Scuba diving is, quite simply, enchanting. Offering a unique opportunity to enter a magical world beneath the seas, it provides an unparalleled insight into what lies beneath the crashing waves and soaring skies of our favorite tropical destinations.
But for the erstwhile adventurer, some dive sites tower above the rest. Places of breathtaking beauty, exquisite scenery, and fascinating secrets locked away beneath the waves for eternity, they have to be seen to be believed, and once glimpsed, they can never be forgotten.
If you’re looking to make memories that will last a lifetime, here are three places that you simply have to visit…
Photo Credit: huffingtonpost
#1: Jardines de la Reina Archipelago, Cuba
Sited between the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans, Cuba is the jewel in a tropical crown. Its long-standing hostility towards America means that tourism has been scant, and only now is it really opening its doors wide to all of those looking for excitement and adventure. The dearth of travelers to its shores means that its natural beauty has remained largely untouched, and its most dazzling gems lie deep below its glittering waters. The enchanting Jardines de la Reina archipelago nestles deep in its seas, 75 miles of virgin coral islands set against a backdrop of turquoise and jade. Filled with a marine menagerie including large groupers, silky sharks, and Caribbean reef sharks, this pristine natural wilderness has to be seen to be believed.
Photo Credit: mike ball
#2: The Yongala, Australia
For those with a taste for something a little different, the shipwreck of the Yongala deserves a place at the top of your list. Located off the coast of Queensland, this ocean-going leviathan sank in 1911, leaving a man-made landscape for Australia’s marine life to enjoy. Despite being sunk by a cyclone over one hundred years ago, the final resting place of the 122 passengers and crew, and famed racehorse Moonshine, teems with an unending circle of activity, providing a safe haven for manta rays, sea snakes, octopuses, turtles, bull sharks, tiger sharks, and a breathtaking variety of coral. Now officially protected by the Historic Shipwrecks Act, it is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful and fascinating dive sites in the world.
Photo Credit: picshype.com
#3: Manta Ray Night Dive, Hawaii
Our third and final recommendation is Hawaii’s famed Manta Ray Night Dive. Located in Kona, this scuba hotspot provides a real challenge thanks to its wild currents, but also offers an unparalleled opportunity to get up close and personal with the locale’s huge manta rays. With underwater lights placed across the ocean floor to illuminate the ethereal flight of these ocean-dwelling behemoths, the experience is utterly unforgettable.
Where will you choose to visit? Do you scuba? Have you been to any of these sites? Share your experiences with us!
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