The 50 Best Dive Sites in the World

by spotmydive

At Spotmydive we love challenges. Through this article, allow us from an objective point of view to propose our favorites ranking of the best diving sites in the world. Let yourself be caught in a whirlwind of pure pleasure by immersing yourself in the most fascinating dive spots in the world. From Europe to Asia, from Oceania to Africa, let’s go for a diving trip around the globe. For Shipwrecks lovers, we have already mentioned, in an article, the most beautiful diving wrecks to explore.

»READ ALSO – The 25 most beautiful shipwrecks in the world

Best dive Sites in Europe

    • Silfra – Thingvellir National Park, ICELAND

Best Diving Sites in Asia

    • Apo Reef – Sulu Sea and China Sea, PHILIPPINES

Diving Sites in Latin America

    • Socorro – Archipelago of Revillagigedo, MEXICO

Dive Sites in the Caribbean

    • Scotts Head – Natural Marine Reserve, South Roseau, DOMINICA

Best diving spot in Africa

Top Dive spot in Oceania

    • Navy Pier – Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, Exmouth, AUSTRALIA

The most beautiful dive sites in Europe

Europe is full of unsuspected treasures. This continent, which attracts tourists from around the world for its diverse art and landscape, is also popular with divers for its seabed. Less known than the tropical or exotic continents for its dives, you will be surprised by the underwater finds and wonders that Europe has to date, from the remnants of the Second World War to the wrecks of ancient Greece. Its diving spots are accessible to all and at all levels. Its amount of impressive reliefs ranging from plains covered with flowers to mountain peaks make it a destination of choice. We never tire !

Diamond Rocks

    • Location: Kilkee, Atlantic Ocean, Ireland
    • Depth: 6 to 30 meters
    • Water temperature: Cold water
    • Level: Novice to confirmed
    • Combination: wet thick or waterproof
    • Fauna and flora: spider crabs / mackerel / shark / invertebrates …
    • Do not miss: The snakehole> very high concentration of spider crabs

Dive into the heart of the Diamond Rocks, a beautiful bay in Ireland in the Atlantic Ocean and go on a wonderful journey. Discover all the marine diversity of this place: its diversified relief and lush flora. This exceptional site invites you to admire its sparkling rocks in the sunlight composed of quartz. It is imperative to witness a funny show in the depths: the ballet of spider crabs. This diving spot although protected by a team of professionals is accessible to all! Highly coveted for all its richness, this gives it a place of choice among the most beautiful dive sites in Europe.

The Lofoten Islands

    • Location: Norwegian Sea, Norway
    • Visibility: 15 to 40 meters
    • Water temperature: 4 ° C winter at 15 ° C summer
    • Level: Advanced or level 2 diving
    • Suit: waterproof
    • Fauna and flora: bioluminescent jellyfish / cod / orca / herring …
    • Not to be missed: From November to February, herring gathering in the fjords> largest concentration of orcas in the world

Norway is known as a paradise for divers thanks to its many fjords, lakes and rivers provided you do not be afraid of the cold. This country is home to a special flora and fauna: kelp forests, giant algae, bridges and ruins of all kinds that offer divers a most mysterious experience. Discover the Lofoten Islands and let the magic work! This exceptional dive site with a thousand and one surprises gives you the privilege of attending in winter the greatest concentration of orcas feeding on herring. In summer we invite you to swim with seals. This spot is ideal to escape and for the most curious of you.

Chios Island

    • Location: Aegean Sea, Greece
    • Depth: More than 50 meters
    • Water temperature: 16 to 23 ° C -Level: Beginner to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: moray eels / sea turtles / sea urchins / black bars / sponges …
    • Not to be missed: The Great Wall and The Shell are the two dive sites to explore combining corals with extraordinary colors and impressive marine creatures.

This small island located between Greece and Turkey is the ideal dive site to put you in full view in the Mediterranean. Its variety of fish, its crystal clear waters and its caves will make you live an unforgettable experience in an explosion of colors between red and yellow corals and many marine species. Whether you are beginner or experienced, this authentic dive site offers you to observe moray eels and sea turtles before relaxing on one of the beautiful beaches of the area. This spot is especially famous for its two spectacular sites where cohabiting formidable predators and schools of small fish. A must for lovers of great thrills!

La Gabinière

    • Location: Port-Cros National Park, Hyères, France
    • Depth: Maximum 45m
    • Visibility: Very good
    • Water temperature: aquarium effect, constant current
    • Dive type: Falling, scree, herbarium
    • Level: Beginner to intermediate, level 1 and 2
    • Fauna and flora: barracudas / groupers / capons / scorpionfish / sars / wolves / moray eels / mullets / sponges / flabellines / lichts / amberoles / yellow anemones …
    • Not to missed: Explosion of colors> presence of red and yellow sea fans at 35-45 m depth and a profusion of groupers between 15 and 25 m

A must-see dive site in France, La Gabinière, with its lush flora and fauna, offers a magnificent setting combining drop-offs and rocky scree for a variety of divers. Guaranteed sensations around an abundance of groupers, barracudas and plants such as yellow anemones that will impress you. The quality of the water that you will not find anywhere else is a major asset on this dive site which makes it one of the most breathtaking of the French coast.

Silfra

    • Location: Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
    • Visibility: up to 100m
    • Temperature of the water: limpid and icy, about 2 to 4 ° C all the year
    • Dive type: shallow
    • Level: beginner to experienced
    • Combination: waterproof or wet
    • Faune and flora: site mainly composed of algae
    • Not to miss: Diving at night before sunrise> admire daylight penetrating the Silfra Fault

The Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park is an internationally renowned dive site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its location makes it the only diving spot in the world where it is possible to venture between two tectonic plates: American and Eurasian. Its mineral waters and even drinking water come from a glacier and are filtered by volcanic rocks. In short, water of rare purity and visibility that never ends! This dive site is composed of three parts: the Silfra Lagoon, the Silfra Cathedral and the Silfra Hall. The one that we can probably remember is the cathedral with its crack that exceeds 100 meters long and 63 meters deep. This spot is a unique place for snorkeling. However, be sure to bring your best waterproof suit to stay warm and dry throughout your underwater excursion. In Silfra, change the decor according to your desires. You can go from a landscape of moss and greenery to a tropical part with a stretch of clear sand covering the bottom of the fault. Marine life is mainly composed of bright green “troll hair” and different types of algae. To explore Silfra is like landing in a parallel world much more peaceful and fantastic than ordinary people.

Blue Hole – Gozo

    • Location: Gozo, Malta
    • Depth: From 25 to 35m
    • Visibility: 20 meters and more
    • Temperature of the water: clear
    • Dive type: Falling, cave
    • Diving level: Advanced level
    • Fauna and flora: Spanish dancers / Clown fish / Rascasses flying / Turtles / Octopuses / Hard and soft corals …
    • Do not miss: Observation of the underwater relief and its wealth

Considered one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world, Blue Hole intrigues tourists who venture there for its nuanced topography. Formed like a circular hole fifteen meters in diameter, this spot offers a multitude of landscapes: caves, drop offs, passages and arches dug in the limestone by millions of years of erosion, which makes the trip all the more interesting . The deeper you go, the more marine diversity will be important. You can see moray eels, small groupers, or Mediterranean parrot fish. Nevertheless, explorations of the Blue Hole and its underwater arch are reserved for experienced freedivers. In any case, prepare yourself for a colorful trip!

Secca Della Colombara

    • Location: Ustica Island, Italy
    • Depth: Up to 50 meters
    • Water temperature: Low current
    • Dive Type: Falling, Rocky Canyon
    • Level: All levels
    • Faune and flora: Bécunes / sars / saupes / amberole / dentate / oblades / sparaillon / sponges / grouper / madrépore / castagnoles / alcyons …
    • Not to miss: the relief

Endowed with a rich and varied culture especially in the domains of the luxury and the gastronomy, Italy does not have only these strings to its bow. Indeed, the country abounds with innumerable jewels such as the famous Dive site Decca Della Colombara located on the island Ustica. This dive spot open to all levels starting from 3 meters deep is ideal for lovers of colorful seabed and marine species of all shapes. The “bas-fonds” of Colombara in French is a real temple of serenity with diversified relief.

The best diving sites in Asia

The Asian continent is bordered by several seas and oceans. It is a region that offers many benefits with an affordable budget. Its culture, its breathtaking landscapes and its multitude of activities make it a destination of choice for tourists from around the globe. Come send yourself up in the air while trying to parachute or enter the skin of Spiderman by climbing sumptuous limestone cliffs … There is something for everyone! Especially diving is a well-known activity on the continent for its rich and varied coral reefs and rare underwater species ranging from ghost fish to majestic manta rays.

Barracuda Point

    • Location: Sipadan Island, Famous Sea, Malaysia
    • Depth: Up to 40m
    • Visibility: vertical drop 22m
    • Water temperature: hot from 27 to 29 ° C, average current
    • Type of diving: Falling, drifting
    • Level: Intermediate to advanced
    • Fauna and flora: barracudas / humphead parrotfish / turtles / reef sharks / hammerhead sharks …
    • Do not miss: Trevally; hundreds of fish swim in unison, show RARISSIME

Barracuda Point is one of the world’s rarest dive sites. Marine life and biodiversity are incredibly rich, with more than 3,000 species of fish and an abundance of unusual corals with bright colors and shapes. This spot is also cult for its incredible spectacle of multicolored fish that swirl around the divers. The barracudas and the jacks rub shoulders with the turtles that are there, a striking moment that is out of the ordinary. We recommend this dive site for its sublime reliefs and fantastic discoveries.

Layang Layang

    • Location: South China Sea, Malaysia
    • Depth: up to 60 m
    • Water temperature: Deep, about 30 ° C
    • Diving type: falling, up to 2000 m
    • Level: Beginner to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: giant napoleons / jacks / barracudas / turtles / manta rays / dolphins / gray or white tip sharks / seahorses / leopard sharks / whale sharks / hammerhead sharks …
    • Not to miss: Between the months of March and May> presence of hammerhead sharks and whale sharks isolated or in schools

Set out to explore Layang Layang off the mythical island of Borneo, an artificial atoll lost in Malaysia’s warm waters of 13 coral reefs. This dive site with many assets is full of surprises with its rich ecosystem and its isolated location, which is worth a magical spot appreciated by all. The key words are exploration and relaxation for this island with only one hotel. Forget the noise and pollution, here you are cut off from the world, in total communion with nature. If you have the opportunity to dive between March and May, you will appreciate all the clarity of the water to see some hammerheads that flock alone or in schools. This is the attraction that made Layang Layang famous.

Crystal Bay

    • Location: Bali, Java Sea, Indonesia
    • Depth: 5 to 30m
    • Visibility: more than 30 m
    • Water temperature: clear, normal to high current
    • Dive type: drifting, reef
    • Level: Experienced
    • Fauna and flora: white tip sharks / leopard sharks / manta rays / eagle rays / clownfish / anthias / angelfish / balista / coachman / mola-mola moonfish …
    • Not to miss: From July to November> recovery of the famous Mola-Mola moonfish from the depths to about 30 m from the surface in order to be dewormed by angel-emperor fish and fish-drivers

Experienced thrill seekers and experienced divers, this dive site is for you! Crystal Bay is a must diving in Bali that may leave you speechless. Enter an explosion of colors and shades by observing soft corals but also fish that come out of the ordinary and languishing in the middle of caves and sandy bottoms. For the luckiest of you, you will have the opportunity to attend between July and November the rise of the fish-star of this site the Mola-Mola, impressive marine creature with a wingspan of 2 to 3 meters in the to be de-wormed by other species of fish. If you have accidentally missed this opportunity, do not despair. You will always be able to admire the famous and not less interesting cave with bats. A program rich in emotions awaits you

Lembeh Strait

    • Location: Sulawesi Island, Indonesia
    • Depth: Up to 25m
    • Visibility: 5 to 20 m
    • Water temperature: Warm between 24 and 27 ° C, no current
    • Level: Experienced
    • Fauna and flora: cuttlefish / caprelles / harlequin shrimp / mimetic octopus / nudibranch / octopus / eel …
    • Not to miss: troubled waters> a paradise for muck divers and photographers

Legend has it that the more turbid the water, the more it is full of strange creatures. Lembeh Strait, a dive spot located in the Northeast of Sulawesi Island, confirms this belief. With low visibility, it offers an ideal setting for all photographers and divers who are in love with underwater creatures. This site makes it possible to observe the flaming cuttlefish, the rare mimetic octopus or the hideous frogfish. Beginners are advised not to venture to this dive site that is not suitable for them, but a must for advanced divers. It remains that this place shows a wonderful biodiversity that will touch you.

Castle Rock

    • Location: Komodo National Park, Indonesia
    • Depth: Superior to 40m
    • Visibility: More than 25 m visibility
    • Water temperature: low to moderate current
    • Dive type: Drifting, dazzled rocky, plateau …
    • Level: From beginner
    • Faune and Flora: riflemen’s benches / unicorns / billfish / gray sharks / dolphins / pygmy seahorses / leaf fish / hard and soft coral / tubular sponge / sponge basin / starfish / nudibranchs …
    • Not to miss: Photograph of the underwater environment macro

Embark on a fantastic trip to Castle Rock, one of the most popular and renowned dive sites in Thailand’s Komodo National Park. This spot rich relief: drifting, rocky plateau, coral reef offers an optimal setting for lovers of diving. Take full advantage of the clear waters of Castle Rock to introduce you to diving, open to all levels. In the haze of the seabed abound small fish that attract formidable predators such as dolphins and gray sharks which makes this exploration all the more impressive. Flora also finds its place among this imposing fauna. Between nudibranchs, soft and hard corals and sponges, you will have a full view! Equip yourself with your most beautiful macro lens camera and go on an adventure!

Cape Kri

    • Location: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
    • Depth: 40m maximimum
    • Visibility: 30 m visibility
    • Water temperature: 28 ° C all year round, moderate to high current
    • Diving type: falling, coral reef
    • Level: divers confirmed to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: manta rays / turtles / groupers / wrasses / napoleons / tuna / sharks: wobbegong, walking shark, epaulette sharks / hard corals / soft corals / gorgonians / pygmy seahorses / nudibranchs …
    • Not to miss: All this magical world is not to be missed!

The Archipelago of Raja Ampat which means the four kings, is composed of more than 1500 islands of which the main ones are: Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. It is said that in Cape Kri abound marine species of all kinds … And that’s saying a little! Indeed, it is in these waters that the world record of the number of different species not less than 374 has been referenced on a single dive! With more than 1000 species of fish, more than 500 species of corals and more than 700 species of molluscs, the archipelago is part of the world’s top 5 destinations to dive! Ecosystems and biodiversity are preserved from mass tourism and intensive fishing very little developed yet, so dives are a real treat. You will be cut off from the world in a setting combining lagoons, mangrove forests and deserted beaches to take the time to observe all that is happening at the bottom of the water, a beautiful painting spotted with shimmering colors.

Puerto Galera

    • Location: Mindoro Island, Philippines
    • Visibility: Between 10 and 30 m
    • Water temperature: between 23 and 29 ° C depending on the season, moderate to high current
    • Dive type: drifting
    • Level: Beginner to Experienced
    • Faune and Flora: Mandarin fish / pegasus, seahorses / Mantis shrimps / giant clams / nudibranchs …
    • Do not miss: coral reefs

Also known as “The Pearl of Mindoro”, the dive site of Puerto Galera offers you to immerse yourself in a relaxing and tropical dive between coconut palms and white sand beaches.This classified biosphere reserve is considered one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Here you will find the most flourishing coral gardens in the Philippines, where an extraordinary fauna lives in water at around 30 ° C during warm seasons. This dive site is also a center of underwater photography for all its animal, vegetable and mineral wealth. What to take full eyes!

Apo Reef

    • Location: Sulu Sea and China Sea, Philippines
    • Depth: up to 60m
    • Visibility: Up to 50m
    • Water temperature: hot
    • Dive type: Falling
    • Level: Beginner to experienced
    • Faune and flora: turtles / gray shark / coral shark / barracudas / manta rays / eagle rays …
    • Do not miss: night dives> impressive water clarity to observe all kinds of marine species and corals

Apo Reef is the largest coral reef in the Philippines. It is a marine reserve with an area of 15,800 hectares which extends over more than 40km². This site is very conducive to various dives is monitored by local rangers that limit the disturbance type abusive fishing. Apo Reef is composed of three islets. On this dive site: Cayos del Bajo submerged by the tides, Apo menor which is an island mostly covered with limestone where the vegetation is very poor and finally Apo Island which is in contrast rich in vegetation and which forms a mini mangrove. This spot owes its reputation to its abundance of corals and marine species. In total more than 350 species are listed. This dive spot has many strings to his bow including his nocturnal expeditions in waters of rare clarity. In short, a paradise for any diver who dreams of escape!

Richelieu Rock

    • Location: Andaman Sea, West Phuket, Thailand
    • Depth: 0 to 40 m maximum
    • Visibility: 10 to 30 m
    • Water temperature: moderate to high current
    • Level: advanced to experimented preferably
    • Fauna and flora: Barracudas / Giant jacks / Manta rays / White tip reef sharks / Leopard shark / Syngnaths / Plankton / Whale Sharks …
    • Not to miss: Between February and May> possibility to cross whale sharks with a good dose of luck nonetheless

The Rock of Richelieu, more commonly known as Richelieu Rock is THE SPOT diving in Thailand. This big rock almost completely submerged according to the mood of the tide low or high offers an idyllic setting for any diver wishing to venture there. The topography of this dive site is very popular and attracts a high density and diversity of tropical fish. This spot allows with a zest of luck to see whale sharks between the months of February and May. Thanks to its environment, lovers of macro photography will also find their happiness between amazing microorganisms and multicolored corals galore. This dive site is the crème de la crème of Thailand spots for all enthusiasts!

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang

    • Location: Koh-Lanta, Andaman Sea, Thailand
    • Visibility: from 15 to 40 m according to the periods
    • Water temperature: warm, 29 ° C average, moderate to high current
    • Dive type: Falling
    • Level: Advanced to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: manta rays / whale sharks / giant moray eels / leopard sharks / soft and hard red and purple corals …
    • Not to miss: the surprising nuances and shades of rocks related to coral, manta rays and whale sharks

These two dive sites are ranked among the best in Thailand. Hin Daeng Red Rock and Hin Muang Violet Rock can boast of their success with divers around the world. These spots with waters troubled by plankton teem with surprises and mysteries of all kinds: manta rays, whale sharks and more deep in the sand it is not uncommon to meet leopard sharks, gray reef sharks and rays with black spots. These dive sites are also havens of choice for macro creatures such as ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimp, and long-billed hawkfish. In short, a duo of shock for the most curious of you!

The best dive sites in America

From north to south via the center, the American continent is a shock of cultures and history. A confrontation between a “hard power” and a “soft power” that make its world domination for decades. The American Way of Life and the principle of Self Made Man are the dream of those who start from scratch and wish to reach new heights. The paradise destinations are numerous in America, but the diving spots are as much! Sun, sandy beaches and clear water make a very popular diving experience especially in the countries of Latin America and the South.

LATIN AMERICA

Wolf and Darwin Islands

    • Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
    • Depth: more than 40 m
    • Visibility: From 10 to 30 m visibility
    • Temperature of the water: crystalline, 20 to 25 ° C according to the seasons, current moderate to strong
    • Dive type: rock scree
    • Level: Advanced to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: whale sharks / hammer and Galapagos / eagle rays / marine iguanas / fur seals / cetaceans / macrofauna
    • Not to miss: diving with dolphins

Wolf and Darwin, two mythical names in scuba diving for all specialists around the world. These two sites only accessible by diving cruise are undoubtedly the most famous of the Galapagos Archipelago. Protected and World Heritage Sites of UNESCO in 1978, the Galapagos can boast of their unbeatable biodiversity in the world with nearly 3,000 marine species listed. It is also a well of science and history that allowed Charles Darwin to theorize his idea about the evolution of species through natural selection in 1835. Wolf and Darwin offer a breathtaking show orchestrated by an impressive marine fauna and a abundance in pelagic. Between whale sharks, hammers and Galapagos, eagle rays and dolphins we do not know where to turn. A subtle mixture of rocks, vertiginous cliffs and caves make these dive sites the most unusual and fascinating in the world. Definitely your most memorable diving trip!

Bajo Alcyone and Dirty Rock

    • Location: Coco Island, Costa Rica
    • Depth: 10 to 40m
    • Visibility: 10 to 30m
    • Water temperature: 24 to 30 ° C, variable current
    • Dive type: reefs, rocky slopes
    • Level: Experienced
    • Fauna and flora: coral sharks / silky sharks / hammerhead sharks / sharks houareaux / dolphins / merlins / manta and marbled rays / giant moray eels / green turtles / whale shark …
    • Not to miss: During the rainy season from June to December> guaranteed sensations with the observation of huge hammerhead sharks

Off Costa Rica stands Cocos Island proudly, around which are twenty of the most amazing dive sites of each other. Its protection and isolation have earned it a place in UNESCO World Heritage since the 90s and it is also a little paradise for the species that live there. Its natural architecture is impressive, covered with forests with huge waterfalls that flow into the sea. Two unavoidable spots on the island Cocos accessible diving that stay, Bajo Alcyone and Dirty Rock attraction must not be missed during your stay. diving trips that are home to a significant amount of marine species and especially sharks of all kinds. The reliefs and the preserved environment in Bajo Alcyone and Dirty Rock are pure beauty mixing submerged mountains and crevasses where the biomass of small species is the most developed in the world. In short, the Grail for divers of any horizon makes it one of the most popular diving spots in the world.

Le Cenote Dos Ojos

    • Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
    • Depth: Maximum 10m
    • Visibility: Up to 100m
    • Temperature of the water: clear filtered by limestone, 25 ° C all the year, no current
    • Diving type: caving cave
    • Level: Beginner to Experienced
    • Faune and flora: bats, geological formations: stalactites, stalagmites, columns …
    • Not to miss: Visit the caves to bats and observe the topography

Los Ojos, “the two eyes” in French owes its name to the two cenotes very close circular shape. A cenote is an underground formation that can reach hundreds of kilometers underground. Fresh water and salt water come together for your happiness, whether you are a beginner wanting to discover snorkeling or regular diving trips. The two major dive sites that make up this cenote are the Barbarie line and the Bat cave. Los Ojos is part of the world’s 10 longest underwater cave systems Enter a magical setting and stop for a moment to contemplate the beautiful geological formations of the seabed: caves, columns and arches caressed by the gentle rays of the sun that pierce the crystal clear water. It may even be that a group of bats greet you perched on the walls. A show that is out of the ordinary and that we do not get tired!

Socorro

    • Location: Archipelago of Revillagigedo, Mexico
    • Depth: 20 to 30 m
    • Visibility: Greater than 40m
    • Water temperature: 20 to 26 ° C depending on the period, strong current
    • Dive type: rocky, lava
    • Level: Experienced
    • Fauna and flora: octopus / sea urchin / lobster / oceanic manta ray birostris / hammerhead sharks / tiger sharks / galapagos sharks / silky sharks / angelfish / butterflyfish / groupers / moray eels / tunas, barracudas / wahoo …
    • Not to miss: Exploration of the rich flora

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, Socorro is the largest of the four volcanic islands in the Revillagigedo Archipelago with San Benedicto, Roca Partida and Clarion. Lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the island of Socorro is also known as “Galapagos of Mexico”. This amazing dive site covered with vegetation is full of lava flows where the current is strong and ultimately reserved for experienced divers. You will be able to cross many pelagic species, any type of shark as well as particularly colored fish. On the other hand, you will not find flora in the depths of its waters. This haven of peace without human nuisance or pollution is a real experience of submarine immersion closer to nature that you are not ready to forget!

Malpelo Island

    • Location: Colombia
    • Depth: from 20 to 40 m
    • Visibility: up to 30m
    • Water temperature: About 27 ° C
    • Dive type: rocky
    • Level: confirmed to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: algae / mosses / lichens / grasses / ferns / crabs / reptiles / seabirds / silky sharks / Galapagos sharks / tuna / Creole wrasses / giant manta rays …
    • Not to miss: Immerse yourself in crystal clear water and admire all the nuances of color

Malpelo Island, only accessible by diving cruise, is an isolated underwater sanctuary where abundant fauna and flora abound, especially in terms of endemic species. The pinnacles and rocks that surround the island are high diving sites in Colombia that are full of pelagic and coral in excellent health due to a high solar intensity and very pure water without pollution. The humid tropical climate, the currents as well as the plurality of reliefs favor the reproduction on the island, which makes it a beautiful and dynamic diving spot!

The best dive sites in the Caribbean

Scotts Head

    • Location: Natural Marine Reserve, South Roseau, Dominica
    • Depth: Between 15 and 30m
    • Visibility: Excellent
    • Water temperature: hot, 24 to 29 ° C, low current
    • Dive type: falling, cave, wreck
    • Level: Beginner to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: black coral / colorful gorgonians / gigantic sponges / rays / seahorses / moray eels / toad fish / parrots / snappers / angel fish / damselfly / snappers / fish chests / sharks / swordfish / ballista / butterfly fish / groupers / fish trumpets / fish-lizards / lobsters / crabs / sea urchin / lunar-faced frogfish …
    • Not to miss: the exceptional underwater topography and the coral reef color explosion.

The Soufrière Scotts Head Marine Reserve, administered since 1998 by a local collegiate authority composed of coast guards, municipal councilors, association, local fisheries committee, is full of exceptional treasures, not material, but Nature has carved over time. The topography is splendid, consisting mainly of caves, pinnacles and lava flows. The flora and fauna flock to the site, which makes it extremely alive. This dive spot is ideal for underwater photography with the contrast of light shows in the cave offering divers great opportunities for snapshots. It is especially this last characteristic that we will remember during a diving stay in Scotts Head!

Great Blue Hole

    • Location: Lighthouse Reef, Belize
    • Depth: more than 120m
    • Visibility: about 30m
    • Water temperature: 25 to 30 ° C according to the seasons, variable current
    • Diving type: coral reef, falling
    • Level: Beginner to confirmed
    • Fauna and flora: angelfish fish / parrot fish / squid reef sharks with black tip / eagle rays …
    • Not to miss: Diversified relief and pelagic species

Made famous by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970s and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, the Great Blue Hole is a famous dive site located about 65 km from Belize which is part of the Lighthouse Reef. The latter is a formation of atolls offering endless opportunities for diving, be they falling, drifting or coral gardens. The Great Blue Hole is a huge hole nearly 300 meters in diameter for nearly 125 meters deep. This dive spot with its location, its rich and varied topography and the excellent visibility of its waters is home to a diverse and abundant fauna and flora. Immerse yourself in the darkness of the abyss and meet black tip reef sharks admiring stalactites coupled with drop-offs. All these factors make it a fantastic diving destination!

Tiger Beach

    • Location: Grand Bahamas, Bahamas
    • Depth: 20m max
    • Visibility: more than 25m
    • Water temperature: no current
    • Dive type: sandy bottom, gentle slope
    • Level: All levels
    • Fauna and flora: tiger sharks / hammerhead sharks / sharks lemons / gray sharks / moray eels / groupers / dolphins …
    • Not to miss: the main attraction> swim with sharks, masters of the place.

The Tiger Beach dive site in Grand Bahamas is, as its name suggests, the tiger shark refuge … but not only! You will also have the opportunity to cross other types of sharks: hammers, gray or even lemons. This spot of address to the divers in search of chills and sensations but remains open at all levels because there is no current and the funds are shallow. The conditions are ideal for diving so do not waste a minute to get into the water!

The best diving holidays in Africa

The African continent, whose image is often degraded in the media for its territorial conflicts, its social and economic problems between extreme poverty and famine and its unstable political life, is above all a continent of rare natural and cultural wealth. cultural. Highly coveted for its energy resources, Africa is also a destination of change of scenery with varied climates and reliefs where Nature regains its rights. It offers a multitude of activities including scuba diving which is a hobby more than appreciable for tourists and divers from around the world with its unusual species and lush flora.

Precontinent II Sha’ab Rumi Sud

    • Location: Red Sea, Sudan
    • Depth: 30 m max
    • Visibility: up to 45m
    • Water temperature: 26 to 30 ° C, variable current
    • Dive type: drifting, plateaus, rocky, cliffs
    • Level: Advanced to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: groupers / turtles / rays / barracudas / jacks / snappers / gorgonians / sponges / alcyonaria / soft and hard corals / sharks / gray reef sharks / hammerhead sharks / reef sharks / silky sharks …
    • Not to miss: The extraordinary remains of Commander Cousteau, a real well of history

The Sha’ab Rumi dive site was made famous when in 1963 Commander Cousteau experienced an underwater village named Précontinent II. This site, surrounded by remains, plunges us into a real journey through history, a kind of return to the past. Between lagoon and plateaux adorned with a luxuriant flora made of alcyonaries, gorgonians and other soft corals and a diversified fauna composed of pelagic along the wall: dolphins, hammerheads, a single immersion would not be enough for you to contemplate all the little wonders hidden behind this dive spot.

Mnemba Island

    • Location: Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania
    • Depth: More than 20 m
    • Visibility: up to 30m
    • Temperature of the water: clear, between 25 and 27 ° C
    • Dive type: drifting
    • Level: Beginner to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: fish snappers / sergeant fishes / horned zancks / Napoleon wrens / groupers / jacks / dolphins / white tip reef sharks / angelfish / blue dots / red toothfish / octopus / leaf fish / scorpion fish, frogfish / garden eels / tunas rainbow / lobster racers …
    • Not to miss: Snorkeling on a site kept and preserved

Mnemba Island in Zanzibar is unpretentious a paradise-like place for its white-sand beaches and a must-see spot for scuba diving and snorkeling, whose environment is safeguarded and protected by the government and local people. Hold your breath as you may never want to come out of the crystal clear waters of this multi-colored dive site full of fish and coral. The diving trips are accessible to all and offer a wide range of opportunities for diving or snorkeling in seascapes that vary constantly. A must to take full view!

Aliwal Shoal

    • Location: Umkomaas, South Africa
    • Depth: Between 17 and 32m
    • Visibility: more than 20m
    • Water temperature: 20 to 28 ° C depending on the season, low to moderate current
    • Dive type: drifting
    • Level: advanced to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: hammerhead sharks / tiger sharks / bulldog sharks / rays / turtles / groupers / whale sharks / dolphins …
    • Not to miss: Diving boat trip with dolphins

The place of whales cows, says Umkomaas in Zulu is a city in South Africa with many more incredible dive sites than others. Especially the Aliwal Shoal Reef, a must-see spot for a trip dive into warm waters teeming with fish and vegetation that sharks are world famous for. Indeed, you will have the opportunity to dive with rare species such as the bull shark coming to breed in these waters, but also the tiger shark, the shark lined, the hammerhead shark and the Zambezi shark. You can also see rays, turtles, groupers and sometimes whale sharks. For a diving cruise, you will have the honor of being escorted by very friendly dolphins. Their company gives a lot of charm to this dive site. We want to jump into the water!

Protea Banks

    • Location: South Africa
    • Depth: 40m max
    • Visibility: from 10 to 30 m
    • Water temperature: 21 to 26 ° C, moderate to high current
    • Dive type: Drifting
    • Level: Experienced
    • Flora and fauna: Zambezi sharks / hammerhead sharks / black tip sharks / tiger sharks / ragged tooth / white shark / moray eels / rays / barracudas / tunas.
    • Don’t miss: Sharks favorite playground> thrills divers

Protea Banks in South Africa is certainly the best dive site in the world to see sharks in their habitat. The presence of a large amount of tuna favors their arrival for the greatest pleasure of divers in search of thrills and thrills. This spot includes 3 main areas: Northern Pinnacle, Southern Pinnacle and Playground which have an impressive marine architecture between caves, rocks and canyons. This is the favorite playground of many different shark species. A white shark has even been seen at Playground! It is therefore normal that this dive site is reserved for experienced divers.

La Sardine Run

    • Location: South Africa
    • Water temperature: cool, 18 to 22 ° C
    • Level: confirmed to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: seals / sharks: copper sharks, dark sharks, sharks and bull sharks / common dolphins and long-necked dolphins / humpback whales / right whales / Minke’s whales / Brides’s whales / penguins / killer whales / seabirds : mainly Cape fools
    • Not to miss: the experience as a whole is worth a visit!

A fabulous adventure awaits you. Go for the Sardine Run, an amazing show in which millions of sardines go up along the coasts of South Africa to Mozambique in June and July. This experience is unique and offers you the opportunity to admire an impressive amount of pelagics, marine species and birds feeding on millions of plankton and sardines. You can see predators of all kinds such as dolphins, sharks, whales, sea lions, gulls and even fishermen! When diving or staying on the boat, it is an experience to live for all divers or curious worthy of the name!

Elphinstone Reef

    • Location: Red Sea, Egypt
    • Depth: 5 to 40m
    • Visibility: More than 30m
    • Water temperature: 24 to 29 ° C, moderate to high current
    • Dive type: Drifting
    • Level: Advanced to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: gorgonians / alcyonaria / soft corals / hard corals / hammerhead sharks / longimanus sharks / butterflyfish / jacks / napoleons / moray eels / flutefish …
    • Do not miss: Corals and sharks are the masters of these places

Considered by many divers as the most famous reef in Egypt, or even the Red Sea, Elphinstone Reef, named after George Elphinstone, British Admiral in Egypt during the Napoleonic Wars, stretches for nearly 300 meters and outcrops the surface of the water with two trays on each side that seem to fall in steps like steps of stairs. The brightness that emanates from the sun is paramount on this site which is full of animal and vegetable life to enjoy the amazing colors of funds. Sponges, soft corals, gorgonians, oceanic sharks and hammerhead sharks are the main attractions of the divers and make this site exceptional and extremely exciting to explore!

Blue Hole

    • Location: Dahab, Red Sea, Egypt
    • Depth: 300m maximum
    • Visibility: Excellent
    • Water temperature: moderate current
    • Diving type: falling, cave, cavern
    • Level: advanced to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: groupers / moray eels / scorpion fish / clownfish / triggerfish / scallop / nudibranch / octopus / jacks / turtles / manta rays / hard corals / sponges / anemones / gorgonians …
    • Not to miss: The more you go down, the more interesting the species are

The Blue Hole or Blue Hole in French is a famous dive site in Egypt more than 100 meters deep, located 20 minutes from Dahab and accessible from the beach. Although fascinating and mysterious, this spot remains sadly reputed for its dangerousness, which is why beginners are advised not to venture there. The dives are rather reserved for tek divers. Usually the dive begins at The Bells, a hundred meters away. Further down you will find the Arch very busy with schools of trevallies, sharks, turtles but also manta rays. It is impossible to explore this part without professional equipment and solid experience. For beginners, we recommend you to try snorkeling, with multiple opportunities for surprising encounters and colorful as clownfish in their anemones, butterfly fish and parrot fish. In short, this dive site is one of the best in the world for its unexpected finds but also the most risky.

Shark and Yolanda Reef

    • Location: Ras Mohammed National Park, Red Sea, Egypt
    • Depth: Up to 30m
    • Visibility: More than 50m
    • Dive type: drifting
    • Level: Advanced to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: snappers / jacks / barracudas / black tip sharks / tuna / grouper / moray eels / snappers / napoleon fish / leopard rays / turtles / fusiliers / soft corals / sea anemones / parazoanthus …
    • Not to miss: Be curious and look for fish between the remains and wrecks of Yolanda

On the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, two reefs emerge from the abyss: Shark and Yolanda Reef each possessing their own endemic currents and species. At Shark Reef, a drop of more than 800 meters deep is completely covered with soft corals and schools of snappers abound. Also found in the sandy bottoms of giant moray eels, groupers and stingrays blue stitches While Yolanda Reef, coral potatoes are ubiquitous with its alcyonarians and gorgonians. There are the remains of the Yolanda wreck that sank in 1980, which gave its name to the reef. On this site, it is common to photograph a Javanese moroccan head leaving the head of a toilet bowl. For all these reasons, the Shark and Yolanda Reef dive site has been ranked among the 10 most beautiful sites to explore during a diving trip.

Les îles Brothers

    • Location: Red Sea, Egypt
    • Depth: Up to 40m
    • Water temperature: 22 to 30 ° C depending on the season
    • Dive type: falling
    • Level: Experienced
    • Fauna and flora: giant sea fans / soft corals / groupers / porcupine-fish / tropical barbels / chunkfish / clownfish / stingrays / anthias / snappers / jacks / barracudas / tuna / napoleonfish / turtles / sharks white-tipped tip / hammerhead sharks / gray reef sharks / white tip reef sharks / fox sharks
    • Not to miss: Open your eyes! Everything is impressive on this site!

Between Egypt and Saudi Arabia stand the Brothers Islands, accessible by diving cruise. Lost in the middle of the Red Sea, “the two brothers” are classified in the marine park by the Egyptian government and offer a fabulous diversity of fauna and flora that make it one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world. Underwater, a varied topography made of caves, dizzying drops and wrecks awaits you for an unusual and confusing expedition. At Big Brother, come visit the lighthouse built in 1883 by the British and then immerse yourself in colorful backgrounds by animal and plant life. At Little Brother, pelagic fauna dominates. All species of sharks meet on this spot for the delight of divers and the reef is lined with gorgonians and beautiful black coral bushes. This dive site is without a doubt one of the most complete in the world!

Manta Reef

    • Location: Nusa Penida, Mozambique
    • Depth: 40m maximum
    • Visibility: 10 to 30m
    • Water temperature: 24-25 ° C all year round / low to moderate current
    • Dive type: Falling, coral reef
    • Level: advanced to experienced
    • Fauna and flora: soft corals / yellow snappers / barracudas / fusiliers / trumpet fish / green turtles / scorpion fish / moray eels / crocodile fish / Spanish dancers / nudibranchs / cowrie shells / manta ray / eagle rays / white tip sharks …
    • Not to miss: The fabulous spectacle of the reproduction and the cleaning of the lines

The name of this dive site is not trivial. Manta Reef is perhaps the best spot in Africa to observe giant manta rays and the reproduction of stingrays. The rays on this site can easily reach 6 meters wingspan and we can admire them spinning above the divers while being cleaned by anthias and wrasses! A great entertainment and a beautiful painting to contemplate! High cliffs hide a wide variety of coral and it is not uncommon to cross rays eagles, mobulas, not to mention the whale sharks and humpback whales. Your dreams will come true in Manta Reef. You do not have a minute to lose!

The best diving spots in Oceania

Often considered as THE SPOT of surfers and divers, Oceania is also the continent with the thousand islands formed by a volcanism. Its surface is worth to him to have a great variety of climates and its marine currents are at the origin of an important ecosystem Ocean and a high biodiversity! The continent of kangaroos is very popular for its heliotropism, its paradisiac beaches and especially its sites of surfing and scuba diving. The waters are generally warm and crystalline, which allows you to admire the beauty of the seabed and the explosion of colors caused by marine flora and fauna: nuanced corals and tropical fish.

Fish Rock Cave

    • Location: South West Rocks, Australia
    • Depth: 10 to 30m
    • Visibility: up to 30m
    • Water temperature: 22 to 28 ° C / moderate current
    • Dive type: Cave
    • Level: Accessible to all levels
    • Fauna and flora: bullseyes / red cuttlefish / carpet sharks / bull rays / cowries / sea cucumbers / Spanish dancers / crayfish / giant cuttlefish / turtles …
    • Not to miss: Diving at the highest intensity of the sun

Fish Rock Cave on the coast of New South Wales, one of the largest underwater caves in the world but also one of the most famous attracts divers from around the world for the amazing calm of its waters but which is still full of rich and varied marine species. Two large dark chimneys emerge from the cavern and plunge you into a magical universe where female cuttlefish breed while the males swim in the vicinity of the turtles carettes that walk quietly. You can admire this show using your flashlight because here the sunlight penetrates very little water. Moults carpet sharks, bullseyes, bull rays, cowries, sea cucumbers and Spanish dancers also reign in this dive site that we highly recommend!

Perpendicular Wall

    • Location: Christmas Island, Australia
    • Visibility: More than 50 m visibility
    • Water temperature: Crystalline
    • Dive type: drifting, cave
    • Level: Experienced -Fauna and flora: gorgonians / riflemen / tropical fishes / whale sharks / sailfish / hump parrots …
    • Not to miss: The changing terrain

A wall perpendicular to the surface of the water makes the famous and the interest of this diving site which is one of the 40 spots which are on the island of Christmas. The topography is impressive, created by the submarine volcano whose eruptions have formed plateaux, reefs and drop-offs. The funds are also interesting to explore and hide caves where stalactites and stalagmites are spectacular. The site is home to a myriad of tropical fish, whale sharks, sailfish and humpback parrots that offer a more nuanced and amazing array! A pure treat for snorkeling.

    • Location: Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, Exmouth, Australia
    • Visibility: from 3 to 10m
    • Water temperature: no current
    • Level: All levels
    • Fauna and flora: carp shark / nurse shark / white tip reef shark / nudibranch / flatworms / frog fish / scorpion fish / stone fish / barracudas / jacks …
    • Not to miss: Photography and snorkeling

Which diver does not dream of immersing himself and discovering with his palms more than 250 species of coral, 700 species of fish and 14 species of whale? The Ningaloo Reef Marine Park in the city of Exmouth meets all of these criteria and much more, earning it a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. The Navy Pier site ranked one of the top 10 sites diving world is a protected area that offers incredible biodiversity. You will certainly see carpet sharks, nurse sharks and white-tipped reef sharks. It is also a very good spot for snorkeling stays! Indeed, small marine creatures such as nudibranchs, flatworms, frogfish, scorpionfish and stone fish abound in the big blue for all lovers of underwater photography. A true animal sanctuary under these waters!

Blue Corner

    • Location: Palau, Micronesia
    • Depth: 35m maximum
    • Visibility: More than 30m
    • Water temperature: about 27 ° C all year, low to very high current
    • Dive type: falling, drifting, coral reef
    • Level: All levels with experience in the current
    • Fauna and flora: Manta Ray / Eagle Ray / Mobula Ray / Barracudas / Moray eels / Tuna / Turtle / Groupers / Scorpion fish / Lion fish / Spearfish / Fish leaf / Fish lizard / Stone fish / Clownfish / Anthias / Octopus / Nudibranch / Napoleon fish / Flute fish / Rougets / Angel fish / Fusiliers / Fish surgeons / Hard coral / White tip shark lagoon
    • Not to miss: The strong marine diversity

The small island of Micronesia has one of the most extraordinary dive sites in the world for its vast marine life and flora. However currents can be extremely strong, which could discourage some novices. Blue Corner is a deep, vertical drop that offers incredible marine diversity, especially pelagic breeding: gray reef sharks between February and April, corals in May and groupers in July. The diving conditions are excellent all year long and you will always have something to see!

La passe de Tiputa

    • Location: Rangiroa Atoll, French Polynesia
    • Depth: up to 40 m
    • Visibility: Excellent
    • Water temperature: low to high current
    • Dive type: Drifting
    • Level: Beginner to Experienced
    • Fauna and flora: gray sharks / hammerhead sharks / leopard rays / dolphins / manta rays / napoleons / tuna / turtles / corals …
    • Do not miss: Topography and marine variety

In the Tuamotu archipelago is the Rangiroa Atoll. In this atoll is the Tiputa Pass. The latter is one of the most unusual and appreciated dive sites in the world for its impressive marine wealth and its many sites that satisfy all diving levels. It is impossible to talk about Tiputa without naming nearby sites: Angle, the Walk and the Fish-Fish Reef. Angle is suitable for experienced divers wishing to observe species such as Humpback Snappers, Bigeye Trevals, Napoleon wrasse or dogtooth tuna. At the level of the Marche, an incredible topography is offered to you with the presence of pelagic species. This dive requires exemplary buoyancy and a drifting experience. Finally, the Fish-Soldiers Reef has a magnificent fauna and flora. Examples include shoveled fish, anemones, clownfish, marbled groupers, white tip sharks and manta rays. A rare animal and plant diversity that can not be found anywhere else!

Night diving with manta rays

– Location: Kailua Kona, Hawaii

The night dive with manta rays has been voted “one of the most popular attractions in your life” by the Travel Channel. Come and admire the ballet of manta rays that feed on plankton while swirling around you with the soft lights of the boats glittering in the crystal clear waters of Hawaii. A night show, magical and unforgettable to observe all year long!

CONCLUSION

The sites presented are certainly the best spots in the world for diving or snorkeling! We, SPOTMYDIVE hope that this TOP 50 will help you as to the destination of your future diving holiday. What is certain is that the change of scenery will be at the rendezvous. If you are looking for great thrills, relaxation, surprises or extraordinary, we strongly recommend that you embark for one of these destinations and what is certain is that it will take you curious to go around the world!