The Bahamas, Western Atlantic
With blue holes, caves, reef sharks and big fish, the Bahamas offers a good range of underwater experiences for all levels of divers. The clear waters around New Providence Island have been locations for many movies, including several James Bond films.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Stretching some 2,300km southwards from the northern tip of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 350 species of coral, and around 2,000 species of fish. More than a third of the area is a marine park where no fishing is allowed.
The Red Sea, Egypt
The warm waters of the Red Sea offer healthy numbers of fish and good coral reefs as well as wrecks and live-aboard dive safari boats. Many beginners head for the resorts of the Sinai peninsula to learn to dive.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Brave divers can try cage-diving with great white sharks at the Cape, but the east coast has some excellent reef diving. Healthy fish attract docile sand tiger sharks, dolphins and humpback whales. But novice divers may find conditions challenging. challenginchallenging.
Sulawesi, Indonesia
Marine biodiversity is at its highest here, and experienced divers head for Bunaken National Marine Park where hairy frogfish, pygmy seahorses and other rare marine life are a magnet for underwater naturalists.
Read about diving in the Cayman Islands in High dive.
