For most people scuba diving is often associated with distant locals such as Australia and Polynesia, but did you know that Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America offer some of the world’s best and most popular dive sites? Accessible quickly and affordably from across Canada, the tropics are a great avenue for underwater experiences. Here everyone from first-time divers to novice adventure seekers will find a site that pleases and challenges him/her.
Read below to learn about recently discovered, continued favourite and all around dive hotspots in the tropics.
Palancar Reef, Cozumel, Mexico
Made famous by Jacques Costeau in 1954, Palancar Reef is Cozumel’s most popular and arguably best dive location. Beautiful and bursting with colour, this coral mountain is home to over 40 individual dive sites that allow divers to explore crevices, ravines, canyons, caves and tunnels. The most noted of the Palancar sites is the Horseshoe (Novice) followed by the Caves (Intermediate, deep dive), Gardens (Novice) and Bricks (Intermediate). With depths ranging from approximately 50 to 110 feet, Palancar will excite both new and experienced divers alike.
San Francisco Reef, Cozumel, Mexico
Off the shores of Playa San Francisco (San Francisco beach, a private beach located at the Occidental Grand Cozumel), this reef is highly recommended for beginner divers. A coral wall one kilometer in distance and 30 to 50 feet in depth, San Francisco offers excellent visibility. A preferred location for marine photography, this site is home to brightly coloured coral & sponges, angelfish, clown fish and grouper.
FUN FACT:
Did you know that the Occidental Grand Cozumel offers Underwater Scuba Weddings? Imagine exchanging your vows surrounded by calm waters and curious marine life.
Isla Del Cano, Costa Rica
Relatively new on the dive scene, the Isla Del Cano (Cano Island) is quickly garnering a reputation as the best adventure diving location in Costa Rica, and even one of the best in the world. With volcanic origins, the rock formations range from shallow reefs to deep walls. Marine life is abundant (sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays, morays, grouper and snapper) and white-tip shark sightings are common. Note, that this sight is a Biological Reserve, which means that diving is restricted to 10 divers maximum and only five of the sites are open to the public, so it is best to book as soon as you get to the hotel or before travelling.
Playa Ocotal, Costa Rica
A more advanced site, Playa Ocotal is home to a generous array of marine life. Sightings from divers have included everything from morays, spotted eagle rays, clown shrimp, grouper to white tips and even the occasional over-sized manta. Although the sites are easily accessed, divers should be able to handle varying currents and visibility as well as thermo clines.
Sosua, Dominican Republic
A small beach-bum town outside of Puerto Plata, Sosua is a hub for watersports enthusiasts (kite-boarding & windsurfing are very popular here). Its bay is shaped by two reefs and offers a range of sites including deep walls, coral gardens, a sunken ship wreck and even a fresh water cave. With four fallen boulders creating a variety of swim-throughs, La Puntilla is one of the most visited sites in Sosua. Ask your guide about the Garden of Los Charamicos, Paradise Reef (best for night diving) and Three Rocks.
Isla Catalina, Dominican Republic
Located off the southern coast (easily accessed from Punta Cana and La Romana) the Isla Catalina is ideal for year-round diving, with temperate waters and good visibility. The front of the Isla is protected by a Wall which starts at just 5 meters and plunges to approximately 40 meters. With the top full of marine life, coral and sponges, this is a fantastic choice for novices. More experienced divers should try the sites near the smaller island of Catalinita. Here you’ll find an exciting mix or aquatic life including black tip sharks, hammerheads and big rays. |
Departing from:
