1. The Maldives
The tiny Indian Ocean republic of Maldives makes for a diver’s delight thanks to the breathtaking lagoons emasculated in the deep blue ocean, abundance of flora and fauna, breathtaking coral formations and more.
The best locations are North Male atoll and South Ari atoll, both protected by scenic atoll walls. The Fotteyo Kandu and Kudarah Thila are equally spectacular. The sharks, turtles, schooling game fish and the vibrant reef life add colour to the dive.
The diving season is open all year round, but the monsoon season between May and September holds special interest owing to the high chances of viewing the famed manta rays. The best way to go about diving is in a dedicated live-aboard boat.
2. Cayman Islands, West Indies
Almost the whole of the West Indies, renowned for its beaches and ocean, was once a diver’s delight. Although pollution and over-development has put an end to the charm of many a locations, the tiny Little Cayman island in the British West Indies still retains its pristine charm and remains a constant in the lists of best diving spots across the world.
The island has many good diving spots, but the spectacular Bloody Bay Wall and Jackson’s Point in the northern end of the island ranks as the very best owing to the rich sea life and the spectacular topography. At Bloody Bay, the colourful coral cliff drops 7000 feet (2,000 metres) into a submarine trench. Sharks, eagle ray and turtle are all commonplace.
3. Rangiroa, Polynesian Islands
The beautiful Polynesian islands always conjure up a pleasant mood in the minds of any diving enthusiast. Among the various diving hot-spots in these scenic islands, Rangiroa, situated 250 miles from Tahiti, in the Tuamotu Archipelago, deserves special mention. This atoll, the second largest in the world, is truly desolate, and offers the best of both laid back relaxation and high adrenalin diving. Allowing oneself to be carried away through the tides that flow through the two channels, to the Pacific Ocean and amidst a plethora of grey reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, dolphins and mantas is an experience of lifetime.
4. Similan Islands, Thailand
Thailand has been a diver’s paradise for long. Of the many scenic spots in the country, the Surin and Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea stand out for its rich flora and fauna. Especially attractive are the pinnacle of Koh Bon and the Richelieu Rock, both attracting wild and exotic marine life. The best way to reach these islands is ex-Phuket.
5. Sulawesi, Indonesia
The small cluster of islands off Sulawesi in Indonesia rank amongst the best dive sites in the world, thanks to the rich bio-diversity that lies within the sprinkling clear water. The amazingly beautiful reef abounds in pygmy seahorse, nudibranchs, flat worms, hard corals and more. The area in fact probably has the highest level of bio-diversity in the world.
The Bunaken National Marine Park here, a role model for sustainable tourism, is a must visit and make for a good diving base.
Photo © Derek Keats
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