SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving is where the diver relies on their SCUBA gear to provide the oxygen they require while underwater. I recently learnt this during my scuba diving lessons. And I am forever grateful to my scuba gear for allowing me to experience the underwater world. Being new to scuba diving I am keen to get into the water and discover diving spots. So I have asked some scuba diving people, some who are scuba dive instructors to share with me their favourite scuba diving spot in the world. Here they are.

Scuba diving spots are found all over the world. While putting together this post I found that most of the favourite spots were in Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines) and in the Americas and Caribbean. And there are all sorts of dives scuba divers enjoy – dives to shipwrecks, to see sea life, to explore coral reefs, into caves and also in very cold waters in Iceland. If you are looking for inspiration for your next dive, check out these.

Do You Need a Certification to Scuba Dive?

Yes, you need to have done and completed an Open Water Dive Course. Then you can go scuba diving. If you love it, you could turn it into a career by gaining your Dive Master certification and then live and work abroad as a scuba diving instructor taking others out diving or teaching them to dive.

What Scuba Diving Gear do You Need to Scuba Dive?

• Mask – that lets you see clearly.
• Scuba regulator and tank to provide the air you need.
• Fins allow you to swim efficiently
• A wetsuit helps you stay warm.
• Depth gauge, submersible pressure gauge and a compass.

You don’t necessarily need to purchase these things when you first become a scuba diver. You can rent the equipment from the place you go diving from.

USS Kittiwake Wreck, Grand Cayman

Favourite scuba diving spot of Odo @ Caribe Vibes

USS Kittiwake shipwreck, courtesy of Canva.

Of all the places I’ve plunged into, one destination stands out for its unique blend of history and aquatic life. The USS Kittiwake wreck in Grand Cayman.

Located off the shores of Seven Mile Beach, the Kittiwake is a former U.S. Navy Submarine Rescue vessel. It was intentionally sunk in 2011 to create an artificial reef. Diving around this 251-foot-long shipwreck feels like a journey through time. It’s more than a haunting maritime relic, it’s teeming with life and is a thriving ecosystem. Lots of fish, turtles, nurse and reef sharks, even though there are better spots for shark-diving in the Cayman Islands call it home.

The beauty of this dive spot is its accessibility to divers of varying experience levels. Novices can explore the top decks sitting in 15 feet of water. Advanced divers can delve into deeper sections and penetrate the wreck itself. Fancy exploring the engine room, crew quarters, and recompression chambers? The clarity of the Caribbean water around the Kittiwake is astonishing, offering excellent visibility even at depths.

Every dive brings new discoveries, keeping the Kittiwake fresh and exciting. As you navigate its rusting chambers and corridors, it’s impossible not to feel a sense of awe at nature’s capacity for rebirth. For this reason, the Kittiwake holds a special place in my heart and dive log. I highly recommend it to any diver looking for their next underwater adventure.

Bonaire, Caribbean

Favourite scuba diving spot of Sanne @ Spend Life Traveling

Salt Pier, Something Special, Bonaire

As a dive master, I’ve been to dive sites all over the world, but Bonaire is one of my favorite diving destinations. Its unique blend of vibrant marine life, crystal-clear waters, and well-preserved reefs make it a true diver’s paradise.

I love diving Bonaire for its accessibility to dive sites. With over 80 shore dive locations, it’s a haven for divers of all levels. From beginners seeking calm, shallow waters to a seasoned divers searching more challenging dives, Bonaire caters to your needs.

There are so many easy shore dives. You and a dive buddy can rent dive gear, a car and explore the dive sites on your own. For most scuba divers it’s a unique experience to dive without having to join a dive school. And this makes it more economical. The dive shops in Bonaire are great and provide information and guidance ensuring you can dive sites safely. And choose the ones that suit you.

Among the Bonaire dive sites, the famous “Salt Pier” stands out. Descending into the depths beneath the pier is unique. The pillars covered in colorful sponges and corals tower above you, while schools of vibrant fish dance around you. The dive site is popular for spotting angelfish and sea turtles. It’s where I saw one of the largest stingrays I’ve ever seen anywhere in the world! If you’re looking for a night dive, Salt Pier is a great spot also.

What sets Bonaire apart from other diving destinations is its commitment to conservation and sustainable diving practices. The island’s Marine Park covers over 20 miles of protected coastline keeping the dive sites pristine and teeming with life. From the moment you descend beneath the surface, you are greeted by a kaleidoscope of colors. Coral reefs stretching as far as the eye can see. Bonaire’s underwater world is a living testament to the importance of preserving our oceans.

Whether you are a novice or experienced diver, this Caribbean island is a great diving destination.

Bay of Pigs, Cuba

Favourite dive site of Sarah @ Cubas Best

Lionfish, Bay of Pigs

Diving at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba is a fabulous historic experience, easy and interesting from a marine life perspective. This is the location of the 1967 failed US invasion of Cuba and you can dive the Bay of Pigs from Playa Giron or Playa Larga. If you want to dive on some of the historic wrecks you’ll need to dive from a boat. But most of the diving here is shore-based, which makes it both cheaper and easier for beginners.

Diving the Bay of Pigs costs just US$25 a dive, which includes all your equipment, a dive master leader, and transport to and from your hotel or casa particular. Beginners can take a taster dive here for an additional US$10 and take the same dive bus as qualified divers. Divemasters here speak several languages. And provide a great service, pointing out marine life, including lobsters and lionfish, which is sadly a problem as an invasive species here. When you’re done diving check out the museum of the Bay of Pigs invasion in Playa Giron and learn about the history.

Capurgana, Colombia

Favourite diving site of Giorgy @ G-Extreme Travel

 Maybe see turtles while exploring the depths of Capurgana

Before heading to Cartagena, I made my first stop in Colombia at the beautiful destination of Capurgana. It’s located in the extreme northwest of Colombia, on the Panamanian border.

People said that the Rosario Islands and San Bernardo Archipelago have clear waters with marine life, but most of the reefs there are dead. Since I am a scuba diver for years, I chose to take an underwater adventure and discover the magnificent wildlife it has to offer. Indeed Capurgana is one of the most beautiful places on earth that has managed to preserve its coral reef due to its difficult access and lack of mass tourism.

I was amazed to find out that this hidden gem has an abundance of marine life. Manta rays, turtles, reef sharks, moray eels, barracudas and many more. There are also plenty of beautiful coral formations, sponges and colorful fish that make it a wonderful place to explore. For more experienced divers, there are several shipwrecks to explore and deeper dives that will keep you entertained and wanting more.

Addu Attol, Maldives

Favourite diving spot of Suzanne @ Meandering Wild

See manta rays when diving in the Maldives

Diving with manta rays in Addu Atoll, Maldives, offers an extraordinary experience for experienced divers. Located in the southernmost part of the Maldives, Addu Atoll boasts stunning dive sites known for their diverse marine life, including frequent manta ray encounters.  

The manta cleaning station at Manta Point is at about 25 metres with a strong current running into the atoll. The dive begins on the outer edge of the atoll with a free dive into the blue before finning into the area where the mantas come into the cleaning station. This looks like a flat bare piece of reef, but as the mantas approach the smaller cleaner fish appear. Despite being an experienced diver, I found this part of the dive quite hard as the currents are strong. 

Once over the cleaning station it is essential to hook onto the reef and wait for the manta rays to appear. For most of the dive the line on the reef hook will vibrate in the current. The manta rays emerge from the blue and circle a few times before heading into the cleaning station. It was a mesmerising and magical moment having these giants swim over the top of our heads.

Neil Island, India

Favourite diving spot of Raksha @ Solo Passport

See corals when scuba diving Neil Island

Imagine a dive site with warm waters, 20 to 30 metres of visibility, abundant marine life, and healthy corals. This is exactly what you get when you dive at Neil Island. Neil Island is one of the islands in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. There are many dive sites around the island where divers can experience unique marine life. Being a Rescue diver, I did recreational dives at two dive sites, Angry Jo, and Bus Stop and both dives were at a depth of 20 to 30 metres.

With a large population of marine life, this dive site is perfect for all kinds of experienced divers. Groupers, Sting Rays, Sweet lips, Barracudas, Clown fishes, and Tunas are common at these sites. They also have special visitors such as Dugongs and Manta rays. And for the micro marine lovers, these sites do not disappoint them as well as there are plenty of colourful nudi branches. During my dives at these sites, I saw large schools of sweet lips fishes, Blue Spotted Sting Ray, turtles, snappers, barracudas, octopus, and tunas.

As I am a fan of warm waters with clear visibility, diving at Neil Island is surely my top-notch diving experience in India. In fact, the water was so perfect that I dived with just my swimmers and did not need a wetsuit. And getting to see such active and varied marine life added to my overall experience.

Norman Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Favourite diving spot of Natalie and Steve @ Curious Campers

Green Sea Turtle, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

At over 2000km long, there are no shortage of amazing dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef. One of our favourite locations is Norman Reef near Cairns. This is a great part of the reef for beginners or experienced divers. Day tours from Cairns can get you to Norman Reef from the Cairns Marina in North Queensland.

There are a few things we love about this dive. First there is a lot to see at 6-10m deep where the light still lets you see some good colour in the corals and marine life. The clarity of the water is amazing, the visibility can be up to 30m.

Norman Reef is a wall of coral where you see everything from loads of colourful tropical fish and clown fish to exquisite nudibranchs. Opposite the reef is open water with coral bommies and sandy bottom where you can spot resident sea turtles, black and white tipped reef sharks and beautiful blue spotted rays.

There is also a giant Māori wrasse that calls Norman Reef home. It has a habit of appearing out of nowhere and follow along as we drift after sharks and turtles. While you have so many amazing options on the Great Barrier Reef, Norman Reef offers a lot for divers spending some time in Cairns.

Fakarava, French Polynesia

Favourite diving spot of Mel @ Mel on the Go

360 underwater shark experience

One of the best places in the world to dive with sharks is on a tiny atoll in the South Pacific. Fakarava’s South Pass is home to hundreds of sharks, and the dives are incredible!

Fakarava is an atoll in the Tuamotus, and takes over an hour by plane from Tahiti. The highlight of visiting this island with 800 residents is shark diving in the South Pass. Several dive shops cater to underwater adventure seekers in this French Polynesian paradise.

Diving the Tetamanu Pass entails drift diving surrounded by sharks. While the most common are grey reef sharks, black and white tips, lemon, tiger sharks and hammerheads also live and hunt in these tropical waters. Dive leaders will stop the group to focus on particular sharks or marine life, and we had to grip onto dead coral, so wear gloves.

As an experienced diver with instructor credentials, I found diving the Tetamanu Pass exhilarating. The current can be strong, whisking you past countless sharks and other sea life. The swift pace doesn’t detract from the amazing glimpses at sea life.

If you want a 360 underwater shark experience, Tetamanu Pass in Fakarava is the scuba dive to do!

Okinawa, Japan

Favourite diving site of Brandon @ Zimmin Around the World

Barracuda at Sunabe Seawall,Okinawa

When it comes to diving, Okinawa, Japan is highly underrated. Okinawa has hundreds of coral species that are home to tropical fish and many other marine wildlife. Okinawa has a sub-tropical climate and diving can be experienced throughout the year.

One of my favorite scuba diving spots in Okinawa is the Sunabe Seawall. Sunabe Seawall is located in the Chatan area of Okinawa so it is accessible to everyone. You don’t have to book any special tours, simply rent gear and head to the seawall to see the beautiful coral reefs and unique marine wildlife.

Sunabe Seawall is perfect for all levels of diving from the absolute beginner to advanced. The average depth here is around 5-10 meters with a maximum depth around 20 meters. You could spend hours exploring the reefs and I see new animals every dive. Some of my favorite marine life here are the groups of barracuda. They swim in schools of hundreds if not thousands. It is peaceful watching them swim by. Other sea life I’ve seen at Sunabe Seawall include sea snakes, clown fish, cuttlefish, batfish, and hundreds of smaller tropical fish.

Zanzibar, Africa

Favourite diving site of Alina @ World of Lina

Scuba diving Zanzibar

One of the best scuba diving spots can be found in Zanzibar, more particularly, at Mnemba Atoll. It’s the place where I did my scuba diving certification. Mnemba Atoll is the most famous Conservation area in Zanzibar. It offers crystal-clear water, an abundance of fish, and colorful wall dives, basically, a paradise for scuba divers!

There are many great diving spots around Mnemba Atoll, suitable for beginner and experienced divers. We chose a place south of the Atoll which was medium level. Some of the most common species of fish I spotted include clownfish, false clownfish, trumpetfish, boxfish, zebrafish, butterflyfish, unicornfish, blackspot emperor, and even a small lionfish. Spotted snake eels and white moray eels are other very common sea animals as well as differently colored starfish. If you’re lucky, you might even encounter turtles or dolphins – unfortunately, I didn’t!

So if you’re looking for some unforgettable underwater experiences, definitely try scuba diving in Zanzibar!

Gili Islands, Indonesia

Favourite dive site of Victoria @ Guide Your Travel

Turtle enjoying the waters of the Gili Islands

The Gili Islands, nestled off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia, hold a special place as a scuba diver in my heart. These tiny islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno, boast breathtaking underwater landscapes that captivate me.

My favourite spot among them is undoubtedly Gili Trawangan. The vibrant coral reefs teeming with life make it a paradise for experienced divers like me. The crystal-clear turquoise waters offer excellent visibility, allowing me to immerse myself in the awe-inspiring beauty of the marine world.

What sets the Gili Islands apart is the variety of dive sites suited for all levels of expertise. From gentle slopes and shallow reefs perfect for beginners to challenging deep walls and thrilling drift dives for the more experienced, there’s something for everyone. The abundance of marine life you can see including turtles, colourful reef fish, and occasional encounters with sharks, ensures each dive is a unique and unforgettable experience.

As a certified diver seeking notable dive spots, I wholeheartedly recommend the Gili Islands. Dive into their mesmerizing depths, and you’ll discover a world brimming with wonder and excitement, making it an absolute must-visit destination for diving enthusiasts like us.

Silfra, Iceland

Favourite diving spot of Cristina @ Honest Travel Stories

Diving in the cold waters of Iceland

Who here wants to dive in almost freezing water? Come on, no one? I’m sure you’re tired of all of these tropical diving spots by now! I know it sounds like something you won’t ever want to do, but hear me out.

Picture this: you’re submerged in crystal-clear water, surrounded by a breathtaking underwater landscape. Silfra is famous for its amazing visibility, making it a dream come true for all divers I know. Seriously, on a sunny day, the water here is so clear, it’s like diving into a giant, liquified diamond and you feel that you can see deep inside the Earth.

And yes, it’s cold, my friends. But you know what the Northerners say. “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”. With the right gear, you’ll be ready to conquer the freezing temperatures and embark on an unforgettable adventure.

Now, what sets Silfra apart from other dive sites? Well, this place is truly unique, and I don’t mean it like all bloggers say “unique” these days, I mean it like “there’s no other place like this in the world”. Silfra is located in Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place of deep historic meaning for the Icelandic people.

Not only does it offer a once-in-a-lifetime diving experience, it’s also situated in the rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Talk about diving right into the heart of geological history! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned diver, Silfra has something for everyone. Just make sure to do your research if you’re choosing to snorkel or dive at Silfra so you know if it’s right for you.

HMCS Yukon, San Diego

Favourite diving spot of Jennifer @ Seeking Stamps

Yukon shipwreck in San Diego, CA, courtesy Canva

In 2000, the 366 foot HMCS Yukon sank two miles off the coast of San Diego’s Mission Bay. It rests in the depths of the Pacific Ocean in a playground for advanced divers known as “Wreck Alley”. This is one of the best scuba diving spots for wreck diving on the USA’s West Coast.

As a deep dive, the Yukon rests at 100 feet, pushing the limits of recreational diving. It is necessary to have an advanced certification to manage a variety of factors. Dangerous surge, currents, cold water and darkness can complicate the dive. Not to mention, your air will likely outlast your bottom time.

I explored the Yukon shipwreck as part of my advanced underwater certification. To be frank, scuba diving at the Yukon is cold and dark. As we donned our hoods, thick 7 mm wetsuits, and gloves the gear felt oppressive. Yet, even with all this equipment, the cold water sent a chill down my spine. Was it the temperature, or the apprehension of what lurked in the depths that had me unsettled?

Beneath the surface, the abandoned ship houses a thriving artificial reef teeming with sea life. As you navigate the wreck, you can see large anemones, mollusks, and schools of colorful fish. At this site you can explore the bridge, gun turrets or penetrate the interior of the ship. But do so wisely, five divers have lost their lives here.

Without a doubt, the HMCS Yukon shipwreck is one of the best scuba diving spots that attracts divers from around the globe. Although the dive is challenging, it is sure to be one of the most memorable dives of your life.

Galápagos Islands

Favourite Dive Site of Sarah @ A Social Nomad 

White Tipped Reef Sharks in the Galapagos

Most dive vacations to the Galapagos Islands are taken from liveaboard boats, but you can also take day diving trips from some of the islands. The waters around the Galapagos are known for their rare wildlife and can be dived year-round. There are hammerhead sharks – and more than 30 other species of sharks to be found here, rays, turtles, and the marine iguana. Diving here tends to be for advanced divers, with stronger currents and choppy water, but it’s well worth it.  It’s something of a magical experience to be in this environment – with marine life all around. One of the most abundant sharks here is the white-tipped reef sharks, which are found across all of the 18 islands of the Galapagos. Diving from land is boat based and tends to be in small groups, so you’ll get great attention from your dive leader, although qualifications are essential.

Sipadan Island, Borneo, Malaysia

Favourite dive spot of Campbell @ Stingy Nomads

Barracudas at Sipadan, Borneo Malaysia

Sipadan Island in Borneo, Malaysia is widely acclaimed as one of the best locations for Scuba diving in the world. This underwater wonder rise to fame when it was described by famous ocean explorer, Jacques Cousteau, as one of the most beautiful reefs to dive in the world. Only a couple of meters from the shore a massive wall drops 300 meters deep to the ocean floor covered in a spectacular coral garden. Strong currents flowing over the reef create an amazing wall dive. Huge green turtles, big schools of massive bump-head parrot fish, thousands of trevallies, and big packs of reef sharks are seen during a typical dive at Sipadan.

Barracuda Point is the highlight for most divers exploring the island. At this dive site, divers can be surrounded by massive schools of barracuda swimming around the island often forming a barracuda vortex!  This is an advanced dive spot due to strong currents and regulations in 2023 changed, a minimum advanced qualification is now required to dive at Sipadan island.

The Malaysian government decided to protect Sipadan for future generations by forcing all resorts to leave the island. Only a limited number of divers are allowed per day and this is strictly regulated.

Most dive trips to Sipadan are done from the nearby islands of Mabul and Kapalai. Only 200 dive permits are issued for diving here per day, so book your permit ahead!

Kauai, Hawaii

Favourite diving spot of Jess @ Uprooted Traveller

colourful reef fish scuba diving Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai is probably the Hawaiian Island that’s least renowned for its scuba diving. Due to the harsh currents and waves that make it more difficult for coral to grow here.

But this is a huge oversight—what it lacks in colorful coral reefs, Kauai scuba diving more than makes up for in its unique underwater landscape of volcanic arches and tunnels and best of all, incredible wildlife. In fact, beyond just tropical fish and sea turtles (which there are MANY of!), it’s not uncommon for divers to see dolphins, manta rays, white tip sharks, and even humpback whales here!

There’s also a diverse range of dive sites. From tours that are offered to non-certified divers to challenging drift dives that require at least 30 dives under your (dive) belt.

As a relatively newbie scuba diver, I did my first ever shore dive at Koloa Landing. This has been voted one of the best shore dives in the Pacific by Scuba Diving Magazine. It definitely lives up to the hype. During my two dives here, I saw over a dozen sea turtles, moray eels, barracuda, and even a small octopus!

Once I’ve racked up more dives, it’s definitely on my bucket list to come to Kauai to go on a dive at the Island of Niihau. About two and a half hours off its coast, the water around this island, which functions as a private colony for Native Hawaiians, is known for being some of the best diving on the planet. Offering wildlife spotting from monk seals and manta rays to even hammerhead sharks.

Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Favourite dive spot of Catherine @ Nomadicated

Komodo National Park colourful fish

Komodo National Park is famous for being the only habitat of the world’s largest lizard, but its waters are also a mecca for large marine creatures and strong drifts.

Starting from Labuan Bajo, on the island of Flores, Indonesia, the main diving spots are split into three areas. Central, North, and South Komodo, with Central and North areas being most popular.

Komodo National Park welcomes divers of all levels. However, beginners should have prior diving experience and feel comfortable with drift diving. The central area is better for open water certification holders. While the top dive sites in the north are further and require advanced certification.

The diving at Komodo National Park is known for its large sea creatures swimming amongst sprawling coral, featuring excellent visibility exceeding 30 meters. One of the highlights of diving in Komodo is encountering massive schools of fish, where you can swim through swirling mass of reef fish. The park’s strong currents attract a variety of pelagic species, including sharks and manta rays, creating a feeding frenzy in nutrient-rich waters.

Batu Bolong and Castle Rock are exciting drift dive sites. While Manta Point is the go-to spot for encountering those graceful underwater giants the site’s named after. The park is also home to various shark species, including whitetip and blacktip reef sharks. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot the elusive oceanic sunfish, the Mola Mola.

Utila Island, Hondorus

Favourite diving spot of Callie @ Counting Our Footsteps

Lots of sea life at Utila Island

Utila Island is heaven for divers. Having been scuba diving in many locations across central America, it is definitely one of my favourite spots. And the cheapest place we for diving.

The conditions around Utila are ideal for all kinds of divers from beginners to advanced. A highlight from diving at Utila is the deep dive down to an impressive sunken ship covered in life. As well as the night diving. The conditions near the island are ideal for night dives, and the experience is just magical. Once your eyes adjust you can see thousands of illuminescent specs floating around you almost like stars.

Not only this, but Utila Island is located right on the second biggest barrier reef in the world. Meaning there is more coral and sea life than you can imagine. From tiny fish to giant whale sharks (when the season is right) I even got to jump in with some dolphins while there. Another great perk is that most of the dive sites are really close to the island so you don’t have to spend a long time on the boat.

Utila is a small Island that is relatively undeveloped and the main thing to do there is diving. There are plenty of great dive shops to choose from. The community spirit on the island among fellow divers was really fun to be a part of too.

Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia

Favourite dive spot of Sarah @ Travelosio

Up close with a harlequin shrimp

If you asked me to name my top diving spot, without a second thought, I’d say Tulamben. Nestled on the northeastern coast of Bali, Indonesia, this quaint fishing village has become my underwater haven, especially for macro diving.

So what’s the magic of Tulamben? It’s the sheer variety of marine life. The place is a hotbed for macro critters, a veritable wonderland of nudibranchs, harlequin shrimps, seahorses, frogfish, and the elusive mimic octopus. Each dive feels like a new adventure, a treasure hunt where you’re not sure what fascinating tiny creature you’ll discover next.

And then there’s the USAT Liberty wreck, just a stone’s throw from the shore. This sunken World War II cargo ship is adorned with colorful corals and teeming with life, is an underwater spectacle. Diving here feels like flipping through the pages of a living history book, with each corner narrating a unique story.

Unlike the challenging dives in Komodo, the serene and clear waters make it a perfect playground for beginners. To truly soak in the charm of Tulamben and its macro life, you need a well-controlled buoyancy and a sharp eye – skills that come with experience. This makes Tulamben a real gem for seasoned divers.

In a nutshell, Tulamben is a diver’s dream come true. A perfect blend of history, vibrant marine life, and the thrill of discovery. It’s a place that keeps pulling you back, always offering something new and exciting with each dive.

Coron, Philippines

Favourite diving spot of Hanna @ Getting Stamped

Diving in Coron and exploring the shipwrecks

If you are an avid scuba diver, then you will want to visit the magnetic undersea wonders found in Coron, Philippines. This cluster of islands has become most well known for WWII shipwrecks that are permanently entombed off the shores of Coron.

This is a great location for divers of different skills as you can complete your Advanced Open Water Certification as well as Wreck Dive Training. I completed four dives of these amazing wrecks with Corto Divers to complete my certification. This is an excellent location to enjoy the view while completing your required dives rather than just going through the skills for certification.

Beneath the waters of Coron, you will find not just one ship but a full fleet of 12 well-preserved World War II Japanese War Ships which are at diveable depths. You can swim around the shipwrecks, which are approximately 35 meters deep. A great spot to do some diving is Barracuda Lake which is very clear and has thermoclines and underwater mountains.

Another unique shipwreck that has become part of the natural environment is the Lusong Gunboat that is covered in coral and is fun to swim around and explore. Lastly, Coron offers the opportunity to do some night diving as it has bioluminescent plankton that glows in the dark.

Cabo Pulmo, Mexico

Favourite dive destination of Sally @ Sally Sees

Bull shark circling

My favourite diving experience to date was in the tiny, remote town of Cabo Pulmo. Home to one of the only coral reefs on the west coast of North America, Cabo Pulmo is nestled in the southeast corner of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Far off the beaten track down a long dusty road, it is primarily visited by scuba divers.

Although there is much life to see underwater, from whales to rays, turtles and dolphins, I came to Cabo Pulmo for one reason – sharks. This is one of the only places in Mexico where you are almost guaranteed (my divemaster said around 90% likelihood!) to dive with bull sharks. Considered one of the more aggressive species of shark, my heart was racing as we geared up and rolled back into the water. After descending around 15 metres / 50 feet, we reached the sandy floor and carefully knelt down. Within a few minutes at least five huge sharks were circling around us.

Despite our group’s best efforts, we churned up a lot of sand, making visibility very hazy. Combined with huge schools of groupers swimming past, it was incredibly dark and ominous down there. Although I was mildly terrified throughout the dive and didn’t want to look the sharks directly in the eye, it was such a thrilling experience! Made even more special knowing this was a completely natural experience, no cages, and no cruel and unethical baiting.

Diving with bull sharks in Cabo Pulmo is accessible to both advanced and beginner divers. The site where the sharks are known to hang around is only a max depth of approximately 15m/50ft, fine for Open Water divers. It’s not a technical dive, and most of the time is spent calmly sitting on the ocean floor waiting for the sharks to approach.

Elephant Cave, Crete

Favourite dive site of Annika @ The Very Hungry Mermaid

Elephant Cave

Greece is a favorite spot for divers in Europe and the island of Crete is no exception. While you can technically dive all along the coastline, the most famous dive site in Crete is the Elephant Cave in Chania.

Not far from the city of Chania in the north of Crete is the small harbor in Souda. From here dive centers depart to take you to the cave. Diving is usually done from small zodiacs and it takes about 15 minutes to get to the dive site.

While it is called Elephant Cave it can actually be classified as a cavern and is therefore suitable for Open Water divers as well. Its entrance lies at about 9 m depth and you can always see and access the surface from the inside.

Once you are by the entrance you will need to swim for about 40 m until you get to the main chambers of the cave where you can ascend and take out your regulator. Most dive centers will give you a torch so you can admire the beautiful and ancient stalagmites and stalactites that cover the cave. Why Elephant Cave? You can also see a few fossilised elephant bones at the bottom of the cave floor. These 50,000-year-old bones are proof that Crete was once part of Africa – a truly amazing find!

Cenote Diving, Mexico

A favourite diving site of Steph @ A Nomad’s Passport

Cenote diving

There are many fantastic diving spots all around the world, but the cenotes in Mexico are undeniably among the very best. With their intricate speleological formations, haloclines, and light plays, they are a marvelous environment for every diver.

I fell in love with cenote dive in Mexico after the very first dive and loved the glimpse into cavern and cave diving these dives granted me. While exploring the overhead environment of the cenotes, you enter a magical underwater world unlike any other. It is more than worth it to wait for this experience until you have excellent buoyancy control and a good sense of situational awareness.

While it is nice to explore the open area of cenotes like Case Cenote and Cenote Car Wash, it is ultimately the fully or partially closed areas that are best. It is these areas where you get to see unique formations. Marvelous light displays ranging from the light beams of Cenote Tajma Ha to the curtain of light in Cenote Ponderosa or the light rays of Cenote El Pit. And of course, there is also Cenote Angelita with its thick hydrogen sulfide cloud.

When it comes to cenote diving, the variety of things to see is unparalleled, and I can only encourage every passionate diver to experience it for themselves.

Are You Ready to Go Scuba Diving?

This is just a taste of the scuba diving sites around the world. There are plenty more to and I hope to do so as I discover them myself. Have you thought about living and working abroad as a scuba diving instructor? Get the deets here. If you want to stay on land get some travel job inspiration here.