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 | Reef Dives |
| By Michelle Fama |
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Jewel of the Caribbean |
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 | The Cayman Islands, Caribbean |
Sparkling like rubys and sapphires in any diver's tiara are the Cayman Islands of the Caribbean. They are the most popular dive destination in the Caribbean, and despite it feeling like the Disney Land of diving, there are few better dive locales in the Northern Hemisphere.
Leave the wet suit at home for the warm waters and world-class wall diving. Around the Grand Cayman island the visibility is the best in the central Caribbean, and the opportunity to dive with stingrays in Stingray City is an experience of a lifetime! If crowds deflate your interest, head to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. These are less crowded than Grand Cayman, although you would miss out on Grand Cayman's famed North Wall. It starts fairly deep, at 70 feet, so you must monitor your dive time carefully. With all there is to see, though, it is difficult to focus on logistics. You will most certainly lose yourself in this underwater paradise.
Pristine Diving Today and Tomorrow |
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| Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles |
Over the last two decades, Bonaire, considered the Dutch Caribbean,
has consistently ranked as the finest
snorkeling and scuba diving
destination in the Caribbean. A major
reason for this prominence is the
island's diligent stewardship of its
marine resources — all of the waters
off Bonaire's coast have been legally protected since 1979. As a result, diving here is like experiencing the Caribbean waters as it always was. And chances are the waters will remain that way.
Why does Bonaire count as one of the top ten best dives in the world? Try the fact that there are over 100 feet of visibility. There are 86 designated dive sites, 58 of which can be reached from shore, and because the weather conditions are crystal clear most of the time, night diving and snorkeling are spectacular.
It's a great spot for certification and beginner divers.
Largest Underwater Landscape |
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| Belize, Central America |
Belize is a black hole of great dives — you can get lost in all the options here. And one of the sites that Belize claims as its own is a 412-foot trough in the Belize Reef called the Blue Hole.The lay of the local underwater landscape
and the ocean currents make Belize proud owner of the largest coral reef in the
Caribbean. For years Belize was shrouded in anonymity. It was always there but few noticed it. There has been a recent surge however once word got out about the"unspoiled" barrier reef that thrives in Belize.
Not only is the diving top-notch but on shore activities are always second to none. Maya ruins and pristine rain forests are worthy of taking in once your skin becomes too wrinkled from underwater exploration.
Just the Facts
Want to experience Belize for yourself?
GORP can get you there!
Check out GORP's diving trips to Belize.
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Unlock an Underwater Paradise |
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| Florida Keys, U.S.A. |
Besides being the source of inspiration for songwriter Jimmy Buffet, and displaying portraits of sunsets that surpass any Picasso, the Florida Keys hosts the longest living reef in the western hemisphere, making diving and snorkeling here unforgettable. It is an ideal and easily accessible place for beginners or those who want to get their certification.There are more than 500 wrecks to explore, including Civil War wrecks and Spanish galleons, the world's first underwater hotel, more dive shops per square mile than anywhere else in the world, and crystal-clear waters that allow you to see almost across the entire Atlantic.
And the mood? Funky and fun. Activity outside of the water offers quite a unique mix of experiences as well. So bring along the cut-offs and the flip flops and your best rendition of Margaritaville and dive into all the Keys have to offer.
Just the Facts
Want to experience Florida for yourself?
GORP can get you there!
Check out GORP's trips to Florida.
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Diving of Biblical Proportions |
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| The Red Sea, Egypt |
The coast along the red sea is truly spectacular — desert, rift valleys with mountains, and geological faults. The underwater topography mirrors this as well, with deep trenches and isolated sea mounts with drop-offs and walls over 300
meters in places.
There are two differentiating factors that put this diving destination on the map as one of the best. First, near-zero rainfall means little fresh water runs off from the surrounding deserts
and consequently there is unbelievable visibility all year round.
Second, most coral species present are
photosynthetic and therefore more colorful than those in other tropical areas. Temps are often colder than other spots, but with a dry suit you will experience some of the best underwater sites on the planet.
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