Diving is a great way to explore different countries and regions. Some dive sites are classified as unique because of where they are located or what they feature. Let’s take a look at the top 5 most unique dives sites around the world.
- Raja Ampat, Indonesia
The Four Kings are usually high on many divers’ bucket list. Raja Ampat is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands and cays, and is in the Coral Triangle. Raja Ampat is in between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with nutrients coming from deep sea currents leading to healthy reefs, mangroves and seagrass. This gives marine life the perfect place to live. Over 1,200 types of fish can be spotted in Raja Ampat and the sheer density of marine life and coral life will have divers wanting more. Usually dives are drift dives because of the strong and changing currents.
- Truk Lagoon, Micronesia
Truk or Chuuk Lagoon located in Micronesia is often difficult, expensive and timely to get to but it is also one of the greatest wreck diving destinations in the world. What is known as Operation Hailstone in 1944 saw the sinking of the Japanese fleet and has created over 60 wrecks to explore. Truk’s Lagoon can be accessed by liveaboard or from a resort. There is cargo still in the holds to look at including bullets, bombs, gas masks and medical boxes. In addition, there are bulldozers, tractors and tanks at depth. The wrecks are now teeming with marine life making them one of the best places to wreck dive worldwide. Among the wrecks, there is a submarine, submarine tender, aircraft supply ship and even a bomber aeroplane.
- Walindi (Kimbe Bay), Papua New Guinea
A chain of dormant volcanoes make up the surrounding of the Kimbe Bay, which has hundreds of reefs in and around New Britain, the main island. Around New Britain, over 70% of all coral species found in the Indo-Pacific region can be found. There are over 200 dive sites around Kimbe Bay meaning there is so much to explore. All boast healthy and colourful coral reefs, home to an abundance of marine life. Barracuda, jacks, dolphins and sharks are often sighted. Kimbe Bay is also home to its own resident pod of orca.
- Silfra Fissure, Thingvellier National Park, Iceland
One of the most unique dive sites in the world is the Silfra Fissure in Iceland. During the dive, slip into the water and dive between two continents. With 50+m of visibility, diving between the American and Eurasian continental plates is a remarkable dive. Each year, the continental plates move a few centimeters. This is really a once-in-a-lifetime sort of dive with visibility that is unparalleled. Some divers can experience vertigo due to the clarity of the water.
- The Neptune Memorial Reef, Miami, Florida
Making the list due to its uniqueness, the Neptune Memorial Reef, is an underwater cemetery. In Mexico, there is an underwater museum, in Florida, an underwater cemetery. The cemetery features benches, pathways, gates and plaques. Families of the deceased can choose to have the remains of their loved ones, by mixing the ash and marine grade cement, into a mold and commemorated with a bronze plaque, which is then placed by divers in the reef cemetery. In turn, this underwater cemetery has started seeing the formation of a coral reef habitat. A memorable dive.
