what is the best dive destination in the world

I am planning a trip in april, what is the best diving destination in the world, besides the middle east. I have already been to North sulawesia, looking for someplace else with better diving.

Larry

Errr what do you consider better diving? It'd be easier to tell us what you expect before anyone can recommend something. As you well know, everything is relative.

sharks?

colour?

Corals?

whales?

give us a hint of what you looking for... and i am sure we can help

Its a contraversial answer, i know, but I'd go for the ocean. I know that there are great rivers and lakes out there. But I guess the variety of life in the ocean swings it for me.

Alex

Nah !!

I think you guys are missing the point. There is a incredibly diverse dive destination thats cloaked with the disguise of a cold looking quarry...???

Apart from that I really loved Palau (Rock Islands) Lots of beauty above and below...

Dive safe

DeanB

Hey, I have just been to Palau. Nah, not the new one. But the town of Palau in Sardinia, Italy!

North Red Sea is a great wide angle photo destination. Guarenteed sun. Decent viz. Colourful reefs, clouds of anthias and photogenic ship wrecks. Not the most exotic. But very productive:

http://www.amustard.com/?page=rs06gal&subpage=photo

Alex

If you have already been to Indonesia, and are from America, I would try Galapagos as a great, very different from Sulawesi, diving. Although I don´t know if April is a good time to go...

Cayman Islands

do i need to elaborate !

Alex, how was Sardinia..? I've always wanted to go but was told a while ago it was very expensive.. Whats your take on the beautiful Island..

Dive safe

DeanB

Sardinia was very nice. Very rugged and beautiful and sparsely populated (unlike the rest of Italy).

I went there for a holiday, so didn't dive. But the diving there is apprently excellent. There seemed to dive centres on every street!

Alex

Hehe, better than North Sulawesi?? You can find similar, but not better I don't think.

If you want great viz try the Coral Sea or the Marshall Islands.

For sharks try the Bahamas.

For soft corals and colorful reefs try Fiji.

HOw about a 3 week journey through Micronesia?

Truk for wrecks and coral

Yap for mantas and clear water

Palau for a bit of everything...

Yeah thats what I did back in 2002.. 29 days all in all...

Fantastic time, lots of drunken stories and spectacular diving.. What memories...

Dive safe

Dean(good times baby, good times)B

thanks a lot for reminding me I need to get back to work to afford trips to exotic locales. If only my lotto number would hit.....

Sipadan/Mabul, wa in the morning at Sipadan then Mabul or Kapalai for macro in the afternoon and a night shore dive on Mabul.....or a LA to Komodo.

I'd go back to Cocos over any place I've been. I just got back from Sipadan.

I've gotta say that I love just about most kinds diving -- for marine life that is! However it's adventure that really moves me most, finding new sites and how about finding new destinations! For a destination never yet dived by recreational divers you should try and check out the Fakfak region, south of the Raja Ampat. I recently led a trip with a big group of world experts on marine life. These guys noted this area had the highest fish diversity yet to be recorded, highest fish biomass recorded on coral reefs, the only downside was for the coral guys -- boohoo -- hard coral diversity was fairly low compared to many other places and like most of Asia sharks were not that commonly seen on dives. Big fish, yes lots, giant giant groupers, schooling action even better than that of Sardine Reef and Cape Kri -- for those who know the Raja Ampat you'll know what I mean! Topside scenery ooh lah lah and underwater topography just fantastic and a few very unique reefs too!

Let's hope the fisherman stay away. I'm sure that good dive tourism here will help to get this place protected. There is a project that should be going through to make this a special zone within Indonesia. A few of the experts will be heading back there early next year to see more of this area!

Then another hot place that does still have sharks, check out Halmahera, more fantastic fish packed reefs. I can't wait to get back here to look more into the critter rich black sand areas!

See ya there...

Graham

www.diving4images.com

View area Gallery

Is that Abby I see on his first post? Oh boy the neighborhood just went to south... to Bali.

Welcome Abby.

As for Alex, we know what you were doing in sardinia and it doesn't count as a location scout. Sardinia is to Italians what the Caymans and carribbean are to North Americans.

I think we've intimidated the original poster. He hasn't replied since we commandeered his thread.

Yep scubadoobydru it is the mad Abbott here! Bali is at long last moving forward -- I now have a broadband connection in my home now. And at long last I have a little time on ym hands as well to be able to get online and try my hand at adding some posts.

So are you gonna join us in this new place? Maybe join me with "The Ladies" once more... this with Gerry Allen and Mark Erdmann as well!

Graham,

Great to see you on Wetpixel,

C U soon

P