We know more about the moon than we know about our oceans! My favourites:
Some 800 islands in Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar are awesome for dives. Popular with exploratory divers with huge boulders, caverns, tunnels and drop-offs. Sharks, Manta Rays, Red Lion-fish. Their spectacular frills conceal venomous spines on their backs.
Indonesia’s West Papua province, Raja Ampat Islands have highest recorded diversity of fish, coral on earth. An amazing 537 coral species, 1,074 fish species! Sensational.
Variety of marine life in Komodo Island, Indonesia range from Sunfish, Mantas, Dolphins, Eagle Rays to fascinating Pygmy Sea-horses, ornate Ghost Pipefish, blue-ringed Octopus. A diverse, vibrant dive spot.
Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, Philippines is crawling with marine life. Sharks, Turtles, Reef Fish in the atoll. U.N. says a ‘pristine coral reef with spectacular 100-meter perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons, two coral islands’.
Luzon region, Palawan, Philippines is one of the best. A variety of WWII warships, planes lie at depths of 20 meters. Soft Corals, Turtles, a plethora of fish species, sea snakes call the wrecks home.
Gulf of Thailand, Andaman Sea include fringing reefs, deep drop-offs, wrecks, walls, caverns, tunnels, pinnacles or open ocean sea-mounts. Dive sites are a rainbow of colours, beaming with marine life. For ‘big fish’ aficionados – Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, Leopard Sharks, Sea-horses, Frog-fish, Ghost Pipefish, array of Nudibranch, crustaceans can be seen in the reefs.
Elusive ribboned Sweetlips is one of colourful inhabitants of Andaman Islands, India. These fish grow up to 50 cms in length in deep water, feed on crabs, shrimps, sea snails.
Kerama Islands, Japan host 76 dive sites. Cuttlefish, Humpback Whales, Manta Rays are super highlights.
Wish to dive soon again…