Top 5 Diving Destinations

As a diver, you probably know the importance of choosing the right destination. Diving in an area where there’s limited visibility and minimal marine life won’t offer any lasting memories. When you return home, you’ll probably forget uneventful dives such as this. Therefore, you should take the time to choose the right diving destination. While you can always adventure into new waters to test different destinations, we’ve compiled a list of the world’s top five diving destinations below.

#1) Barracuda Point

First on our list is Barracuda Point. Located off the coast of Sipadan — a Malaysian island in the Indo-Pacific basin — it receives its namesake from its massive shoals of native barracuda fish. It’s not uncommon for divers to see thousands of the barracuda swimming in close formation. As these predatory fish swarm in the cool waters, they create the appearance of a tornado. Of course, Barracuda Point is home to other marine life besides barracudas. When diving at Barracuda Point, you may encounter turtles, sharks, jellyfish, corals and even whales.  And with an average visibility of roughly 100 feet, Barracuda Point offers some of the clearest waters in the ocean.

Because Barracuda Point is located in such a secluded area, it isn’t a particularly popular tourist. In fact, the Sabah Government only issues 120 permits to visit Sipadan per day. But if you’re lucky enough to score a permit, you can cross Barracuda Point off your diving bucket list.

#2) The Great Blue Hole

Located off the coast of Belize, the Great Blue Hole is the world’s largest underwater sinkhole. As shown in the photo to the left, it’s literally a hole at the bottom of the ocean. In terms of size, the Great Blue Hole measures approximately 1,043 feet in diameter and 407 feet deep. Experts believe it was formed naturally over the course of 100,000+ years. Regardless of when or how it was formed, though, it has since become one of the world’s top diving destinations.

In 2012, the Great Blue Hole ranked #1 on Discovery Channel’s list of “The 10 Most Amazing Places on Earth.” Prior to receiving this accolade, French naval officer and explorer Jacques Cousteau said the Great Blue Hole was one of his favorite diving destinations. Cousteau even wrote about this underwater sinkhole in the sixth volume of a self-published book titled “The Undersea Discoveries of Jacques-Yves Cousteau.”

Keep in mind, only advanced and experienced divers should attempt to dive at the Great Blue Hole. To reduce the risk of injury, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has strict requirements for diving at the Great Blue Hole, one of which includes a minimum of 24 logged dives.

#3) The Gili Islands

The Gili islands is another top-ranked diving destination. Located off the coast of Indonesia, it’s an archipelago of three islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gilli Air. The waters surrounding these islands are clear, clean and teeming with marine life. Sea turtles are especially common in the waters around Gili islands. As a result, the archipelago has been given the title of “Turtle Capital of World.” You’ll generally see both green and hawksbill turtle on most dives at the Gili islands. Like the other diving destinations listed here, though, the waters of Gili islands is home to a wide range of marine life, including clownfish, grouper, starfish, sharks and more.

In the waters near Gili Air, there’s the wreckage of a Japanese patrol boat from World War 2. Over the past few decades, this wreckage has become a popular dive site for tourists of the archipelago. Other popular dive sites at the Gili islands include Shark Point, Manta Point and Simon’s Reef.

Unlike the Great Blue Hole, the Gili islands is a beginner-friendly diving destination. According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the Gili islands is suitable “for all levels” of diving. So, regardless of your skill or experience, you can book a trip to dive at the Gili islands.

#4) The Great Barrier Reef

We can’t talk about the top diving destinations without mentioning the Great Barrier Reef. Consisting of nearly 3,000 coral reefs over an area of roughly 133,000 square miles, it’s the world’s largest living structure.

Here are some fun facts about the Great Barrier Reef that attest to its popularity as a diving destination:

  • The Great Barrier Reef is home to at least 30 species of cetaceans.
  • Marine biologists have identified over 1,500 species of fish in the Great Barrier Reef.
  • The green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, Olive Ridley turtle and flatback turtle all live in the Great Barrier Reef.
  • While mostly shallow, the waters of the Great Barrier Reef reach up to 160 feet at the deepest part.
  • There are approximately 5,000 species of mollusc in the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Dozens of species of shark live in the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
  • There are 17 species of snakes that live in the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Humpback whales often pass through the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Nearly 50 species of pipefish have been identified in the Great Barrier Reef.

It’s important to note that not all parts of the Great Barrier Reef are open to tourists. A significant portion of the area is protected by the Great Barrier Marine Park, which prohibits tourists from accessing it. The purpose of this rule is to limit stress on the Reef and its marine life.

PADI recommends taking the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course as well as the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course if you’re planning to dive at the Great Barrier Reef. The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer will teach you about underwater photography so that you can capture the Great Barrier Reef’s diverse marine life on camera, whereas the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course will teach you how to control buoyancy.

#5) The Red Sea

Last but not least is the Red Sea. Covering an area of ocean roughly 169,000 square miles in the Indian Ocean, it offers the bright-colored coral reefs against crystal-clear waters. And being that the Red Sea is classified as one of the seven wonders of the underwater world, you can rest assured knowing that it will offer a memorable diving experience. It’s home to approximately 200 species of coral, which create a balanced ecosystem for countless other forms of marine life. Although the Red Sea has plenty of currents — making it an excellent destination for drift diving — it generally has weak waves.

The Red Sea’s thriving underwater ecosystem can be attributed to its warm, salty waters. Statistics show the surface temperature of the Red Sea is roughly 79 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit on most days, making it one of the world’s warmest bodies of water. Combined with a high concentration of salt, it’s an ideal living environment for many forms of marine life. Diving at the Red Sea allows you to explore these warm, salty waters while marveling at the native marine life.

With an average depth of 1,608 feet, the Red Sea offers some pretty deep waters in which to dive. Of course, some areas are significantly deeper than others. The Suakin Trough of the Red Sea, for instance, has a maximum depth of 9,970 feet. If you’re feeling adventurous, check out some of the deeper waters in the Red Sea such as this.

Use your travel binder to track your destinations and adventures!

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10 Rules to Follow When Diving Around Coral Reef

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While covering less than 1% of the ocean floor, coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Approximately one-quarter of all marine species like in or around coral reefs, including fish, algae, shrimp, mollusks, sponges, clams, crabs, worms and more. As a result, coral reefs have become popular dive sites. With their unparalleled level of biodiversity, you’ll encounter countless forms of marine life when diving around a coral reef. Whether you’re planning a dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef, the Amazon Reef, the Tubbataha Reef or any other coral reef, though, you should follow these 10 rules.

#1) Look But Don’t Touch

The golden rule of diving around a coral reef is to look but don’t touch. You can marvel at these intricate underwater structures — and you can take photos or record videos of them — but you should never touch them. Certain species of corals are razor sharp, and touching them could result in serious bodily injury. Furthermore, corals have a delicate, living membrane covering their calcified skeleton. If you touch this membrane — with any part of your body or an object — you may inadvertently pierce it, leaving the coral susceptible to infection.

#2) Inquire About Dive Group Size

Before diving around a coral reef, contact either a private or municipal tourism organization to find out how large your dive group should be. Why does this matter? Large dive groups are more likely to damage or disturb corals and their respective marine life than smaller dive groups. The Australian government’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority recommends diving in groups of no more than six people. Other government-run marine departments may recommend even smaller dive groups for their coral reefs. By following the recommendations for your coral reef dive site, you’ll reduce your group’s environmental footprint.

#3) Stay Off the Bottom

While most divers know not to touch corals, many assume that it’s okay to walk on the ocean floor if there are no corals growing on it. The problem with walking on the ocean floor around corals, however, is that it stirs up sediment, which eventually lands on corals. Corals are porous, consisting of a honeycomb-pattern of small holes in which algae lives. If you walk along the bottom of the ocean floor next to a coral, some of the sand and sediment will coat the coral and clog its pores. When this happens, algae won’t be able to make its way inside the coral. And because algae is the main source of food (energy) for corals, this often leads to bleaching and eventually the death of corals.

If you find yourself sinking to the bottom, consider using a buoyancy compensator. Also known as a buoyancy control device (BCD), this inflatable vest will provide you with greater buoyancy control while underwater. Using the BCD’s control mechanic, you can increase or decrease the amount of air in it. With our air, the BCD will make you more buoyant. With less air, it will make less buoyant.

#4) Don’t Feed the Fish

You’ll probably encounter dozens of fish species when diving around a coral reef. Regardless of which species you encounter, though, you shouldn’t feed them. Lots of fish live around coral reefs because they eat the plants and algae growing on corals. If you feed the native fish — and other divers follow suit by feeding them as well — they may stop feasting on the corals’ plants and algae. Over time, the plants and algae grow out of control, taking over the coral and disturbing its natural ecosystem.

#5) Secure Your Equipment

Double check your equipment before diving around a coral reef to ensure that it’s not loose. If you’re using a weight belt, for example, make sure the individual weights are secured to the belt. If a weight is loose, it could fall onto a piece of coral. Of course, you should secure all your diving equipment. Anything that falls onto or even brushes against a coral may cause serious damage to it.

#6) Keep a Safe Distance From Marine Life

Always keep a safe distance from marine life when diving around a coral reef. As with corals, you shouldn’t touch any marine life that you encounter during your dive. Some seemingly harmless species of fish are actually venomous, and touching them could result in debilitating pain or even paralysis. Even if a fish isn’t venomous, touching it may harm the mucus membrane covering its scales. Whether it’s a fish, crab, lobster or any form of marine life, keep your distance to avoid disturbing it.

#7) Wear Gloves

Some divers believe it’s best to leave their gloves on the boat when diving around a coral reef, as brushing against a coral with gloves could damage it. This isn’t technically wrong. Touching a coral with either your bare hand or a gloved a hand may damage it. Nonetheless, you should still wear gloves when diving around a coral reef to protect your hands from injury. Hopefully your hands never touch the coral, but if you accidentally brush a hand against it, wearing gloves could prevent serious cuts or burns.

#8) Research the Marine Life Before Diving

Assuming this is your first time diving around a particular coral reef, you should spend some time researching the local marine life. No two coral reef systems have the exact same species of marine life. If it’s your first time diving at a coral reef, you’ll encounter a myriad of unfamiliar marine species. By researching the coral reef’s marine life, though, you’ll a better idea of what to expect.

#9) Choose a Reputable Dive Charter

You shouldn’t choose just any dive charter to take you out to a coral reef. Many fly-by-night dive charters are careless with their operations. Some, for example, may drop anchor without first checking to see if there’s coral underneath. And if the boat drops anchor directly over a coral, it will crush and destroy the underlying coral.

How do you know if a dive charter is reputable? You can always ask the locals for recommendations, although another way to verify the reputation of a dive charter is to look on TripAdvisor. Using the online review website, you can read firsthand experiences from the charter’s past customers. If there’s a high ratio of positive-to-negative reviews, you can rest assured knowing the dive charter is a reputable and credible business. If the ratio is reversed, you may want to book your dive elsewhere.

#10) Use Mineral-Based Sunscreen Lotion

Choose a mineral-based sunscreen lotion to wear when diving around a coral reef. In 2019, Hawaii became the first state to ban sunscreen lotions containing either oxybenzone or oxctinoxate. While these two chemicals have been uses in sunscreen lotions for decades, new studies have linked them to coral bleaching, which is the basis for Hawaii’s recent ban of sunscreen lotions containing oxybenzone or oxctinoxate. Beginning 2021, Hawaii businesses won’t be allowed to sell sunscreen creams, lotions, sprays or other products if they contain one of these ingredients.

If you’re going to wear sunscreen lotion during your dive trip, choose a lotion containing a mineral-based UV-filtering ingredient like zinc oxide. They are just as effective at protecting against sunburn and related UV-related skin damage, but they won’t induce bleaching in coral reefs.

Want to create your own custom dive logs? Contact us today to learn more about our custom dive logs.

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My First Experience with Scuba Diving in Costa Rica

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It’s a bit funny to be working as an intern at a scuba diving company when you have absolutely no scuba diving experience. And while I got to know the sport from working at Dive Logz over the past year and a bit, looking at pictures is nothing like the real thing.

Recently, Peter and Sandra, the dynamic duo behind Dive Logz, decided that enough was enough. Just like that, we packed our bags and headed for Costa Rica.

While the trip was a bit of a mixed bag (read all about it here), the one thing that was a runaway success was my first diving experience!

To make it happen, we got together with the Montezuma Crew and rented their private yacht for the day. Being out on the water was amazing, and we became fast friends with the crew: Miguel, Tomas, and David.

The best part? I went scuba diving!

I wasn’t able to get certified because our trip was cut extremely short (because, ahem, reasons) but I was able to get a taste of scuba diving. It was amazing.

I did a ‘Discover Scuba’ experience which lasted about an hour with the incredible Miguel, a certified diving instructor originally from Rome.

Now it’s time for me to fess up – I don’t remember too much before the dive. I’m sure there was a safety overview, but I was a bit distracted. I do remember being suited up (I looked like a member of the Avengers at that point). And I remember Miguel explaining the bubbles.

Scuba diving can be a bit claustrophobic in a strange way, and I think it could be easy for newbies to be overwhelmed. But as Miguel said, “Focus on the bubbles. The bubbles are life.”

While I never felt claustrophobic, I admit that I was a little freaked out for the first two minutes. And then I found the harmony. It really is therapeutic. It’s just you, your bubbles and the ocean. And Miguel, whose arm I held onto. Unfortunately, I don’t think he will be available for everyone’s first time.

The scuba hand signals were interesting. Looking back at it, the signals make sense, but there were a few times when I accidentally gave Miguel a thumbs up instead of the okaysign. Which could have ended in disaster but didn’t.

During the dive, I saw two sharks, and lots of fish including, starfish, and puffer fish. I didn’t want to stop. And let me tell you something, the ocean was warm. You don’t need a wetsuit when you’re diving in Costa Rica!

Costa Rica is truly an incredible place. Expert divers would be happy with this destination because there are so many things to do! Admittedly, if you have a trip with the sole purpose of diving, and you have a few dives under your belt already, Costa Rica may not be the best match. But if you’re a beginner like me or travelling with a diverse group, Costa Rica is gold.

I also can’t rave about the Montezuma Crew enough. If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, and if you’re planning to stay in theSouthern Tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, give them a visit, it was the highlight of the trip.

I didn’t have a dive watch, but I recorded every detail of the dive in my waterproof dive log (thank goodness it was waterproof because there were a lot of splashes). I’m glad I recorded the dive because now I will have this memory to look back on for the rest of my life.

While the scuba experience wasn’t very long, it was impactful, and I can’t wait to go out again. I’ve already made plans to get my certification and to get back out there.

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Happy, Sad, and Robbed: A Tale of Revenge and Redemption in Montezuma, Costa Rica

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By Sandra Kahale

If you’ve been following Dive Logz you’ll know that we recently spent a few weeks in Costa Rica on a Dive Logz work-ation. Dive Logz is a family business, so that kind of thing is easy for us to do. As it happens, our intern, Jolene, has just finished university, and was free to come along. So, we gathered our troops, our scuba gear, and our sense of adventure, and went off to work on new plans, new products, and new content for our fans, away from the distractions of daily life and the deep freeze of Canadian winter.

We had some serious work to do, so we chose a place a little bit off the beaten path: Montezuma, near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. It’s a small town with some great beaches, amazing waterfalls, lush jungle, and, of course, diving nearby.

Getting there is, as they say, half the fun. We flew into Liberia, packed ourselves into a rather rough-looking 4×4, and hit the road for the 4 ½ hour drive.

The dusty road from Liberia to Montezuma, Costa Rica. 

Things started smoothly, the paved highway almost empty as we headed out early on a Sunday morning. The paving didn’t last, though, and we soon found ourselves on rough, rocky dirt roads with a few precarious drops and many, many construction stops.

Dusty but excited, we arrived at Casa Maya, a pretty swanky house just up the hill from “downtown” Montezuma. The internet was strong, the garden lush and lively, and the plunge pool inviting. It was perfect.

We quickly settled into a routine of early mornings, inspired brainstorms, and twice-a-day trips to the beach to play in waves, snorkel, and explore. It’s the kind of rhythm that digital nomads like us love… an easy, natural lifestyle with lots of room for work and play.

The area offers lots to explore. One memorable morning involved a hike to the famous Montezuma Waterfall, followed by a swim in clear, cool waters.

Dive Logz founder, Peter, stands by the beautiful Montezuma waterfall. 

Another found us at the small pier in nearby Cobano, where fisherman sell their daily catches. But mostly, we could be found at the beach, where the waves rocked or rolled us, depending on the day.

Eating is one of my favorite things, and Costa Rica, it turns out, is a great place to do that. In fact, the Nicoya Peninsula is one of the world’s five “Blue Zones” – where people commonly live past the age of 100. A Costa Rican 60-year old is more likely to reach the age of 90 than anybody else in the world. Fruits, vegetables and fish abound, and the local cuisine showcases them in simple, delicious ways.

We did our part by making starfruit ginger jam with the fruits growing in the yard.

Making starfruit ginger jam in the kitchen of Casa Maya in Montezuma. 

The sun, the sea, the flavours, the pace… we love it all. We were happy. And then, one day, we weren’t.

We’d been in Montezuma about 10 days when two friends from Toronto came to join us. They brought the party, arriving with tons of luggage and some duty-free booze from the airport. We celebrated by going out for dinner – something we hadn’t done yet, since night falls fast and early in Montezuma, and we’d gotten into the habit of working at night so that we could enjoy the beach during the day.

The Dive Logz crew + friends out for dinner.
Little did we know what would happen next…!

We returned, laughing, two hours later. We were piling into the kitchen, pouring night caps, when Peter, suddenly said “where are all the computers?!” We’d left them secured in the safe. But he was standing in front of the safe and the door was jacked open. The computers – four of them in total – were gone. So were the cameras, a phone, an iPad, and some cash. We’d been robbed!

Turns out a safe isn’t really a very safe place to keep your valuables after all. 
We kicked into action immediately, texting the property manager, running upstairs to check the bedrooms, then waiting for the cops to show up, which they did in droves throughout the night. The municipal police came. The “special private investigator” came. The property manager came, then her husband, then her son. The cleaning lady and the pool guy came. It was a circus with a symphony of languages going – English, Spanish, and French – as we all tried to understand each other and make sense of what had happened.
The property manager, police, and others descended on the house the night of the robbery,
taking statements and soothing our fears as best they could.

When everyone had finally gone, we were left in the stillness of a crime scene, with instructions not to touch anything before the police returned the next morning to take fingerprints. They needn’t have worried – we retired to our respective beds, and spent the night sleepless but still, alert to every sound. When the sun finally rose around 5, we’d already been up for hours.

The next morning, Peter and I headed to the police station to make another report. By the time the police followed us home to take fingerprints, we figured the worst of the experience was behind us, and started to relax into the new, unexpected reality that we’d now have no choice but to just be on vacation.

If you’ve ever been robbed, especially in a faraway land where policing is…uh… relaxed, you know that there’s no hope of getting your things back. We had to let go of the “stuff” we’d lost, and so we did, right after a frenzied day or two of changing passwords and securing accounts.

Harder to let go was the emotional side of being robbed – the feeling of not being safe, of not knowing who to trust, of being vulnerable at every turn. We began, without meaning to, to sleep in shifts, so somebody was always awake to the noises in the house. We stopped staying home alone, naturally falling into a high-alert buddy system.

But we also reached out for community, not just with each other, but with the people we’d met, the property manager, the Americans next door, and the very welcoming community of retired expats in Montezuma. We allowed ourselves to be taken under their wings, consoled, and cared for.

We recognized that in a country where poverty is rampant, we’re lucky that we have such valuable things to steal. And while the theft certainly disrupted our lives for several weeks, it’s probably nothing in comparison to the daily lives of people who feel like stealing is their best option.

We decided that the best revenge – and the path to redemption – was to laugh. So that’s what we set out to do.

We started with a bang, chartering Montezuma Crew’s private yacht for a day on the water. It was the perfect antidote to the harrowing days we’d had. They thought of everything and handled all the details. All we had to do was relax.

The Dive Logz crew and friends with our new buddies at Montezuma Crew.
A private yacht day was just what we needed to put the break-in behind us. 

As the crew shared with us, Costa Rica is a great place to learn to dive. So, we sent our intern, Jolene, out on her first dive that day. You can read about her magical experience with Miguel here. Peter got a dive in, too, and even logged his dive in our new waterproof dive log, which was a big hit with the crew.

From there we left Montezuma and the drama of it all behind, and headed to Santa Theresa where we booked into a little hotel in an enclosed compound with security. Finally sleeping again, we were able to enjoy the beach and really drop into the vacation vibe at last.

The beautiful beaches of Santa Theresa, Montezuma. 

We ended our trip 10 days early and headed home to set ourselves up again with computers, and phones, and all of the other gadgets we’d lost. We’re oddly both more and less relaxed than we might have been if we hadn’t been robbed, but we’ve certainly learned a great deal about resilience and how laughter and love really do conquer all.

 

In the end, we still had each other. And isn’t that all that really matters?
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Avoid The Chill: 5 Hot Places To Dive This Winter

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If you live in one of the many places on the planet where winter is thing, we feel you. Us, too.

So, what can we do other than take a deep breath in, find the coat and gloves we put away in the spring, and brace for months of shovelling cars out from under the snow? We can plan a dive vacation!

Winter is one of the best times to go on a scuba-cation. Here are 5 of our top picks for this winter:

1. Maldives:

The Maldives is known for its incredible underwater world, white sandy beaches, and beautiful hotels. Scuba enthusiasts around the globe love this destination!

Wondering what the diving is like? The Maldives are known for big fish and gorgeous coral reefs. This is also a great place for drift diving – you can see amazing hammerheads and tiger sharks.

Winter is the best time to go to this paradise dive destination, with the best visibility and plankton-rich currents.

 

2. Mozambique:

Mozambique is a water-lover’s paradise. Both the snorkeling and the scuba diving are top rate.

You’ll find tons of great dive sites, crystal waters, and the largest Marine Protected Area on the African continent in this winter escape. From coral reefs teeming with life to mangrove forests and an incredible diversity of sea creatures, there’s a lot to take in along the more than 2000 kilometres/1250 miles of coastline.

Picking a favourite area in this rich environment is tough, but Whale Shark Alley off Praia do Tofo, Inhambane, is a serious contender. This plankton-rich, current-fed corridor attracts whale sharks all year round, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to see them there. That’s definitely one to mark in your travel binder!

Note that Mozambique can be a little more challenging than some other destinations because of strong currents. But the conditions are perfect conditions for drift diving!

3. Bonaire

Bonaire is one of the top diving destinations in the Western hemisphere and is a perfect getaway during the cold winter months. It also offers beautiful landscapes and wildlife areas.Known as the shore diving capital of the world, Bonaire offers some of the world’s best diving, 24/7 diving.

While Bonaire draws in lots of advanced and technical divers, most of its 90+ dive sites are easily accessible even for new divers. Beloved Bonaire dive sites include Hilma Hooker, Bonaire Marine Park, Windsock Seep, and Pink Beach.

While there’s lots to love about diving Bonaire, one of the things we love most is its long-standing track record for environmental conservation and protection. Need more reasons love Bonaire?  Find them here.

 

4. Micronesia

Looking to escape winter and head to a real tropical paradise? Look no further than Micronesia – an incredible destination that features everything that divers love! With its tiny uninhabited islands, vibrant culture, pristine reefs, temperate waters, great visibility, and amazing variety of marine life, Micronesia is a treasure trove for divers.

A favourite dive site in Micronesia is Chuck Lagoon– possibly the best wreck diving site in the entire world! Here you’ll find a rich World War 2 history to explore, with 200 air crafts and 60 ships beneath the waves. Another favourite, Palauis perfect for the tropical diver. There’s shark diving, wreck diving, and incredible coral reefs. The diverse sea life ranges from manta rays all the way to reef sharks.

 

5. Red Sea, Egypt

Egypt’s Red Sea has long been one of the world’s top scuba diving destinations. And why not? It’s got warm, clean water, tons of marine life, and lots to see and do! Egypt’s most famous dive spots include Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam. The water may not be as warm as the Maldives, but the cooler streams makes winter the perfect time to spot oceanic whitetips and hammerheads

Are you ready to take that much needed dive-cation? Take your travel friendly scuba log binder with you!

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Top 5 Diving Destinations in 2019

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Top 5 Diving Destinations in 2019

Get your passports ready, divers…here are the top 5 diving destinations in 2019:

1. Palancar Horseshoe, Conzumel, Mexico

Palancar Horseshoe is a world renown dive site and for a good reason. It’s stated that Palancar Horseshow is the best diving site in all of Mexico, it has over 3000 5-star ratings on TripAdvisorand the general area is known to be affordable!

Palancar Horseshoe, Conzumel, Mexico | Photo Credit: Kadu Pinheiro

2. Cairns, Australia

Cairnes, Australia, also known as the “Reef Experience” is a diving destination known for its beautiful reef scenery and fish life. This diving site has over 2800 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. And if visiting Australia for the sole purpose of diving the Cairns then the other local activities and food will seal the deal.

Cairns, Australia | Photo Credit: Fexbot2000

3. Darwin Island, Galapagos

The Galapagos is known for its sea life that can be seen almost year-round, and 20% of the marine life can’t be found anywhere else. Book your flight and be ready for the experience of a lifetime. Darwin Island is full of diving sites that are all unique on their own. The island itself is full of incredible history including an extinct volcano. The Island is found Northwest of the main Galapagos Island and is under the administration of Ecuador.

 

4. Blue Corner, Palau

Palau is known for its action-packed and stunning diving sites; however, Blue Corner is known as the best diving site in all of Palau. This dive site is best for the experienced diver due to its unpredictable conditions such as the currents. However, this site is best for shark lovers. Cruise along with Gray Reef Shark, and then move towards the sandy channels and experience the turtles, Manta Rays, Large Dogtooth Tuna and tons more. I think its time to pack your bags!

Blue Corner, Palau | Photo Credit: Joseph Tepper

 

5. Cathedrals (first and Second), Lanai

The Cathedrals in Lanai are known for the offshore ledges, rare species, delicate nature, and amazing sea life. Lanai is found in one of the sixth Hawaiian Islands and has a rich history and amazing outdoor activities for the adventurer. This site has amazing reviews from the TripAdvisor community and is a must see!

Cathedrals, Lanai | Photo Credit: Mar Tamarack

After giving our readers a strong case of wanderlust, let us know what places you really want to dive in 2018, what’s your diving bucket list, and have you visited any of these spots?

 

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