Great Barrier Reef

Quite possibly the most sought after and most famous dive spot in the world. Everyone has heard a people saying that they wish to dive the Great Barrier Reef. It is the largest reef system in the world, spanning over 3000 kilometers (for those who do not use the metric system, AKA the U.S, its a really big reef...). Fun fact, it is the only reef that can be seen from space; it is located off the coast of Australia. 
 Expect to see:

• Clown fish 
• Sea Turtles
• Dolphins
• Occasionally Humpback Whales 
• Small reef fish 
• A variety of sharks (black tip, white tip, great whites further into open water, nurse sharks)

www.cntraveller.com

 







Type of dive:

• Depending on what part of the reef you dive, the depths vary 
• There is something for everyone, beginners through advanced
• AUSTRALIA IS WARM NO WET SUITS YAY
• Temperatures range depending on the season but mostly stay in the 70s 

Bunaken In Indonesia 

www.bunakenchacha.com

Located just north of Sulawesi Island in Indonesia, under the surface, lays Indonesia's best dive and snorkel site. This dive site is part of the Bunaken Marine National Park and in a single dive, people are able to see 70% of the Pacific's fish species. Not to shabby for a single dive site.

Expect to see:

• Fishies! Lots of small reef fish flitting in and out of crevasses 
• Sea horses
• frog fish
• mimic octopus (coolest thing with 8 legs)
• cuddle fish 

Type of Dive

• Due to the cooler waters of Indonesia, wet suits are advised, sad :(  
• There are dive sites around Bunaken that are not beginner friendly - strong currents and deeper waters 
• But most dive sites here range from 30 - 50 meters deep
• There are snorkel sites so if the little ones aren't comfortable or certified they are still able to enjoy the wild life

Fun tip:
The closer you stay to the bottom of your dive site, the less current pressure you will feel. 

Similan Islands In Thailand 


Located in the western Andaman sea among 9 forested islands, there are two type of dive sites. The east facing dive sites consist of sloping coral reefs, whereas the west facing dives consist of giant boulders covered in hard and soft corals. Being a marine national park, it is not susceptible to debris in the water and there is no fishing, keeping the waters pristine and full of marine biodiversity.

Cow Tail Ray

Expect to See:

• Trigger fish
• Cow tail rays
• Sand animals  
• Whale Sharks
  

Type of dive:

• dives vary in experience level, beginners might struggle
• water clarity is excellent 

• Temperatures are in the mid 70s, yay no wet suits!

 

Red Sea Reef 

Red Sea Reef

Location

The Red Sea is one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world. It has a vast landscape of blooming corals and fish that live within them. Located between Saudi Arabia and the coasts of Egypt and Sudan, it is accessible if one were to stay in one of the many resorts that line these coastlines.  

Diving the Red Sea

Expect to see:

•  Whale Sharks
• Different species of shark 
• White-tips, Black-tips, Tigers

• Different species of rays 
• Turtles
• Small reef dwelling fish 

Marine Life of the Red Sea

The Type of Dive to Expect:

• There are different dive sites for different level divers, accommodating beginners through expert
• The temperature is defiantly warmer than New England but not as warm as the tropics, low 70s to high 60s - some people wear full wet suits and some where shorties.
  

Galapagos Dive Sites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darwin and Wolf in the Galapagos Islands 

Being among the second largest marine national park in the world, these dive sites are supreme. They are located off the coast of South America. Also, for those who love evolution, these dive sites are at the most famous place of evolutionary discovery by the famous Charles Darwin. The attraction that these dive sites hold are the vast number of marine species. Varrying from different species of shark to hundreds of species of fish.

Ray

Expect to see:

• Hammerhead sharks 
• Galapagos sharks 
• Different species of rays  
• Sunfish 
• PENGUINS!
  

Expect the dive to be:

• On a dive boat with a dive master 
• 70 degree water, which can fluctuate with the archipelago currents moving through
• A drift dive
• Sharks can be frightening for young children but it is beginner friendly

Cocos Island Off the Coast of Costa Rica 

 

Cocos Dive Site

Cocos Islands

 
Travel 300 miles into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Costa Rica and you will find yourself in the wonderful blue world of the Cocos Islands. These islands are mostly uninhabited that are covered in tropical jungles. These dive sites are a shark lovers dream! If you like that kind of thing, swimming with sharks, without a cage, where they could potentially mistake you for a snack... Yay! But there are the less harmful whale sharks that have been seen swimming leisurely about the open blue water. 

Shark Species that are found in this area:

• Whale Shark 
• Hammerheads
• White-tip reef sharks

Whale Shark

Other species that are known to be seen here are:

• Manta Rays
• Tuna  

The Type of Dive to Expect:

• It is a marine national park so everything is protected
• It have range from shallow to steep drop offs depending on where you dive
• The main attraction of these dives are the hammerhead sharks that patrol these waters
• The best way to dive these islands is by a professional dive boat
• It is NOT a good dive for beginners 
• The currents can range from moderate to very strong 

worldatlas.com

Philippines
Now we shift gears and travel around the world to the Philippines. Which is located off the eastern coast of Asia. I personally have not traveled there but I have heard from numerous dive masters that it has some of the most vibrant reef systems in the world. It has been called a photographer's dream dive spot.

Puerto Galera

This dive site is located off of Mindoro Island and is one of the most popular dive sites in the Philippines. It is located near the most dive shops that take people out on dive boats; the most popular being Asia Divers. With 450 identified species of coral alone, it has some of the best marine biodiversity on the planet. It is a unique dive site due to the nature of the reef; there is something for everyone no matter what dive rank they are. It is a great novice dive as well as an advanced dive, also it is a photographers dream dive site. 

Expect to see:

• Large coral formations

  

  Coral formation in Puerto Galera

• Lots of small fish

• Occasionally Moray and Ribbon Eels 

• Snappers

• Angel Fish

• Parrot Fish 

  
  

  Not only is there a beautiful underwater world below the surface at Puerto Galera, but for the tired diver, there are hotels and resorts and soon as they return to the dive shop. Many of these hotels and resorts offer dive packages that one can purchase. Also, a short distance from this dive site, there are many wrecks that provide havens for aquatic life, including Sea Horses! (Dive Philippines).

 

 

  Aruba 

The Pedernales Wreck

Photo Credit: Beth Duffin

Background Information:

This wreck is located just south of the Antilla off the coast of Aruba. This oil tanker was sunk by a German submarine in World War II. Some parts of this ship were salvaged by the United States, what was not utilized is what remains on the sea floor (Pendernales Wreck Information).

Coral growing on part of the ship

 

Expect to see:

•  Small fish

• Coral growing on the wreckage
  

• Barracudas
  

• Octopus
  

• Angelfish

Octopus, Photo Credit: Beth Duffin

Dive Information:

• It is located in 25 feet of water

• It is a great dive for Novice divers 

• There is little to no current around the ship, the current is broken up by the ship

• The water visibility on a good day can be 50 feet or beyond  

   

  This dive is a great family dive; there is little to no current and if young divers are accompanying their parents or guardians, the less likely they will be to become scared. Another great thing about this dive is the water temperature, year round it ranges from 75-80F degrees, becoming colder the deeper a diver descends. For someone who has grown up in New England, a perk of diving in warm water is the lacking need for a wetsuit.