Ask any diver, and each one will share a favourite dive site, an unforgettable encounter, perhaps even an experience of a lifetime. They’ll conjure memories of how they felt the specific moment they laid their eyes on breathtaking marine life, explored historic shipwrecks or the buzz they seek at every dive. Whatever floats your boat, here are some of our top thrilling dive picks in the world.
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Bajo Alcyone – Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Liveaboard dive boats come here for one reason, and one reason only; the Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks. Many divers travel to this isolated spot off the Costa Rican Pacific coast to swim with the sheer number of Hammerheads that are often found in groups of over 100, something you wouldn’t be able to find in any other part of the world. To do this, you would have to liveaboard dive cruises for at least 10 days, sailing for nearly 2 days to get to the dive site. But all of that is worth it when you find yourself circled by Hammerheads, Manta and Mobula Rays, in the best visibility and calm seas. Other sharks that you might encounter include Whitetips, Blacktips, Silvertops and Silkys. This world class site will give you one of the best shark diving experiences in the world.
SS Thistlegorm – Ras Mohammed, Egypt
Known as one of the most legendary wrecks in Egypt’s Red Sea, this is a must dive spot if you are fascinated by WWII era ship wreck, a 420-foot British transport ship that met her fate in 1941 following a German air attack. A truly once in a lifetime experience, this dive is also for history buffs who get treated to lessons on war, as you dive surrounded by a seabed of locomotives, tanks, army trucks, military boots, rifles and spare mechanical parts. Eerily, you’ll feel transported back in time as you visit the stern, where the ship’s towering machine guns and anti-aircraft guns still point skyward in preparation for an attack. Here, there’s so much to see, explore and photograph.
Sardine Run – Agulhas Bank, South Africa
The infamous sardine run along the coast of South Africa is one of the largest marine-life migrations on earth, as masses of sardines travel north, forming large shoals. And when there’s so much food, there’s a huge diversity of marine predators. This results in a feeding frenzy for predators, with the shoals spanning over 4 miles long, with a width of around .3 miles and a depth of 98 feet! This makes an interesting sight, because the predators move the fish into concentrated balls, before attacking. Dolphins, sharks and Cape gannets join in the feast. Even more mind boggling is that the humpback whales travelling from Antartica to accompany the sardines on their run, as they make their way to their summer breeding grounds in warmer waters in Mozambique. One thing you should be aware of is that you might find yourself spending more than 8 hours out on the water to find a bait ball of sardines. Remember that it gets very chilly, the South African coastline attracts currents and you need strong buoyancy skills.
Cape Kri – Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Did you know that Cape Kri dive site is famous for holding the world’s record for the site with the highest number of species spotted in one single dive? Renowned marine biologist Gerald R.Allen recorded 374 species in this site, and since then, it has become a favourite with divers. Cape Kri features a reef with a sloping wall down to around 40 meters – you’ll find hard and soft corals surrounded by blacktip reed sharks and if you dive to the bottom, an ancient snagged anchor has become home to a large group of sweetlips. Other creatures that make the experience even more unforgettable, are dogtooth tuna, jacks, snappers, giant trevally, chevron barracuda, large Napolean wrasses, hawksbill turtles and Queensland groupers.
Cenote Angelita – Tulum, Mexico
A diving wonderland, this cenote dive must be included in your bucket list. Cenote Angelita resembles a pond in the jungle, with a 25 meter diameter, it is green everywhere. You have to be an advanced diver to get the full diving experience. The dense hydrogen sulfate cloud which separates the fresh water above from the salt water below creates a one-of-a-kind effect which is absolutely indescribable, something that you need to experience for yourself. You’ll find a strange sense of calmness in this mystical place. Some have even described it as being propelled into a science fiction movie set! It is however, important, that you track the time you spend underwater to avoid taking unnecessary risks. A dive watch that shows the hour and minute hand clearly, have a high water resistance rating and luminous features to make reading time in the dark easier, is essential. The Rolex Sea-Dweller and Deepsea are ultra resistant divers’ watches engineered to be waterproof to a depth of 1220 meters and 3900 meters respectively, and have proven to be the ultimate choice for most divers.
