If you’re a scuba fanatic, you’ve probably already crossed many of the top spots off your bucket list. But that doesn’t mean the adventure stops there! There are tonnes of amazing places in addition to the old classics we’ve all heard about.
We’ve rounded up some of the most dreamt-about dive locations, with epic underwater landscapes, animal encounters and more. Let’s dive in (pun fully intended).
Inhambane Province, Mozambique
Inhambane is a province of Mozambique, packed full of beautiful shallow reefs, shipwrecks, caverns, and amazing pinnacles. With incredible sites that are suitable for beginners or advanced technical divers, its big draw is the amazing array of marine species including butterflyfish, kingfish, stingrays, triggerfish, manta rays, turtles and even humpback whales. For something more specific, head to the Parque Nacional do Arquipélago do Bazaruto, an area that has 19 dive sites, the most famous of which is Two Mile Reef.
Diving here is available year round. The water temperature is around 30C from November to April, however, this is also the region’s rainiest period so you might want to visit from May to October when the water is 21C – just don’t forget your wetsuit!
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The Maldives
The Maldives is every diver’s dream destination, and for good reason! It may have beautiful beaches to relax on after a dive, but it’s the abundance of marine life that sets it apart from other dive destinations around the world. Because the Maldives are characterised by strong currents, a lot of the dives are drifts from liveaboards where you allow the current to move you along. If sharks are on your diving bucket list, check out Warren Thila or, if you want to see as much marine life as possible, Fish Head is a great site which always offers a fantastic show.
The best time to visit the Maldives is February, March and April, when you’ll have a higher chance of meeting mantas and whale sharks. Remember, you can only move between islands on seaplanes or boats.
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The Cenotes, Mexico
The water-filled cenotes in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula are a magnet for cave and cavern divers, who find these dreamlike sinkholes irresistible opportunities for adventure. To the Maya, they were portals to the underworld, Xibalba, and considered sacred wells. Diving in a cenote is an unforgettable experience. Look out for natural stalagmites and columns in the pristine water whilst winding your way through tunnels traversed by long rays of sun penetrating through the small openings above you.
While all you need to dive in the Cenotes is a level 1 Open Water or equivalent, we do recommend having done a course in buoyancy so that you’re totally comfortable during the dive.
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Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras
If you’re travelling around Central America, make sure to check out Honduras, the home of the world’s second largest barrier reef. Most dive operators are found in either Roatán or Útila – if you choose to dive here, you can pick from wreck dives or pristine coral reefs. However, if you want a more personal experience on your dive, Guanaja is the least developed of the three islands. Dive sites here feature vertical walls, lava tunnels and shipwrecks, and because it’s located at the edge of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, it attracts incredible pelagic marine life to the area.
Diving here is suitable for all levels of divers, however the best time to visit is between early February to early October when the weather is good and the water reaches up to 31C.
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Sipadan, Malaysia
Sipadan is a diving mecca, and arguably the most famous scuba destination in Malaysia. Located off the east coast of Sabah, the island is known for its blue skies, clear waters and tropical scenery, but below the surface of the water there’s a completely new world to discover. You’ll be spoilt for attractions including barracudas, reef sharks and parrotfish, but while the area is known for its big fish, if you take the time to look closely at the reef walls you’ll see a wealth of macro life to rival most destinations.
We recommend staying for around four nights as visits to Sipadan operate on a permit basis and are restricted to 120 diving permits issued per day. Staying for a longer period of time means you’ll have a higher chance of diving at the island.
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>>You may also like: Dive Into 5 Of The Pacific’s Most Incredible WWII Shipwrecks
Silfra, Iceland
Known to many as the clearest water on Earth, the dive at Silfra is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many. Housed inside the the Þingvellir National Park (also the site of the world’s oldest parliament, dating back to the 10th century!), Silfra is the only site in the world where you can dive directly into the crack between two continental plates: North America and Europe. You’ll want to get a specialist cold water wetsuit as water temperatures range between a chilly 2C and 4C, but on the plus side, the views are unparalleled. With visibility reaching over 100 metres, the blue water is incredibly pure.
If you want a dive that will take your breath away and show you the power of Mother Nature, this is it.
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Explore more amazing diving spots!
*Note: These rates are based on search queries made on nz.kayak.com on 2 May 2018. The prices are quoted in NZD. Flight prices are based on results for a return economy flight search. Hotel prices are for double occupancy and include taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
