French PolynesiaChannels act as underwater slides between the open ocean and the atolls of the Tuamotu Islands, allowing divers to glide along with triggerfish and wrasses. Pro tip: Practice with currents beforehand.
If writing National Geographic’s new book 100 Dives of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Underwater Destinations taught me anything, it's that the diversity of environments in the water rivals that on land. Although ocean covers more than 70 percent of the planet’s surface, we’ve explored a mere five percent of it.
So for those looking to channel their inner adventurer, our aquatic realms offer abundant opportunity. Yet only some three percent of the ocean is protected, which is why National Geographic works with researchers such as Explorer-in-Residence Enric Sala, who launched the Pristine Seas initiative with the goal of saving the ocean’s last wild places. Here are 20 dive sites spanning the globe that provide insight into the undersea world we’re striving to protect.
United StatesSwooping through the inky black waters, manta rays with 20-foot wingspans feed on plankton while divers look on from the sea floor near Kona, Hawaii. Pro tip: Let the mantas dictate the interaction.
Photograph by Nature Picture Library, Alamy Stock Photo
IndonesiaWith some 500 species of coral, including gorgonians and sea pens, Raja Ampat is diving fit for a king—or four kings (Raja Ampat translated). Pro tip: For easy access to the reefs, stay on a liveaboard boat.
Photograph by Ethan Daniels, Getty Images
Marshall IslandsWithin the lagoon of remote Bikini Atoll lies a graveyard of battleships and destroyers—the legacy of U.S. nuclear tests in the mid-20th century. Pro tip: Hone wreck-diving skills at easier sites first.
Photograph by Design Pics Inc, Alamy Stock Photo
Puerto RicoHurricane Maria pummeled Puerto Rico, but it also gave the sea a breather from tourist traffic, making this a good time to go. Pro tip: The vast majority of hotels and businesses have reopened.
Photograph by Stephen Frink Collection, Alamy Stock Photo
MexicoOnce revered by Maya, cenotes in the Yucatán in Mexico are now treasured by divers. Strange rock formations and potential archaeological finds lend an Indiana Jones vibe. Pro tip: Vet the dive operators well.
Photograph by Helmut Corneli, Alamy Stock Photo
AntarcticaDives below the frozen Antarctic surface reveal agile penguins and octopi with blood pigments to help them survive the numbing temps. Pro tip: You’ll need special freeze-protected regulators.
Photograph by Paul Nicklen, National Geographic Creative
CubaIn Los Jardines de la Reina marine reserve, accessible only by liveaboard, divers have the opportunity to see elkhorn coral, silky sharks, and saltwater crocodiles. Pro tip: Check the status of U.S. rules on travel to Cuba.
Photograph by David Doubilet, National Geographic Creative
Cayman IslandsLittle Cayman Island’s Bloody Bay Wall feels like an undersea spacewalk, as the blue abyss plummets to more than a thousand feet. Pro tip: Tour the research facilities of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute.
Photograph by Image Source, Getty Images
IcelandDive in and touch both the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park is literally a place where worlds collide. Pro tip: A dry suit is a must.
Photograph by Nature Picture Library, Alamy Stock Photo
MexicoTuna, sharks, schooling fish, manta rays, and even the occasional humpback whale swim in the pristine Revillagigedo Archipelago. Pro tip: November through May offer the calmest surface waters.
Photograph by Rodrigo Friscione, Getty Images
New ZealandIn the Fiordland of New Zealand, a layer of freshwater on top of saltwater chokes off light, causing creatures of the deep to rise to viewing level. Pro tip: The road out is a mountain pass, so add extra time to decompress.
Photograph by Richard Robinson, Minden Pictures
EcuadorWhere can you dive with marine iguanas, sea lions, whale sharks, and hammerheads in the same day? It’s got to be the Galápagos. Pro tip: To protect the fragile enviroment, diving is restricted; plan ahead.
Photograph by Tui De Roy, Minden Pictures
BonaireAt the Bonaire National Marine Park, get up-close looks at frogfish, banded coral shrimp, and Seuss-like nudibranchs. Pro tip: Divers pay a onetime entrance fee and attend an orientation dive.
Photograph by Scott Leslie, Minden Pictures
CanadaKnown for wrecks, reefs, and rich marine life—kelp, anemones, nudibranchs—Barkley Sound in British Columbia is a cold water hot spot. Pro tip: The sheltered location allows for year-round diving.
Photograph by All Canada Photos, Alamy Stock Photo
BahamasShare the warm, crystalline waters of Tiger Beach with beautifully patterned tiger sharks that swim around a shark feeder who's clad in protective gear. Divers kneel in fixed positions on the white sand behind the feeder to watch the show. (If you’re an especially intrepid traveler, take an expedition-style trip to Port Lincoln, Australia, the only place where you can dive in an ocean-floor cage with great whites.) Top tip: Don’t get complacent with these extraordinary—but wild—creatures.
Photograph by Alastair Pollock Photography, Getty Images
MaldivesThe underwater pinnacles surrounding oval-shaped Ari Atoll attract whale sharks and manta rays, which feed in the plankton-rich channels. Pro tip: The best time to see these marvels is February to May.
Photograph by Aquascopic, Alamy Stock Photo
AustraliaJulian Rocks Marine Reserve lies off Australia’s most easterly point, near Byron Bay, and smack in the middle of the East Australian current. Sea creatures migrating along the coast—humpback whales, manta rays, sand tiger sharks—stop in for a visit joining the resident population of cuttlefish, wobbegong sharks, and turtles. Byron Bay is a top destination for newbies learning the ropes as well as experienced divers. Pro tip: Don’t miss a hike up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, one of the world’s best places to spot migrating whales.
Photograph by Searsie, Getty Images
United StatesWith the Coral Restoration Foundation in Key Largo, Florida, divers help “plant” corals and monitor new growth on the reef. Pro tip: Learn about upcoming volunteer dive programs offered by the Coral Restoration Foundation.
Photograph by Jörg Modrow, Laif/Redux
AustraliaThe T-shaped Navy Pier in Western Australia is home to 200-plus species, including octopuses, wobbegong sharks, nudibranchs, and massive Queensland groupers. Pro tip: Be prepared to show ID at this military site.
Photograph by juanmoro, Getty Images
South AfricaSouth Africa's Aliwal Shoal hosts species from nudibranchs to whale sharks, but it may be most famous for the annual sardine run, when millions gather to spawn. Pro tip: Ask local dive operators about the specific timing.
