SCUBA Diving Destinations
The allure of scuba diving is amplified by the vast array of diving sites available globally. From the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, which offers vibrant coral formations and an abundance of sea life, to the clear turquoise waters of the Maldives, where divers can encounter majestic manta rays, each location boasts its own unique underwater wonders. Many locations are recognized for their biodiversity, historical wrecks, or stunning rock formations, making them popular choices among divers.
When I book travel, many times I will allocate a day or two, maybe three to diving. The videos below highlight some of the sites I have visited in different destinations. These videos are not exhaustive as I primarily focus on photography and not video during diving.
Isla de la Plata, Ecuador – Manta Rays Galore
Ilsa de la Plata is sometimes referred to as the Poor Man’s Galapagos. You can experience many of the same creatures at the Galapagos without the expense.
Plane Wrecks and Reefs in Aruba
The plane wrecks are a popular dive in Aruba. These wrecks are man made; however, they are an incredible underwater experience, right off the coast of the international airport.
Shore Diving in Curacao
Curacao offers beautiful shore dives that allow you to easily explore reefs and wrecks.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Diving
Enjoy a taste of what diving in Cabo can offer. I also did a deep water dive with visiting the area. We had the opportunity to see large schools of hammerheads and a few manta rays.
La Paz, Mexico – Diving with Sea Lions
This is a must do dive when visiting La Paz, Mexico and the Sea of Cortez. These sea lions are juveniles and they are as playful as canine puppies.
Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel offers beautiful diving. The best part, most are drift dives! So, sit back and relax and enjoy the current as it takes you past gorgeous reefs and a variety of sea life.
Dos Ojos Cenote, Mexico
The Dos Ojos is located in Tulum, Mexico. It is a flooded cave system. Diving is only allowed by hiring a cave certified guide. Group size is limited to 4-5 divers per guide for safety reasons. You do not have to be cave certified to participate in this dive. Divers must remain in a single file line and follow the yellow safety line that you see in the footage. All signaling and communication is completed with the use of a flashlight. The water temperature was approximately 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Exumas, Bahamas
The Bahamas offers gorgeous diving and is one that seems to be highly underrated. One of the best ways to experience the diverse diving opportunities of the Bahamas is by joining a live aboard. This is This footage was taken during a one week live aboard SCUBA diving trip with Blackbeard Cruises in the Exumas, Bahamas in 2015.
The video won first place in the FSDA Video Competition – Open Contest 2015.
Circle of Heroes Memorial
This is an underwater memorial dedicated to five branches of the military. There are 13 statues in a circle around a pentagon memorial with plaques for each branch. This site is located ten miles off shore from Honeymoon Island.
Shark Diving in Jupiter, Florida
The east coast of Florida offers a great opportunity to dive with sharks without the need for wearing protective gear. You may see lemons, silkies, hammerheads, tigers, and more!
Key Largo Diving
Key Largo offers a variety of reefs for all levels of diving as well as amazing wreck dives like the USCGC Duane. This video highlights some of the reef diving opportunities.
Learn How to Turn a Cruise Vacation into a Dive Vacation
In this video, I provide tips on how to turn a cruise vacation into a dive trip and for less than the cruise ship’s excursion prices.
La Paz, Mexico – Snorkeling with Whale Sharks
Although this is not a diving opportunity, I highly recommend booking a snorkeling excursion to snorkel with wild whale sharks in La Paz, Mexico. This is an unforgettable experience.
Iceland – Snorkeling the Silfra Fissure
The Silfra Fissure became a popular diving destination after a picture of a diver went viral touching two tectonic plates at the same time. I don’t think it is necessary to dive this site, especially if you are not already dry suit certified. Therefore, I highly recommend booking a tour that includes a snorkeling excursion of the Silfra Fissure. This is the only place in the world where you can snorkel between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Even snorkeling, you are required to wear a full dry suit. The temperature is roughly 34 degrees Fahrenheit.