The Great Barrier Reef has an almost magical place in the minds of divers. Its 1,200 miles of coral atolls and islands are home to some of the world’s most renowned diving areas such as the Ribbon Reefs, Osprey Reef and the Coral Sea. The more remote areas can only be reached by live-aboard but there are plenty of sites for land-based divers to explore by day and return to the comfort of their hotels by happy hour. Experience the country’s unique nature and culture by visiting the aboriginal parks, outback camps and the spectacular coastal regions of Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation. One of the most impressive ways to see the Great Barrier Reef is by helicopter or seaplane. Air tours can include deserted island picnics and a drop-off at the Kuranda’s World Heritage Rainforest with a return to Cairns via the Kuranda Scenic Railway.
Belize is located at the Caribbean coast, nestled between Mexico City and Antigua Guatemala and offers an intriguing mix of tropical forests rich with wildlife, majestic 3,675 foot mountains, Maya temples, and interesting diving and fishing possibilities. In a single day you can go from tropical forest to the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. And the people are known to be very friendly. Belize is also known for its marine environment. The country has the second longest barrier reef in the world, as well as three major offshore atolls. You can find also mangrove systems both offshore and along the coast, thus creating a tremendous wetlands environment in which birds, fishes, mammals, and reptiles can propagate. With such a significant marine ecosystem, scuba divers, marine biologists, and sport fishermen have long recognized the importance of Belize, and it has become a favorite destination for them.
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Located in the far southeastern corner of the Caribbean, just 50 miles north of Venezuela, Bonaire's unique coral reef awaits. Accessible by shore or boat, the reef boasts abundant marine life and a variety of healthy, colorful coral. Bonaire's gentle sloping reef allows for a wide range of diving and snorkeling opportunities from 10 to 20 feet deep to dramatic vertical wall drop-offs in excess of 130 feet deep usually with next to no current. This makes it an ideal location for all levels of divers and snorkelers.
Often referred to as the "macro capital of the Caribbean", Bonaire is truly an underwater photographer's dream for capturing marine life in action. Topside, the island is one of the few nesting and breeding grounds for the Pink Flamingo and is becoming well known for its quality bird watching opportunities.
The Cayman Islands are known as a premier dive destination, rated as one of the best dive locations in the world. Cayman Brac offers pristine beauty with healthy populations of colorful tropical fish, invertebrates, corals and sponges. There are 100 different hard and soft corals in Cayman waters and over 500 types of fish. Cayman Brac's diverse dive sites bring divers back year after year. Visibility is excellent, usually 100+ feet. Seas are generally calm with little or no current. The water is warm...78 to 80 degrees in the winter. Cayman Brac offers a spectacular marine environment with reef, wall and wreck dives. The reef dives are generally spur and groove formations, coral heads and mini-walls. Spurs are coral formations oriented perpendicular to the shore. The spurs are separated from each other by 3 to 15 foot sand channels called grooves. The spurs can range in height up to about 20 feet. They offer great places to explore; it's like diving through mini-canyons or along mini-walls. The wall dives are world renown. They are close to shore and start in about 50 feet of water. The drop-offs into deep blue water are unbelievable with breath-taking corals, sponges and sea life. Cayman Brac is also the site of a sunken 330 foot Russian Navy Frigate.
Located near the eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and rich in Mayan history, Cozumel is a spectacular island that is bordered by crystal clear water and dazzling coral reefs. It promises a memorable underwater adventure for divers and snorkelers. Most of the diving and snorkeling activity on Cozumel is focused on the reefs and shallow coral formations that extend from the southern tip of the island to just south of San Miguel on the west coast. Palancar Reef, the second largest in the world and a national park, was hailed by the French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as one of the world's best diving sites. There are plenty of opportunities for snorkelers to enjoy this underwater world. Both Colombia and Palancar reefs have plateaus in less than 30 feet of water. At Chankanaab Lagoon, divers and snorkelers can observe small coral and limestone formations at 6 to 30 feet. Yucab Reef, just south of Chankanaab Lagoon, has colorful coral formations in only 15 feet of water. Except for those at Chankanaab Lagoon and those just off the hotel beaches, the major dive sites can be reached only by boat.
The Big Island of Hawaii's growing western Kona coast is home to extinct lava craters, caves, lava tubes and bommies. Marine inhabitants include spanish dancers, frog fish, indigenous butterfly fish, mantas, turtles and sharks that peek out of caves and cruise rocky pinnacles. Kona is a Pacific paradise for divers and snorkelers and whale watchers.
The Big Island, acclaimed the "Flower Capital of the World", is one of the only places on earth where you can still see an active volcano. Topside wonders include stunning black and white sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, volcanic parks, coffee plantations, exotic rivers and even cactus-studded deserts.
The Maldives is famed for its rare underwater beauty. The profusion of psychedelic colours and the abundance and variety of life underwater have fascinated divers and snorkellers since Maldives was discovered as a diving destination. The highest level of visibility that one could expect- sometimes exceeding 150 feet and warm temperatures throughout the year makes diving in the Maldives a delight you would want to experience over and over again. The Maldives has some of the best dive sites in the world and many visit the Maldives repeatedly for the sole purpose of diving.
The beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands are situated 575 miles southeast of Miami. Covering 193 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean, the Turks and Caicos have the third largest coral reef system and the best tropical beaches in the world. A 22 mile-wide channel, the Columbus Passage, separates the Turks Islands from the Caicos Islands. This 8,000 foot deep passage serves as major transit lines for migrating Humpback Whales, Spotted Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Turtles and Dolphins. Dramatic walls, excellent visibility (up to 200 feet), pristine reefs, abundant tropical flora and fauna, fish and other marine life and easy conditions make the Turks and Caicos Islands a world class and award-winning diving destination.
Little Cayman is the smallest and least developed of the three Cayman Islands, located 87 miles northeast of Grand Cayman, five miles west of Cayman Brac, 480 miles from Miami and 90 miles south of Havana. First discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503 and rarely visited (except for the occasional pirate) until recent times, Little Cayman is now a favorite destination of modern day explorers, photographers, naturalists and, of course, divers. The moment you arrive, you'll understand why. The island itself - just 10 miles long and 1 mile wide - is blessed with 22 miles of spectacular coastline and, just offshore, incredible coral reefs teeming with over 150 kinds of coral and more than 500 species of fish. Bloody Bay Wall, one of the most pristine underwater sites in the world, is part of a unique ocean reef system surrounding Little Cayman . Rated as the best diving in the Caribbean by National Geographic photographer David Doubilet and underwater cinematographer Stan Waterman, Bloody Bay Wall's natural beauty has been protected for future generations with its designation as a marine park.
World-renowned for its warm, clear waters and sheer wall dives, the Cayman Islands have much to offer divers. Whether you’re in the mood for deep or shallow dives, reefs, walls or wrecks, the Caymans have it all.
Grand Cayman has over 160 dive sites ranging from steep walls adorned with vibrantly colored sponges and corals to the “The World’s Best 12 Foot Dive:” Stingray City, where friendly Southern Stingrays swim around divers waiting to be fed. Grand Cayman’s reefs are unspoiled: gorgonians and hard corals thrive in the clear, warm waters, and most dive sites are just minutes offshore.
Where better to enjoy a weekend diving than at Canada's first National Marine Park. Fathom Five National Marine Park is made up of two components, 45 square miles of clear water and an archipelago of 19 islands. Sheer cliffs, limestone overhangs and large caves can be found both on the islands and submerged beneath the water. Explore an area where submerged forests, canyons and underwater waterfalls date back to a time before modern man. View the remains of ancient coral in this once tropical sea or watch the modern inhabitants, crawfish, bass and sculpin as they go about their daily business.
For the diving enthusiast, the remains of over 20 historical shipwrecks also lie beneath these clear, cold waters. Severe fall weather has left ships like the 213 foot steamer, W.L. Wetmore, laying 30 feet under the water's surface.
A true dive, dive, dive weekend! Extremely clear water and an abundance of shipwrecks make Tobermory a diver’s paradise.
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
The Alger Underwater Diving Preserve at Munising was the first preserve established in Michigan, and is one of the most popular scuba diving areas in the Great Lakes. This Underwater Preserve offers several unusual diving attractions including seacaves, intact shipwrecks, and underwater interpretive trails. The sea caves are actually portions of underwater sandstone cliffs where sandstone has been eroded by waves. Although the caves are shallow,usually only about 20 feet deep, they offer spectacular shallow water diving. The Alger Preserve is located on the south shore of Lake Superior near the diver-friendly city of Munising in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This area of Lake Superior's shoreline includes the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and offers many scenic attractions to visiting divers. Magnificent waterfalls, sand dunes, and hiking trails are all just a short distance from town.
Fabulous shipwreck diving as well as a chance to enjoy spectacular scenic cruising along Michigan’s beautiful Pictured Rocks.
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