And thinking about the fact that 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, it makes me even more curious about what’s going on below the surface–there’s a whole world under there that most of us will never even have the chance to explore. But some of us are exploring it, thanks to organizations like PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and their more than 6,400 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts in 186 countries around the world. Thanks to them, exploring the ocean is becoming easier and more accessible than ever.
So whether you’re thinking about taking the plunge into diving or have been diving for years, these 10 destinations should be on your diving bucket list, because frankly, they’re all to di(v)e-for. (See what I did there?)
Anacapa Island, California
Warning: it’s cold. Even in the summer. Expect 70 degrees at most in August and 60 degrees or below in January. But you know what? That’s what wetsuits (and hoods, and gloves, and cold water boots) are for. Once you get past the fact that the water will be cold, exploring the local area is jaw dropping. With peak visibility being about 50 feet, expect to find kelp forests, playful sea lions, seals, rays, giant sea bass, black sea bass, some small ship wrecks and underwater arches during your explorations.
