For some, a nice relaxing warm-water dive just won’t cut it. Certain divers crave thrilling underwater action. If that sounds like you, then these 5 thrill seeking experiences might be right up your alley.
1. Tiger Beach, Bahamas
A white sandy bottom at 6 metres / 20 feet deep doesn’t sound exciting until the resident sharks come into view. Tiger Beach offers open water shark dives with tiger sharks, great hammerheads, Caribbean reef sharks, lemon sharks and spotted dolphins. Photographers will love the crystal clear waters and the toothy subject matter. Bring your big-boy/girl pants. Nuzzling a giant lemon shark isn’t for everyone.
2. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
This epic dive is only accessible by liveaboard. You’ll arrive to the dive site after a 32-hour cruise. You may recognize the Cocos Island once you see it; the movie Jurassic Park was filmed there. Rocky pinnacles formed from volcanic rocks are the perfect environment for pelagics. Thrill-seeking divers will see schooling hammerheads, white-tip sharks, mantas and whale sharks. Sometimes pilot whales and humpback whales make an appearance. Get your Advanced Diver Certification before this trip; some of the dives are deep.
3. Fish Rock Cave, Australia
This 125 metre / 410 feet cave dive is one of the best in the country, providing an exciting dive for even the most experienced of divers. Located on the east coast of Australia, this dive site is most famous for the grey nurse shark population that call it home. The sharks are present in large numbers all year round and offer a thrilling dive experience. The current in this dive site can be quite strong at times so you or your dive guide will need to take appropriate preparations for this.
4. Gansbaai, South Africa
The home of great white shark cage diving, Gansbaai should be on every adrenaline junkie’s bucket list. After all, what can get your blood pumping more than coming face to face with an Apex predator? You’ll need a full wetsuit and hood as some operators don’t necessarily require scuba equipment. Seeing a great white is truly an experience that will be burned in your memory for a lifetime.
5. Vancouver Island, British Columbia
The Nakwakto Rapids are known for having the fastest navigable tidal current in the world. Only advanced divers with stiff fins and strong legs will want to jump in here. Get your drysuit diver certification before you go and you’ll be rewarded with a dive that showcases incredible marine biodiversity. An anemone covered ocean floor, wolf eels, Giant Pacific Octopus and the rarely seen intensely colored gooseneck barnacles make this dive exceptional. You’ll want to plan your trip here with an experienced professional. The entry window for divers happens between tidal exchanges must be timed perfectly.
Where does your need for an adrenaline rush take you? Find a PADI dive shop and start planning, then let us know about your last extreme dive in the comments below.
