Search Dive Sites
| Countries |
|
| Seas |
|
Share your knowledge...
Indonesia Asian SeaThe waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27-29 C) and harbor some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. The park has around 70 genera of corals compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70 of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found.
Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.
Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Many species of fish are closely associated with particular types of corals (folious, branching, massives, etc.) for shelter and egg-laying. Others, like the enormous Bumphead Parrotfish, Balbometopon muricatum, are coralivores and depend on hard corals for their sustenance. Bony mouth parts fused into an impressive beak allow these gregarious fish to crunch corals like roasted peanuts.
Good dive site for all divers. Wall dives and shallow reefs with good visibility of 20-30m. Coelacanths are found here!
more info about Bunaken National Park including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Colombia Caribbean SeaEl Bajo Bushnell, localizado a 45 minutos en la lancha al oeste de Isla Fuerte, es una plataforma de coral, con profundidades que van hasta los 100 pies y variados tipos de formaciones coralinas. Su estado de conservación es excelente. El agua es cristalina la mayor parte del año, a través de donde se pueden ver praderas marinas repartidas por todo el perímetro. Se bucea en un medio de extraordinaria belleza, donde se pueden apreciar 175 especies diferentes, desde corales pétreos, octoráles esponjas, algas y toda la variedad de peces del caribe, desde el Caballito de Mar hasta el Tiburón Ballena.
more info about Bajo Bushnell, Isla Fuerte including maps, reviews, and ratings...
IndonesiaDecember 2003, just before Christmas , visited Manado- Indonesia the 2nd time with a group of 10 . Weather was bad, it was wet almost all day, no sun at all, just feel cold and dont like diving.
LUckily , i try not to miss any dive including one of the wall dive ..... water condition was bad, i cant see far, suddenly, an ugly big head fish (?) without body come toward me, i am fighten as i am unable to confirm what is that , i keep on point toward the direction and do not go near, immediately, my instructor -JACK fry there...... but this big ugly thing dont like him and other memeber therefore turn away. Insturctor JACK was unable to go after him and turn back and talk to me very loud (this is the first time after 90 dive that some one talk to me in the water ) and say SUN FISH , he also use his finger to write on his hand SUN and he jsut look crazy. By then, i known i had see SUN FISH ( MOLAMOLA) with my own eyes.
After the dive, a check with the dive master who had dive 1500 times in the same dive site, he confirm that this was his 2nd time see the sun fish and a much bigger one.
Jack was much more than happy as he had traveled to Bali-Indonesia to see Sun Fish, but with no result. But this dive he see it with a group of 10, all group member witness it but none of us taken the pictures .
more info about Bunakan - Manado including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Indonesia Indian Ocean----- SCUBA Dive In Resort Bali Indonesia Online Information -----
Geography and Climate
The island of Bali was shaped by the action of volcanoes, which produced the rich, black soils that nourish Bali's beautiful and productive rice paddies.
Just 8-9 south of the equator, Bali is always warm-a mean 27.2 C, although the highlands are about 6 C cooler. Humidity is an almost constant 75 persent. Most of Bali's annual 2,500-3,000 millimeters of rain falls from November through March.
Bali's great strength is that it is NOT isolated. The island's reefs are ideally positioned to recieve a cosmopolitan assortment of plankton and juvenile animals from the Indonesia Throughflow, a massive flow of water that passes from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. Because of this combination, perhaps Bali is just to familiar to be considered a great diving area.
Dive Sites
There are five main areas for diving in Bali, working counter clockwise around the island from the airport in the south: Nusa Dua and Sanur; Nusa Penida; Candi Dasa (Padang Bai, Gili Mimpang, Gili Tepekong); Amed/Cemeluk and Tulamben; Pemutaran, Menjangan and Gilimanuk ( Secret Bay). Each area offers dive locations for novice, intermediate and advanced divers. At most sites, divers can plan a dive to match their degree of experience, and dives can be made around the year.
Depth of dives
The best diving lies between 5 and 40 meters.
Marine Life
The varied inhabitants of Bali's reefs. " different fields, different grasshoppers."
Visibility
Variable, 5-15 m, exceeds 30 m.
Water Temperature
Normally 26 - 27 C (78 - 80 F). During July and August, the temperature drops to 21 C (70 F)
High seasons
July-August and around Christmas and New Year.
Highlights
The Liberty Wreck 120 meters long Tulamben,
Wooden anker wreck, cave and craggy wall Menjangan,
Pelagics, and between the months of August - November Mola-Mola (Sunfish) at Nusa Penida,
Rare critters muck diving at Secret Bay/Gilimanuk
Canyon at Gili Tepekong/Cand Dasa
Other
Very tricky current, strong surge, uncomfortably cold in some dive sites.
more info about Bali Dived Site In General including maps, reviews, and ratings...
DenmarkIn central copenhagen.
Go to Refshalevej, and drive past the Lynetten Sailclub. the 2nd curve on the road.
Diving in small bay, good for students.
more info about B&W Lynettern including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Myanmar (Burma) Andaman SeaBlack Rock,
An outcrop dropping like stairs to over 70m (220 feet).
It's a wall dive site and deep dives are part of the menu !
Whale sharks are there, as they are in Thai waters, Manta rays, Grey reef sharks, Leopard sharks, Eagle rays, and sometimes Bowmouth guitarfish.
Wall down to 220 feet
Live-aboard boat from Phuket or Ranong
Variable from 10-50 metres
Variable, often strong. Over 3 knots for the spring equinox tides (march)
Good and colorful, some ghostpipefish.
Fantastic, very exciting; sharks, rays, "A Must" saee dive site
Great diving. Shark's everything possible
more info about Black Rock including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Belize Caribbean SeaThe Blue Hole is a feature attraction of diving in Belize. It is part of the Lighthouse Reef System and lies approximately 60 miles off the mainland out of Belize City. It is one of the most astounding dive sites to be found anywhere on earth,
It is an almost perfectly circular hole approximately one quarter of a mile (.4 km) across. Inside this hole the water is 480 feet (145 m) deep and it is the depth of water which gives the deep blue color.
The array of bizarre stalactites and limestone formations seem to become more intricate and intense the deeper you dive.
The temperature in the Blue Hole at 130ft is about 76F with hardly any change throughout the year at that depth.
For all the practical purposes the over 400-foot depth makes the Blue Hole a bottomless pit. The walls are sheer from the surface until a depth of approximately 110 feet where you will begin to encounter stalactite formations which actually angle back, allowing you to dive underneath monstrous overhangs. Hovering amongst the stalactites, you can't help but feel humbled by the knowledge that the massive formation before you once stood high and dry above the surface of the sea eons ago. The feeling is enhanced by the dizzying effect of nitrogen breathed at depths. The water is motionless and the visibility often approaches 200 feet as you break a very noticeable thermocline.
more info about Blue Hole, Belize including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Belgium North SeaDuring winter you should go diving in one of our quarries like La Gombe in Esneux (near Luik (Liege) In summertime Diving on the wrecks in the North sea is very good and popular among belgium divers. Also The 'Oosterschelde' in holland is popular (Wemeldinge)
more info about Belgian diving including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Puerto Rico Caribbean Sea The Black Wall – 97 ft
This dive is on a wall covered with black corals and is pretty typical of the
profile that we dove for the wall dives. The top of the reef is at 60 feet and
we dove to a depth of ~95 feet along the wall. Dropping in we first sighted a
Spotted Eagle Ray and were accompanied by Four Eyed Butterfly fish while on top
of the reef and also spotted a four plus foot Green Moray.
The Super Bowl – 80 ft
The super bowl reminded me of Cedral in Cozumel with coral heads separated by
narrow sandy channels and is also around the same depth with a bottom at 80 or
so feet and the top of the reef at 50 some. At this site we saw the only shark
of the weekend and the only shark that others had seen in several days of
diving.
The Hole in the Wall – 135 ft
The hole in the wall starts at 125 feet and exits about 90 feet. This is a
nice dive and an easy swim thru that needn’t worry anyone. This is where one
of the group spotted a rock fish and we saw a couple of nice sized eels here to.
The Chimney – 75 ft
This was a really nice drive and was typical of the second dives in depth and
bottom. But, we were treated to a school of Barracuda and a Hawks Bill turtle
that Angel swears never saw me as I had to get out of its way or I would have
been run into. No kidding, it came within a very few inches.
In summary, Puerto Rico offers some excellent opportunities for wall and
reef diving and Angel has stated his intention to explore more dive sites west
of Parguera since he now has a craft that can reach them quickly. I also
can’t wait to check out the west coast around Mayaguez and Aguadilla
as I was told that the reefs and water there are beautiful as well. So, bring
the dive gear and come and explore a fascinating island with much to do and see
both above and beneath the sea.
more info about Black Wall including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Norway Atlantic If any of you are coming over to Bergen, or thinking about it, then this
website may be of interest. I'd certainly recommend you take a look at the
"Information for visiting divers" section, and the weather section if
you
want an idea of our above water conditions. (And you can poke and laugh
during the winter)
The photo gallery is of course just for fun, and has been highly compressed
to be "56K" friendly for people who still have to use dial accounts.
This
section will continue to grow weekly. The movies are of course larger, but
only "optional"
Matt Duke
Bergen, Norway
diving in norway
more info about Bergen including maps, reviews, and ratings...
Maldives Indian OceanBroken Rock lies in the southernmost corner of the Ari Atoll, on the eastern side. The closest islands are Dhangethi to the north and Dhigurah to the south. The thila, which seems to have been cleft asunder by a blow from a giant axe, is some 70 metres (230 feet) in length, and rises to a depth of some 13 metres (43 feet) beneath the surface. The remarkable aspect of this coral base is the enormous canyon that runs diagonally across the centre, from southeast to northwest. With a depth of 22 metres (72 feet), this cleft was the source of the name, Broken Rock. On the eastern side is a jutting formation with a remarkable shape, and another small plateau, at a depth of 17 metres.
Apart from the considerable depth of the reef top, diving in this site is fairly easy. There are several decisive factors in any decision regarding the techniques to be used on this dive: the currents, which can be very strong at times, but also the level of experience of the participating divers. With weak currents, one can dive directly on to the top of the reef. The most elegant technique, which is also the simplest in the presence of powerful currents, is to dive at some distance from the reef, in the open ocean, and then to swim in the reef with the current. It is also possible to moor the boat on the reef itself, if it becomes necessary to enter and emerge from the water by means of a line.
The dive site has a great many soft corals and by a teeming and varied abundance of fish.
There is always the possibility of running into a gray reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) or two, or a school of barracuda (Sphyraena sp.). A mixed group of batfish (Platax teira) and blue fusiliers (Caesio lunaris) are usually guests at Broken Rock, as are the many sea turtles (Eretmochelys inbricata). The jutting crags on the northeastern side are populated by a great many tiny animals.
more info about Broken Rock 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...
Netherlands Antilles Caribbean SeaRates the top dive site in terms of species richness by the REEF Environmental organization. Present count, 323 species, plentiful in numbers as well as variety. With a drop off beginning in 30 feet (10 meters) of water, a continuous reef that runs parallel to shore, minimal to no currents, this is an ideal dive of all levels of divers. The majority of the fish life, colorful orange elephant ear sponges, purple tube and vase sponges and gorgonians are found between 30 - 60 feet or water. These shallow depths provide divers with plenty of underwater viewing time. Bonaire is ranked as the #1 macro capital in the Caribbean, and no site is better for marco than Bari reef. In the shallow terrace ( 0 to 30 feet) the rubble is home to move than 100 species of fish alone. (also ideal for snorkelers). Yellow headed jawfish, pike blenneys, sail fin blenneys and other beauties abound for those with patient eyes! On the reef slope, enormous schools of creole wrasse, queen and french angel fish, rock beauties, groupers, butterfly fish, and countless others. Frog fish generally there for long periods of time, squid in the shallow without fail!
more info about Bari Reef at Sand Dollar, Bonaire including maps, reviews, and ratings...
GrenadaThis is the wreck of an Italian Ocean Liner that burnt and sank in the 1960's. She is 600 feet long and very deep (the top is reached at 30m - the bottom at 50+) It is covered in coral and is home to lots of small marine life.
more info about Bianca C 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...
Palau PacificThis has got to be one of the Worlds' best dives!
It has everything. The Marine life is big and small but with a roaring current you don't really have time to examine the colorful wall. It's hold on to your hat time and go with the flow.
The large pelagics are wall to wall and there is nothing more thrilling than to see the multidudinous sharks dart in for a nibble of some fish.
Predation is the name of the game and this is why the critters are so profuse I guess.
As you fly along (and that's what it is like) you need to be aware of where your group is (obviously) and watch your depth.
I was a bit wary getting in as there were huge breakers at the top of the drop off. Your dive master should put you in a ways off, get down quick and get to the wall.
The local dive guides are good, but perhaps a bit slack so tell 'em what you want.
Enjoy!
see also
website more info about Blue Corner including maps, reviews, and ratings...