scuba diving destinations

A day spent diving one of Florida's spring-fed rivers with Sport Diver and Scuba Diving staff.

The first thing you’ll notice here is the coral — an explosion of color as vivid as the splatters on a paintball bunker. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, spanning from the Yucatan Peninsula to Honduras, swings 25 miles offshore in some places. This buffer largely insulates the structure from the stresses of land, preserving these eye-popping species.

Fly to the Bay Islands and you’ll likely trade dive tales with a seatmate before take-off. Here, scuba is affordable — and tourism’s biggest draw. Most dive shops have perfected the art of keeping groups on schedule in the morning, then letting individuals choose their own adventures come afternoon. If you’re looking to fill a logbook, check to see if your resort has a house reef (many do). Topography ranges from sheer walls to gradually sloping drop-offs, but no matter what, inclines are noticeable enough to simplify navigation.

Riviera Maya (Mexico) is probably one of the most popular tourist destinations on earth. Parallel to the coast you find the Mesoamerican Reef — the largest in the Northern Hemisphere and after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia the longest of the planet. With the Island of Cozumel a stone’s throw away, you can understand what a great scuba diving destination Riviera Maya is! Here you have 10 reasons to consider Riviera Maya for your next dive adventures!