21 best dive sites

Hawaii, USA Swooping through the inky black waters, manta rays with 20-foot wingspans feed on plankton while divers look on from the sea floor near Kona, Hawaii. Pro Tip: Let the mantas dictate the interaction.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia With some 500 species of coral, including gorgonians and sea pens, Raja Ampat is diving fit for a king—or four kings (Raja Ampat translated). Pro Tip: For easy access to the reefs, stay on a live-aboard boat.

Marshall Islands Within the lagoon of remote Bikini Atoll lies a graveyard of battleships and destroyers—the legacy of U.S. nuclear tests in the mid-20th century. Pro Tip: Hone wreck-diving skills at easier sites first.

Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria pummelled Puerto Rico, but it also gave the sea a breather from tourist traffic, making this a good time to go. Pro Tip: The vast majority of hotels and businesses have reopened.

Yucatan, Mexico Once revered by Maya, cenotes in the Yucatán in Mexico are now treasured by divers. Strange rock formations and potential archaeological finds lend an Indiana Jones vibe. Pro Tip: Vet the dive operators well.

Antarctica Dives below the frozen Antarctic surface reveal agile penguins and octopi with blood pigments to help them survive the numbing temps. Pro Tip: You’ll need special freeze-protected regulators.

Los Jardines de la Reina, Cuba In Los Jardines de la Reina marine reserve, accessible only by live-aboard, divers have the opportunity to see elkhorn coral, silky sharks, and saltwater crocodiles.

Little Cayman, Cayman Islands Little Cayman Island’s Bloody Bay Wall feels like an undersea spacewalk, as the blue abyss plummets to more than a thousand feet. Pro Tip: Tour the research facilities of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute.

Thingvellir National Park, Iceland Dive in and touch both the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park is literally a place where worlds collide. Pro Tip: A dry suit is a must.

Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico Tuna, sharks, schooling fish, manta rays, and even the occasional humpback whale swim in the pristine Revillagigedo Archipelago. Pro Tip: November through May offer the calmest surface waters.

Fiordland, New Zealand In the Fiordland of New Zealand, a layer of freshwater on top of saltwater chokes off light, causing creatures of the deep to rise to viewing level. Pro Tip: The road out is a mountain pass, so add extra time to decompress.

Galápagos, Ecuador Where can you dive with marine iguanas, sea lions, whale sharks, and hammerheads in the same day? It’s got to be the Galápagos. Pro Tip: To protect the fragile environment, diving is restricted; plan ahead.

Bonaire National Park, Caribbean Sea At the Bonaire National Marine Park, get upclose looks at frogfish, banded coral shrimp, and Seuss-like nudibranchs. Pro Tip: Divers pay a onetime entrance fee and attend an orientation dive.

Barkley Sound, Canada Known for wrecks, reefs, and rich marine life—kelp, anemones, nudibranchs—Barkley Sound in British Columbia is a coldwater hot spot. Pro Tip: The sheltered location allows for year-round diving.

Bahamas Share the warm, crystalline waters of Tiger Beach with beautifully patterned tiger sharks that swim around a shark feeder who's clad in protective gear. Divers kneel in fixed positions on the white sand behind the feeder to watch the show. (If you’re an especially intrepid traveller, take an expedition-style trip to Port Lincoln, Australia, the only place where you can dive in an ocean-floor cage with great whites.) Top Tip: Don’t get complacent with these extraordinary—but wild—creatures.

Maldives The underwater pinnacles surrounding oval-shaped Ari Atoll attract whale sharks and manta rays, which feed in the plankton-rich channels. Pro Tip: The best time to see these marvels is February to May.

Julian Rocks, Australia Julian Rocks Marine Reserve lies off Australia’s most easterly point, near Byron Bay, and smack in the middle of the East Australian current. Sea creatures migrating along the coast—humpback whales, manta rays, sand tiger sharks—stop in for a visit joining the resident population of cuttlefish, wobbegong sharks, and turtles. Byron Bay is a top destination for newbies learning the ropes as well as experienced divers. Pro Tip: Don’t miss a hike up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, one of the world’s best places to spot migrating whales.

Key Largo, USA With the Coral Restoration Foundation in Key Largo, Florida, divers help “plant” corals and monitor new growth on the reef. Pro Tip: Learn about upcoming volunteer dive programmes offered by the Coral Restoration Foundation.

Western Australia The T-shaped Navy Pier in Western Australia is home to 200-plus species, including octopuses, wobbegong sharks, nudibranchs, and massive Queensland groupers. Pro Tip: Be prepared to show ID at this military site.

Aliwal Shoal, South Africa South Africa's Aliwal Shoal hosts species from nudibranchs to whale sharks, but it may be most famous for the annual sardine run, when millions gather to spawn. Pro Tip: Ask local dive operators about the specific timing.