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South Africa Atlantic (South)There is interesting diving around Cape Town. The Atlantic side is cold, but features kelp beds, seals, penguins, whales (seasonally) and sharks (including relatively large numbers of great whites). The currents can be challenging, and visibility is not always the greatest. The further east you go, the more tropical it gets, with a fairly abrupt transition between cold water (currents originating in the Antarctic) and warm (currents flowing south down the African coast) just east of Cape Town. Big fish are the story pretty much everywhere, especially sharks.
Cape Town is gorgeous, cosmopolitan, surrounded by great vineyards, and relatively peaceful compared to the crime and general mayhem in Jo'burg and Durban. Durban is the other big city on the coast, and is in an Indian Ocean ecological zone. The political situation around Durban is dicey, however, and has not yet fully settled down after the transition to majority rule. The coast east of Cape Town is beautiful and there are a number of smaller cities and large towns where a diver could be happy. Most feature good small craft harbours, although, to the best of my knowledge, diving facilites are mostly restricted to larger centres. Others may have more detailed (and recent) information.
I dived with an outfit in Simonstown, just outside Cape Town.
We did the Rockeater a wreck at 35m we were buzzed by seals on the safety stop.
The water is cold 8-10C so a thick wetsuit or drysuit is needed.
A drive up to Platenburg bay is worth it the water warms up rapidly. You can also dive the shark cage in the aquarium and the kelp forest tank there as well.
more info about Capetown including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Sudan Red SeaSudan has the only decent diving left in the Northern Red Sea. The Egyptian Red Sea has been dived out a long time ago. Most of the liveaboards operating out of Port Sudan are Italian, so it may take some searching to book one!
Sudan has some great reefs and wrecks.
WINGATE REEF Sailing from Port Sudan, most dive boats conduct their first dives on the wreck of the Umbria, an Italian freighter sunk on June 9, 1940, the day before Italy went to war. She was headed to East Africa carrying over 300,000 bombs and other war supplies for Italian troops. The reason for her unfortunate fate is a mystery, but some believe she was scuttled by her captain for fear that she would fall into the hands of the British. Others maintain that she was under threat from a German submarine. Today she lies on her port side in 35m to 40m of water.
SHA'AB RUMI In 1963, Jacques Cousteau mounted an expedition to Sha'ab Rumi to study Red Sea coral life. Guest are allowed to dive the remains of the team's underwater base, the Precontinent II shelf. Marine life is scarce, but the metal remains of the equipment shed and flying saucer-like structure, which are now delicately encrusted, are well worth a visit.
SHA'AD SU'ADI The wreck of the modern cargo vessel Blue Bell lies keel-side up with the prow at 15m dropping down to 70m. Diving below 35m is not recommended, and divers are advised to keep an eye out for Tiger sharks. Diving is subject to weather conditions. Ma Sharif and Angarosh are famous for their majestic Manta rays.
more info about Sudanese Wrecks including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Maldives Indian OceanWe went there 2 years agao and had a great time. The viz was good, but we were in March so don't know about Nov. We did meet a lot of people who were making return trips to the resort (some up to 10 times) so it must be fairly good. The currents can be strong in places, but this is also where the big pelagics hang out so is well worth the effort. The walls on the far side of the island are quite good and there are many dive sites to suit a range of experiences.
The dive centre (Pro Divers) was very good and friendly and provided nitrox at no extra cost. You could also pick up a tank and go diving on the house reef any time you wanted.
The island itself isn't huge (you can walk round it in less than an hour at a leisurely pace) and there is not a lot to do other than dive and lie on the beach. The food is good but make sure you get an all-inclusive package as the price of extras (like drinks) can be extortionate otherwise. On the way there, you may have the option of a sea plane or boat trip to get from the airport. Take the plane even if it costs a bit more as the 4-5 hour sea trip was described as being not that much fun after a 10 hours plane journey - especially if you get seasick.
I understand that they have upgraded the accomodation in the last 18 months since we were there, so whether it has changed the character of the resort - which was fairly laid back - I don't know, but I hope not.
Other than that - enjoy your trip.
Iain
more info about Kuredo including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Malaysia South China SeaLayang Layang is an atoll 14 square kilometres in diameter jutting 2000 metres from the Ocean depths. In 1985, the Malaysian Federal Government began reclamation works and created a 50-acre island on one part of the reef. Thus, what is ardently known to East Malaysians as "Terumbu Layang Layang" or "Swallow's Reef" has now become Layang Layang Island
We had 5 days diving in Layang Layang (LL) this March. It was good and I would recommend it. The accommodation and food are fine - about 3 star UK hotel standard. The rental gear is adequate, but I would suggest if you are renting take your own extras such as a flag or DSMB, and a compass (LL is 300km offshore, has currents of about 1 knot off the ends of the island at times, and ocean swell). LL has a fleet of 9 or 10 identical dive boats, which are properly kitted out for the local conditions. Each boat holds about 10 divers. Only 2 boats were in use when we were there, because it was the start of the season and there weren't many guests. We were very impressed by the boatman - sharp-eyed and skillful. There are dive guides but you can dive on your own with a buddy if you prefer. The diving consists of big walls falling vertically to great depths, and coral plateaus. Plenty of fish including swirling shoals; sharks on most dives - we saw hammerheads, white tip reef, leopard, and grey reef sharks, often several on a dive; large marble rays, others saw manta also; exceptionally fine coral with many large fans, all in pristine condition. World-class diving, but unsuitable for beginners. The LL resort website is pretty accurate.
see also..
website You reach LL by air charter from Kota Kinabalu (KK) in Sabah. If you do go to LL, it might be worth doing a few days there and a few days in Sipadan, which is easily reached from KK.
more info about Layang Layang including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Grenada Caribbean SeaBianca C is probably the most famous ship wreck in the Caribbean. She sits in 150ft of water, she is an Italian cruise ship that sunk in 1961, being 600ft long you can do a few dives on her and still not see it all. It can be an exciting dive as you never know what you might see, it may be sharks, spotted eagle rays, atlantic spade fish, and jacks, this is to name just a few.
Here at Dive Grenada we also have technical groups come a couple of times a year (MAD DOG expiditions) and they will teach all aspects of tech diving on the Bianca C. So longer bottom time on her and some penertration to different parts of the ship.
So this is one dive not to be missed.
more info about BIANCA C in GRENADA including maps, reviews, and ratings...
United States PacificHonolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
The YO 257 and the San Pedroo are the best wreck dive in the Hawaiian Islands. We have 2 170 ft shipwrecks laying side by side, 75 ft apart at a maximum depth of 100ft. Both wrecks have been there over 25 years and have atracted lots of marine live. There is tons of coral and fish, many big green sea turtles and 2 reef sharks that are permanent residents. It is a great dive for the intermediate (20 dives) to the experienced diver and a must to divers visiting the island of Oahu.
more info about YO 257 & San Pedro Shipwrecks including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Cayman islands Caribbean SeaIf it is spectacular wall diving you have come for you have come to the right place. The Cayman Islands are famous for it’s walls that are just a few minutes from shore. Eden Rock is situated near to Georgetown on South Church Street and is an excellent location to either do a West, South, or North wall dive.
more info about Eden Rock including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Egypt Red SeaAt the tip of the Sinai Peninsular is Sharm El Sheik, a town surrounded by only one natural resource - its reefs. These were some of the most beautiful reefs on the planet.
Nowadays, the shore and dayboat diving is not what it used to be! If you haven’t been there in a few years you will be disappointed.
Ras Muhamed was ruined in the early 1990’s when rapid growth in diver numbers (fuelled by the then new airport) resulted in an uncontrolled explosion of building.
Sharm is now a strip mall of hotels. Every day, twice a day, dive boats moor every 100 yards along the coastline. Consequently the reef is now kicked to bits.
Erosion has caused sand to end up strangling the reefs - along with every bit of rubbish that blows around Sharm (which eventually ends up on the reef too).
Conventional wisdom is go liveaboard but standards are patchy as no foreign crewed boats are allowed. There’s still some decent offshore dives but also, if you’re sneaky and know where to go you can still find unspoiled reef.
You’ll find pristine stretches of wall where dive boats are not allowed. There’s nothing stopping you from entering from the shore.
It takes a bit of effort to wade over the fore reef but then you drop into a sheer wall with spectacular coral, Wow! That’s how we used to do it before the place was ruined. We slept under Landrovers on Safari from Eilat (Israel) cooked on the beach and dived from the shore. Truth is, you don’t need a boat.
more info about Sinai Peninsula including maps, reviews, and ratings...
BahamasThis site is a 40 mins. fast boat ride from New Providence Island.
You go in to find the start of the reef wall at 10 metres. There is a large population of female caribean reef sharks that are very big. They used to feed them here (not so much now) and this has made them very used to divers (you can see the hair up their nostrils - if they had any!!) so allowing for easy photographing.
more info about Sharp Wall - Tongue of the Ocean - New Providence Island including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Papua New Guinea PacificNot a lot of divers go to this site as it is very hard for boats to anchor. This makes the coral virtually untouched.
There are a lot of oriental species of fish including the Lacy scorpion fish. The water is quite cold but a lot of things to photograph. I had used up all my film in 20 minutes.
more info about Susies Bommy - Loloata including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Maldives Indian OceanA bit of a current here. Saw grey sharks and some large Napoleon Wrasse and resident turtles that came up to nosey around. They seemed quite tame.
more info about Mushi Mash Magili (South Ari Atoll) including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Maldives Indian OceanShort boat ride to the dive. This is a cleaning station for Manta Rays when the current is running. There were nurse sharks but we were to busy photographing the Mantas!
more info about Rangali Madivaru including maps, reviews, and ratings...
French Polynesia PacificA short Zodiac ride gets you to the site where there are Turtles, dolphins, and very boring coral (very dull).
The exciting part of this dive is the many grey sharks that are being hunted by the resident hammerhead and tiger shark.
more info about Tiputa Pass - Rangiroa including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Cocos Islands PacificOn the Oceanus Agressor live aboard. This is a dive that has quite strong currents. There are lots of large creatures to photograph including sharks, whale sharks, dolphins etc. It is a very exposed site and can get very busy with live aboards and divers.
more info about Baja Alcyone including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Costa Rica PacificOn the Sea Hunter Liveaboard. Dirty rock is a dive site near to Cocos Island which attracts large species: Mantas, Whale Sharks, Hammerheads, Killer Whales, False Killer Whales, Dolphins and large shoals of Jacks. Because it is round, you can stay in the same place and photograph the same animal/s several times as they swim round and round the rock.
more info about Roca Socio (Dirty Rock) including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Cocos Islands PacificI went on the Sea Hunter Liveaboard. They were very photo friendly. We did a night dive at this site and were confronted with many white tip sharks. They have, aparently, learnt to follow the torches of the divers so there is obviously no feeding of them here! It took one and a half days from Costa Rica to get here.
more info about Manuelita Island including maps, reviews, and ratings...
United Kingdom AtlanticSt Kilda is widely regarded as the best diving in the UK, and rightly so. It has the wildest, woolliest marine life and, being mid ocean, the sea is blue not the usual UK murky gray!
Kilda is a small group of largely uninhabited islands 150 miles off the West coast of Scotland. There’s a small Military presence in Nissan huts, a couple of million Puffins, and little else.
Kilda is not for most recreational divers. You need an expedition mentality and a good liveaboard to get there. We were on the Jean De La Lune and can highly recommend it. It’s a three masted 100 foot schooner that is ocean worthy. You can dive straight off it most of the time as the walls are sheer the skipper can get in close. You must time your entry with the swell so that the gunwhales are at their lowest. There’s no handing cameras down. Just jump in holding them over your head and hope for the best.
A typical Kilda dive is rugged scenery with boulders the size of houses. There are canyons and caves, the walls of which are covered in jewel anemones (so take a torch). There are sea-mounts and drop-offs. You do a lot of deco diving and hanging on to kelp at 5 metres in swell can be a bit hairy! Delayed SMB’s are the order of the day. Don’t get lost or next stop is Rockall (isolated sea-mount) then Canada!
I remember hearing distant Killer Whales on dives, and once being surrounded by a massive shoal of Mackerel. It was the weirdest low viz situation I’ve had. Usually the viz is 10-20M, as evidenced by the kelp growing down to 30M+.
Fishing here means dangling a line in the water and reeling it in. You get a dozen fish out every cast, even without bait! That’s how profuse the life is. It gets big too. Lobsters too large for your goody bag (too large to wrestle even).
Seals that like to nibble your fins often buzz you. They don’t see many divers. If you’re looking for Best Of British – this is it!
more info about St Kilda including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Turks and Caicos islands Caribbean SeaMy first impression of my first dive in the Turks and Caicos was this site. I had heard that Caribbean diving was inferior. However, I thought the diving here was on a par with the Red Sea. The viz, the corals, the marine life were all as profuse.
This site is a long boat ride away from Provo. We dived with Art Pickering and he has a fine and comfortable boat. Fast too. They trawled lines hoping to catch a Marlin (but didn't). An ever-full cooler and pleasant company passed the 40 or so minutes it took to get there.
West Caicos is well worth the journey. Being remote and undived it is pristine.
We dropped into an Eagle Ray and a turtle that the local guide held so I could photograph. I asked him not too. In the end I pretended to take the shot just to make him let go. Actually, it came out alright but I could't show it! You are not supposed to hold Turtles, they breath air and get very stressed. Just imagine your out of air situation!
Anyway, I also had a loopy grouper who kept banging into my dome port. Must have fell in love with his (her?) own reflection.
There was a large barracuda under the boat to finish my film on.
Great dive. How many times can you say that!
more info about West Caicos Wall including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Kenya Indian OceanIt took about 30 minutes to this dive site. The wreck is an old steel shrimp boat which is about 120 feet long. My camera was kept busy with an octopus, rock cod, a moray and shoals of batfish. The wreck is quite incrusted so a good opportunity for macro.
more info about Mida Wreck including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Kenya Indian OceanThis dive is in the National Marine Reserve. A quick 20minute boat ride takes you to a moored buoy. A descent to about 10metres will find you at the reef top. Covered with soft and hard corals. Plenty here to photograph. Just over the edge of the reef is a large arch that was filled with a shoal of glass fish. There are two reefs that you can explore, separated by a gully. We were told that whale sharks have been seen here, but were not lucky enough to encounter one ourselves. We did however see two turtles swimming calmly past, and spotted what looked like a dolphin in the distance.
more info about Canyon, Watamu including maps, reviews, and ratings...