Diving into the
Fantastic Underwater World

If scuba diving has you hooked, chances are that you spend a great many waking hours daydreaming about the perfect diving spot...that place in the sun where ideal underwater conditions prevail; where temperatures are mild and the visibility is astounding; where coral, tunnels and canyons magnify the magnificence of the creatures within.

     In actuality, so many diving sites like this exist in the world that it's difficult to pinpoint which ones are truly best.

     Australia's Great Barrier Reef probably comes to mind first, but certainly the Cayman Islands-Grand Cayman and sister isles Little Cayman and Cayman Brac-also present some of the best scuba diving to be found. Here, there is little or no current, and visibility often exceeds 100 feet. From walls as deep as 6,000 feet to lush coral meadows, divers can interact with mildly friendly sting-rays, reef sharks, moray eels and other exotic marine life.

     Belize, blessed owner of the second largest barrier reef in the world (next to that of Australia's Great Barrier Reef), excels in the realm of the Caribbean's extensive coastline. Underwater sights include eagle rays, turtles, purple sea fans, coral of almost every size and description, sponges and brilliant tropical fish among the rainbow-hued coral gardens, plateaus and canyons.

     Another contender to Australia is Puerto Rico. Whatever type of reef you have in mind, this island has it. From the fish-filled maze of crevices and ledges of Humacao to lush patch or spur-and-groove formations nearly everywhere to true vertical walls either pequeno (east coast) or grande (Parguera, Ponce and Mona Island in the west). And diving here is friendly, with small, highly personalized dive operations. If you're not on a first-name basis with your host after the first dive, you could be considered to be anti-social.

     Of course, many Caribbean islands are known for their sea-centered lifestyle, including the Turks & Cacois Islands, St. Lucia, Barbados, the Bahamas, and Bonaire. Tranquil waters and warm weather make these dive spots paradise for those who love to take the plunge. In Mexico, Cozumel delights divers with spectacular coral reefs and clear waters harboring some of nature's most unusual creatures. Limited runoff from the island ensures that visibility almost always exceeds 100 feet.

     If you don't feel like going it alone, catch one of the many ships that specialize in diving expeditions. No doubt you will discover that your world of dreams is not so very far away after all.
-Gretchen Zauner