Scuba diving
The best places for scuba diving are Cozumel, Bonaire, Key West, Aruba and Grand Cayman, with more diving at Mykonos, Kusadasi, Roatan, Nassau, St Thomas, Belize City, Santorini and Rhodes. Cozumel is known for drift diving along the reefs of Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, and Bonaire for shore diving from the beach.
Where it's best
Cozumel's Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park protects reefs with dive sites from about 30 feet to over 150 feet, and most diving is drift diving along the reef. Chankanaab offers a discovery dive with a 20-minute lesson and a guided 45-minute dive, and dive shops offer resort courses for people not yet certified.
Bonaire is known as one of the top shore-diving locations in the world, with dive sites along the western coast marked by a painted yellow rock or a mooring in the water. Much of it is easy and suits beginners and independent divers, and coral restoration dives are offered at several dive operators.
Key West offers scuba diving at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Scuba diving is also a popular activity in the Dry Tortugas islands.
Aruba's Antilla Wreck is a German freighter about 400 feet long, scuttled at the start of World War II and dived by day or night. At the Antilla Shipwreck divers can explore corridors, rooms and cargo holds, with shallow areas for beginners and deeper parts for experienced divers, and a resort course is available.
Grand Cayman has the Kittiwake, a wreck resting upright in just over 60 feet of water off Seven Mile Beach. Certified divers can also hand-feed southern stingrays on the deeper sandbar at Stingray City, and Eden Rock sits next to the underwater caves of Devil's Grotto.
Mykonos has boat dives to the Dragonisi caverns and wreck diving at Sleeping Anna II, led through dive centers. Discover Scuba Diving is offered for people with no license, with a briefing and a shallow dive.
Kusadasi has Adabanko Reef, a multi-level dive from 8 meters to over 30 meters with an ancient wreck of scattered amphorae and pottery. Pigeon Island Marine Park has a small deep reef at 28 meters known for sociable striped groupers. A guided scuba day tour from Kusadasi suits beginners and experienced divers.
Roatan sits on the Mesoamerican Reef, with dive sites from shallow coral gardens to deep wrecks, where divers see sea turtles, eagle rays and sharks. There is a dolphin dive, and a discover scuba option for first-timers.
Nassau and Paradise Island have wall and wreck dives, including the Lost Blue Hole, and reefs in the Bahamas National Trust marine parks where divers see sharks and rays. Learn-to-dive and two-tank dives are both offered.
St Thomas has guided wreck dives such as the Miss Opportunity and the WIT Shoal, boat and beach dives for certified divers, a discover scuba course, and SNUBA for ages 8 and up.
Day trips from Belize City go out to dive the Half Moon Caye Wall.
Santorini diving is booked through the Mediterranean Dive Club, which runs its base at Perissa Beach.
Rhodes has Anthony Quinn Bay, a sheltered cove that suits both diving and snorkeling.
Tours to book
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
