Jack Eskay
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My dad is planning a trip to see the best reefs before their gone. Who knows Where the best place to go scuba diving and has the best reefs are. Thanks!
Best scuba diving
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Depends upon how you define "best" - is he looking for coral or fish, diversity or quantity, ... When you are traveling will also matter since visibility and other diving condition changes (algae blooms, etc.) can turn the "best" reef into less than it could be in other times.
Here's a general list that I generally agree with: https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/fiji/articles/the-15-most-beautiful-coral-reefs-in-the-world/
One thing I tell my students about diving;
The best dive you will ever have is very likely the one you least expect to be so. No matter how much you plan nor where you travel, the greatest moments are those that can't be planned; not by the average person, at least. Nature is funny that way - underwater perhaps even more than above. One of my top dives, for example, only made the list because while we were on our safety stop drifting along in open water, a large school of hammerheads passed beneath us. Hundreds of hammerheads just cruising along on the same current we were (albeit ~150ft lower). Couldn't have planned that, yet there it was.
Good luck to your dad - diving a dream site can certainly be an experience worth chasing!
Here's a general list that I generally agree with: https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/fiji/articles/the-15-most-beautiful-coral-reefs-in-the-world/
One thing I tell my students about diving;
The best dive you will ever have is very likely the one you least expect to be so. No matter how much you plan nor where you travel, the greatest moments are those that can't be planned; not by the average person, at least. Nature is funny that way - underwater perhaps even more than above. One of my top dives, for example, only made the list because while we were on our safety stop drifting along in open water, a large school of hammerheads passed beneath us. Hundreds of hammerheads just cruising along on the same current we were (albeit ~150ft lower). Couldn't have planned that, yet there it was.
Good luck to your dad - diving a dream site can certainly be an experience worth chasing!
OP
OP
Jack Eskay
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Thank you so much this was extremely helpful. We're defiantly looking to see a mix of fish and coral but mainly coral.
Maddlesrain
Valuable Member
I think that really all comes down to matter of opinion and what you want to see!
I can't say I know the best because I haven't been diving in too many places, and I can't say that my perception of the best will be the same as yours, but these are my takes on a few places I've been.
Roatán Honduras: not only are the beaches immaculate, but the water was some of the most beautiful and CRYSTAL clear I have ever seen. Not to throw shade, but Hawaii has nothing on the water clarity I witnessed in Honduras. I did a wide variety of dives: many during the day, a night dive, and a shark dive with a group of 20 or so female black tip reef sharks. All were incredible!! There were huge purple and blue tube sponges that I could find massive lionfish hiding in, schools of reef squid, and beautiful fish everywhere!
Belize: we were in Ambergris Caye during our dives, some of which were in the Hol Chan marine reserve. There weren't so many colors, but the sheer number of sea fans was
incredible and I was constantly flocked by large nurse sharks that were not at all shy! They'd swim right up and rub against my body like big puppy dogs. There were also large sea grass "fields" where rays were often spotted and wrasses would be hiding.
New Zealand: I just got back from a three week trip in NZ. The dives around the Poor Knights Islands were like nothing I've ever seen before! The reef is mostly made up of different sponge life, macro algaes, and kelps, but I could have stared at the rock faces for hours! I also found my fair share of nudibranchs, so I was absolutely thrilled! There were also beautiful rays, large scorpion fish, and beautiful mosaic morays hiding in the crevices and along the sand.
I can't say I know the best because I haven't been diving in too many places, and I can't say that my perception of the best will be the same as yours, but these are my takes on a few places I've been.
Roatán Honduras: not only are the beaches immaculate, but the water was some of the most beautiful and CRYSTAL clear I have ever seen. Not to throw shade, but Hawaii has nothing on the water clarity I witnessed in Honduras. I did a wide variety of dives: many during the day, a night dive, and a shark dive with a group of 20 or so female black tip reef sharks. All were incredible!! There were huge purple and blue tube sponges that I could find massive lionfish hiding in, schools of reef squid, and beautiful fish everywhere!
Belize: we were in Ambergris Caye during our dives, some of which were in the Hol Chan marine reserve. There weren't so many colors, but the sheer number of sea fans was
incredible and I was constantly flocked by large nurse sharks that were not at all shy! They'd swim right up and rub against my body like big puppy dogs. There were also large sea grass "fields" where rays were often spotted and wrasses would be hiding.
New Zealand: I just got back from a three week trip in NZ. The dives around the Poor Knights Islands were like nothing I've ever seen before! The reef is mostly made up of different sponge life, macro algaes, and kelps, but I could have stared at the rock faces for hours! I also found my fair share of nudibranchs, so I was absolutely thrilled! There were also beautiful rays, large scorpion fish, and beautiful mosaic morays hiding in the crevices and along the sand.
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