It’s colorful. It’s loud. It’s full of life. Welcome to the Drop-Off in Tulamben, Bali.
Dive Locations
Beqa Lagoon, just off Fiji’s largest island of Viti Levu, is renowned for its world-class shark diving. It’s home to the Shark Reef Marine Reserve and a healthy population of bull sharks.
In 10 days, some of the world’s most intrepid cave divers will mount an expedition to penetrate a subterranean world that’s remained hidden for more than 50 years. Ultimately, they’re doing it for you.
Though damaged by two cyclones in the last four years, the thriving reef surrounding Apo Island, Philippines, is still one of the best reef dives on offer in the Philippines.
With over 7,000 islands, it’s no surprise that quite a few areas in the Philippines have spectacular diving. Among them is Dauin and the surrounding area, including Apo Island, all of which are within a 10- to 20-minute boat ride of Atmosphere Resorts.
Once a thriving quarry, this Virginia lake has become a booming dive instruction area.
Turtle Wall is not only a can’t-miss, it’s a must-request site in Palau.
Sweden’s west coast offers many small and relatively unknown (and thus crowd-free) diving locations for the more adventurous diver.
Bermuda is well-known for its shipwrecks, and this Bermuda dive site gives divers a 2-for-1
Often overshadowed by Cocos’ legendary reputation, the diving off Costa Rica’s west coast is spectacular in its own right, as I discovered when I traveled there two summers ago.
Divers are, by nature, explorers, and it can sometimes feel like everywhere has already been discovered. There are still off-the-beaten dive spots, though — they may take a little work to get to, but they’re well worth the effort.
On calm days it’s the perfect spot for novice divers and snorkelers to experience a wreck in shallow water, providing extended bottom time and plenty to see from the surface.
This wreck sits almost directly in the harbor of Hurghada, making it easy to reach for day boats and liveaboards alike, and offers great diving and an interesting bit of history.
Far from being aggressive, the manatees of Crystal River are so accustomed to humans that they’re more affectionate than I ever could have guessed.
The clear, turquoise waters that surround and flow between this group of about 700 atolls and cays, making up the Bahamian islands, are indeed a diver’s paradise.
Here we tend to find a more rugged expanse of rocky outcrops, hard corals and tunnel-like swim- throughs.
From tiger sharks to humpback whales, from turtles to pods of spinner dolphins, Kona is home to an impressive array of big marine species, but its most famous resident is the manta ray.
For many divers, the splendor of schooling hammerheads like the ones at Cocos Island is the holy grail of underwater spectacles.