In my earlier post I described how my diving adventure began. So far, I have had the opportunity to visit mainly the waters of the Red Sea in Egypt, and therefore many diving dreams have arisen in my head. After a long and intensive selection, I chose the 5 most interesting dive sites that I would like to visit one day. Here they are!
Treasures of the Yucatan
MEXICO – Cancun, Valladolid, Sotuta de Peon, Isla Holbox
The Caribbean Coast offers white sand beaches washed by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. In the shadow of the mystical Mayan pyramids, in the atmosphere of a Caribbean fiesta, you will discover what the best Yucatan has to offer.
1) Mexico – Cenotes
On the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Mother Nature has carved out some amazing phenomenon. They are cenotes – limestone karst wells connected by an underground system of groundwater. They are my number one not only because of diving, but also because they are an essential element of the ancient, fascinating Mayan culture. In their cosmology, the world is divided into 3 parts: the upper world, where the deities reside, the middle world where people walk, and the lower world, Xibalba, which is underground, where spirits and demons live. Cenotes were believed to be the entrance to this underworld. In the hot Yucatan, they were also the main source of drinking water and a relief during unbearable heat, for which the Maya offered sacrifices to the gods mostly of valuables, but sometimes also of people.
Diving in Cenotes, I would definitely be delighted with the crystal clear water, perfectly filtered through the limestone rocks. I imagine putting on gear in a magical well in the middle of the jungle and slowly plunging into the portal to the underworld of spirits. Under the surface of the water there are amazing rock formations carved by underwater rivers – caves, tunnels, stalactites, stalagmites, here and there you can emerge in some small underground lake and take a breath of fresh air. The water is so clear that it doesn’t seem to be there at all. I think it would be a totally amazing experience. Mysterious Mayan culture combined with diving – my number one dream!
Islands of the Philippine Archipelago
PHILIPPINES – Manila, Mindoro, Boracay
7,000 islands, paradise beaches, crystal clear water, fabulously colorful fish, dense tropical jungles and some of the friendliest natives in the world.
2) Philippines – Coral Triangle
The Philippines is a country consisting of over 7,000 islands that lie in the area of ​​the so-called The Coral Triangle, where 76% of known species of coral and 37% of known species of reef fish are located in a relatively small area. In the Philippines you can find everything your heart desires – from shallow lagoons, through wrecks, to steep walls and dark depths. Everyone will find something for themselves, both fans of small underwater creatures and colorful fish, as well as amateurs of strong sensations and fans of sharks. Of course, there are also many treasures on the surface, such as Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, shamanic communities on Siquijor Island, Palawan’s Underground River, lush rainforests, paradise beaches, unusual animals and colonial towns.
What attracts me the most to the Philippines is the variety of underwater life. I dream of meeting hundreds of colorful nudibranchs (nudibranchs) and shrimps, seahorses and octopuses that change colors. There are also huge schools of eels, barracudas or tuna and hundreds of parrotfish, angelfish, triggerfish, boxfish,scorpion fish, lionfish, napoleons, spreading gorgonians, hard and soft corals that will take your breath away! The Philippines is also a paradise for underwater photographers. Attention, now it’s time for real gems! If you ever wanted to face a shark, it is almost certain in the Philippines. There are such species as hammerhead, reef, whale and even thresher sharks! Other beautiful creatures you can come across are manta rays, turtles and dolphins. My little dream is definitely a harlequin shrimp, and a slightly larger one – a whale shark and a thresher .
Australia in a nutshell
AUSTRALIA – Sydney, Blue Mountains, Uluru, Cairns
The smallest continent and (almost) the largest country in the world, endless desert spaces and sun-scorched bush, multi-million dollar cities where you want to live, and sacred Aboriginal sites, venerated for tens of thousands of years.
3) Australia – Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world – you can even see it from space! It is 2,300 km long and has an area of ​​almost 350,000 m2. It consists of almost 3,000 smaller reefs and islets, and is also inhabited by animal species counted in thousands. Although the Rafa has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List for 35 years and there is no doubt how amazing and valuable it is, it is threatened with more and more factors related to our human activity, such as:
- devastation of soil and forests on the coast and, consequently, silting of coastal waters;
- dredging the bottom on sea routes, which is associated with the spread of bottom sediments and cutting off access to the sun, for example, for corals;
- crude oil, municipal and industrial wastewater spills;
- development of the transport and mining sector (waste, drilling, industrialization).
These are just a few examples of the impact we already have on the Great Reef and the reasons that meant that in only 3 decades, the reef that had been growing for hundreds of thousands of years has already lost about half of its coral cover …
Considering the above, I would love to go to Australia for a while and see this amazing and delicate ecosystem with my own eyes. As in the Philippines, I would like to meet new species of animals, the most interesting for me would be dugongs, i.e. the so-called sea cows and whales. Beautiful beaches and turquoise, warm water, a relaxed climate and a culture similar to ours are the perfect ingredients for a hassle-free and unforgettable, heavenly holiday. The most popular dive sites are Ribbon Reef – long, shallow, sandy reefs to the west, Cod Hole – where divers count on big game and Ospray Reef – in the north of the Reef, where you can come across manta rays and several species of sharks and try your hand at bigger depths.
Relax in wild nature
PANAMA, COSTA RICA – Panama City, Bocas del Toro, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio
4) Costa Rica – Cocos Island
When I was still in elementary school and with my friend we were traveling on the map with our finger, we came across Coconut Island once and we decided that we would definitely go there someday! Today, being a diver, I know that it is one of the most interesting diving sites in the world.
Bajo Alcyone is a legendary coral reef located on the south-eastern part of Cocos Island. The list of animals that can be found there is absolutely impressive! Number one is the shoals of hammerhead sharks, then reef sharks, whales, giant manta rays, mobula, eagles, numbfish, turtles, dolphins, huge shoals of tuna and perch …
My dream is to swim with manta rays. Stingrays are underwater birds that glide gracefully, waving their “wings” gently. For me, it is a breathtaking view (which you need to be especially careful about while underwater 😉) and worth going to the other end of the world. Add to that the heavenly beaches, Caribbean climate and evenings in the rhythm of salsa – dream diving holidays guaranteed!
Sumatra & Pulau Weh
Volcanoes, lakes, jungle and coral islets away from the crowds – all in one place in Sumatra.
5) Indonesia – Pulau Weh
I will definitely start my next long journey in Southeast Asia, which is why Indonesia is number 5 on my list. Pulau Weh is a tiny island located near the northern tip of Sumatra, in the Andaman Sea.
Suitable geographic conditions mean that a lot of interesting creatures live there. To that, let’s add underwater panoramas of caves, pinnacles, canyons, arches, coral gorgonian gardens and steep drop-offs. As for me – a bomb! An interesting place that caught my attention is the so-called Hot Springs – a place where you dive next to an active volcano. After entering the water, you do not really see much marine life, but thousands of bubbles of hot air from holes in the bottom of the sea. Animals do not like too hot water, so they run away to nearby reefs, but we can see and touch the air rushing up straight from the hellishly hot interior of the Earth.
An additional advantage of diving in Indonesia is that the area is full of wonderful places that one would like to visit. Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam or the Philippines are within a short flight of local lines, and there, in addition to rich culture, delicious food and captivating nature, there are also other top dive sites waiting to be entered in our logbooks!
