Contributors’ Top Picks: The very best dive spots, Revealed!
As regular divers will know, each and every dive site offers something different, from tropical islands to cold water locations, other-worldly underwater landscapes and amazing wildlife that has to be seen to be believed. For this 100th issue, we invited our contributors to recommend their favourite dive sites. Hopefully, this can serve as a reference when planning your next diving adventure!
Africa
Nosy Be, Madagascar
Eric Lambert
Simply because this is where I have seen, for the 1st time in my life AND during the same dive, mobula rays, devil and manta rays, whale sharks etc… What can you ask more?
Aldebaran Wreck, Seychelles
Zola Chen
This was sunk in July 2008 as an ecological reef and shipwreck for sightseeing. With a depth of 39.4 metres at the bottom of the bow and 25 metres at the mast. The schools of fish are very curious when they see people, and like most fish in Seychelles, they are not only not afraid of people, but will also wander around you. To see the wreck or a sea fan, you have to gently push away the four-lined sea bream and various fish to reveal the beautiful shipwreck.
Red Sea
Vania Kam
You can see many different species of sharks at one time.
South Plateau, Big Brother Island
Richard Aspinall
Shelter from the prevailing current, enjoy the soft coral and keep a watch out for Oceanic Whitetips and Thresher sharks passing in the blue.
SS Thistlegorm, Red Sea
Richard Aspinall
Unbeatable wreck, fascinating cargo and a photographer’s dream.
The Barge
Richard Aspinall
During the day this is an average dive, at night it becomes a macro photographers’ paradise.
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Kate Jonker
A spectacular reef and exciting dive on the tip of the Sinai, where strong currents sweep you past vibrant soft corals and schools of fish – and where the unexpected can appear from the blue at any moment.
South Africa
Zola Chen
Great white sharks breaching at sunrise are an amazing spectacle. They will be active for about 20 minutes, jumping out of the sea to hunt seals. This is their natural behaviour – there are few places you can witness this event. With the sunrise and temperature, you can capture some superb and beautiful pictures.
Steenbras Deep
Kate Jonker
This is one of the most exciting reefs in False Bay, where steep-sided walls, densely adorned with colourful marine life, are home to endemic nudibranchs, quirky reef fish and little sharks.
Coral Gardens (Oudekraal)
Kate Jonker
A pristine kelp forest on the eastern coast of False Bay, where octopus hide under rocks, Cape Fur Seals swoop overhead and the occasional Seven gill cow shark sidles up to you for a closer look.
7 Mile Reef
Kate Jonker
After an exhilarating beach launch through breaking waves, a seven-mile boat ride takes you to a reef of submerged fossilised sand dunes covered in colourful soft and hard corals where turtles, groupers, moray eels, scorpionfish and schools of tropical fish have made their home.
Cathedral
Timo Dersch
Home of the sand tiger sharks, and a lot of tropical as well as cold water species come together here.
Manta Reef, Mozambique
Simon Pridmore
Not only manta rays circling around the cleaning stations but also ever-present whale sharks, bull sharks, guitar sharks and giant potato cod.
Atlantis, Mozambique
Kate Jonker
A 42-metre-deep dive in midnight-blue, clear water, where inquisitive sharks visit divers for a closer look, and orange, rugby-ball sized Spanish Dancers and blue and yellow sea apples add a splash of colour to the black sea fans and green tree corals.
Americas
Darwin's Arch
Simon Pridmore
An iconic feature – in both its forms – standing above an ocean teeming with life and an endless parade of hammerhead sharks surfing the current.
Florida, USA
Ali and Joey Postma
Florida’s ocean diving is legendary, but even better are the gin-clear springs that house cavernous underground wonders.
Los Islotes
Henley Spiers
My favourite dive site in the world, the colony of sea lions are the headliners but there’s so much more wildlife to explore with seabirds dive bombing the sardine schools and a vibrant reef fish population.
Cenote Aktun Ha, Yucatan
Henley Spiers
Also known as ‘Carwash’, the pink lilies and shallow, clear water make for a dreamlike aquatic scene – and then there’s a whole cave system to explore too.
The Pit, Yucatan
Timo Dersch
If you like caves, this one is a particularly stunning cenote. The mystical underwater forest with the layers of ‘fog’ let you freeze in awe.
Lesleen M Wreck, Saint Lucia
Henley Spiers
My favourite site on Caribbean Islands where I worked and lived for two years. The wreck is adorned with corals but I spent a lot of my time exploring the sand around it for jawfish and blennies.
Tiger Beach, Bahamas
Vanessa Mignon
I love the large number of sharks and the fact that it is usually a very easy and relaxed dive with lots to see.
Bahamas
Vania Kam
Hammerheads can be photographed in very shallow water.
Manualita Garden, Cocos Island
Alex Tyrrell
An adrenaline fuelled night dive surrounded by hundreds of hunting whitetip reef sharks.
Newfoundland
Ali and Joey Postma
Explore the cold water world of Canada’s east coast by diving four well-preserved World War II shipwrecks.
Bonaire
Ali and Joey Postma
Known as the shore diving capital of the world, Bonaire is an aquarium of colour and coral, a mere stone’s throw from the shoreline.
Asia
Larry’s Heaven
Beth and Shaun Tierney
Triton Bay continues to break marine life records in a spectacular fashion. What we have seen there is simply incredible. It’s also special to us as it was discovered by Indonesian diving pioneer, our friend and mentor, Larry Smith. After his untimely death, we made a pilgrimage back to visit the site named for him, Larry’s Heaven. The current was running so we hooked onto a rocky shelf, then suddenly, a lone manta ray swam straight towards us – just the two of us. It felt like serendipity, as if Larry had come to welcome us back. We grinned all the way back to the boat!
Komodo
Vanessa Mignon
Great macro life and a few spots with lots of mantas.
Patrick Ong
“Land of the Dragon” The island is particularly notable as the habitat of the Komodo Dragon, the largest lizard on Earth. Diving in Komodo can be very challenging and yet fun. Good visibility is the norm in Komodo. Plenty of big pelagic fish and sharks hunt in crystal clear water on the pristine coral reefs. Besides all the big stuff, do not underestimate the macro life there either.
Eric Goh
Sometimes diving is just half the experience when we go on a trip. Komodo is one fine example – The dragons alone are worth a trip there. The rugged and almost Jurassic-like terrain, beautiful pink beach and jaw dropping sunsets are all the bonuses next to the amazing dive sites.
The Cauldron, Komodo
Zola Chen
I love to see the big creatures in the wall stream area, so I have to recommend this classic Komodo dive. It is an adrenaline-fueled, wild dive that is hard not to get hooked on. There are sharks, mantas….and everything you can think of will be here, so bring your reef hooks and get ready for some heart-pounding fun!
The Magnet, Lombok
Timo Dersch
Strong currents and an adventurous ride to get there. The ones who face the current get rewarded with big pelagics.
Tulamben, Bali
Vanessa Mignon
Wonderful macro life and diversity.
Pyramids, Bali
Eric Lambert
This is the perfect and best example of mixing tourism and diving activities development without harming the environment. Yes, an artificial dive site, but where life has grown so well, that you cannot make out the difference with any other amazing dive spot on Earth. From Macro to Wide Angle.
Pura Gerombong, Bali
Alex Permyakov
Dive site with a crazy variety of nudibranchs and exotic macro species.
Liberty Wreck, Bali
Alex Permyakov
The slope near the wreck is full of macro opportunities with great variety.
Simon Pridmore
Not many beach dives can give you an enormous shipwreck, world-class muck diving, the chance of big fish encounters and beautiful corals. The Liberty can!
Raja Ampat
Patrick Ong
“The Last Paradise on Earth.” I personally feel that this phrase absolutely matches the location above. A paradise for divers and also for marine life. Where is this place located? I guess I don’t have to tell you because many of us already know where it is. The diversity of marine life at this place had made divers and underwater photographers dreams come true.
Jerome Kim
Untouched heaven with full of big and small animals.
Eric Goh
Blue water mangroves, wobbegongs…. located right in the heart of the Coral Triangle region, this entire area has plenty to offer to both macro and wide-angle photographers.
Vania Kam
The coral is very beautiful and there are rare black mantas.
Zola Chen
The mangrove diving water is clear and transparent, quite different from the mangrove we generally know. The ecology is completely undisturbed, beautiful soft corals grow in it and the depth is very shallow, so one air cylinder could be used for two or more dives. The dive guides allowed us to dive on our own, because he does not want to go down as there is a possibility of encountering saltwater crocodiles… But it’s really beautiful!
The Passage, Raja Ampat
Simon Pridmore
A narrow canyon of rushing water separating two islands with secluded bays containing schools of fish and soft corals decorating tree roots in the shallows. Oh, yes – and the occasional crocodile.
Melissa’s Garden, Raja Ampat
Alex Permyakov
Amazing coral reefs with a beautiful scenery, full of schooling fish.
Maratua Island
Patrick Ong
Although logistics to get to this island are kind of hectic, once you are there, you will start to appreciate this unique place. There is easy and near-distance access to three main islands that are Maratua, Kakaban and Sangalaki. From big pelagics like thresher sharks and mantas to small macro life like Denise’s pygmy seahorse – all can be found in one trip. And the stingless jellyfish lake on Kakaban is simply astonishing.
Lembeh Strait
Eric Lambert
Not a dive site, but many dive sites at the same location. Whether a photographer or a simple diver, there is nothing that cannot amaze you and take your breath out in the 100+ dive sites that Lembeh has to offer: the most amazing creatures that you haven’t even imagined.
Lembeh
Vanessa Mignon
Wonderful macro life and diversity.
Vania Kam
Macro Paradise.
Eric Goh
The best places on the planet for underwater macro photography offering the best spotter services and resort facilities.
Anilao
Jerome Kim
Easy access from capital city of the Philippines with lots of macro critters.
Eric Goh
The best places on the planet for underwater macro photography offering the best spotter services and resort facilities.
Patrick Ong
A “Macro Heaven” for all macro lovers. The variety of resorts and macro life gathered here makes it so special. Plus there’s the usual macro life to super-macro, which fascinates all underwater photographers. On top of that, all dive guides here are well-trained making this place a world-class diving spot.
Pescador Island, Cebu
Henley Spiers
This can be split into several sites but my favourite section is the southwest corner with healthy corals covered in fish and a steep wall drop-off.
Tubbataha Reef
Jerome Kim
Well protected marine treasure area.
Malapascua
Jerome Kim
Only place in the world where you can see rare oceanic Thresher sharks.
Balicasag Island
Alex Permyakov
Green sea turtles and school of jacks are the main attractions of Balicasag; also you will find healthy corals and there is a good chance to meet the whale shark!
Romblon
Eric Goh
Unique macro subjects, blackwater diving, a blue hole and visibility of more than 20m for most of the year – Romblon has it all. The dive sites are untouched with just a couple of dive operators, it is like time-travel to the past. The journey to this quaint little island is an adventure in itself.
Jerome Kim
Macro heaven with rare butterfly nudibranch.
Xiao Liuqiu
Su Huai
You can go into the water all year round, and it is an excellent place to observe sea turtles at close range and learn more about their underwater behaviour.
Green Island
Su Huai
Super high definition visibility, warm water temperature, high coral coverage, comfortable diving.
Dongsha Atoll
Su Huai
Special seagrass bed ecology, lemon shark and stingray’s paradise.
Ogasawara Islands
Su Huai
The ocean is full of life with cetaceans, sharks, sea turtles and various fish.
Mikura-jima
Su Huai
Underwater close observation of bottlenose dolphins, a good place to experience small island life.
Richelieu Rock
Alex Tyrrell
My favourite dive site in Thailand, a vibrant reef system with an awesome mix of macro critters, schooling fishes and mega fauna.
Black Rock, Mergui Archipelago
Alex Tyrrell
Mass manta aggregations on a good day, very fishy all the time.
Sipadan, Malaysia
Eric Goh
Schooling jacks, barracuda and bumphead parrotfish all in a single day’s worth of diving. Truly a paradise. Don’t miss out on the Bajaus (Sea Gypsies) while you are there. This unique water community provides a photography spectacle rarely found in any part of the world.
Patrick Ong
“An Untouched Piece of Art” was quoted by Jacques Cousteau in 1987. This unique island is full of marine life. Sea turtles, schooling barracudas, bumphead parrotfish, jacks, the leopard shark and so much more in just three dives.
Chempaka Reef
Ipah Uid Lynn
This dive site is well known for finding Melibe colemani and Melibe engeli nudibranch. The Colemani nudi was voted the most sought-after nudibranch since Mr. Coleman himself said that it was the most beautiful nudibranch he has ever seen. True to his word, it’s the weirdest nudibranch you can ever see having a transparent body with veins you can see protruding inside.
Selakan Mangrove
Ipah Uid Lynn
During high tide it is best to shoot at this place. It’s an eerie underwater jungle but full of life underneath the roots of the mangroves. Mangroves are hotspots of biodiversity. The forest also provides habitat and homes for some wildlife such as invertebrates, birds, fish and mammals (occasional sea otters that drop by). Photographers can enjoy shooting wide angle and macro at this area. No saltwater crocodiles live at this island.
Luma House Reef
Ipah Uid Lynn
Located just in front of the resort, this area is full of sea turtles grazing in the morning and evening. Close encounters of juvenile moray eels are often seen hunting during the evening. Since many underwater marine creatures are attracted to lights, many juvenile fish and predator fish hunt too! The surrounding area has plenty of frogfish from the size of a peanut to the size of your palm. Further ahead, plenty of mandarin fish are found hiding in the rubble.
Sungai Selakan
Ipah Uid Lynn
This area is well known for macro. On the shallower part of the reef, healthy corals go on for a few hundred metres. On the deeper dives it’s a channel like a river. This is the place where the most exotic macro critters live. During the day different types of macro species can be found but during night dives this place comes alive! The area is so healthy that krill and other plankton heads straight towards the dive torches during evening dives. When these tiny shrimps appear, the predators start coming out to feast on them like a buffet.
Moofushi Kandu, Maldives
Alex Permyakov
One of the biggest known manta cleaning stations in the Maldives. On a lucky day you can see dozens of mantas flying all around. Whale sharks are quite often seen there too!
Farikede, Fuvamulah, Maldives
Alex Tyrrell
A deep drift not for novice divers, but seven different species of sharks encountered in just 10 dives.
The Shipyard, Kuredu, Maldives
Richard Aspinall
Few wrecks are as pretty as this one.
Hanifaru Lagoon, Baa Atoll, Maldives
Beth and Shaun Tierney
There’s nothing like an encounter with a fully grown whale shark or a gentle manta ray, which makes Hanifaru Lagoon one of our most significant memories. We were lucky and dived there before it was closed to scuba on conservation grounds. Even so, hundreds of mantas still converge on this tiny lagoon to feast on the microscopic plankton that turns the water dark. It was impossible to count them all during their non-stop manta gymnastics – especially if two massive whale sharks also arrive to feast on their fair share of the nutrient-rich water.
Europe
Norway
Vania Kam
The place where you can photograph the killer whales.
El Bajon, Canary Islands
Timo Dersch
Simply the best in Europe – anything can happen.
Canary Islands
Ali and Joey Postma
The zesty blue water of the Canary Islands afford some beautiful diving, with many macro and micro critters to be seen.
Azores
Ali and Joey Postma
Located in the middle of the Atlantic, the Azores attract tropical fauna of all shapes and sizes to the island’s volcanic shores.
The Farnes
Richard Aspinall
Thousands of sea birds and playful seals.
Noss Island, Shetland
Henley Spiers
Site of the gannet dive and one of the most incredible natural spectacles as these seabirds leave the steep cliffs and plunge into the water at nearly 100km/ph.
Baumgärtli
Eric Lambert
Yes, a dive site in a lake, Zugersee, not in the sea. But what a site… one of the most beautiful in Switzerland.
Oceania
Vanessa’s Reef, Papua New Guinea
Tim Rock
This site has huge gorgonian sea fans, beautiful red sea whip corals and large sponges along with prolific fish life.
Grand Central Station, Fiji
Timo Dersch
Preservation efforts allow divers to observe lots of hunting predator fish.
Rapid Bay Jetty
Alex Tyrrell
Leafy Sea Dragons – enough said!
Thundercliff, Christmas Island
Beth and Shaun Tierney
Known as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, this small place has an unbelievably wealthy natural realm. The reefs are coated in pristine hard corals that hide some secrets like the amazing, easily accessible caves. Thundercliff is a dive, a swim and a walk and one of the most unusual underwater experiences we have ever had. Surface inside each of a chain of caves to admire the endless impressive limestone structures then walk through the last, cathedral like hall.
Yap Caverns
Tim Rock
This beautiful natural formation is as good for macro as it is for wide angle with rare gobies and a resident school of bumphead parrotfish.
Tufi Pier, Papua New Guinea
Beth and Shaun Tierney
Stories go that Tufi Pier is for serious muck-diving aficionados, and the rumours quickly become reality when you slip beneath the jetty to encounter decades of detritus. Every ugly old bit of rubbish is a thriving marine colony and classic muck diving – name it and you’ll probably see it. Handfuls of ornate ghost pipefish, pairs of robust ghost pipefish and hairy ghost pipefish, seahorses and frogfish, a pair of harlequin shrimp and resident mandarinfish. The list could go on and on…
White Beach, Solomon Islands
Beth and Shaun Tierney
The Solomon Islands – and White Beach – isn’t all that well known with comparatively few dive visitors. This ex-WWII US supply base is hidden behind a mangrove-ringed coast. When the troops shipped out, they dropped everything from their base into the sea. Now divers see it as a photo heaven with the remains of flat-topped barges, a tractor, a crane and all sorts of mechanical litter – even steering wheels so encrusted with coral you almost don’t recognize their shape.
Blue Corner, Palau
Simon Pridmore
Discovered by the legendary Francis Toribiong, Blue Corner is the big fish dive to beat all others.
Tim Rock
Few places can match the excitement of this site – dive after dive with sharks, big fish schools and, usually, a big, friendly Napoleon wrasse.
Nippo Maru, Truk Lagoon
Tim Rock
With a tank and artillery guns on the deck and a mast adorned in soft corals this is one of the best wrecks in the Pacific.
Vava’u, Tonga
Zola Chen
Every year from July to October, the Antarctic fin whales migrate to warmer latitudes to mate and have babies. In addition to seeing stable mother-child pairs, the most important thing is that there is a chance to see the unattainable behaviour of the male whales called “Heat Run”.
Tim Rock
There is not a more thrilling experience than snorkelling in the clear, blue ocean with a beautiful humpback whale mother with her calf…awe inspiring beauty in the sea.