| | | World
Most Beautiful Beaches |
| Best Places for Scuba Diving in
North America
Dive by day, dance by night,
and enjoy the always-enticing tropical umbrella drinks. This is the perfect vacation
for a scuba fan. A number of places bordering the Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico and Pacific provide a one-stop vacation for diving enthusiasts. We located
some of the best places to plan a scuba vacation without sacrificing the luxury
of a resort getaway.
10. Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Adjoining the waters of Baja, California, Cabo San Lucas serves as a watery ecological
crossroads in which big fish and mammals of the Pacific mingle with creatures
of the shallow Cabo waters. Divers exploring the area around Anegada Rock are
treated to views of balloonfish, grouper and morays, while at nearby Lover's Cove
beginners may take their first journeys underwater with ease. Expert divers can
travel by boat to Gorda Banks to see scalloped hammerheads and explore black coral.
The best time to visit is late summer to early fall when underwater visibility
reaches its peak at around 100 feet. A well-timed trip to the area December through
April can net visitors the chance to observe whales as they travel their traditional
migratory route.
British Virgin Islands
People needing to
escape life's frantic pace and devout history buffs alike will find the British
Virgin Islands to be a dream come true. One highlight of diving these waters is
the number of explorable shipwrecks, such as the famous R.M.S. Rhone (featured
in the film The Deep) and the lesser-known Chikuzen. On any given day, sharks,
jacks and shoals of barracudas can be seen swimming the waters around the Chikuzen.
Visitors to the islands won't see the usual hotel chains, and massive cruise ships
are a rarity. Instead, quaint romantic inns dot the beach and sailboats hang just
off the shore. Revelers in search of nightlife should pass the British Virgin
Islands and head for the Bahamas. But those who treasure quiet evenings and a
good meal in the warm, open air, will savor what these islands have to offer.
With consistent weather year-round, anytime is a good time to visit the B.V.I.
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
Bonaire hits the mark when advertising
itself as a "diver's paradise." A full 75 percent of visitors to the
island come solely in pursuit of underwater exploration. Unlike resorts on other
islands where boats transport divers to prime dive sites, divers in Bonaire literally
walk out of their hotel room, strap on a tank and ease right into the sea to enjoy
the beauty of hard and soft corals populated by tropical fish and small colorful
invertebrates. Bonaire enjoys an unspoiled coral system due in part to stringent
efforts to prevent the island from being marred by outside forces. One component
of that protection was put into action when the island's surrounding waters were
turned into a marine park. Divers to the island pay an annual entrance fee of
$10 that gains them admittance to the watery park. Bonaire is also a resort island
with no real "off" season. Temperatures hover in the 80s year-round,
making every day a potential dive day on bonnie Bonaire.
U.S. Virgin
Islands
Many experienced divers snub the U.S. Virgin Islands for more
exotic locations due to its reputation as a good beginner dive destination. Though
many dive sights have a maximum depth of only about 80 feet, more experienced
divers can enjoy plentiful wall diving here as well. The level of visibility is
medium, ranging from 60 to 100 feet, but divers will find an abundance of exciting
underwater life. Colorful parrotfish, sea turtles and green moray eels are common;
southern stingrays also put in frequent appearances. Nature lovers will enjoy
the fantastic hiking in the National Park on St. John. In addition to lots of
good dive spots from which to choose, visitors certainly won't lack quality sand
time on any of the islands' 50 beautiful beaches.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Many experienced divers snub the U.S. Virgin Islands for more exotic locations
due to its reputation as a good beginner dive destination. Though many dive sights
have a maximum depth of only about 80 feet, more experienced divers can enjoy
plentiful wall diving here as well. The level of visibility is medium, ranging
from 60 to 100 feet, but divers will find an abundance of exciting underwater
life. Colorful parrotfish, sea turtles and green moray eels are common; southern
stingrays also put in frequent appearances. Nature lovers will enjoy the fantastic
hiking in the National Park on St. John. In addition to lots of good dive spots
from which to choose, visitors certainly won't lack quality sand time on any of
the islands' 50 beautiful beaches.
Turks & Caicos
Less
popular than the Bahamas and Cayman Islands, the islands of Turks and Caicos maintain
a low profile. The light volume of traffic helps these islands stay pristine.
Of the 49 islands, only nine are inhabited. With clear waters almost year-round,
diving is exceptional at any time on Turks and Caicos. The exception is March
and April, the spawning season for sponges. Dive masters go out of their way to
maintain the pure environment, so feeding of underwater life is discouraged in
order to preserve the natural behavior of marine life. One rebellious inhabitant
of these waters is Jo-Jo, a bottlenose dolphin who visits with divers so frequently
that there is a written protocol on how to interact with him. Other sightings
include hammerhead sharks and rays in west Caicos and, between January and March,
migrating humpback whales.
Maui, Hawaii
Hawaii is a diving
destination that needs no introduction. Most people include these lush islands
on their travel wish list, hoping to one day see the volcanoes and experience
the rich traditions of Hawaii. Aside from the draws on land, islands like Maui
offer a unique experience for divers. Many dive buffs rank Maui as one of the
top 10 dive sites in the world, partly because many species are unique to the
area. Of Maui's 450 species of reef fish, 25 percent are endemic to the island.
Divers enjoy views of sea turtles, octopuses, anglerfish, conger eels and colorful
pink and green parrotfish. In addition to the living wonders, an entire world
of intricate lava tubes and caverns lie beneath the waters of Maui. The area is
also home to rare black coral at lower depths. One of the most popular dives is
the Molokini crater, home to rockfish, scorpion fish and Hawaiian damselfish.
On the backside of this crater, larger creatures such as whales, sharks and whale
sharks dominate. The temperature on Maui is a consistent 70 to 80 degrees year-round,
and visibility holds steady at about 100 feet.
The Bahamas
With 700 islands and 2,500 small cays, there's no lack of diving diversity in
the Bahamas. Well-known destinations include Nassau Paradise Island, New Providence
and the Grand Bahamas. Divers looking for the less-crowded, off-the-beaten-track
locales may find that the Out Islands fit the bill. Andros has more than 400 blue
holes, home to sea turtles, rays and sharks. Advanced divers can take on the challenge
of the 120-mile barrier reef and may try wall diving off the reef's outer edge
into the abyssal Tongue. Prime diving season in the Bahamas stretches December
through May, with water temperatures averaging about 74 degrees. The summer months
bring warmer temperatures, around 80 degrees, along with the chance of tropical
storms.
The Bahamas
With 700 islands and 2,500 small cays,
there's no lack of diving diversity in the Bahamas. Well-known destinations include
Nassau Paradise Island, New Providence and the Grand Bahamas. Divers looking for
the less-crowded, off-the-beaten-track locales may find that the Out Islands fit
the bill. Andros has more than 400 blue holes, home to sea turtles, rays and sharks.
Advanced divers can take on the challenge of the 120-mile barrier reef and may
try wall diving off the reef's outer edge into the abyssal Tongue. Prime diving
season in the Bahamas stretches December through May, with water temperatures
averaging about 74 degrees. The summer months bring warmer temperatures, around
80 degrees, along with the chance of tropical storms.
Grand Cayman
In 1957, an ex-military man set up the Caribbean's first dive shop on his native
island of Grand Cayman. Today, with over 50 dive operators in business, the booming
economy of the Cayman Islands focuses on those who come to dive the clearest waters
in the Caribbean. Colorful creatures swim against a backdrop of ancient tunnels
and archways. Most divers stay close to the West Wall. With depths of only 70
feet, Bonnie's Arch is great for new divers. Divers enter through a thick coral
archway to a world filled with colorful angelfish, triggerfish and filefish. The
Sand Chute on the West Wall is home to stoplight parrotfish, yellowtail snapper,
and sharp nose puffer fish. Don't miss the popular shipwreck dives, the Oro Verde
and the Doc Poulson, or the hottest ticket in town — a trip to Stingray City.
On the North Sound flats, divers encounter as many as 50 rays at a time, tamed
over the years by local fisherman stopping in the shallow water to clean the day's
catch. Advanced divers can also try excursions in the East End, outside the barrier
reef, with drops that range from 45 to 90 feet. Although the seas are most calm
in the summer, temperatures are always friendly in the Caymans.
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