This year is the year to travel more, so how about trying something now like scuba diving? If Where to Dive is your question, then we’ve got some hot tips for the best places to dive, in 2010 and beyond. These places to dive are inspiring destinations in themselves, but the scuba action is the proverbial icing on the cake.
Where to Dive: The Wrecks and Reefs of Northern Egypt
This is an all time classic diving holiday and one of our most popular itineraries encompassing lush corals, abundant fish life and magnificent wrecks in year round warm water with crystal viz. From the Thistlegorm to the Straits of Tiran there is something for every diver in the northern Red Sea and no matter how many times you visit, each liveaboard holiday will reveal a new delight, marine species or encounter. The liveaboards are top notch with all the creature comforts divers have come to expect. Whirlwind (winner of “Liveaboard of the Year 2008″) is just one of many stunning Red Sea liveaboards that offers this diving itinerary. Whether you are learning to dive or looking for a technical dive destination, there is a spot for you on the Wrecks and Reefs itinerary. One of our recent customers said “we had a great time on the Wrecks and Reefs trip… it was everything we expected and more – and the hammerhead shark the guides found was a real bonus! It has convinced me that liveaboard diving is the way forward.“
Where to Dive: Darwin’s Arch in the Galapagos
Darwin’s Arch and Woolf are diving folklore and rank as all time great sites. But there is only one way to get there – a liveaboard diving holiday. These state of the art diving boats are the best way to experience the diverse scuba diving conditions that are unique to this area. It is perhaps easier to list the things you won’t see than the things you will. Scuba divers are spoilt as you can see more marine life in one week than many divers will see in a lifetime. hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, whalesharks, manta, sea lions, igunas… the roll call of regular sightings is as impressively long as it as diverse – you can see why Darwin found his inspiration here. A recently returning customer from a trip aboard Sky Dancer said “I have to say a big thank you for what has to be the best liveaboard trip I have ever been on. The memories will stay with me forever. Thank you.”
Where to Dive: Hanifaru in the Maldives
The Maldives isn’t just a hot honeymoon spot. For many divers and snorkelers Manta Rays are one of the most beloved marine creatures. Graceful, swooping and simply stunning… yet they can be surprisingly elusive. Since 2006 Scuba Travel have been operating in the remote Northern Atolls. Vast numbers of manta congregate in this area and sightings at Baa Atoll in the Maldives are breathtaking. Hanifaru is an uninspiring lagoon but you can find literally dozens of manta and even whalesharks gorging themselves on krill and plankton that have become trapped there. One of our dive holiday experts freshly returned said “I stopped counting after spotting 40 Mantas on 1 dive! I have never seen anything like it!“. How do you get there? There is no better way to find manta in the Maldives than to take a diving holiday – grab your camera and get in the water!
Where to Dive: Malapascua in the Philippines
Thresher sharks are notoriously difficult to spot due to their timid nature. Yet Malapascua in the Philippines is famous for just such sightings. Threshers are quite unlike any other kind of shark with elegant long tails and exquisite facial features. There are a number of ways you can visit Malapascua so you can choose what suits you. Scuba Travel can arrange a resort based diving holiday on the island with day diving taking you to Monad Shoal. Or if you want to see more of the Philippines and surrounding areas, a nomadic dive safari combines diving in Malapascua with the lesser known dive sites south whilst giving you a sample of this rich culture. Few divers ever see a thresher so with this destination, you will be the envy of your buddies and Scuba Travel can make this travel dream come true.
Where to Dive: The Marine Parks in Egypt
The Brothers Islands, Daedalus and Elphinstone – these are the breathtaking Egyptian Marine parks that are included in Scuba Travel’s well named Simply the Best itinerary. Simply the Best has rapidly become a favourite with our regular customers as the aim of the week’s liveaboard holiday is to track down the big fish in the Southern Red Sea. Hammerhead sharks, oceanic white tips sharks, thresher sharks, grey reefs, barracuda, tuna, the list goes on and encounters come in thick and fast. As well as the awesome pelagics are thrilling drop offs and adrenalin pumped drift dives. The soft corals cling to the walls and giant sea fans dwarf over divers. A recent diver to this area said, “Thanks for such an amazing journey. The diving was, as expected, Simply the Best!” The Egyptian Marine Parks are remote, pristine and full of excitement. This is a scuba diver’s travel dream come true.
Not on the list but previously featured at STE are two other hot places to scuba dive: diving in Zanzibar and diving in Dumaguete.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice list, and good to see Egypt bag two spots! Personally, I think that south Egypt, around the Marsa Alam area, is the best place to dive in Egypt. Even the snorkelling is great – I’ve swum with both dugong and dolphins without having to strap on a tank (though I’ve heard the dugong has gone awol recently…)
Have to agree that the Thistlegorm is one of the best wrecks I’ve dived. Its best to dive it off a liveaboard as you can avoid the day boats which have to travel a long way from Sharm and Hurghada to get there.
I have lived and taught diving in several destinations across the world and to me nothing beats Egypt. For me it has to be the south, I have been on a couple of liveaboards leaving from Marsa Alam and think that the diving is fantastic. I did simply the best which should be re-named simply the best sharks! I had a week of sharks ranging from thresher, oceanic white tips, grey reef and hammerheads. AMAZING! and the boats were brill as well.
Despite the fact that I know, given the chance I’d dive with sharks for sure… I’m still pretty sure the first time a big one started swimming towards me my heart would stop and I’d loose a few years off my life hahaha.
Can’t wait.
I also had no idea there was awesome diving in Egypt, so cool! thanks!!
The Galapagos Islands are a world premier destination for diving. The marine life is abundant and most of it is endemic to this Archipelago.
Wow – gorgeous photos. Egypt gets my vote for one of the greatest travel destinations in the world – there are very few places where you can get world class adventure and culture in one location.
Man, I REALLY want to go to Egypt now after all these comments. Sweet!