We’re all agreed that the opportunities on offer are the best things about going abroad, right? Whether you’re after the culture or the weather change, nothing quite beats heading overseas for clearing the cobwebs. They certainly don’t lie when they say that travel has the potential to broaden the mind and help you overcome a mentality on repeat.
Still, heading away in itself isn’t quite enough to change your outlook altogether. In reality, only those of us willing to embrace the experiences on offer are going to get the most out of time away. Hence why even the most level-headed of us sign up for excursions like bungee jumping during our explorations.
Even if catapulting through the sky at high speed doesn’t appeal, more grounded vacation activities like scuba diving have the potential to take travels to the next level. Unlike the more standard sea-based undertaking of surfing, scuba diving has the potential to literally open your eyes to a world you’ve never seen before. As well as being a stunning way to spend your trip, this past time really could change your life for the better.
That’s even more the case if you prep by investing in the best scuba gear and life insurance for scuba divers to bring you peace of mind before you set off. You can also enhance your scuba experience tenfold by diving into one of these top sealife destinations.
Australia
Even the novice scuba divers amongst you probably know that life-changing dives don’t get much better than those on offer in Australia. This country is, after all, home to the iconic Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef of all. Found just off the coast of Queensland, this scuba hotspot offers marine life you can only dream of and up to 20 dive sites for you to enjoy. You definitely won’t forget a trip here in a hurry!
Even better, the Great Barrier Reef isn’t the only diving spectacle Australia has to offer. Again off the Queensland coast, you can also discover the impressive SS Yongala Wreck. A trip a little way out to Christmas Island could also see you diving into some of Australia’s best, including the deepest point in the Indian Ocean.
Galapagos Islands
If it was good enough for Charles Darwin, the Galapagos Islands should be more than enough for your next scuba adventure. This Ecuadorian archipelago is home to some of the most spectacular wildlife and is still used to study conservation and new species today. As such, you can bet that the marine life on offer here alone makes this a top diving destination.
It is worth noting that, while destinations like Australia offer universal diving explorations for all abilities, you should build up to Galapagos if you’re new to the world of scuba. These dives aren’t for the faint of heart, rife as they are with big marine life, including 30+ species of shark. Mix this with choppy currents and water cold enough to justify at least a 5mm-7mm wetsuit, and it’s fair to say you need to know what you’re doing.
Still, if the idea of diving up close and personal with hammerhead sharks and more appeals to you, then top destinations like Darwin Island in the Galapagos are absolute must-sees. Here, you can dive with schooling hammerheads, whale sharks, and more. Even if you’re looking for a slightly chiller diving experience, a trip to quieter Cruz Island could see you diving alongside seahorses, batfish, and the like.
Thailand
Thailand has quickly become one of the world’s top tourist destinations, and its stunning beaches play a huge part in that popularity. Unsurprisingly, then, this is yet another diving hotspot. While reefs here might not quite live up to what Australia has to offer, divers can still enjoy fantastic off-beach reef sites, including Hin Daeng, Koh Dok Mai, and the Similan Islands, to name just a few.
Again, this is a destination with dives for all abilities, and promises chances to see leopard sharks, turtles, and even eels underwater. The reefs here are also worth attention in themselves, offering as they do some stunning diving sights indeed.
Perhaps the best part about diving in Thailand is the affordability you can expect to find here. Thanks to its bustling tourist trade, travel packages with scuba excursions included are easy enough to come across and are sure to take your Thailand trip far.
USA
Who said you had to go far to make the most of exotic diving opportunities? Sometimes, we just fancy a staycation closer to home to refresh us over the weekend, and there’s no reason you can’t dive into experiences here, too.
Okay, a US-based dive isn’t exactly going to throw you into the heart of the world’s largest reef like other options mentioned, but the sheer size and scope of our home country means it offers more than you might expect. In fact, spectacular diving sites like Monterey Bay, Channel Islands, and Florida Keys offer everything from reefs to seals and sharks. Our home waters also have plenty of impressive wrecks, and even an underwater disused mine in Bonne Terre, Missouri.
No matter what the time of year or your unique diving needs, you can bet there’s something to suit a whole lot closer to home than you’re expecting. Even better, you could dedicate the money you save on long-haul flights and luxury hotels to diving gear that can guarantee you get the most from these experiences.
A final word
As any keen diver will tell you, scuba diving is more than just another vacation activity. It’s a new way of life and an entirely fresh opportunity to see the world. What’s more, most top diving destinations have a lot of appeals besides. Thailand is famously a tourist hotspot right now, and Australia offers some of the most spectacular natural locations in the world. So, what are you waiting for? Dive into these destinations sooner rather than later, and they might just change your life.
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