2010 Top 100 Readers' Choice Survey - Shore Diving
Shore Diving
CARIBBEAN & ATLANTIC 1. Bonaire Bonaire had no trouble earning its reputation as the “shore-diving capital of the world.” With gently sloping reefs, stellar wrecks and walls, and an abundance of marine life all within a few steps of the coastline, it doesn’t get much better than this anywhere on the planet. All you have to do is drive along the coast (most sites are in the west) and watch for the yellow stones that mark each site. You can keep your own schedule, and you certainly aren’t limited to a few sites. Most of the great diving here is just a fin kick away, making this Dutch island’s first-place ranking well deserved. Go Now » 2. Curaçao » 3. Cayman Islands » PACIFIC 1. Australia Australia’s best-kept worst secret is that some of the country’s best diving is right on its doorstep. Sure, you could take a live-aboard to the Coral Sea, but dive off any pier or beach and chances are it’s a paradise equal to the more-exotic live-aboard destinations. South Australia’s Rapid Bay Jetty and Western Australia’s Navy Pier are two of the more-popular sites; the Busselton Jetty, also in WA, features leafy sea dragons underneath pylons encrusted with enormous sea fans and soft corals. If you tire of jetties, you’ll find the ordinary beach dives aren’t so ordinary: New South Wales’ Gold Coast Seaway, Pipeline and even Bare Island in Sydney are so awesome it’s no wonder they remain a secret to everyone but the locals (who probably want to keep it that way). Go Now » 2. Indonesia » 3. Hawaii » NORTH AMERICA 1. Texas Shore diving in Texas? You might not think about the Lone Star State for a leisurely dive, but there are several inland lakes — such as Possum Kingdom and Clear Springs Scuba Park — where diving is a big attraction. You can also do fun stuff like join the Diving for Science program at Texas State University San Marcos and participate in the conservation and preservation of the San Marcos Springs. Plus there are a few jetties in the Gulf of Mexico worth filling a tank, such as South Padre, Port Mansfield and the jetty at Port Arkansas. Go Now » 2. Great Lakes » 3. Canada/British Columbia »
Shore Diving
CARIBBEAN & ATLANTIC 1. Bonaire Bonaire had no trouble earning its reputation as the “shore-diving capital of the world.” With gently sloping reefs, stellar wrecks and walls, and an abundance of marine life all within a few steps of the coastline, it doesn’t get much better than this anywhere on the planet. All you have to do is drive along the coast (most sites are in the west) and watch for the yellow stones that mark each site. You can keep your own schedule, and you certainly aren’t limited to a few sites. Most of the great diving here is just a fin kick away, making this Dutch island’s first-place ranking well deserved. Go Now » 2. Curaçao » 3. Cayman Islands » PACIFIC 1. Australia Australia’s best-kept worst secret is that some of the country’s best diving is right on its doorstep. Sure, you could take a live-aboard to the Coral Sea, but dive off any pier or beach and chances are it’s a paradise equal to the more-exotic live-aboard destinations. South Australia’s Rapid Bay Jetty and Western Australia’s Navy Pier are two of the more-popular sites; the Busselton Jetty, also in WA, features leafy sea dragons underneath pylons encrusted with enormous sea fans and soft corals. If you tire of jetties, you’ll find the ordinary beach dives aren’t so ordinary: New South Wales’ Gold Coast Seaway, Pipeline and even Bare Island in Sydney are so awesome it’s no wonder they remain a secret to everyone but the locals (who probably want to keep it that way). Go Now » 2. Indonesia » 3. Hawaii » NORTH AMERICA 1. Texas Shore diving in Texas? You might not think about the Lone Star State for a leisurely dive, but there are several inland lakes — such as Possum Kingdom and Clear Springs Scuba Park — where diving is a big attraction. You can also do fun stuff like join the Diving for Science program at Texas State University San Marcos and participate in the conservation and preservation of the San Marcos Springs. Plus there are a few jetties in the Gulf of Mexico worth filling a tank, such as South Padre, Port Mansfield and the jetty at Port Arkansas. Go Now » 2. Great Lakes » 3. Canada/British Columbia »
