Enjoy the best liveaboard rates, the flexibility to personalize your air plans, and the security knowing our reservations team is available to help you book your liveaboard trip hassle-free. Choose a highlighted week from the destinations below and the discount will be taken off the package rate at the time of booking. You then apply the money saved to your own flights offering you more control over the route and time that’s best for your schedule. Better yet, if you would prefer to apply the savings to something else (say, new camera gear to snap a close-up of that hammerhead), you could do that too!

This offer is for a limited time only. Book a liveaboard package, book your flights, then book it out of there! Ready to dive in? Here are the details:

Flexible Flights Offer

Booking window: February 28 to March 31, 2023
Travel window: Select dates between March-December 2023
*Browse Departures Here

Galapagos Islands – $1000 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Humboldt Explorer

Galapagos Islands – $800 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Tiburon Explorer

Maldives – $250 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Emperor Explorer

Turks & Caicos Islands – $800 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Turks & Caicos Explorer II

Saba & St Kitts – $800 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Caribbean Explorer II

Red Sea – $100 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Grand Sea Explorer

See Offer Details >>

Contact the Explorer Ventures team or your preferred travel agent to book.

1-800-322-3577 / +1.307.235.0683
info@explorerventures.com
www.explorerventures.com

*Terms & Conditions: Offer valid for new bookings made and paid in full between February 28 and March 31, 2023. Subject to availability. Not combinable with other discounts or group booking terms (excl. Red Sea), not applicable to previously booked trips. Does not count toward the sixth trip credit.

The post Flexible Flights Airfare Offer from Explorer Ventures Fleet appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

 
When it comes to liveaboard diving in the Red Sea, vessel options can seem endless. However, few offer the incredible amenities and level of service that Explorer Ventures Fleet®  does aboard Grand Sea Explorer® (operating locally as Sea Serpent Grand). With an eye on what divers really want, Explorer Ventures’s exclusive Red Sea package has been uniquely designed to ensure guests are highly catered to while maximizing their bottom time. Explorer Ventures’s package includes smaller dive groups, four daily dives (instead of three), a beverage package, free Wi-Fi, and more. Guests will be hard-pressed to find a better liveaboard option for the Red Sea. 

PREMIUM RED SEA PACKAGE ADDITIONS:

1. Smaller Dive Groups
Exclusive for Explorer Ventures bookings on Grand Sea Explorer, an additional dive guide is added to the vessel and the dive group ratio is smaller. The ratio of guides to divers is one to eight, whereas the Red Sea’s typical standard is one guide to twelve divers. 
 
2. Bonus Daily Dives
The average liveaboard in the Red Sea offers three daily dives. The Grand Sea Explorer package includes up to four daily dives with a couple of additional night dives, which means divers will get up to 25 dives during their week onboard. That’s five more than the other liveaboards! The dive schedule is also flexible, set to the wishes of the guests and guests will receive a hot towel after each dive. 
 
3. Beverage Package
Exclusive for Explorer Ventures’ guests is a drink package that includes free local beer and wine. In addition to American coffee and freshly made juice, served at any time free of charge.
 
4. Next-Level Suite & Cabin Service
Guests on this package will have a fruit basket in the suites and cabins, which is constantly replenished. Plus, a hot beverage station and more towels with frequent changes. Although there is a small supplement for the large suites, there are no upper deck cabin supplements.
 
5. Premium Dining
Catering to the highest standard is included in Explorer Ventures’s packages. All onboard catering is upgraded compared to the normal offerings when Explorer Ventures’s guests are on board. The food, and its preparation, are of the highest quality, and the number of staff on board is increased to implement this exclusive service.
 
6. Free Unlimited Internet Access
Whilst other liveaboard packages offer limited internet, Grand Sea Explorer‘s package includes unlimited internet access. When you’ve just finished an amazing dive with oceanic white-tip sharks, they know you’ll want to message home about it!   
 
Well, there you have it! Six more incredible reasons to book your Red Sea liveaboard diving holiday with Explorer Ventures Fleet. Upgrade your diving holiday to 5-stars aboard Grand Sea Explorer for your next trip!
 
Contact them to book your Red Sea diving adventure!
info@explorerventures.com
1-800-322-3577 / +1.307.235.0683

About Explorer Ventures Fleet®

The Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving Fleet® offers eight destinations including the Red Sea, Palau, Maldives, Northeastern Caribbean (Saba/St. Kitts), Turks & Caicos Islands, Galapagos Islands, and Indonesia. The M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer II® also spends 10 weeks in the winter/spring offering snorkeling with humpback whales on the Silver Bank, Dominican Republic, under charter to Aquatic Adventures.

The post Exclusive Red Sea Liveaboard Diving Packages: Premium Amenities Await appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Seize the day by seizing a fantastic deal with the Explorer Ventures 2023 Year of Savings event! Offers include savings of up to $1000 off select liveaboard departures in the Turks & Caicos, Maldives, Palau, Galapagos, and Caribbean. Choose from five highly sought after liveaboards.

“Wonderful trip! Wonderful crew, great food, awesome dive masters, cool captain. Always aware of safety first. All of this made for a fantastic voyage!” C. Robinson

For these 2023 Year of Savings, discounts range from $300 up to $1000 per person. Plus, there’s an additional incentive for the Caribbean boats if you book by February 10, so save more!

As a special bonus we’ve included discounts for popular holiday weeks over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. What better way to celebrate than on a liveaboard!

Browse our Year of Savings specials below and check back later this year for more sale dates.

Liveaboard Deals for June-September 2023

Turks & Caicos Explorer II – Discover reef sharks and vertical walls while enjoying epic visibility, and one of the best crews around!

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the Turks & Caicos Islands on a Green Fins-certified vessel. The package includes accommodation, meals, alcohol, beverages, diving services, and up to 27 dives! Now starting at $2595.

Caribbean Explorer II – Snap a photo of frogfish and seahorses while exploring volcanic reefs and coral-covered wrecks.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the Caribbean Islands of Saba & St Kitts on a Green Fins-certified vessel. The package includes accommodation, meals, alcohol, beverages, diving services, and up to 27 dives. Plus, an optional add-on of two land excursions to sightsee the local islands! Now starting at $2095.

Emperor Explorer – Swim alongside whale sharks and giant mantas at cleaning stations while exploring channels and thilas.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the tropical Maldives atoll. The package includes accommodation, airport transfers, meals, beverages (plus wine with dinner), diving services, nitrox fills, and up to four daily dives! Now starting at $1982.

Black Pearl Explorer – Discover giant caverns, and WWII wrecks while cruising along stunning reefs with rare marine life.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the exotic islands of Palau. The package includes accommodation, same-day hotel transfers, meals, beverages, diving services, nitrox fills, and up to 18 dives. Plus, snorkel in a lake with sting-less jellyfish! Now starting at $2850.

Humboldt Explorer – Spot whale sharks and schooling hammerheads while discovering the famous islands of Darwin and Wolf.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the Galapagos Islands on a Green Fins certified vessel. The package includes accommodation, same-day transfers, meals, local alcohol, diving services, and up to four dives daily. Plus, two land tours to see endemic birds and giant tortoises! Now starting at $5195.

Tiburon Explorer – Feel the awe swimming with rare iguanas and schools of hammerheads, while keeping an eye out for giant sunfish and dolphins.

Spend 8 days/7 nights liveaboard diving in the Galapagos Islands on a Green Fins certified vessel. The package includes accommodation, same-day transfers, meals, local alcohol, diving services, and up to 4 dives daily. Plus, two land tours to see endemic birds and giant tortoises! Now starting at $6195.

SEE THE YEAR OF SAVINGS Departure Dates HERE

Contact the Explorer Ventures’ team or your preferred travel agent to book.

www.explorerventures.com
info@explorerventures.com
1-800-322-3577 / +1.307.235.0683

___

About Explorer Ventures Fleet

The Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving Fleet offers eight destinations including the Red Sea, Palau, Maldives, Northeastern Caribbean (Saba/St. Kitts), Turks & Caicos Islands, Galapagos Islands, and Indonesia. The M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer II also spends 10 weeks in the winter/spring offering snorkeling with humpback whales on the Silver Bank, Dominican Republic, under charter to Aquatic Adventures.

The post 2023 Liveaboard Deals on Explorer Ventures appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

We’ve added several more weeks to our Year of Savings discount calendar plus included a limited-time bonus on multiple destinations. Until April 30, you can save an additional $200 USD per person on selected sale weeks in 2022. This means savings of up to $1200 on Galapagos liveaboards and up to $700 on Caribbean liveaboards. Select trips now start as low as $1695 per person. All reservations include accommodation, meals, diving, and a Booking Assurance. Rest assured you’ll be in good hands.

For over 35 years, Explorer Ventures Fleet has offered exceptional diving holidays—now at even better prices. It’s time to break away from the ordinary and dive into the extraordinary.

CLICK FOR SPECIALS  >>

Book today, dive tomorrow.

Email: info@explorerventures.com
Phone: 1-800-322-3577 / +1 307-235-0683
www.explorerventures.com

*Valid for select weeks. Bonus $200 savings expire April 30, 2022. Terms and Conditions apply to all specials. Visit Year of Savings webpage for details. 

EXPLORER VENTURES LIVEABOARD FLEET

The Explorer Ventures Fleet® offers liveaboard diving in seven destinations including the Red Sea, Maldives, Northeastern Caribbean (Saba/St. Kitts), Turks & Caicos Islands, Galapagos Islands and Indonesia. The M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer II also spends 10 weeks in the winter/spring offering snorkeling with humpback whales on the Silver Bank, Dominican Republic, under charter to Aquatic Adventures.

The post Dive Your Dream Destination—For Less—with Explorer Ventures Fleet appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

When the Turks & Caicos Explorer II resumes normal operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands next month, divers will once again be able to enjoy Turks & Caicos’ impossibly clear waters, steep walls, sunny days, and sharks galore. These islands have it all, making them the perfect destination for a last-minute holiday this spring. A 14-mile reef off Providenciales holds vibrant reefs and dramatic drop-offs, and the liveaboard makes diving extraordinarily easy. On board Turks & Caicos Explorer II you can access the islands’ best sites, maximizing your bottom time without the hassle of long boat journeys. Just unpack your gear once and dive, dive, dive. Experience Turks & Caicos’ islands the way they were meant to be.

Turks & Caicos Islands Itinerary Overview

When to go: Low annual rainfall and reliable ocean currents contribute to remarkable diving conditions year-round. However, one of the best times to visit TCI is in April and May when there are fewer crowds and pleasant weather with highs that hover in the 80s. It is the shoulder season between the cool and hot months, with more than nine hours of sunshine a day.

What to see: Caribbean reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles, jacks, octopus, grouper, lobster, huge gorgonian fans, barrel sponges, occasional dolphins, and hammerheads. Lucky divers also have the occasional sightings (and sounds) of humpback whales.

Where to do: Days aboard Turks & Caicos Explorer II generally involve breakfast from 7 am to 8 am (cold breakfasts are available for late risers), followed by two morning dives, lunch at 12:30 pm, two afternoon dives, dinner at 6:30 pm, and a night dive. Up to 27 dives during the week.

Where to stay: The Turks & Caicos Explorer II is a 124-foot aluminum vessel, a grand and spacious yacht. The liveaboard comfortably accommodates up to 20 passengers in 10 staterooms, all with private en-suite bathrooms. Up to 10 staff are onboard in crews’ quarters. The vessel features multiple decks for sun-bathing, and a large dive deck with nitrox and all dive amenities.

What’s included: 7 nights/8 days aboard the vessel; up to 5 dives daily (weather permitting); 3 meals daily, except Friday’s evening meal; between-dive snacks; towels, linens, etc.; use of tanks, weights and weight belts; all air fills; alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages. The menu is a mix of locally inspired recipes, American favorites, and delicious dishes from the chef’s imagination.

Where to fly: Providenciales International Airport (PLS)

What it will cost: Starting at $2895 per person – See package details.

How to book: Call or email Explorer Ventures Fleet today.

For more information, visit the Explorer Ventures website, or drop them an email here.
US/Canada 1-800-322-3577; +1.307.235.0683

The post The Turks & Caicos Explorer II returns to TCI in April appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Socorro Island

Socorro Island is the most famous — for divers, anyway — among the Revillagigedo Islands, which sit around 375 miles (600 km) off the country’s west coast, directly south of Baja California. Uninhabited Socorro is the largest of the Revillagigedo Islands, with an area of 51 square miles (132 km²), though divers will visit all four islands: Socorro, Clarion, Roca Partida, and San Benedicto.

In terms of geography, Socorro is a striking volcanic island, easily recognizable by its barren landscape. Small craters, lava domes and lava flows break up the island’s surface. Socorro doesn’t offer coral-reef diving, so don’t expect colorful dives. Instead, it’s all about ocean giants, including almost guaranteed manta sightings and possibly dolphins. You can also see plenty of sharks, including silky, Galapagos, whitetip and silvertip. Extremely lucky divers may also spot schooling hammerhead sharks.

San Benedicto Island

The most popular island for manta ray encounters, San Benedicto won’t disappoint. There is a famous manta cleaning station at The Boiler dive site, where you can get up close with giant Pacific manta rays. These graceful rays have a wingspan up to 26 feet (8 m) across and are quite curious, passing by divers at close range. While the manta rays are the main highlight, the underwater pinnacles in themselves make for beautiful diving. 

Roca Partida

Roca Partida, the smallest of the Revillagigedo Islands, features a famed pinnacle that attracts large schools of tuna and jacks. But don’t forget to look closely — search the pinnacle crevices for small species and spend time peeking in the caves, often filled with sharks.

Clarion Island

Made up of three volcanic peaks, Clarion Island is a little different from the other Revillagigedo Islands.  It has its own angelfish, the Clarion angelfish, which divers can often see cleaning the larger pelagic species. Visit from January to April and you’ll likely see humpback whales passing by. There is a resident pod of playful bottlenose dolphins as well, and the dive sites are full of schooling fish, turtles, some silvertip sharks and maybe even an orca or two.

Who is the diving suitable for? 

Being remote and wild, this destination is best suited to experienced divers. The currents can be strong, and the area is washed by big waves.

When is the best time to visit?

The best time to visit Socorro depends on your marine life preferences. You can see whale sharks during November and December, and humpbacks visit during the winter season until April. Bottlenose dolphins are present from January to March, and you can see giant Pacific manta rays all year.

It’s also worth considering your dive preferences and comfort at sea. November to May offers the calmest seas, and November also features the warmest water temperature at 82 F (28 C). February’s water temperature is a little cooler at 70 F (21 C), but it’s on the rise by May. 

How do you get to Socorro Island? 

Socorro dive cruises depart from two ports: Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, both in the state of Baja California. The closest international airport is Los Cabos International Airport. The only way to experience the Revillagigedo Islands is via liveaboard.

This article was written by divers and writers at LiveAboard.com

The post Mexico’s Best Dive Destinations Part 1: Socorro Island appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Talk about a last minute trip! The day before the Rocio Del Mar was about to embark out on another trip to the Sea of Cortez, I was able to secure a spot on the beautiful liveaboard. I quickly booked a flight to Phoenix and packed up all my dive gear.

From Phoenix it’s a four hour drive to Rocky Point, Mexico where the Rocio Del Mar is docked. The shuttle drive was $100 US dollars return, and the drivers were just amazing, educating us on about our surroundings on the way, making sure we had an enjoyable ride. I was the only person who had to be picked up from the airport as the rest of the group had already arrived and were waiting at a hotel.  Life is full of coincidences!. The night before I had posted on the Scuba Diver Life Facebook page, that I would be on the Rocio Del Mar the next day. Dan from Chicago replied later that day to tell me that his entire dive group would be on the same boat.  So when we got to the hotel to pick up the group we felt like we already knew each other.

Going through the border from the States in to Mexico was quite easy. They didn’t really ask us any questions and we were able to stay inside the shuttle. We finally arrived at the Rocio Del Mar where the crew was quick to help us get all our gear on board. We  were shown our rooms and settled in for the exciting week of diving ahead.

The boat took off around 6pm and we all sat down for a delicious first meal together. Besides myself, there was only one other person who was not in Dan’s  dive group. I must say that I was so lucky to get to experience the Sea of Cortez with such an energetic and fun-loving group of people.

During the trip we were able to log four dives a day. One before breakfast, one after breakfast, another after lunch and the final one in the afternoon or a night dive. During the day, two dives would be in the same area and then the boat would move to another spot. During the night the boat would move much further, as the goal was to explore as much of the Sea of Cortez as possible in  seven days

Shooting on this trip was quite interesting. I knew for sure that I would be using my wide-angle for the Whale Shark snorkeling, but that happened on the last day. For most of the dives I used my 100mm macro lens, unless told that we would be doing a sea lion dive, where I would then switch to my 16-35mm lens. The water was warm and I could wear my 3mm suit for all dives. We saw many nudibranchs, sea lions, octopus, fish, turtles, and load of macro life!

The highlight of the trip was the whale sharks. Many on the boat had not seen one before. On the last day of the trip we headed out early in search of these elusive sharks. After about an hour of searching we finally saw one, and jumped into the water right  away. The whale shark was only a baby, maybe 10 ft long, we stayed with it for almost an hour. After that most of the group went back to the boat, and some of us remained. As life would have it, during that time of course more Whale Sharks showed up. It was actually a great experience, the water was not more than 15 feet deep, and was very clear. A much different encounter than the Isla Mujeres Whale Shark excursions I did both this and last year.

What made this trip so special was the crew. They anticipated our every need,  from taking care of our gear to filling up our tanks, to ensuring that we were well fed.  Our comfort and safety seemed to be their only goal, and we were comfortable and safe !!  To top it off, the food was delicious and hard and soft drinks were included in the trip price.
Overall the trip was beyond amazing, and we definitely recommend exploring the Sea of Cortez with the Rocio Del Mar.

Below are some shots from the trip:

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ALBUM ON FACEBOOK

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Scuba divers are often at the whim of the weather and the ocean. Booking a dive vacation months in advance usually involves research into the seasons and the weather in the area when we wish to go. Unfortunately, all the research in the world can’t always save you from the guiles of mother nature.

This was the case this year in areas of Southeast Asia, including the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar. Normally, divers can fairly confidently plan a trip to this part of the world to avoid the monsoon or hot seasons. The best diving here is typically from November until April. But in early 2020, a climatological phenomenon known as an Indian Ocean Dipole foiled the plans of many divers in this part of the world.

What is the Indian Ocean Dipole?

The Indian Ocean undergoes yearly changes in surface temperature, called the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). This occurrence, discovered in 1999 by climate researchers, alternates between three distinct phases, which reoccur every three to five years. These phases affect the weather systems in the surrounding land and water masses in different ways. The neutral phase brings warm water from the Pacific Ocean throughout Indonesia and westerly winds along the Equator, which keep temperatures relatively normal across the tropical seas. Positive and negative phases tend to create a gradient in temperature across the ocean, which affects surface temperatures and rainfall on either side of the vast body of water.

This year saw a particularly strong positive phase, the likes of which hasn’t happened for six decades. Westerly winds became weaker, which caused a shift in those warm waters toward the western side of the ocean. This resulted in little rainfall and rising cold waters from the depths on the west coast of Thailand and Myanmar and surrounding seas.

“We’ve never had such cold water in nine years,” said Franck Fogarolo, owner of The Smiling Seahorse, an expert when it comes to diving Myanmar since 2012. With temperatures as low as 68 F (20 C) on some dives, guides loaded the boat with extra shorties to offer as extra layers on top of long wetsuits.

Unique ocean encounters

While a bit cold, the divers visiting this season did encounter some fairly special creatures. The cold water brought a lot of nutrients to the shallow areas, attracting a lot of marine life not usually visible in the first 100 feet (30 m). “We saw over 40 guitarfish on a single dive in Black Rock in March 2020,” Fogarolo said enthusiastically.

This past season featured unique sightings such as silvertip sharks, guitarfish (otherwise known as the long-snout shovelnose ray), and little dragonfish. Although this season was not representative of the usual diving conditions in the Mergui Archipelago, the return of better conditions for seasons to come is expected.

Experts say that in an average 30-year period, the ocean will undergo roughly four each of positive and negative phases, which last about six months each. Models also suggest that consecutive positive phases will only occur twice over every 1,000 years. This past season may have brought rare conditions, including cold water, poor visibility and strong thermoclines, but warm, clear waters are likely on tap for the coming 10 years.

Located off the coast of Myanmar, the Mergui Archipelago is made up of more than 800 islands, for the most part uninhabited. The MV Smiling Seahorse, a new liveaboard launched in November of 2018, can bringing up 16 divers to some of the most unexplored dive sites of Southeast Asia.

The post Diving on the Wrong Side of the Indian Ocean Dipole appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Palau, Micronesia

Dive in Palau in November and you can witness two of nature’s true spectacles. Groups of enormous bumphead parrotfish mate and thousands of red snapper congregate to spawn around the full moon. An idyllic Western Pacific destination, Palau also offers a mixture of Micronesia’s best diving, including thriving reefs, WWII wrecks, pelagic action, caves and striking walls plunging into the deep.

Blue Corner, one of Palau’s most popular dives, is a natural point jutting into the open ocean where you can dive in swift currents, surrounded by pelagic actions. You’ll want to use a reef hook to stay in place while all the action swirls around you. Divers commonly see jacks, barracuda, Napoleon wrasse, sharks and eagle rays. Cave fans can explore the Chandelier Caves system, where channels connect five caverns. The stalagmites and stalactites resemble sparkling chandeliers by the light of divers’ torches. No Palau trip would be complete without also visiting the famous 470-foot (143 m) Iro Maru Japanese Navy oiler and the Jake Seaplane; a WWII U.S. Navy seaplane found in 1994 by a local fisherman.

Cayman Islands

As hurricane season ends, it’s a great time to go diving in the Cayman Islands before the high season begins and experience world-class wall diving, wrecks, friendly stingrays and more. With over 350 dive sites dotted around Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, there is plenty choose from, as well as abundant marine life. Grand Cayman’s North Wall is known for its dramatic sheer walls, plus reef diving with little to no current. If you can take your eyes off the corals, there are numerous reef sharks and eagle rays about.

Don’t miss Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay Wall either. One of the world’s most scenic wall dives, this steep wall is encrusted with vibrant corals and sponges. Fish life is plentiful here, with sharks, jacks, groupers and reef fish, plus passing sea turtles. The ex-USS Kittiwake and Keith Tibbetts are top choices for wreck fans and Stingray City is famous for its resident friendly stingrays.

Saba & St. Kitts

Two more great warm-water destinations for a winter escape, Saba and St. Kitts offer a good mixture of wrecks and reefs suitable for all experience levels. As with the Cayman Islands, go diving in Saba and St. Kitts and you’ll be rewarded with plenty of sea turtles (hawksbill and green), plus reef and nurse sharks, colorful reef fish and schools of pelagics swirling in the blue.

The marine park in neighboring Saba has extremely high biodiversity. The reefs there are a haven for angelfish, butterflyfish, frogfish, seahorses, octopus, sharks, rays and more. The list of life there is almost endless.

If you like quiet diving, try the sister island to St. Kitts, Nevis. There are far fewer divers here and you can dive a volcanic hot vent, aptly named Thermal Vents. Black coral thrives there, as do large lobsters and arrow crabs. The large reef at Monkey Shoals has clear waters and life you won’t find closer to shore. It usually has no current but when the current runs, it’s a great place for drift diving and admiring the reef as you go.

Sri Lanka

If you’re looking for a destination far off the beaten path, with new dives still being discovered and fascinating culture, check out Sri Lanka. Known for its historically important role in the Silk Route, Sri Lanka is a largely peaceful Buddhist country rich in wildlife above and below the waterline. There are healthy reefs where you can see everything from tiny critters and colorful reef fish, to dolphins, schools of tuna and reef sharks. Sri Lanka’s waters also host sperm, blue, pilot and Bryde’s whales. Most diving occurs around the west and southwestern coasts at this time of year, including around Colombo. If you love wreck diving, it’s ideal as there are plenty of wrecks to dive there.

You can go whale watching from Mirissa and Trincomalee but select your operator with care, as there have been reports of poorly managed whale watching tours in the past. Make sure you choose an environmentally-conscious operator with a clear code of conduct for whale interactions.

Bermuda

Bermuda, home of pink-sand beaches and bright, cyan waters, is easy on the eye and a premier wreck-diving destination. Its treacherous reefs were the bane of sailors and host more than 300 wrecks from the 1600s to the late 1980s. The L’Herminie, a French 60-gun warship, was grounded on the reef in 1838 and rests in just 46 feet (14 m) of water. You can see guns, bricks from the kitchen stove, bottle fragments, anchors and more. The WWII Hermes is another popular wreck, sitting upright on a sandy bottom, with an intact engine room, crew quarters and main hold. Be sure to also dive the Cristobal Colon. Bermuda’s largest shipwreck, it’s 499 feet (152 m) long and covers a vast area of reef.

As well as more wreck diving than you can imagine, Bermuda’s reefs are well worth diving. The Cathedral reef site has a huge cavern with holes in the roof, allowing beams of sunlight to penetrate, plus other swim-throughs and plentiful reef life.

Divers and writers at LiveAboard.com contributed this article.

The post Five Great November Dive Destinations appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

Hawaii

Being over 2,300 miles (3,860 km) from the nearest continent, it’s no surprise that 20 percent of Hawaii’s marine life lives nowhere else on Earth. Washed by the Pacific Ocean, this tropical dive destination has endemic butterflyfish, ruby cardinalfish, as well as rare Hawaiian green sea turtles and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, all of which make for fun diving as you tick off those species you simply can’t see elsewhere.

Go diving in Hawaii and you can explore wrecks and caves, pristine reefs, lava tubes, and huge craters and bommies, to name but a few of Hawaii’s dive highlights. The dive landscapes are constantly evolving thanks to the active volcanoes here. The Big Island has over 50 dive sites, including the famed night dive with mantas at Kona, where you can dive with over 40 mantas at a time while watching them feed by your torch light. The bright orange tubestrea corals at Tubestrea Tunnel are another Big Island highlight.

If you’re lucky, you can spot endangered Hawaiian monk seals at Molokai’i while exploring over 30 miles (48 km) of untouched reef there. Make sure you also visit Oahu if you’re diving Hawaii from October through December, when you have a good chance of seeing tiger sharks.

Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands

The sharks of Marovo Lagoon hold a special place in the hearts of Solomon Islanders and are an important part of their culture and dive scene. A chance to see them is just one of the reasons Solomon Islands diving is so worthwhile. As the largest saltwater lagoon in the world, Marovo has hundreds of jungle-clad islands and numerous dive sites sheltered from the ocean.

It’s a great destination for easy liveaboard diving on calm waters, as well as exciting cuts and passage dives that reach out to the ocean beyond. The sheer variety of marine life is the main draw in Marovo Lagoon. You will find numerous sharks there, as well as schooling fish, mantas, turtles and pristine coral reefs.

Kicha Island has huge sea fans and plenty of pelagic action, while the aptly named Palette has towering 8-foot-high (2.4 m) purple and pink sea fans, perfect for underwater photography.

Muck diving fans can enjoy a variety of critters in the muck at Begho Point, and wreck fans will appreciate wrecks such as the 115-foot long (35 m) Taiyo; a fully intact fishing boat perched precariously on a coral ledge.

Egypt’s Southern Red Sea

As we head into winter, the Red Sea waters begin to cool, attracting thresher and hammerhead sharks to Egypt’s famed southern reefs. The reefs at St. John’s, in the deep south, are very remote and lie close to the Sudanese border. Covering over 112 miles (180 km), these isolated reefs form part of a national park and offer some of the best Egyptian diving.

You can explore caves, swim-throughs, tunnels and drop-offs or just marvel at the diversity of fish life around you. You’ll occasionally see oceanic whitetips at St. John’s, while huge Napoleon wrasse and grey reef sharks are regular visitors. Fury Shoals has some of Egypt’s most pristine and colorful reefs and you can dive with resident spinner dolphins at the well-known Dolphin Reef there. If you want to see thresher sharks as well as hammerheads, reef sharks and some oceanic whitetips, Daedalus and the Brothers Islands are your best bet.

Providing spectacular drop-offs and thriving reefs, these popular reefs in Southern Egypt are a liveaboard diver’s dream.

Oman

October means Oman’s scorching air temperatures drop enough to make it ideal for diving and land excursions at this lesser-known dive spot. And since it’s off most peoples’ radar, Oman’s dive sites are peaceful and there are few boats in the water.

Plankton begins to bloom here from October, meaning the visibility will drop but the abundance of nutrients attracts diverse and large marine life, such as whale sharks.

The Daymaniyat Islands offer deep ocean upwellings, which attract schooling fish and whale sharks, as well as reef and zebra sharks to the thriving reefs. Musandam is best-known for numerous whale sharks in the shallows, as well as colorful reefs, turtles, mola mola and critters.

For a truly remote Oman adventure, the barren Hallaniyat Islands have plenty of undiscovered dive sites. Home to small fishing communities, these islands have wrecks, mantas, dolphins, humpbacks and sperm whales.

When you’ve finished diving, be sure to visit the pretty waterside capital of Muscat, explore the deserts and stock up on souvenirs from Oman’s bustling souks.

South Africa 

With over 1,550 miles (2,494 km) of coastline and washed by both the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, South Africa has an enormous variety of dive sites. While there is diverse marine life to be found along the coast, South Africa’s main draw is shark diving.

Aliwal Shoal in KwaZulu-Natal is best-known for its sharks, including raggies (also called sand-tiger sharks), stocky oceanic blacktips, tigers, hammerheads, dusky and mako sharks. You can also find eagle, electric and stingrays at this 80,000-year-old sandstone reef.

Protea Banks in KwaZulu-Natal is another shark hotspot with bull sharks at Southern Pinnacles, plus hammerheads, oceanic blacktips and dusky sharks.

For huge schools of fish, plus mantas and — you guessed it — yet more sharks, try Sodwana Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. There are drop-offs teeming with fish and corals, as well as bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, marlin and whale sharks.If you want to dive with great white sharks, visit Mossel Bay, Gansbaii or False Bay, all of which have seasonal cage-diving opportunities.

You can find even more sharks in the Western Cape around Simons Town. Shore dive with ancient cow sharks in thriving kelp forests or take a trip off Cape Point to swim with blue and mako sharks.

Wreck fans won’t want to miss Smitswinkel Bay in the Western Cape, which holds five of Cape Town’s best wrecks for experienced divers.

Divers and writers at LiveAboard.com contributed this article

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Rowley Shoals, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef might be Australia’s most popular dive destination, but the northwest coast of Western Australia has a must-dive hidden gem — Rowley Shoals.

Rowley Shoals is certainly remote, at over 186 miles (300 km) from the nearest land.

Consisting of three coral atolls rising up from over 1,312 feet (400 m) deep, this unique dive spot perches on the edge of a continental shelf.

Dive here and you’ll likely see no other dive boats. Few liveaboards visit and the dive season is so short that only 200 people get to dive the shoals each year. That unique combination of factors means Rowley Shoals is thriving and the coral reefs are pristine. There are over 200 coral species and 650 fish species at Rowley, as well as a variety of pelagics.

Highlights include diving with manta rays, humpback whales, sailfish, swirling schools of dogtooth tuna and friendly giant potato cod. If you enjoy laid-back reef diving, head to Rowley’s lagoons where you can drift over coral bommies and watch the bustling reefs below you. Here you’ll find swimming-pool like conditions, which makes them ideal for easy diving and snorkeling.

Being washed by a huge 16-foot (5 m) tidal range, Rowley also has plenty of exciting drift and wall dives. Don’t miss the Rollercoaster dive site, and unforgettable drift dive that takes you through Clerke Atoll’s coral-lined channels at high speed.

Mermaid Atoll’s Northern Wall is rated No. 3 in the world’s best dives and offers a sheer wall with plenty of pelagic action. It’s common to see dolphins, mantas and turtles there.

Rowley Shoals dive trips are in high demand and book up well in advance of each short dive season. The only way to get there is via Rowley Shoals liveaboard diving.

Guadalupe, Mexico

Shark Week might be long over, but September is one of the best months to hop on a liveaboard and go cage diving in Guadalupe, when huge female great white sharks start to arrive. Unlike other cage-diving destinations, Guadalupe’s waters are relatively warm, at 66 to 71 F (19 to 22 C), and feature calm, crystal-clear water.

These conditions make it easy to cage dive and capture photographs of the sharks no matter your experience level, and some trip participants will be just snorkelers who stay in the surface cages. Even if you are a diver, make sure to do the same, as most of the action takes place on the surface.

Many Guadalupe liveaboards also have an open-cage policy for the surface cages, meaning you can spend almost unlimited time in them from dawn to dusk during your liveaboard safari there. Certified divers will be assigned to certain times in submersible cages, where’ you’ll descend to about 20 feet (6 m) and meet great white sharks in their own world, watching them swim silently by.

Fiji

The self-proclaimed “soft-coral capital of the world,” Fiji is known for having exceptionally colorful reefs. September also offers manta rays and great water visibility. The popular Yasawa Islands, the setting for the famed “Blue Lagoon” movies, is one of the warmest and driest parts of the country and has unique dives.

You can dive the Babylon Caves complex and watch mantas gliding by Naviti Island’s colorful reef-capped walls. Barefoot Manta, just south of the Yasawas, is the place to go for numerous mantas from May to October. It is also home to some of Fiji’s best coral gardens.

To experience this lovely country’s fullest biodiversity, take a liveaboard to Namena Marine Reserve. A total ban on fishing has been in place in Namena’s waters since 1997 and the marine life has flourished. Namena’s horseshoe-shaped barrier reefs has numerous dive sites with plenty of critters, fish and pelagic action in the blue.

For one more Fijian dive highlight, don’t miss Somosomo Strait, which has reefs and walls carpeted in vibrant soft corals, including the famed Rainbow Reef. Somosomo’s Great White Wall is a wall dive like no other, with the sheer wall so covered in white corals it looks like a blanket of snow.

Nusa Penida, Indonesia

It’s easy to spot mola molas, thanks to their bizarre looks, but you can only dive with them in a few places around the world. Indonesia is one of the best and mola season finishes after September. Nusa Penida liveaboards typically include a visit to Crystal Bay, reputed as the best dive site in Nusa Penida and the place for mola encounters.

This well-known mola cleaning station attracts the wacky looking fish from the depths, which you can watch to your heart’s content in the clear, calm waters. Once you’ve enjoyed the molas, be sure to explore the other dive sites within southern Komodo, Bali and around the Gili Islands.

A liveaboard around Komodo will take you to one of Indonesia’s most species-diverse destinations with numerous critters, dolphins, rays and fish. You can also explore the impressive 410-foot (125 meter) USAT Liberty wreck in Bali. This wreck is encrusted with corals and large vase sponges, hosting an assortment of fish life. For a peaceful end to your Indonesian adventure, the Gili Islands offer easy diving and true relaxation island-style.

Israel 

Now is the best time of year to check out Israel’s diving scene for great water visibility that shows off the beautiful dive sites found there. Eilat is unsurprisingly the most popular dive spots in Israel, featuring over 2,500 species of marine life as well as over 250 coral species.

Sites can get busy with new divers, so bear that in mind and pick a quiet time of day to dive there.

Japanese Gardens at Coral Reserve Beach in Eilat is a continuous coral belt that stretches across 1,640 feet (500 m) and hosts innumerable reef fish, as well as some stingrays and turtles.

To delve into Israel’s history, try the Satil wreck. This missile boat was used in the Israeli military until 1994 until it was deliberately sunk as an artificial reef. It now sits at 79 feet (24 m). Other wrecks include the Nitzan and Shira. The Nitzan is a former fishing boat, while the Shira is a WWII Italian submarine popular with divers.

You can go cave diving at the Rosh Hanikra grottos in Northern Israel, where a series of underwater caves offers striking light conditions. With a maximum dive depth of 23 feet (7 m), these caves are relatively accessible, but you need permission before diving there.

For a unique history-filled dive, don’t miss the Caesarea Underwater Archaeological Park.

There are a variety of swimming routes through the park, where you can see ruins and ancient columns, as well as abundant marine life.

Divers and writers of LiveAboard.com contributed this article.

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Live local

Since a 2009 regulation change allowing tourists to stay on ‘local islands,’ guesthouses have been popping up all over the archipelago. More recently, there has also been a boom in local dive shops partnering with guesthouses to provide a cheaper alternative to the international resort chains. Here are a few examples, from north to south.

Note that living local means you must abide by local Maldivian law. Alcohol is strictly prohibited (you may have your duty-free confiscated on arrival). Men and women should dress conservatively when not on the beach.

Choose a liveaboard

Liveaboards are cheaper than you may imagine as well, especially if you watch for sales, both early-bird offers and last-minute specials. Here are a few ideas.

The brand-new Emperor Explorer is the Emperor Fleet’s new flagship, and it’s a beauty. The Explorer has a choice of two itineraries, The ‘Best of the Maldives’ (central atolls), and (in February) ‘Deep South & Southern Sharks.’ Seven-night itineraries start at around US $1,900 per person when the boat launches in August 2020.

Another reasonably-priced liveaboard, the MV Sheena covers the central atolls, with a few special trips throughout the year including one for families or beginners. Seven-night itineraries start at US $2,030.

Getting there

The growth of budget airlines has made the Maldives far more accessible for budget-conscious travelers. From major hubs such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, budget carriers including SCOOT and Air Asia are pushing the prices down across the board.

When to dive the Maldives

You can dive the Maldives year-round with guaranteed pelagic action, however two monsoon seasons dictate the diving conditions.

The northeast monsoon runs from December to May, bringing calm seas and clear water with 65 to 130-foot visibility (20 to 40 m) to the eastern atolls, but often stirs up conditions on the western atolls, where visibility drops to 26 to 50 feet (8 to 15 m) visibility. This is generally the most popular time for diving.

From June to November the southwest monsoon brings clear water to the western atolls, but also rougher seas across the island nation. Fewer liveaboard options are available at this time of the year, and some resorts will offer low-season discounts.

Water temperatures in the Maldives vary from 79 to 84 F (26 to 29 C), so a 3 mm full wetsuit is ideal.

Where to see big stuff

If it’s the mantas of Hanifaru Bay you want to see, they descend in the hundreds on Baa Atoll between June and November. You are more likely to see them elsewhere in the Maldives during this time of year as well.

The whale sharks of South Ari Atoll are there year-round. The whale-shark dive site here, which runs along the back of Dhigurah Island, has been identified as a secondary nursery, populated mainly by juvenile males. Locally-based researchers have identified all of them. Elsewhere in the archipelago, again, you’re more likely to see them between June to November.

Several species of sharks and rays call the Maldives home, including large schools of nurse sharks (the world’s largest aggregation) and eagle rays, with hot spots for shark action in the central and south atolls, including Vaavu. The only difference between rainy and dry season is a slight difference in visibility. Diving the Maldives on a budget is not only doable, but quite manageable if you know when and wh

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Baa Atoll, Maldives

If you’re looking for manta encounters this summer, Baa Atoll is one of your best bets. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is tucked away in the northern atolls and offers the chance to snorkel with hundreds of feeding manta rays at Hanifaru Bay.

Numerous mantas congregate in this sheltered spot to feed on plankton from May to November each year and exhibit a unique feeding behavior called cyclone feeding. Watch these enchanting mantas as they feed, swirl, and barrel-roll in front of you.

In addition to the mantas, peaceful Baa Atoll has huge numbers of fish species and dive sites suitable for every experience level. Dive among blue, green and yellow corals at Maavaru Kandu, or dive some of the many thilas (pinnacles) dotted around Baa’s 75 islands. Don’t miss the swim-through and canyon at Dhonfanu Thila; it’s teeming with grey reef sharks, eagle rays, pelagic fish and bushy black corals.

Galapagos Islands

The peak dive season is upon us in the remarkable Galapagos Islands where the cool weather brings rougher conditions and stronger currents. Still the place to go for incredible nature encounters, August is extra-special thanks to the arrival of numerous whale sharks. They’re present at both the famed Wolf and Darwin Islands, only accessible via liveaboard diving on a handful of boats.

Dive there and you’ll be in the company of not only whale sharks, but also scalloped hammerheads, silky and Galapagos sharks.

If you can take your eyes off the sharks, you can also spot turtles, eagle rays and numerous fish. While the sharks are the main draw at this time of year, you can also swim alongside marine iguanas, watch Galapagos penguins in the shallows, and swim with sea lions. Pack thick wetsuit for Punta Vicente Roca. One of the colder dive sites, it’s the best place to spot mola mola.

Sea of Cortez, Mexico

It’s a perfect time of year for sunshine and warm-water diving at Mexico’s gateway to the Sea of Cortez, La Paz. Even better, you can go swimming with playful juvenile sea lions while you’re there. The waters off the tranquil La Paz are a mecca for large pelagics as well, with plenty of shark action in addition to the sea lions.

You can encounter over 200 Californian brown sea lions and their sassy pups at Los Islotes, as well as exploring three underwater pinnacles at El Bajo.

There are also wrecks, underwater caves and many other dives sites to discover. Explore this diverse Mexico scuba diving easiest via liveaboard to reach the more-distant dive sites.

After exploring La Paz, take a road trip to Cabo Pulmo National Park and you can dive the oldest reef on the West Coast of North America, thought to be around 20,000 years old.

South Australia

For marine life you can’t see anywhere else on earth, visit South Australia this summer for two great seasonal diving gems.

Hundreds of thousands of cuttlefish arrive to breed off South Australia as the water temperature drops in the Australian winter, putting on a must-see spectacle. Visit the upper reaches of the Spencer Gulf at Whyalla near Adelaide and you can experience the action firsthand. Scientists know of nowhere else that these huge cuttlefish gather in such quantities, numbering up to eight males per female.

Competition is incredibly intense among the males as they put on vibrant color displays to attract a mate and offers divers a chance to get quite near these animals as they’re distracted with mating.

For a less-intense experience, August is also a great time to dive with South Australia’s marine emblem, leafy seadragons.

These charming creatures are endemic along Australia’s south and west coasts and remain a highly sought-after sighting. Larger than most seahorses, at 7.8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) long, they’re perfect photography subjects and easy to spot once you know where to look. Join a guided tour to find them at their known hangouts and enjoy.

Mozambique 

It’s the middle of the dry season in Mozambique, making it the best time of year there for an off-the-beaten-path dive adventure. Mozambique isn’t your average dive destination and takes some planning to explore. Be prepared for rough roads and long trips — and pack your sense of adventure. The rewards are well worth it.

Mozambique’s coastline stretches along 1,535 miles (2,470 km) of the Indian Ocean and has a variety of distinct dive destinations, all offering warm water and plenty of marine life.

Visit Ponta do Ouro for pinnacle diving and plenty of shark action or Inhambane and Tofo for some of Mozambique’s best dives. Being off the tourist trail, the reefs are in fantastic condition and Manta Reef is considered of the top places in the world for manta encounters.

The continental shelf is close to shore at Pemba Bay, where you can dive walls plummeting to over 328 feet (100 m) and teeming with life. For truly adventurous diving, try the Quirimbas Archipelago. This group of 32 islands is mostly unexplored and dive sites are continually being discovered.

Divers and writers at LiveAboard.com contributed this article.

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I. LOVE. LUCY. from The Beacons Collective on Vimeo.

Great white sharks galore

In 2017, we saw six sharks on the entire trip, but I’d heard reports of 12 sharks in one dive earlier in the 2018 season, so I was excited. On the first day we saw eight sharks in total — the action was awesome and sometimes non-stop. My new drone, the Autel EVO, also allowed me to shoot 4K 60fps, which in turn allowed me to slow the footage down by 50 percent to extend the drama of the aerial shots. Their waterproof rugged bundle is a must for divers. I also had several Paralenz dive cameras with me to capture behind-the-scenes shots as well as varying perspectives.

Our second day began like the first, but then a giant emerged from the depths —Lucy. We knew it was her immediately because of her infamous ragged tail, which is likely either a birth defect or due to some sort of incident in her youth. She stayed with us for the rest of the trip, through the third day. She moves much slower than the other sharks, likely because of her enormity, and was a joy to film.

The Nautilus crew was incredible as always and, in the end, we don’t know why sharks are there in unprecedented numbers. Hopefully it’s because these animals are rebounding, but 2019 and the years to come should provide more clarity. Regardless of the reason though, it became clear to me that nature needs more people to document its beauty and majesty. Humans are more on their devices and less in touch with nature than ever — so we need to bring nature to their devices.

Follow The Beacons Collective on Facebook and Instagram. Opening and third tracks licensed via Extreme Music.

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The New Tiburon Explorer, Galapagos

Construction has begun on the 125-foot (38 m) Tiburon Explorer. The steel has been delivered, sandblasted and primed and, on June 20, the keel was laid. Progress photos will be published periodically on social media. This substantial steel hull vessel will cruise the waters of the incredible Galapagos, visiting the famed Wolf and Darwin Islands for hammerheads and whale sharks as well as Cabo Douglas in search of marine iguanas and Punta Vincente Roca for the opportunity to see mola molas.

A large and spacious state-of-the-art vessel, Tiburon Explorer will feature nine air-conditioned staterooms (maximum passenger occupancy of 16) located on the main and lower decks. All will feature private bathrooms and ocean views. All nine cabins will be outfitted with twin beds that can convert to queen beds, allowing for singles or couples in each cabin. The yacht will feature a partially covered sun deck with a jacuzzi and ample seating, a salon with dining, bar and entertainment areas, and an ample dive deck with a bathroom, large camera table with charging station, individual storage areas and separate rinse bins for cameras and dive gear. Diving operations will commence from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck.

Existing reservations aboard Majestic Explorer have been moved to Tiburon Explorer and new reservations are now being accepted for travel beginning in April 2020.

The new White Manta Explorer, Indonesia

The new White Manta Explorer will make its way from Malaysia to Indonesia where it will begin cruising the Banda Sea starting on September 16, 2019. Measuring 150 feet (46 meters) in length and 30 feet (10 m) in width, this steel-hull vessel will offer exciting diving through Ambon, Banda, Sangalaki and Raja Ampat in Indonesia. It is stable, sophisticated, and reliable — perfect for extended itineraries to the most exotic regions of Indonesia.

Accommodations on White Manta Explorer include 14 beautifully furnished en-suite staterooms averaging 200 square feet (20 square m), providing modern lodging for up to 22 guests. Six of the staterooms can be available for single occupancy. White Manta Explorer is replete with amenities, including 24-hour satellite WiFi connection, a spacious sundeck, and two dining areas, including a popular alfresco area and an air-conditioned dining room. With a vessel this refined, guests are guaranteed the onboard ambiance of a world-class dive holiday.

White Manta Explorer‘s dive deck is sizeable and comfortable with a large, dedicated camera room, outdoor work station, and a full range of rental equipment. Diving is also conducted in small groups (4:1), meaning attentive and personalized service. With an average of 20 crew members on board and a high crew-to-guest ratio, those aboard can expect first-class service above and below the water.

Guests joining Tiburon Explorer in the Galapagos or White Manta Explorer in Indonesia will undoubtedly enjoy an exhilarating and luxurious dive holiday, likely returning time and time again. For reservations and information, email info@explorerventures.com or call +1-307-235-0683 or +1-800-322-3577 (U.S. and Canada).

The Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving Fleet offers seven destinations including the Red Sea, Maldives, Northeastern Caribbean (Saba/St. Kitts), Turks & Caicos Islands, Galapagos Islands and Indonesia. The M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer II also spends 10 weeks in the winter/spring offering snorkeling with humpback whales on the Silver Bank, Dominican Republic, under charter to Aquatic Adventures.

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Italy’s Tuscan Archipelago

With over 450 dive sites scattered along the Italian coast and islands, diving in Italy has something for everyone. Visit in June for the best chance of seeing eagle rays and seahorses as the water warms up for summer.

Italy is ideal for laid-back sailing and diving safaris, allowing you to cruise picture-perfect islands and anchor in secluded coves well away from other divers. The Tuscan Archipelago National Park has many of the best-known dive sites. The coastline itself is stunning, with steep cliffs, white sands and clear, turquoise waters.

Dive there to spot barracuda, conger eels, mola mola, dolphins and even whales. Fans of macro life are well catered for with leopard snails, hermit crabs and seahorses as well.

Don’t miss diving around Elba Island. You can explore a collection of statues depicting historical and mythological figures in an underwater museum and visit the Elviscott, an interesting shallow wreck sitting at just 39 feet (12 m). Shoals of fish swirl around the wreck and there are plenty or morays tucked away in the shadows.

If you’re keen to see eagle rays, be sure to dive Pianosa Island near Elba. This pretty little island has old Italian buildings, a tiny harbor, and eagle rays just under the surface.

Egypt’s northern Red Sea

Summer means blissfully warm waters and plenty of marine life in the northern Red Sea.

Plankton is starting to bloom, attracting whale sharks and manta rays. It’s also the start of the sea-turtle nesting season, meaning you’re more likely to see turtles during your dives.

Ever-popular with European divers, it is well worth diving Egypt to experience thriving coral reefs, affordable liveaboard safaris and diverse marine life.

The Straits of Tiran, famed for four reefs, offers steep drop-offs, eel gardens, abundant corals teeming with reef fish, and some great drift dives. Thomas Reef at Tiran has fantastic coral cover with archways, swim-throughs and caves to explore. Gordon Reef is the place to go for bigger pelagics such as tuna, eagle rays and whitetip reef sharks. If you’d like to see hammerheads, dive Jackson Reef from late June onwards to catch the start of hammerhead season.

Sipadan, Malaysia

If turtles are your thing, you don’t want to miss Sipadan, Malaysia. Green and hawksbill turtles nest on this idyllic island from April to September and there are always numerous turtles in the water. June is also a great month for enjoying clear waters, settled conditions and hot, sunny weather topside.

Sipadan is renowned for having some of the world’s most biodiverse waters, with more than 3,000 fish species and hundreds of corals. The island has resident schools of jacks and barracuda, plus bumphead parrotfish and whitetip sharks. Don’t miss a dawn dive to watch hundreds of parrotfish as they head offshore to feed.

Malta 

Another European-dive highlight, Malta has warm waters and great visibility in June. The conditions are perfect for exploring Malta and neighboring Gozo’s wrecks, caves and reefs.

Malta has numerous wrecks, including WWII warships and purpose-sunk artificial reefs. There is easy wreck diving off the coast of Comino at the P-31 patrol boat and advanced wreck diving at the Um El Faroud. This huge, 10,000-ton former tanker measures 377 feet (115 m) and sits off southern Malta. Its deck sits at 100 feet (30 m) and it’s surrounded by schools of barracuda. Experienced divers can penetrate the wreck through the kitchen.

There are also plenty of shore dives (more so than boat dives). Note, however, that some entry points involve long walks with your gear over uneven ground. Be sure to visit Gozo’s Blue Hole to dive through a crevice into clear, blue waters busy with octopus and lobsters. The rock formations and light from above are well worth visiting for.

Jordan

This Red Sea destination is quieter than Egypt and has a smaller coastline, but with a great variety of dive sites. June is a great month for clear, warm waters and to avoid the scorching heat of midsummer. With over 20 uncrowded dive sites, mostly accessible from shore, there is something for all dive-experience levels in Jordan.

Seven Sisters dive site offers a perfect combination of wreck diving and fringing reef exploration with many soft corals, morays, nudibranchs and warty frogfish to find.

Fans of corals and macro life should dive Japanese Gardens and Black Rock to spot black corals and ornate ghost pipefish.

The Cedar Pride wreck is an imposing Lebanese cargo ship sunk in 1985. Sitting on its side, it’s mostly intact and hosts cowtail stingrays as well as frogfish and macro life.

Divers and writers of LiveAboard.com contributed this article.

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Galapagos Islands

If you want to dive the stunning Galapagos Islands in calm conditions, May could be perfect. This iconic dive destination is busy with life all year. May, however, is an especially good month for calm seas, sunshine and fewer currents.May also happens to be one of the best months to surround yourself with manta rays and scalloped hammerhead sharks. There are also plenty of silky and Galapagos sharks, plus sea lions to spot at this time of year.

Wolf and Darwin Islands are the highlight of any Galapagos diving safari, offering remote diving with few — if any — other boats in sight. The islands’ waters are a highway for scalloped hammerhead sharks, and you’ll also likely see silky and Galapagos sharks, mantas, dolphins and more.

Cousins Rock is the place to spot manta rays, while Cape Douglas offers the chance to watch marine iguanas — endemic to the Galapagos — munching on algae underwater. Don’t miss Cabo Marshall for plentiful rays, including mantas, mobulas and cownose rays.

Komodo, Indonesia

While diving in Komodo is possible all year, May is one of the best months for calm conditions and uncrowded dive sites. The flurry of tourism earlier in the year has finished and there’s a quiet lull, perfect for peaceful diving.

You’ll be spoiled for choice when diving Komodo, thanks to the sheer variety of underwater landscapes and marine life. You can go reef diving, explore pinnacles and seamounts, and drift along dramatic walls. There are swim-throughs and caverns to keep you entertained, plus black and white sandy substrates ideal for photography.

There are over 1,000 fish species, plus green and hawksbill turtles at Komodo. You can spot mantas all year, though numbers peak from December to February. If you’re lucky you might even see a dugong.

When you’ve had your fill of diving, visit Rinca Island’s Komodo dragons and the aptly-named Pink Sand beach; one of only seven pink-sand beaches in the world.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is an underwater photographer’s heaven, offering marine life of all sizes and a range of landscapes. May is a particularly good month to dive the Bismarck Sea.

Being made up of over 600 volcanic islands and scattered coral atolls, liveaboard diving is the best way to experience PNG diving.

You can explore numerous World War II wrecks in Milne Bay, the original home of muck diving. The black sand provides a stunning backdrop for the wrecks, healthy reefs and interesting critters. Wherever you look, the dive sites are full of macro life.

The coral pinnacles at Fathers Reef are a great place to search for sharks, or you can enjoy the stunning reef at Kimbe Bay. Ranked as one of the world’s best reefs, Kimbe is home to huge corals and reef sharks, and also features black sand. Don’t miss a visit to the Zero Wreck, a fully intact WWII Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane.

Cornwall, England

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind shark encounter, visit Cornwall in May, as this popular English seaside destination hosts basking sharks from May to October.

May offers the best chance for calm seas and clear water to snorkel with basking sharks, long before the crowds of summer tourists arrive.

Growing to around 20 to 26 feet (6 to 8 m) and weighing up to 11,000 pounds (5,000 kg), these impressive sharks are a treat to swim with. If you don’t spot basking sharks, you’ll still have the chance to swim with playful gray seals and common dolphins. You can also watch Cornish seabirds and maybe even spot a mola mola.

After a day’s snorkeling and wildlife watching, recount your adventures over a traditional Cornish cream tea or tour some of the prettiest Cornish villages you’ll likely ever see.

Tobago 

It’s the last month of the dry season in Tobago, with low visibility but plenty of manta rays flying about. It’s also a great time of year to go turtle spotting and watch Tobago’s turtles nesting on the beaches at night.

Bordered by the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, a variety of currents wash Tobago, which adds up to plentiful marine life. There are over 400 species of fish and critters, plus nurse sharks, dolphins, turtles and numerous manta rays.

Tobago’s underwater landscape includes arches and caverns, and there is good drift diving as well. Dive guides typically take small groups, and it’s rare to see other dive boats, adding to the sense of peace as you drift along colorful reefs.

Kelleston Drain is a must-see Tobago dive highlight. This reef is home to the world’s largest documented brain coral — a staggering 10 feet (3 m) high by 16 feet (5 m) wide.

Divers and writers at LiveAboard.com contributed this article.

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The Seychelles

With over 100 islands and famous white-sand beaches, the Seychelles is a great destination for laid-back sailing and dive adventures. April is the best month for calm waters, allowing you to reach more remote dive sites.

Don’t miss the Sister Islands when diving in the Seychelles, which are only accessible by boat. These two small, privately-owned islands are pristine, with uncrowded dive sites. The coral reef at Grande Soeur is teeming with life and fringed by pink-granite rocks, making for beautiful photo opportunities. You can enjoy both hiking and diving there.

Head to the uninhabited island of Petite Soeur for unspoiled tropical forest and more coral-reef diving. Dive in at Sister Bank and you’ll be swept past rock formations and swim-throughs, giving you a chance to spot hawksbill turtles and the rare Armitage angelfish.

Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

While the Great Barrier Reef is rightly famous, some of the country’s best dive sites are in Western Australia. The Ningaloo Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a prime example.

Hundreds of whale sharks gather at Ningaloo Reef from March to June, brought in by plankton blooms and coral spawning. Go diving in Western Australia in April and you’ll likely swim with these ocean giants, plus enjoy uncrowded dive sites. If you’re lucky you might even witness mass-coral spawning.

This special reef also hosts manta rays, dolphins and turtles all year. With over 500 species of fish, plus hundreds of corals and critters, there’s definitely something for every diver.

Bay Islands, Honduras

If you’re a fan of sheer wall diving and remote seamounts, Honduras liveaboard diving is a great April dive choice. The weather is warm and dry, and you have the chance to spot whale sharks.

Utila’s northern side is washed by the open ocean, offering exciting deep wall dives and stalactite-covered caves. Be sure to look to the blue for whale sharks, marlin and dolphins passing by.

If you enjoy easier-paced diving, check out Utila’s southern side. There are sheltered shallow dives at the fringing reef, with plenty of coral and fish. The southern and eastern sides have numerous deep seamounts and pinnacles, washed by strong currents.

The Cayman Trench off Roatan is well worth diving for dramatic canyons and walls plunging into the depths. This trench is best-known for whale sharks and rare black corals. Don’t miss Mary’s Place, a deep, volcanic crack that’s covered in corals and sea fans with plenty of critters about.

Sudan

Sudan might be off your diving radar, but it won’t be for long. It offers pristine coral reefs, world-class wrecks and healthy shark populations. April is a great time to catch the end of the hammerhead-shark season and enjoy the best visibility.

Angarosh is a deep plateau where you can encounter hammerheads and tiger sharks patrolling the depths. There are plenty of reef sharks, plus barracuda and tuna to spot before rising to the shallow coral reef. Colorful and teeming with fish, the reef is a great place for a safety stop.

Cousteau’s Conshelf II offers the chance to dive a part of Cousteau’s underwater living projects. Once a series of underwater habitats that had electricity, air-conditioning and fresh water, you can now see what remains. The old habitat is surrounded by a pretty coral reef with numerous gray reef sharks, silkies and silvertips. November to April is the best time for encountering hammerhead sharks here.

Silfra, Iceland

If you want to experience truly exceptional dive visibility and a unique dive experience, visit Iceland’s Silfra fissure. The water might be chilly, but the reward is well worth it. April is a great time to visit, before the busier summer season, and you’ll avoid the challenging winter conditions.

Immerse yourself at Silfra and you’ll diving between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates at the same time. The landscape is understandably dramatic, and the water is crystal-clear, with visibility more than 328 feet (100 m). Be warned that it’s a cold dive no matter when you come at 35 to 39 F (2 to 4 C), so pack warm to make the most of your dives there.

Divers and writers at LiveAboard.com contributed this article.

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