Every dive site is different and reasons for visiting are too. As divers, we’re lucky enough to have some incredibly picturesque scuba diving locations available that offer beauty both above and below the surface.
Here are six locations well worth visiting for the best of both worlds.
Philippines
When it comes to diving, the Philippines has it all. The incredibly beautiful and diverse marine life and flora make it the perfect destination for anyone looking to see some mind-blowing scenery. You’ll enjoy the warm water (and weather), interesting wrecks and great topside attractions like the Mayon and Taal Volcanoes and Banaue Rice Terraces. For incredible beauty above and below the surface, diving in Palawan is a must.
Hawai’i
The scenery, culture and locals in Hawai’i have attracted divers, travellers and surfers from around the world for years. Great diving can be found on all of the Hawaiian Islands, each unique in their own way. There’s a range of marine life that includes frogfish, reef octopus, dragon morays, sea turtles, big tiger sharks, pilot whales, mantas, oceanic white-tip shark and pods of spinner dolphins. For incredible topside scenery, check out Waipio Valley Overlook in Oahu or the Waimea Canyon.
Norway
Magical Northern Lights, beautiful Fjords and incredible ice diving. Need we say more? For a diver, Norway offers some uniquely exotic diving. Narvik and Gulen (see video) offer some of the best wreck diving in the world and the currents throughout the islands and fjords make for rich kelp forest and coral reefs.
The Whitsundays
The Whitsunday Islands are located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. When you’re not under water viewing vibrant corals and stunning marine life, you can enjoy long stretches of white sandy beaches and gaze out at the crystal blue water (Whitehaven Beach has been consistently rated as one of the top beaches in the world). Popular dive sites include Bait Reef and Garys Lagoon Dive Site, Hook Reef and Blue Pearl Bay.
Maldives
The Maldives consists of more than a thousand islands, but fewer than three hundred of these islands are actually inhabited. Besides being a vast, intriguing place to explore, the Maldives is also a beautiful one. It’s home to pinnacles, colourful sponges, diverse marine life and many caves. Sites you might consider include Fotteyo Kandu, Okobe Thila and Broken Rock.
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands offer some great places to go sightseeing, both above and under water. On the topside, you can enjoy diverse landscapes such as spectacular cliffs, vast scenic woods and long sandy beaches. When scuba diving, you’ll see just as many dramatic and amazing landscapes, as well as colorful flora and many marine fish. Dive sites to check out include Fuerteventura, Bahia Amarilla and El Aquario.
You can find out more about these beautiful scuba diving locations via the ScubaEarth Featured Destinations, or locate and contact a PADI Dive Shop in the above areas.