The new year is well underway and now that the rush of the holidays are behind us, you may be starting to feel the bite of the travel bug. No doubt that if your yard is still covered in snow are you fantasizing about where your next dive destination could be. Torn on all of the beautiful places you could travel to in the world? Let us help you narrow it down with our top 10 list for scuba travel this year.
Our top 10 dive destinations to visit this year:
10. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
No top dive destination is complete without a trip to the Galapagos. It's on every diver's bucket list. What could beat schooling hammerheads, dolphins that come up close and personal, swimming iguanas, crystal clear water, challenging dive conditions, and rays galore? Plus, the topside adventures are just as enticing.
9. Cozumel, Mexico
Yes, Cozumel is a very popular dive destination so why do we list it in our top 10 out of all the places in the world you could go??? Because we LOVE it. It's close, there's hardly a time change (for some there's none), the locals are just the best, and the diving is spectacular. In fact, it was declared by Jaques Cousteau to be the most spectacular dive site in the world. Nothing beats colorful reefs teaming with fish, lots of turtles and nurse sharks, amazing wall dives, and never-ending swim-throughs. We love Cozumel so much we have 5 dive trips planned there this year alone! Sign up for one today here!
8. Silfra, Iceland
If you don't mind some cold water diving this place is breathtaking! The Silfra Fissure is probably the most famous tectonic plate in the world and you can dive right through it. Don't plan on seeing much wildlife on this dive but be ready to be amazed by this natural beauty!
7. Rangiroa, French Polynesia
If you're looking for a totally remote and quiet destination this is the place for you. Completely remove yourself from all life's stress and unplug in this remote oasis. Dive into aquarium-like conditions, surrounding yourself with colorful reefs just teaming with colorful fish! And don't be surprised by a visit from a lemon or reef shark and spotted eagle or manta rays.
6. Soccorro Islands, Mexico
If you're looking to have big animal encounters this is the place for you. Large sharks, rays, whale sharks, even whales all make the list here. With a liveaboard as the only way to dive this destination over-crowding is never an issue. If you're looking for pure adventure this is the place for you! Join us this May to dive Soccorro Island!
5. Catalina Island, California
The water may be a little on the chilly side but nothing beats a clear day of diving through the Califonia kelp forests. Watching the sun stream through the kelp is a sight like no other and if you're lucky you may spot a sea lion or two. Don't forget to look out for the famous bright orange garibaldi fish and huge sea bass.
4. Fiji
With endless soft corals and colorful fish galore, Fiji is not to be missed this year! Diving Fiji on a liveaboard is the way to go. Explore pristine reefs in remote locations and enjoy the vibrant culture and hospitality of the Fijians. Join us this year on our trip to Fiji aboard the Nai'a Liveaboard and dive to your heart's content.
3. Queensland, Australia
Diving the Great Barrier Reef should be on every diver's bucket list but with the steady decline of the health of this reef we've listed it as a top dive destination in 2018 because you should get there and enjoy the reef sooner rather than later.
2. Manta Ray Night Diving, Kona, Hawaii
Nothing beats the thrill of diving at night, waiting at the bottom of the ocean when all of a sudden a giant Manta Ray comes swooping right over your head....and then they just keep coming. These dives, specific to Kona, guarantee close encounters with these giants of the deep. One of the most thrilling dives you will ever have.
1. Indonesia
Our top dive destination for 2018 is Indonesia. We love it so much we've scheduled not one but two dive trips to Indonesia this year! Explore the underwater wonderworld that is Wakatobi. Whether you like towering pinnacles, steep walls, coral gardens, drift dives, caverns, or caves, the islands in the Wakatobi region have them all. The diving in Indonesia is so vast and diverse that we also feel the need to visit North Sulawesi where you will find peace and tranquility as it is a more remote region. Because of this, the Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi is widely recognized by marine biologists as having the worlds highest concentration of rare and unusual marine life. The list of rare critters found here is too numerous to list so don't miss out on this dive trip of a lifetime!
Learn more about all of our outstanding group dive trips here. No matter what destination you choose, we hope you just get out and dive more this year!
