Pinpoint: Underwater Destinations

Exploring the world’s most exotic dive locales

By Shiromi Arserio and Jennifer Olson

It’s loud on the surface of the water, with waves crashing all around. You feel awkward and unbalanced on the swaying boat deck with a heavy tank on your back, an air regulator in your mouth, a mask on your face, and fins on your feet. But once you dive down, the world around you transforms. Underwater, everything is silent, save for the sound of your own breathing amplified by the dive apparatus. And your once-cumbersome gear morphs you into a graceful human water creature.

When you’re scuba diving, the world seems slightly emptier down below, away from the hustle and bustle of people. Yet, as you find yourself surrounded by enormous schools of curious fish and playing peek-a-boo with critters living in colorful coral, you are reminded of how full and diverse the world really is. Suddenly the training, the heavy air tanks, the momentary pressure in your ears, and the queasy boat ride all become worthwhile.

Of all the spectacular underwater places around the world to explore underwater, here are four of our favorites.

Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Nothing can spoil a scuba diver like the warm water, maximum visibility, immaculate wrecks, lively reefs, and wall dives of the Caribbean’s Cayman Islands. Whether shore or boat diving, visitors can observe an array of fish, such as sharpnose puffers, parrotfish, spotted trunkfish, grouper, damselfish, and honeycomb cowfish. Or you can discover life inhabiting purpose-sunk wrecks, like the 330-foot Captain Keith Tibbetts wreck off Cayman Brac and the new Kittiwake wreck off Grand Cayman. Nurse sharks are spotted occasionally during wall dives on the east end of Grand Cayman, not too far from the Blue Iguana Recovery Program (blueiguana.ky) and a blissful après-dive spot, Rum Point. Snorkelers may enjoy Stingray City or swim with barracuda and small reef fish in crystal-clear water just offshore. Peak season runs November through May, but you’ll score the best deals in summer and fall.

Insider Tips: Park your fins on Grand Cayman’s northwest side at Cobalt Coast Resort (cobaltcoast.com) or in the eco-friendly Lighthouse Point condos (lighthouse-point-cayman.com), where Divetech (divetech.com) shines as the in-house dive shop. Or check out the locals’ best-kept secret on the east end: Ocean Frontiers (oceanfrontiers.com). Hop over to a sister island and stay at Brac Reef Beach Resort (bracreef.com) where Reef Divers II guides you on three dives—even night dives—each day.

If it’s been more than a year since your last dive, consider taking a refresher course. PADI offers an online SCUBA Tune-Up course on safe diving practices. Your local dive shop may even offer a refresher pool class too. padi.com/scuba

Sipadan Island, Malaysia

Off the coast of Malaysia, just east of Borneo, is Sipadan Island, which underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau described as an “untouched piece of art.” In Sipadan’s pristine water roam schools of giant trevally (large game fish), patrolled by solitary reef sharks. Friendly, curious turtles are also a common sight, as Sipadan has one of the world’s largest sea turtle populations. At Barracuda Point, you can spot snapper and bumphead parrotfish, but the main event is the large swirling vortex of barracuda. A kaleidoscope of vibrant coral is on display at Hanging Gardens, an ideal wall dive for snorkelers and new divers. While peering over the steep drop-off, keep an eye out for hammerhead sharks resting on plateaus in the abyss.

Insider Tips: Sipadan has a daily 120-person limit. However, permits are easier to obtain during rainy winter months. Contact resorts on Kapalai (sipadan-kapalai.com) or Mabul (sipadan-mabul.com.my) for permits and dive boats.

Ras Mohammed, Egypt

This spectacular reef off of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula in the Red Sea is home to hundreds of species of coral and fish. Coral pinnacles rise up from the seabed at Shark Reef, while grouper, stingrays, and moray eels congregate near a wall. Use the stronger currents to drift over to Yolanda Reef, where you’ll find the wreckage of the Cyprian cargo ship, Yolanda, which carried toilets that are strewn on the seafloor and now serve as homes to colorful fish. In the reef garden at Anemone City you can find anemone fish and multitudes of wrasse. Conditions here tend to be calmer, making it popular for beginner divers.

Insider Tips:  Dry weather and cool temperatures in the winter months result in clearer water, with visibility averaging 150 feet. Diving Ras Mohammed is primarily via boat, which most resorts provide. If yours doesn’t, contact The Wave, a PADI-certified dive shop. thewavediving.com

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia

Western Australia’s best-kept secret offers the biological diversity of the Great Barrier Reef—without the crowds. Consisting of more than 160 miles of coral reef, Ningaloo is home to dugongs, manta rays, and migrating humpback whales. Sea turtles are also abundant, as the reef is a breeding ground for endangered turtles. But the area’s biggest draw is the elusive whale shark. Reaching up to 40 feet long, this filter-feeding shark is the largest species of fish in the world, and Ningaloo is one of the most reliable places to watch them. What’s more, you don’t have to be a diver to observe these creatures. Manta rays prefer shallow waters and whale sharks tend to swim just below the surface, making snorkeling at Ningaloo almost as enjoyable as diving.

Insider Tips:  Humpback whales visit between July and November, while whale sharks arrive in March. Boats to Ningaloo leave from either Exmouth (exmouthdiving.com.au) or Coral Bay (ningalooreefdive.com/tours.html).