal with the American saltwater crocodile. Jardines de la Reina offers divers the opportunity to experience a beautifully unspoiled reef paradise comparable with the rest of the Caribbean 50 years ago. Coupled with year-round warm water, consistently good visibility, and great weather, this area boasts not only the best diving in the Caribbean but some of the best scuba diving in the world. Where to Stay: The Jardines de la Reina can only be visited by liveaboard, with a maximum of guests permitted per year. However, a permanently moored floating hotel provides stable accommodation as an alternative. Non-Diving Activities: Cuba has a wealth of top-side activities including great beaches, shopping, plenty of watersports, outdoor activities such as hiking, horse riding, and birdwatching, and a lively after-dark scene in the historic city of Havana. Most liveaboards trips will also include a shore excursion to visit an endemic species of rodent called the hutia. These mini capybara lookalikes will come directly to visitors looking for a handout of fresh papayas and bottled water. Please contact us for more information or to get you booked on a trip to a similar destination. Top dive sites of the world and exciting, Mexico has so much to offer as a dive destination that several locations are worthy of inclusion on our list of best scuba diving in the world. On the east coast, the Yucatan Peninsula offers divers easy access to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, and a plethora of marine life that makes its home there. Twenty miles south, the island of Cozumel offers some of the most dramatic diving in the Caribbean. Easy drift dives along steep walls give access to a colorful world of vibrant corals and sponges, a myriad of fish life, turtles, rays and the occasional nurse shark. And from Playa del Carmen on the mainland, divers can take part in an adrenaline-filled dive, where between November and March the sharks are baited and fed for waiting photographers. Beaming rays of sunlight bounce between shadowy rock Top dive sites of the world to create an ethereal dive that makes this a destination not to be missed. Interacting with these mischievous creatures is a unique experience, and their inquisitive nature and cheeky antics will provide some fantastic photo opportunities. There are also resident hammerhead sharks and whale sharks in La Paz. The option for so many unique encounters within such easy reach puts Mexico firmly on the map as one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. Diving Season: The Yucatan and Cozumel offer excellent diving year-round but the peak tourist season is November to April. October and November are the best months to visit the Sea of Cortez, and the sea lion colony is closed for breeding from 1 July to 31 August each year. Skill Level: All levels, with the opportunity for more advanced diving. Where to Stay: Diving the Yucatan is mainly resort-based, with many resorts spread down the Top dive sites of the world coast including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. Cozumel also offers a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets. La Paz offers a mixture of liveaboard and Top dive sites of the world dive centers, and the full range of accommodation. Non-Diving Activities: The Yucatan and Cozumel are a popular tourist destination and so offer all the facilities that you would expect in a busy resort. An abundance of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, lots of shopping, excellent spas and beaches, and a variety of watersports and outdoor excursions. Try to make time to explore the Mayan ruins. La Paz offers many wildlife and Top dive sites of the world excursions, as well as and kayaking trips. Interested in diving La Paz or the Sea of Cortez? Join our next trips:. Nestled in the heart of the Indo-Pacific Coral Triangle, the remote Raja Ampat island chain celebrates the richest marine diversity in the Top dive sites of the worldmaking it one of our top Indonesian photography destinations. Divers are awestruck by the sheer number and variety of medium to large-size fish, as well as great macro and regular shark and manta sightings across the vibrant hard and soft coral reefs. The best diving can be found in two locations. At the eastern tip of the Dampier Strait, Cape Kri holds the record for the most fish species spotted in one dive. Stronger currents here bring a multitude of fish and sightings of the quirky wobbegong shark are common. Further south, Misool Island boasts world-class sites such as Boo Windows, Nudi Rock, and Whale Rock, where beautifully colored soft corals jostle with mangrove forests to provide an exotic backdrop. The mind-blowing biodiversity of Raja Ampat is a wonder that has to be seen to be believed, Top dive sites of the world it firmly as one of our top destinations worldwide. Diving Season: October to May is the best diving season, with lower rainfall, calmer seas, and better visibility. Getting There: Raja Ampat is pretty remote and quite difficult to get to, however, anyone who visits will agree that it is worth the journey. Where to Stay: A liveaboard is a great way to experience all this destination has to offer, with the full range Top dive sites of the world basic to luxury boats available, with the Indo Siren as a notable example. Some boats even offer one-way trips. Non-Diving Activities: Getting back to Top dive sites of the world is the name of the game in Raja; take the opportunity to book a birdwatching tour to spot the exotic bird of paradise. Hiking is a popular activity, and some areas offer cultural tours, however, there is little to no nightlife and internet connections are unreliable in some locations. For divers searching for the ultimate muck-diving locationAnilao in the Philippines has to be among the best in the world, not to mention one of the best dive spots in the Philippines. Within a minute boat ride of the resort, visitors have access to a variety of unique sites ranging from healthy reef flat to sand, wrecks, rubble, walls, and even the opportunity to experience blackwater diving. This range of habitats is home to an enormous collection of extraordinary critters and macro-species. The guides at are second-to-none in their ability Top dive sites of the world spot the smallest and rarest of subjects; there are arguably more shrimp, crabs, nudibranchs, small squid, and cuttlefish here than Top dive sites of the world else. Add to this regular sightings of frogfish, seahorses, pipefish, and for the most patient photographers, bobbit worms and stargazers. Anilao is hard to top as a world-class destination for the full spectrum of all things macro. Interested in diving the Philippines? Check out our list of Top Dive Sites in the Philippines. Skill Level: Easy diving suitable for beginners, with a heavy focus on photography. Getting There: Anilao is relatively easy to get to, a hour drive south of Manila. Where to Stay: Diving is almost entirely land-based, with a great selection of comfortable and high-end resorts. Non-Diving Activities: The Anilao resorts are predominantly aimed at divers, so top-side activities are limited to snorkeling and kayaking. Dumaguete is one of the few destinations in the world that caters to a range of interests, all at an exceptional standard. Minutes from the beachfront resorts, the inshore Dauin sites are easy to get to and home to a plethora of critters and macro subjects to rival any Top dive sites of the world muck-diving destination. On every dive look out for frogfish, dragonets, pipefish, nudibranchs, squid, octopus, and seahorses, as well as various species of shrimp and crabs. Some guests see 40 frogfish on one trip! What makes Dumaguete special is that less than 35 minutes from Dauin, the spectacular hard coral walls and reefs of provide a thrilling contrast, and some of the best wide-angle diving in the world. Drifting past sites such as Coconut Point, expect to spot sea snakes, turtles, blue ribbon eels, and a huge school of jacks. There is also notable macro at Apo Island, creating a rare opportunity for divers with different interests to enjoy the same site. Where to Stay: Some of the best luxury resorts are found in Dumaguete, however, there are plenty of more affordable options available. Non- Diving Activities: Most resorts offer whale shark snorkeling trips to Oslob, where sightings are almost guaranteed. Many resorts have exceptional spas, restaurants, pools and great snorkeling, making Dumaugete one of the top destinations for divers traveling with non-divers. Interested in diving Dumaguete? Remarkable numbers of Top dive sites of the world and other oceanic species school around steep walls and pinnacles rising over 3, ft from the ocean floor, so much so that Top dive sites of the world islands are one of our top shark diving destinations. The Boiler is the first of two epic dive sites that will leave visitors with incredible long-lasting memories. This submerged pinnacle is one of the best places in the world for swimming with oceanic mantasas they gather at cleaning stations to rid themselves of Top dive sites of the world parasites. The experience is truly breathtaking; a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures. The second exceptional dive site is Roca Partida, where world-class shark diving really comes into its own. Feast your eyes on vast numbers of Galapagos, silky, and hammerhead sharks, not to mention the peculiar sight of dozens of whitetip reef sharks stacked and wedged into crevices all along the pinnacle. Top all this off with dives featuring frequent appearances from large gamefish species such as tuna, wahoo, and marlin, some very friendly dolphins, along with the occasional sightings of whale sharks and humpbacks, and the Socorro Islands offer memorable diving within easy reach, that very few other destinations can match. Diving Season: The main season is November to May, however, species vary in this time. Skill Level: Suitable for experienced divers due to choppy seas and often strong currents. Most boats take about 24 hours to reach the Socorro Islands from either city. Where to Stay: The Socorro islands are uninhabited, so the only way to dive them is by liveaboard. The full range of boats from budget through to luxury are available, and most trips last 8 nights. We heartily recommend the MV Valentina and the Socorro Aggressor as examples of excellent liveaborads that dive this area, or check out our list of Socorro liveaboards here. Golf, fishing, and cultural excursions are Top dive sites of the world pastimes. Find out about exciting detinations. Located in the South Pacific around 1, miles north-east of , the or so islands that make up the Republic of Fiji are as rich and exciting below the waves as they are top-side. The abundance of vivid marine life that lives on the reef makes for fantastic subjects; this is a great place to practice your wide-angle technique. Top 10 best dive sites in the World – Divezone

These best spots are ranked according to the beauty, fish life, visibility and overall dive experience. This m long steamer called the Yongala was sunk in near Townsville during a cyclone. It was only re-discovered in and is now the most famous dive site in Australia. It is home to an amazing array of marine life which includes barracudas, Giant Trevallies Turtles and Sea Snakes. You might even spot the rare Bull Shark and the mighty Tiger Shark!! Here you could watch a huge shoal of thousands of Barracudas pass by underwater, making it a dream spot for . Various reef Sharks and many pelagic fishes are also patrolling the area! Hammerhead sharks are a possible encounter too…. North Horn is located on the only reachable by Liveaboards. It is a natural underwater amphitheatre where you can spot plenty of Grey Reef Sharks, Silvertip Sharks and even some Hammerhead sharks! A feeding frenzy of sharks is an impressive thing to watch which will certainly get your adrenaline pumping! It is also an excellent place to spot big pelagic fishes and for macro photography with a very intriguing critter life to discover. This fascinating huge wreck dive site is a m long armed cargo ship which was hit by a Japanese torpedo during World War 2 and then pushed back into the Top dive sites of the world in by a volcano eruption! It is a very easy dive but with a whole lot Top dive sites of the world things to see such as Garden Eels, a nice swim-through inside the wreck and big schools of fishes. It is an easy reef dive where you can observe and also feed huge friendly Potato Groupers. There are also harmless Whitetip Reef Top dive sites of the world and Napoleon fishes swimming about. The visibility is fantastic and the diving conditions are usually ideal making it the perfect place for underwater photography! The conditions are not great here with poor visibility but the fish life is just astonishing with an incredible biodiversity in such a tiny place. This makes it one of the best shore dives in the world and a real dream for any underwater macro photographer! The spot itself at Crystal Bay is great but not amazing but what makes it so special is that this is THE place to spot the giant, strange looking, rare and mysterious Mola Mola Oceanic Sunfish… You also have good chances to spot these around Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan from August to October too, so good luck! Batu Bolong has a huge underwater rock featuring amazing coral and a teeming reef life. In fact, there are so many fishes that you have to take care to not lose your dive buddy! A truly beautiful dive site! It is hard to decide which dive site is the best in the as they are all so Top dive sites of the world. However Elephant head Rock has something special with a very particular underwater topography with arches and swim-through worth to explore! In addition the fish life is really great with Leopard Sharks and Blacktip Reef Sharks swimming around. This is a must dive in any liveaboard trip to the Similan Islands! I have been Diving in the Andaman Islands a few years ago, it was really good! However I think it will be the rainy season in October in the Andamans. I Top dive sites of the world to add this destination to the website. You can try to go on the East coast of Malaysia. It will be the dry season there. For example in the Perhentians Islands: divezone. Please ask if you need Top dive sites of the world details! I went to Andaman last year and I really like it, especially the wild aspect. Would you recommand another destination for February with good diving spots and pretty wild? February Diving in South Africa is pretty awesome! off the coast of Umkomaas, in Kwazulu Natal offers a little bit of everything: groupers, sharks, dolphins, whale sharks, hundreds of fish, eels. It really is superb diving. You mentioned Top dive sites of the world wobbegong at Navy Pier. I am very interested in seeing and photographing those, would you recommend Navy Pier as the best site for them or are there better? Also, is Andamans any good for large pelagics? I heard it is not as great as Thailand or Malaysia. Finally, have you dived the sardine run in South Africa? It is fantastic. Dolphins, brydes whales, humpbacks, several species of shark, and unique the gannets diving underwater. Great for ragged- tooth shark and then the tiger shark dives further north on the coast of Natal. Try to go to Raja Ampat in Indonesia. I saw dozens of Wobbegon Sharks there, almost every dives! Easy to get to from Brisbane. Most of the places that you are telling us, i dont know them. But i do know some extraordinary places to diving in Colombia. San Andres is not nice at all there are many other places better, hotel are popular type and services not that good. I dove Isla Rosario off Cartagena and besides the obvious overfishing the reef and viz were awesome! Navy Pier has Wobbegongs but its certainly not the easiest place to see them. Very remote and hard to get too unless your already in Western Australia. Both Top dive sites of the world these sites are riddled with Wobbies and much easier to get too. I saw many wobbegong in Raja Ampat in Papua. At least 1 to 3 every dives! If you want to get good shots, this can be your place. I agree — South West Rocks is endemic with Wobbegong sharks. There is wobbegong literally all around as it is a pinnacle rock 1km of the mainland. Additionally it also has a 60m long cave system going through the rock pinnacle from one side to the other!! Highly recommended and well worth the trip. Top dive sites of the world dive! First of all congratulations for your website. We are from Chile, but we are living en New Zealand now, we have experience in many types of job an good reference from Chile and NZ. If you Top dive sites of the world some contact anywhere Top dive sites of the world the word for us is amazing!. We know is dificult for us because we dont have much experience, but we are proactive people and really interested in work and learn. We love the nature and conservation and Top dive sites of the world the photography. They have various programmes which include marine conversation and you can gain your at the same time. By the way, your boyfriend would have to gain his Open Water first. In October, I am visiting Australia with a good friend. We want to go diving on the Yongala wreck for one day and want to do a liveaboard, based from Cairns for 2 days, one night. I have been looking for a good operator, but from here, it is hard to see which operator is best. Some divers here Belgiumhave warned me about operators which say are going to the Outer Reef, but stay somewhere where there is only dead coral, not a lot of fish,… and you generally are not really visiting the reef in the best way. We both have open water advanced, with specialties Top dive sites of the world , Night dive and Digital underwater photography just me. Planning to dive in Thailand in November. Keen on the best dive spot Richelieu Rock, wonder it would be closer to the place that I will be staying, Patong. Also concern about the strong currents… Do you know any good dive centre there? Planning to do a dive in Cape Town in November — I believe it will be summer then. Any tips for dive zones around the area? How do you feel about ? Birdwatching,hiking,snorkeling and excellent experience. We go there fishing ,and snorkeling,and go out from there . Can someone recommend a diving location in Thailand, Malaysia or there around that would be good now in the beginning of January? We prefer more shallow dive sites where you can see plenty of sea life, as well as good visibility so we can take pictures. We have now been diving in Vietnamese Phu Quoc but the visibility is really bad so we want to fly somewhere better. We will be very thankful for any advice. Top dive sites of the world scuba divers dont want to kill the fish. Just dived Dos Ojos cavern in Mexico, obviously it doesnt compare with fish life to any of your dives mentioned but its an incredible experience and should be in your top Thistlegorm and a good day at Aliwal Shoal South Africa will always be in the top Of all the diving sites mentioned, I think Palau perhaps should be included on the list of the top 10 best ultimate diving sites. I say this because I dove and fished there for years. It is just purely an amazing place for people who loves diving. I think Top dive sites of the world have good spot for diving. How did they made the vote on the top This world is so vast, we understand that people have different opinions. This list has been created a while ago, according to data that was available on the Divezone community which was way smaller back then!