The 10 Best Scuba Diving Destinations in the World

Welcome to Mojo Travels, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Scuba Diving Destinations in 2021. Are you a fan of our videos? Be sure to subscribe to Mojo Travels and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos. For this list, we're looking at countries, states, and islands around the world that are ideal for under-the-sea exploration. 10. Florida If you live in the states and don't want to travel abroad, Florida is among the best spots for scuba diving. Inexperienced snorkelers looking to get their feet wet should consider the shallow yet stunning Dry Tortugas National Park. The Rainbow River's waters are also shallow for laid-back divers who want to go with the flow. For slightly more seasoned scuba divers who are ready for the next step, you can swim with manatees at Crystal River and turtles at West Palm Beach. Florida has a variety of sunken ships to explore, such as the Ben Wood wreck in Key Largo. To make the most of your trip, visit the Devil's Den and Blue Grotto back-to-back for a cavern adventure that cannot be topped. 9. Belize If the Mayan civilization fascinates you just as much as underwater exploration, this Caribbean country is a must-visit. Located between Guatemala and Mexico, Belize is surrounded with glorious diving sites. From Ambergris Cay, Belize's biggest island, you can make your way to diving spots like Shark Ray Alley and Holchan Marine Reserve. Just off the coast of Belize City, you'll find the Great Blue Hole, the iconic and massive marine sinkhole. Famed underwater researcher Jacques Cousteau went as far as to name it one of the five best scuba diving areas on Earth. This World Heritage Site is smack dab in the middle of the Lighthouse Reef, a wonderland of coral that stretches almost 22 miles. 8. Egypt When people think of Egypt, the great pyramids and spectacular desert landscapes typically come to mind. This country's awe-inspiring landscapes aren't just above land, however. Egypt is also one of the top destinations for scuba diving, which is to be expected when the Mediterranean Sea is on the northern coast and the Red Sea Riviera lies along the eastern coastline. If you want to explore the Mediterranean, we'd recommend making your way to Alexandria. From this city, you can dive to the depths of Cleopatra's underwater palace. As for the Red Sea, the Blue Hole is just north of Dahab, while Sharm El-Sheikh is famous for its coral reefs. Whenever Egypt hits especially high temperatures, diving is the perfect way to beat the heat. 7. Hawaii Whether you want to go parasailing or catch some waves, Hawaii is a dream destination for anybody who loves the water. Naturally, this extends to scuba diving, as well as snorkeling. The Aloha State is rich with breathtaking marine life, although the manta rays are arguably the main attractions. When the sun goes down on the big island, divers and snorkelers can get up close and personal with the so-called devil fish, which are actually quite harmless. Depending on where you choose to dive, you could also encounter a squirmy octopus, a bale of turtles, or a coral reef beaming with aquatic life. If that's not exciting enough for you, maybe swimming with a school of Galapagos sharks will do the trick. 6. Bahamas Perhaps even more so than Hawaii, the Bahamas is usually what comes to mind when people think of an island paradise. What makes it an especially great spot for divers is the sheer amount of variety. From sharks to dolphins, there's a diverse array of sea creatures to get acquainted with. Blue holes, underground caves, and undersea wrecks are among the numerous sites to choose from, guaranteeing that each diving experience will be unique. An especially cool spot to explore is the Bimini Road, or the Bimini Wall. This underwater rock formation has also been called the Road to Atlantis, with some speculating that it was once a highway to lost civilization. Whatever you believe, it's still a wonder to behold. 5. Australia Australia's endangered Great Barrier Reef is every bit as majestic as its animated counterpart in Finding Nemo. While we definitely wouldn't recommend taking any clown fish from their anemone, you should definitely check out this massive coral reef system. Being the largest in the world, there's plenty to cover. The outer reef is probably the most accessible site, but if you venture further, the Yungala Wreck and Ribbon Reefs await. Aside from the Great Barrier Reef, you can travel west to explore the second largest reef, Ningaloo Reef, and south to cage dive with sharks in Port Lincoln. Those who love boating as much as they love diving should consider making this a live-aboard trip to explore remote areas. 4. Mexico In addition to the Gulf of Mexico, this country fronts on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Cozumel, Mexico's largest city in the Caribbean, is famous for its Marine Park, where more than 260 species of fish do their thing. While the Gulf is overflowing with natural beauty, what makes it unique are the artificial reefs made from decommissioned oil rigs. Although the Pacific Coast isn't as well-known for diving, the ocean does possess some underrated sites, like the Revillagigedo Islands. To get there, you can take a boat from the Baja California Peninsula, which hosts its own fair share of fun diving spots like La Paz and Cabo San Lucas. From the Socorro Islands to Playa del Carmen, you cannot go wrong. 3. Galapagos Islands The Galapagos Islands makes almost $143 million annually from tourism, so outsiders are more than welcome. That said, humans can be a threat to the ecosystem if they don't act responsibly. That means, among other things, maintaining your boat to prevent seawater contamination. If you take the proper steps, though, there's no reason why divers can't enjoy the wonders that these islands have to offer. Of course, the main draw is getting to encounter the sea turtles, but you're also likely to come across seals, dolphins, and even penguins year-round, depending where you dive. For newcomers, Academy Bay, Camano Islet, and North Seymour are all good places to start off. For experienced divers, try swimming with the hammerhead and galapagos sharks at Wolf Island. 2. Philippines Over 7,500 islands, so little time. While Mindanao does have more than 1,000 sea creatures, Luzon and Visayas are the more popular areas for diving. On Luzon, the Philippines' largest island, you can head to Anilao Batangas, a gateway to the country's best muck diving. As for Visayas, Cabilao Island features dive sites like Fallen Tree and Gorgonian Wall. Few divers would dispute, however, the fact that no trip to the Philippines would be complete without a visit to Tubataha National Park, especially if you're a diver with a bucket list. Located in the center of the Sulu Sea, this reef has almost 600 fish species, as well as various sharks and dolphins. 1. Indonesia There are over 17,000 islands in Indonesia. As such, narrowing down where to dive is no easy task. If we had to single out the best of the best, however, the island of Sulawesi has some of the best sites for muck diving as well as reef diving. The USAT Liberty shipwreck is close to Tulamban, Bali, which is also a top spot for walls, corals, and sea creatures. If marine life is what you're looking for, over 1,500 fish species and more than 500 coral species can be found at the Raja Ampat Islands. Obviously, we can't list every marvel to be found here, but these biodiverse waters include dolphins and jellyfish, not to mention whales. Do you agree with our picks? 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