Top Scuba Diving Destinations Around the World

© Debra James | Dreamstime.com
June is National Scuba Month. To celebrate, here are some of the world’s finest scuba destinations—from the clearest waters and most colorful reefs to places frequented by exotic marine life.

© Rodrigolab | Dreamstime.com
Barracuda Point, off Sipadan Island in Malaysia, is a dramatic coral wall where divers commonly encounter sharks, turtles, barracuda and bumphead parrotfish amid dense coral formations.

Paweł Borówka | Dreamstime.com
Yolanda Reef in the Egyptian Red Sea offers an unforgettable dive: many routes begin at Anemone City, drift past Shark Reef, and continue to a dramatic drop-off and the Yolanda shipwreck.

© Lomingen | Dreamstime.com
Belize’s Great Blue Hole is a natural wonder framed by vibrant coral reef. Divers explore its deep interior and surrounding caverns, often spotting sharks and other unique marine species along the way.

© Dirk Jan Mattaar | Dreamstime.com
The Liberty Wreck in Bali is a spectacular site encrusted with anemones and coral. Its black sand seabed creates striking contrasts, and the area supports a rich diversity of fish—more than 400 recorded species.

© Vorasate Ariyarattnahirun | Dreamstime.com
Richelieu Rock in Thailand’s Andaman Sea, between the Similan and Surin Islands, is famed for its biodiversity. It is one of the best places in Thailand to encounter whale sharks and a wide array of marine life.

© Seaphotoart | Dreamstime.com
Tiputa Pass in French Polynesia is legendary among divers. The channel attracts reef and hammerhead sharks, lemon sharks, manta rays and playful bottlenose dolphins that often ride the current.

© Fiona Ayerst | Dreamstime.com
Sodwana Bay, on South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast near Mozambique, lies within a National Park. Its protected waters support abundant marine life, from dolphins and whale sharks to manta rays and sailfish.