What is your definition of World Class diving?

[dmpaq20]

I have often thought about this. You read about these dive places
(Bonaire, Palau, GBR etc) at least that is what I believe World Class diving is. But I am sure that I others will have diffeent opnions.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Mo2vation]

I have often thought about this. You read about these dive places
(Bonaire, Palau, GBR etc) at least that is what I believe World Class diving is. But I am sure that I others will have diffeent opnions.

What are your thoughts?

What's your objective?

To me, SoCal is world class diving. The kelp, the sea lions, the diversity of the inverts, etc. Love it. Our Kelp is king.

If you want warm water walls, Belize's half moon caye wall rocked my world.

The drifts in WPB...loved it.

PNW and their gigantic urchins... loved those too.

Clear water? Warm water? Big fishies? Seeing stuff you can't see at home? Seeing something that only exists at a specific site? Maybe sumps is your thing.

Guess it depends. If I want sponges (my absoutly fav thing about diving that week in Belize) I won't get that here in SoCal. I'd like to go to the Galapogos (sp?) and see the Whale Sharks. I'd love to ice dive under the blueish ice one day.

I think magazine surveys of this type are designed to sell travel. SoCal diving rocks, and we're rarely on any lists associated with "world class diving..."

Interesting question.


---
Ken

 

[Diesel298]

well pretty fishes and bright corals dont intrest me.
even tho warm water or warmer water would be nice..
for me its the wrecks. the challange and the training needed..
for me its the northeast

 

[CAPT HOOK]

Living in Florida, I feel we have "World Class" diving: the Keys, Boca West Palm, Juipter, the Springs!!!
Wrecks (sunk for diving), reefs, fish, we have it all!!

 

[scuba_mike]

In addition to what's already been said about the many diverse diving environments and animal life our great world has to offer, world class diving (in my opinion) can also be influenced by the professionalism, experience and friendliness of the divers and the dive outfits that you dive with at these locations.

Some people prefer walls, some prefer coral bommies, some prefer adrenaline-pumping current dives, deep dives, some wrecks, big fish, little fish, critters, cold water, tropical water, tech dives, and the list goes on and on. I'm sure there are numerous world class dive locations where you can experience every one of these types of diving. I really hope that I live long enough and find enough cash to enjoy each and every one of them.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Ron Brandt]

COZUMEL

Ron

 

[rpodos]

Getting my air consumption to 25 psi per minute.

 

[toodive4]

There are what I call the "Diving Dozen" - sites all divers must do... here they are in World Class Order

1. North Carolina - The Graveyard of the Atlantic... #1 Wreck Site on Earth... Warm Water... Large animal encounters and great vis...

2. Truk Lagoon - Federated States of Micronesia - The Graveyard of the Pacific...#2 Wreck Site on Earth... Warm Water... Beautiful Corals & Sponges and great vis...

3. San Salvador Island Bahamas - Vertical Walls with swim throughs and amazing life - including guaranteed Hammerheads

4. Great Barrier Reef Australia - North Queensland from Cairnes - Minke Whales, Colorful Reefs full of life, sharks, Mantas and more...

5. Roatan Honduras - Walls that drop 1000 feet to the bottom... lots of Macro opportunties - Rays - Seahorses on most dives, great vis and warm water

6. Red Sea - via Egypt - Have not been to this one personally, but everyone I have ever met says it belongs #1... maybe I'll get there one day

7. San Diego California - The Coronados Islands are full of Sea Lions that like to play... kelp on the bottom with Garibaldis and Angel Sharks makes this a must do area

8. Indonesia - via Liveaboard - Have not been to this one personally, but everyone I have ever met says it belongs in my top 10... maybe I'll get there one day

9. Curacao / Bonaire - Netherlands Antilles - Want World Class Diving thats shallow, colorful, easy and relaxing? Shore diving from these two islands is better than anywhere else on earth. Great for beginners...

10. Galapogas or Cocos Island - OK, so I've never been to either, but the videos I've seen from my friends certifies both in my mind. OK, so there are now 11 in the top 10... sneaky how I did that wasn't it...

If you're looking for dive site selections for your next 11 trips... here you go... and I doubt you'll get any arguments about this list...

Tied for 12th in the Dirty Dozen: Sure Yap, Palau, Scapa Flow (for wreck divers,) Belize, the Florida Keys, South Africa and others all deserve honorable mention... maybe there are others... but I haven't got time for them... still got some of my top ten to visit...

Ken

 

[FOUNDATIONER]

CocoView in Roatan, Honduras
The perfect marriage of World Class operation
and World Class reef.

 

[serambin]

The Abacos and Turks and Caicos.