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Diving is an unparalleled experience that lets you enter into a world that is so surreal it often surpasses even our wildest imaginations.Diving deep into the underwater world, swimming alongside fishes and pretending to be one of them, soaring past majestic sea creatures and getting more than just a mere sneak peek into this mysterious world is exhilarating. For those of you who haven’t experienced this magic yet this article will be your ultimate guide to explore the deep waters. For the rest of you who have tasted the feeling already, we promise you, these places will definitely translate into your bucket list. So here we go, diving straight into the world’s best diving sites that’ll make you go backpacking soon.
1) Australia
With the world’s largest and healthiest coral reef system, Australia is revered for a truly magical place. It is home to the world’s most diverse sea world with over 1500 species of fish, whales, sharks, porpoises and giant sea turtles. This ultimate diving destination is majestic, intriguing and just a little bit terrifying at times.
Dive deep: Most popular dive sites:
- Ribbon Reefs, Northern Great Barrier Reef – One of Australia’s most remarkable natural gifts, the Great Barrier Reef is blessed with the breathtaking beauty of the world’s largest coral reef. The reef contains an abundance of marine life and comprises of over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays.
- Osprey Reef – This is perhaps its most famous dive site for its shark feed. You can also watch Manta rays swim past this site.
- SS Yongala – It is the Great Barrier Reef’s signature wreck ship that went down during a 1911 cyclone. Everything is supersized here – sea snakes the size of your bicep and sea turtles so big they look prehistoric. The wreck is colorful and worth several dives to see it all.
- The Whitsundays – Perfect for diving as well as activities like sailing and island exploring
- Do not deplete your telephone's battery
What’s so special about it:
Made up of nearly 2900 individual reefs, 600 continental islands and 300 coral cays, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s most diverse and largest coral structure. It is the only living structure on earth that can be seen from outer space.
Get comfy in the best holiday home:
For all the water babies, Australia should definitely be on your list. With the best beaches and underwater world, it also has luxurious and comfortable stays to make your trip hassle free and delightful.
- Stay in this luxury beachfront apartment and wake up to the sounds of the waves. Located right on the beach it’s the perfect place to launch yourself into the oceans.
- Stay in this tropical oasis and be treated to comfort and peace of mind. With its own pool and great amenities, this holiday apartment is an ideal choice on your holiday in Australia.
- With a view of the roaring sea and tropical palms forming a postcard picture, this beachfront holiday apartment can’t get any better. Located in a small beach town of Trinity, it makes an ideal getaway on your honeymoon in Australia.
Best Time to Dive:
The best time to dive in Australia is between August and December but you can dive here all year round. The water temperature ranges from 22°C in June rising to 28°C in March. Although January, February and March are the warmest months, they are also the wettest. March and April is also a good time to go if you plan on swimming with the big pelagics like whale sharks.
Recommendations: Also check out these stays for other options on this gorgeous island.
2) Galapagos Islands
Imagine a realm where penguins swim in equatorial seas, no one bats an eye at four-eyed fish, and iguanas are found eating algae submerged in the saltwater. Imagine dolphins leaping about in phosphorescent water and becoming the new friend of a playful sea lion pup. Open your eyes… you are imagining diving the Galapagos.
An internationally acclaimed dive site in the world, this unique cluster of 20 volcanic islands truly are a marvel to explore.
Dive deep: Most popular dive sites:
- El Arco, Darwin Island – One of the world’s top 10 dive sites, you encounter schooling hammerheads, whale sharks, spotted eagle rays, prowling Galapagos and silky sharks.
- El Arenal, Darwin Island – The distinctive Darwin’s stone arch is just above the water and the dive site slopes off the arch.
- Roca Redonda, Isabela Island – Off the north coast of Isabela, this dive site is the tip of an underwater volcano that rises from the sea floor and emerges as an island. You’ll find Galapagos sharks, schools of hammerhead sharks, barracudas, sea lions and numerous sea horses in the shallows
- Cape Douglas, Fernandina Island – This dive site is a great spot to watch penguins “fly” past. Done as a drift dive, you can also see fur seals and Galapagos sea lions mingling with munching marine iguanas.
What’s so special about it:
Home to an array of marine life, found nowhere else, these waters are best explored with liveaboard diving expeditions. It’s also the place that Charles Darwin visited in the 1800s when he came up with the theory of evolution.
Get comfy in the best holiday home:
Holiday apartments in Galapagos are built to comfortable for families, group of friends or even private villas for couples. Check out these apartments below for the best options.
- A perfect tropical getaway, this contemporary styled apartment in Santa Cruz Island meets all the requirements of a holiday home.The terrace here is fitted with dining tables, a large gas grill, and a lounging area with wonderful highland and ocean views.
- This modern 2 bedroom apartment in Galapagos is a deal breaker on your holiday here. Centrally located in Puerto Ayora, it is the perfect place for an adventure as well as to relax in the this tropical getaway.
- This well equipped holiday home has an amazing balcony view along with modern room amenities. Perfect for families on an adventure filled tropical holiday to the Galapagos.
Best Time to Dive:
Diving the Galapagos Islands can be done year round, but the water temperatures vary depending on the time of year, the dive site you choose and the depths you dive. Surface temperatures range from 18-30 degrees Celsius from September through November being the coldest months and February through April offering the warmest temperatures.
Recommendations: Another amazing stay cation option on these islands you must check out!
3) Indonesia
With one of the longest coastlines in the world, there are so many bright and colorful dives to choose from. What’s cool, is that Indonesia is a part of the Coral Triangle of the world, which means that this one country has 20% of the world’s coral reefs, deep water trenches, sunken wrecks, and underwater volcanic mountains, all waiting to be explored.
Dive deep: Most popular dive sites:
- Jakarta – Visit Thousand Islands and discover white sand beaches and some interesting wreck dives. What better way to relax away from the city than by submerging yourself in turquoise waters on colourful coral reefs?
- Bunaken – Located in North Sulawesi, the “Land of Smiling People”, Bunaken’s colossal walls, clear blue water and diverse marine life impresses even the most seasoned of divers.
- Lembeh – Known as the “Critter Capital of the World” the Lembeh Strait is home to an abundance of unique and rare marine life where nothing is quite as it seems. Be prepared to find the most unusual of critters in the most unexpected of places.
- Bali – Known as the island of the Gods, Bali’s diverse reefs, rich culture and stunning scenery will leave you spellbound.
- Komodo – The land of the dragons promises adventure and excitement. The marine life combined with kaleidoscopic coral reefs, pelagics, including reef sharks, manta rays and passing eagle rays will leave you wishing for more dives.
- Raja Ampat – Hundreds of tiny islands and pinnacles breach the surface of the aquamarine waters which are home to everything from pygmy seahorses to manta rays.
- Pulau Weh – Pulau Weh reefs are full of colour, alive with action and teeming with life. The hunters are being hunted, the smaller reef fish seek shelter in the coral crowded reef and before you know it another shark passes by.
- Gili Islands – These three tiny islands offer a bohemian vibe, laid back atmosphere and good variety of dive sites.
- Lombok – The island of Lombok has everything from a towering volcano, rugged cliffs to picture-perfect white sand beaches. Underwater there are pretty coral gardens and staggering pinnacles which are known to attract seasonal hammerheads.
- Nusa Lembongan – This small island is famous for it’s chilled out atmosphere, stunning scenery and legendary surf breaks. Dive sites are predominantly located around the neighbouring Nusa Penida with manta rays and a vibrant reef world.
Get comfy in the best holiday home:
These luxury villas in Indonesia will surely delight you, with the best features and artfully decorated, each with its own private pool and outdoor patio.
- This 5 bedroom holiday home is nestled between coconut palm groves and a deserted beach. Hidden within a village this contemporary design residence provides a calm and warm atmosphere, along with its 10 meters private pool.
- You have to check out this 3 bedroom villa with tastefully decorated rooms, pebble floored washrooms, an outdoor kitchen area, and a beautifully designed pool. It’s the perfect luxury apartment in Bali.
- This breezy and luxurious 2 bedroom apartment in Seminyak is well designed and spread out. It has a landscaped garden for relaxing, with a private pool in it, sun beds and a gazebo.
Best Time to Dive:
The best time and weather to dive in Indonesia are during the dry season of April to December. But it is generally alright to dive all year round in Indonesia.
Recommendations: Indonesia is known for having the most luxurious and artsy holiday homes. Book you stay here and live in complete comfort and leisure.
4) Maldives
The coconut palm and the yellow-fin tuna, symbols of the Maldives, say a great deal about this nation of more than a thousand islands. Blessed with an abundant underwater world of manta rays, bull sharks, parrot fish, sea turtles and a colorful world of corals, Maldives is one of the best destinations for scuba diving in the world..
Dive deep: Most popular dive sites:
- Fotteyo Kandu, Vaavu Atoll – This highly-rated dive site has vibrant coral and fish, but also includes caves, overhangs and swim-throughs filled with yellow soft coral and a few black coral bushes at deeper depths. You may see reef sharks, jack and tuna, plus large schools of snapper fish here.
- Kuredu Express, Lhaviyani Atoll – This site gets its name from the strong current that flows through the channel. Cruise along one of the terraces located at different depths and watch the reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna, stingrays and barracuda go by.
- Okobe Thila, North Male Atoll – This site consists of three main pinnacle sections ranging from 30 feet to165 feet in length. Because there is always some current, you normally spiral up and around. Look for tuna, white-tip reef sharks and bannerfish in addition to the healthy coral.
- Kandooma Thila, South Male Atoll – This large teardrop shaped pinnacle has a dramatic scenery and prolific fish life. The walls are covered with soft corals and patrolled by schools of red bass and big-eye trevally. You can swim with grey sharks, white-tip sharks and eagle rays.
- Broken Rock, South Ari Atoll – This unique formation has a canyon that breaks the reef in two. Look for large fan corals in the canyon, Napoleon wrasse, turtles, scorpionfish and for moray eels on the reef.
- Kudarah Thila, South Ari Atoll – This marine protected area has a small reef full of soft corals and abundant fish life. Bring a dive light to explore the arch and a large overhang that make the dive unique.
What’s so special about it:
Maldives is one of the only places in the world where you can spot majestic manta rays swim so close to you. It is also known to have 26 different shark varieties swim in these waters.
Get comfy in the best holiday home:
- This gracious and beautifully located Beach Inn, is designed specially for those who love the beach and the natural beauty of Maldives. It also has amazing beach activities to keep your holiday adventurous and fun.
- These beautiful garden Villas in Maldives are located in the heart of the island. With elegantly furnished rooms and a swimming pool, these wooden chalets are the ultimate stay for comfort and pleasure
- This 3 bedroom summer guest house is perfect for families to spend a fun time in Maldives. Located really close to the beach it is perfect for adventure activities like snorkelling, fishing and sailing.
Best Time to Dive:
It is possible to dive in the Maldives all year round: The best visibility and dry weather is from December to March though.
The Wet Season with rain, winds and waves runs from May to August reducing the visibility, but diving is still good. It is usually a heavy short rainfall followed by sunshine.
Source - thrillophilia.com
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