- Whether it’s your first time in open water or the hundredth entry in your logbook, these scuba locations provide the ultimate bucket list for explorers, adventurers, and ardent scuba divers no matter their skill level.
- Each location offers a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to explore the magic of our world’s oceans – from an armchair or with scuba gear in tow.
- From the Bahamas, to the Azores, to Antartica, here are some of the best scuba locations in the world.
Editor’s Note: The following are images from “100 Dives of a Lifetime” by Carrie Miller. Explore 100 breathtaking scuba diving sites across 60 countries and 6 continents through stunning National Geographic photography, expert tips, and cutting-edge travel advice.
You can purchase “100 Dives of Lifetime” by Carrie Miller here.
The gem of Rapid Bay Jetty: a leafy seadragon in south Australia
Foto: sourceNadia Aly/National Geographic
Tubbataha is home to 90% of the coral species native to the Philippines
Foto: Tubbataha, Philippines.sourceSteve De Neef/National Geographic
Caribbean reef sharks patrol the national marine park’s waters in Cuba
Foto: Caribbean reef sharks in Cuba.sourceDavid Doubilet/National Geographic Creative
Read more: 9 places you can go diving with sharks – and what it looks like
The shipwreck’s massive hull offers plenty for divers to explore
Foto: Statia — Charlie Brown Wreck.sourceMauricio Handler/National Geographic Creative
A diver captures underwater photos of the rich coral reefs in Indonesia’s Wakatobi National Park
Foto: Wakatobi National Park, Indonesia.sourceNadia Aly
Caribbean reef sharks circle a diver exploring the wreckage in the Ray of Hope wreck
Foto: Ray of Hope wreck, Bahamas.sourceNadia Aly
A diver passes a school of fish on a dive in Kona
Foto: Kona, Hawaii.sourceJason Lafferty
The stunning neon pattern of a giant hawkfish in Mexico
Foto: El Boiler, Mexico.sourceAlex Mustard
Brown boobies check underwater for lunch in Cocos Island
Foto: Cocos Island, Costa Rica.sourceMatty Smith
A dusky grouper explores the reefs in the Azores
Foto: Azores, Portugal.sourceFranco Banfi
The beach’s namesake shark patrols the reef in Tiger Beach
Foto: Tiger Beach, Bahamas.sourceBrian Skerry
Divers prepare to descend from the landing dock of Devil’s Den
Foto: Devil’s Den Cave in Florida.sourceJeremy Rodriguez
Divers explore the fascinating underwater ice formations in Antartica.
Foto: Antartica.sourceFranco Banfi
Before you dive, take in the Great Blue Hole from the sky in Belize
Foto: Belize.sourceBrian Skerry/National Geographic Creative