Top Dive Spots?

[Darnold9999]

In no particular order, Raja Ampat, Komodo, Lembeh, Philippines, Browning Pass for the same reasons as Bob - have not been to Red Sea so not on my list. Caribbean diving compared to South East Asia is pretty dull for me. Have been multiple times and while nice is just not in the same league and as it costs just as much for me to get to I prefer the latter. Galapagos, Sorocco and the like are on my do list, but they are pricy and while I like sharks and Mantas I also like small and strange critters so a trip to Indonesia allows me to do both.

 

[Black Cat]

My top spot would be my next dive....

So a LOB in T&C is my answer (the explorer).

I do not believe in bucket list or top 10 stuff. Perfect example is the Blue Hole in Belize. I think it sucks. You can have a crappy dive on a great site (viz, weather, ...) or an awesome dive on a crappy site (shake hands with an octopus!).

As vacation divers we have made of list of things we want and use them to guide where we go. Very seldom do we get as specific as a single dive site.

I too was unimpressed with the Blue Hole. If you like going super deep and looking at a bunch of stalactites, then you'll love it. The sharks there were cool though.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Browning Pass would be my number one site. As Bob said there is so much life that you can't see the walls for it.

Palos Verdes, California is second because it's home and there is more to see here than most sites in Southern California, when you can see it.

I'll be diving Big Sur for the first time in June. I'm hoping it will become a favorite.

I haven't found a warm water site that I really enjoyed yet.

 

[Top_Gun]

Cenotes
Did a few dives in the Maya riviera in Mexico . Defiantly hooked.

Lots of haloclines, fossils and forest tree roots, air domes (that are safe to breath) awesome stalactite formations,
- you can see where the roof has come crashing down literally like a puzzle peice.
Kinda like flying through an asteroid.

Not much life other than cave spiders and tiny cave fish thou.

 

[ronscuba]

My top spot would be my next dive....

So a LOB in T&C is my answer (the explorer).

I do not believe in bucket list or top 10 stuff. Perfect example is the Blue Hole in Belize. I think it sucks. You can have a crappy dive on a great site (viz, weather, ...) or an awesome dive on a crappy site (shake hands with an octopus!).

As vacation divers we have made of list of things we want and use them to guide where we go. Very seldom do we get as specific as a single dive site.

I listed dive destinations and not individual dive sites. I posted 3 destinations. My number 4 would be someplace in the Caribbean, but only because of my limited dive experience outside of the Caribbean. I did not list a Caribbean dive destination because the quality drop off is so large. I will still dive the Caribbean because of the travel convenience from the US, but there is so much better diving out there. I feel listing a Caribbean destination as a top world wide dive spot is not warranted.

Like you said, Blue Hole Belize is a perfect example. It consistently get listed as a top site. Such B.S. Many magazine and trade generated lists are more about satisfying advertisers, by creating and spreading buzz, interest.

 

[NYCNaiad]

I adored the Solomon Islands! (Dive Munda in particular had fantastic, personalized service & pristine sites. Diving with them while staying at Agnes Lodge was wonderful. Many of my dive buddies also love the Bilikiki liveaboard.)

The Coron area of the Philippines made me swoon with its fantastic WWII wreck penetration. (Sangat Island was fabulous as a base since it was so close to all of the wrecks & just beautiful).

 

[buiszie]

My top destinations:

Raja Ampat - Indonesia
Alor - Indonesia
Komodo - Indonesia
Tofo - Mozambique
Lembongan - Indonesia
Palua
Exmount - Australia

 

[stuartv]

I like wrecks. I've only been to 2 of these, so far, but my To Do list is:

Scapa Flow
Truk Lagoon
Red Sea
North Carolina
Saint Lawrence River/Great Lakes

 

[Youssef]

Come to Egypt! Tourism has taken a big hit recently and many people's livelyhoods depends on it. They need your help and at the moment it's probably cheaper than most countries. Doesn't hurt that the Red Sea is the best diving to be had anywhere

The Blue Hole in Dahab is probably one of the most popular dive sites worldwide (Dahab as a whole is amazing). Southern Egypt (Daedelus, Eliphinstone, Fury Shoals) is great for seeing large fish and Sharm El Sheikh/Ras Mohammed for wreck diving. The SS Thistlegorm is one of the best worldwide.

 

[Wingy]

Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia (Tuomotos), RA, Poor Knights NZ - and for sentimental reasons - Ningaloo to Exmouth Navy Pier because I grew up there. Id love to see more of Madagascar underwater the few dives I did there while in cyclone season were promising.

Lists are such subjective things.