With covid measures lifting in more countries around the world, divers all around are starting to travel again. Regardless of the distance, avid scuba divers are constantly looking for the next best diving spot to experience and explore post-pandemic.
With the pandemic, many dive sites around the world have become unoccupied due to the lack of tourists and locals around. Over time, these natural sites have flourished as a result. Damaged coral reefs have begun to grow back and more marine ecosystems are starting to return to their natural habitats. As such, these sites have become more attractive than before and organisations are taking up measures to conserve these sites and encourage sustainable diving.
As a result, dive tourism is back on the rise. And if you are looking for such spots to visit, fret not as in this article, we will explore some of the 5 best places to scuba dive in 2024.
1. Devil’s Den Cave, Williston, Florida, USA
From the pictures, Devil’s Den Cave is often mistaken as one of those dark and scary caves. But gathering reviews from scuba divers that have visited the cave, it is considered a truly magical place with turquoise waters brimming with unique marine life such as guppies, crappies and catfish.
The cave is a geological formation called a karst which describes a phenomenon where the earth has caved in over an underground water reservoir, creating a cavern-like structure. Over the years, the cave has been discovered to hold many fossils dating back centuries. Today, it's one of the more popular spots with divers visiting from all across the world.
The cavern measures 37 metres in diameter and on average, the maximum depth of the cave reaches 16 meters but may vary depending on rainfall. The cave is filled with spring water at a constant temperature of 22°C, thus giving it its crystal-like clarity.
Difficulty: Beginner / Expert
How to get there: The cave is located north of Ocala and south of Gainesville in Willston’s small town in rural Florida. You will need a GPS and travel through beaten tracks in order to reach the cave.
2. The Great Blue Hole, Belize
Considered one of the most famous dive sites in the world the Blue Hole started initially as a limestone cave which was eventually flooded and collapsed on itself due to the rising ocean levels. The Blue Hole is about 122 metres deep and 300 metres in diameter. It is so big that it can be even seen from space!
The coral reef surrounding The Blue Hole is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to some of the most colorful fishes, shrimps, groupers and other marine life. As scuba divers descend down the hole, they will encounter black tip, reef sharks as well as bull and hammerhead sharks. Divers may also realise a lack of fish as the conditions inside the hole do not support healthy coral reefs due to the lack of nutrients and sunlight around these waters.
Difficulty: Expert
How to get there: Scuba divers will need to find dive operators in Placencia or Ambergris Caye who offer day trips to the Blue Hole. These day trips are often only confirmed 24 hours before departure when the minimum number of 8-10 divers have signed up. The trip to the Blue Hole from Ambergris Caye in Belize will take about 4 hours and the trip from Placencia will take about 4 hours. Boat rides might get rough so do take precautionary measures if you are seasick prone.
3. Sharm el-Sheikh Red Sea, Egypt
Home to some of the superb wrecks, walls and reefs, Sharm el-Sheikh is located in the Red Sea in Egypt and is considered one of the best scuba diving areas there. There are a total of 30 different sites to dive at.
Scuba divers can explore stunning coral gardens and plateaus filled with coral pinnacles within the dive sites of Sharm el-Sheikh. Such dive sites include Ras Mohammed National Park, one of the more popular sites for scuba diving. Scuba divers here have the option of doing day dives to visit wrecks of popular ships such as Dunraven, Million Hope and the infamous SS Thistlegorm, as well as night dives.
Difficulty: Beginner / Expert
How to get there: Sharm el-Sheikh is a city not far off from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) and is located in the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea. Visitors staying at hotels can usually get a shuttle bus service, prepaid private service such as Mozio, or rent a taxi to get to the city to visit all the diving sites.
4. Coiba National Marine Park, Gulf of Chiriqui, West of Panama
Located on Coiba Island which is often described as the “New Galapagos”, Coiba National Marine Park is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 and offers some of the best diving in Panama. Scuba divers can take boat trips out from dive resorts in Coiba and spot dolphins, humpback whales, manta rays, sharks and more along the way.
Coiba National Park is home to some of the best diving spots such as Frijoles Ridge which is comprised of underwater mountains filled with hard and soft corals, sponges where seahorses and frogfishes inhabit, as well as white-tip sharks and the cubera snapper.
Difficulty: Beginner / Expert
How to get there: Scuba divers will need to access the island by boat with the assistance of accredited tour operators. The island can be accessed by boat from several locations in Panama but the quickest trip is a boat ride from Santa Catalina in Veraguas which takes approximately an hour and fifteen minutes.
5. Honaunau Bay, Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Located in South Kona, next to Pu’Uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Honaunau Bay is one the more popular South Kona snorkelling sites. Also known as “Two Step” - because of the way the surf has worn the lava rock, the site is filled with several hundred yards of coral garden and is home to an abundance of triggerfish, turtles, manta rays and reef sharks. On rare occasions, scuba divers may encounter glimpses of Tinker’s Butterflyfish or spinner dolphins.
The south side of the bay is shallower with an abundance of coral, tropical fish and Hawaiian green sea turtles. The north side first starts out shallow and then descends to over 100 feet where divers are likely to encounter the dolphins.
Difficulty: Beginner / Expert
How to get there: The dive site is located about 32 kilometres south of Kailua-Kona on the City of Refuge Road (State Highway 160). Divers looking for the site may exit Highway 11 at Kona Coffeehouse & Cafe between the 104 and 103-mile markers. Following this, drive down the hill and turn left towards Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. Finally, head up the one-way street to find the entrance to the site.
Conclusion
And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Stay tuned as we touch on more diving spots around the world. And if you are just planning for your next diving trip, do check out our online scuba store to browse through our extensive range of scuba diving equipment to prepare for your next dive.