Best Sites For Scuba Diving In The World

Oceans are one of the most integral parts of our planet and though being so close to them, we know so little about them. Scuba diving opens up a whole new world for us to explore the mysterious depths where you can see exotic flora and fauna species, coral reefs teeming with life, some stunning wrecks, and whatnot.

If you have the undying urge to explore the bottoms of the ocean then we got some of the most amazing scuba diving sites for you where you are not just in for an adventure but can also feel a sense of calmness while experiencing the beauty and vulnerability of our oceans.

Here is a list of the Best Scuba Diving Sites

S.S Yongala, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Well, The Great Barrier Reef needs no introduction, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the world's longest coral reef also comprises one of the most stunning scuba diving sites, S.S Yongala. It is a shipwreck of The Yongala, that sank during the cyclone in 1911. The wreck is 109 meters long and is considered the best wreck scuba diving site.

This site is full of everything from a mysterious wreck to amazing coral reefs, and marine life like eagle rays, tiger sharks, bull sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, sea snakes, Barracudas, giant trevallies, and many more different schools of fish and other sea animals. In 1981 The Yongala was given official protection under the Historic Shipwrecks Act.

• Best time to dive at S.S Yongala: During the winter months

Barracuda Point, Sipadan, Malaysia

Undoubtedly one of the best scuba diving sites, Barracuda point starts off descending deep along the stunning coral wall, and eventually, you see the school of numerous barracudas often seen in a tornado-like formation which is an unparalleled sight.

Apart from the barracudas that gave it its name, you can also see a dozen turtles, schools of whitetip sharks, batfish, jacks, bumphead parrotfish, buffalo fish, coconut crab, caves systems, some amazing corals, and a lot more.

• Best time to dive at Barracuda Point: April to December

The Great Blue Hole, Belize

A wide, deep sinkhole completely outline by the coral reef, The Great Blue Hole is one of the most popular scuba diving sites among divers across the world and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crystal clear water provides for the best visibility underwater and also the water starts shimmering as you enter the transition from salt to fresh water at about 15 m, isn't that just amazing?

You can catch a sight of some of the exotic marine life like hammerheads, bull sharks, reef sharks, mako sharks, tuna, thresher sharks, and a lot more along with vibrant colored corals.

• Best time to dive at The Great Blue Hole: April to June

Blue Corner, Palau, Micronesia

Putting Palau on the map, Blue Corner became one of the most popular scuba diving sites among experienced divers. You can see probably the most diverse marine life here like pelagics, napoleon wrasse, eagles rays, barracuda, 13 different species of sharks, jacks, shrimps, mantis shrimps, morays, and a lot more.

You can also see plenty of shipwrecks from WWII and catching the sight of nudibranchs will leave you awestruck.

• Best time to dive at Blue Corner: All year round

The Wall, Havelock, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

One of the most underrated scuba diving sites, The Wall is no less than an art gallery on display. Treating the divers of all levels equally we can just keep on listing down the interiors of marine life that you can spot here and it will never be enough.

You can school of territorial or camouflaging reef fish, octopus, cuttlefish, squids, big groupers, snappers, sweetlips, parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, moray eels, lionfish, enormous scorpionfish, and a lot more.

Catch the stunning sites of macro life like nudibranchs, snails, commensal shrimps, crabs, crinoids, polychaete worms along with a variety of coral, hydroid trees, oysters, feather stars, and small caves on display is an experience of a lifetime.

• Best time to dive at The Wall: December to March

Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii

An experience like no other, Manta Ray Night Dive is one of the best scuba diving sites for thrill-seekers. Underwater lights placed on the ocean floor attract a huge amount of planktons, which in turn attract the beautiful Manta Rays.

It is your chance to be up close to the huge yet stunning Manta Rays of Kailua Kona and have a show of a lifetime.

• Best time for Manta Ray Night Dive: All year round

Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea

A large shipwreck of The Thistlegorm (Blue Thistle) that sank in 1941 after being bombed by 2 German bombers. It carried a cargo of war supplies comprising rifles, motorbikes, train carriages, trucks, and whatnot.

All that cargo that sank with the ship is now one of the most popular scuba diving attractions along with the stunning corals settled on the ship, batfishes, a resident turtle, barracudas, snappers, jacks, crocodile fishes, trevally, and the usual reef fishes of the red sea.

• Best time to dive at Thistlegorm: All year round

Richelieu Rock, Thailand

A horseshoe-shaped site consisting of huge central pinnacles, Richelieu Rock is one of the most popular scuba diving sites for photography. You get a chance to swim with whale sharks and see manta rays, barracuda, batfishes, jacks, to name a few among the others.

But what makes this site popular is catching the sight of macro-organisms like ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, harlequin shrimp, frogfish, seahorses, and a lot more.

• Best time to dive at Richelieu Rock: February to April

Cape Kri, Raja Ampat, Indonesia

One of the most beautiful and diverse scuba diving sites, Cape Kri offers you an experience that will last a lifetime.

You can see the stunning corals like you have never seen before and record-setting 374 different species of fish like manta rays, barracuda, giant trevallies, sharks.

• Best time to dive at Cape Kri: October to April

Shark and Yolanda Reef, Egyptian Red Sea