by Will McGough
Last updated: 3:00 PM ET, Mon December 5, 2016
With just about every coastal country in the world offering scuba diving, there's no limit to the number of opportunities under the sea. From the warm Caribbean to the frigid Arctic, the ocean invites divers to explore its hidden secrets and its beautiful, diverse ecosystems, and everyone has a different opinion about where to find the best. Some people like warm water and vibrant reefs, some people like shipwrecks, and others prefer cold, clear kelp forests.
At the end of the day, it boils down to preferences, and perhaps a little bit of everything is the best recipe. But, just for fun, we decided to ask the best of the best for some of their favorite dive sites on the planet. Each year, the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame meets in the Cayman Islands, and we had the opportunity to catch up with them as they inducted their new members last month.
These recommendations come from Leslie Leaney, a 2012 U.S. Inductee and the executive director of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF); Dan Orr, a 2014 ISDHF U.S. Inductee for developing divers' training programs; And Stuart Cove, 2016 ISDHF U.S. Inductee for his underwater videography.
Here are some of the best dive sites in the world, according to the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame:
Trinity Caves, Grand Cayman
Orr's Description: One of my very first dives in Grand Cayman was in 1975. The dive site was at Trinity Caves. The dive started at the top of the reef where you entered a swim through coming out on the spectacular Cayman Wall. I can still remember gliding across the top of the reef, greeted by a green sea turtle. We descended, surrounded by a living coral tunnel, before coming out of the swim thru with the reef dropping away into the azure blue depths of the Caribbean. The wall was festooned with sponges and gorgonians and alive with reef fish. We hung there, suspended in time, taking it all in, almost afraid to breathe lest we waste a precious minute of the experience of a lifetime.
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Blue Corner (Palau) and Cabbage Patch (Yap)
Leaney's Description: In the Pacific, I would agree with the majority that hanging out at the Blue Corner in Palau is hard to beat. ISDHF inductee's Ernie Brooks, Geri Murphy, and I spent a week there. We also checked out Yap with Bill Acker's manta ray operation which was different but just as spectacular in its own way. I came up from one dive there and was speechless. The location was Cabbage Patch and it was like an underwater Grand Canyon. Plus, Bill's shark dive is the best any of us had ever witnessed. I recall we agreed that we had dove Yap and Palau to a draw.
Stargate Blue Hole, Andros
Cove's Description: I have always been aware of the Blue Hole and cave diving on and around the island of Andros, but not being cave certified I have never really been inside one to any great distance. A friend of mine Rob Palmer told me of a Blue Hole named 'Stargate' in southern Andros. He painted a picture in my mind that I have carried with me for 30 years, and it was not until on location with a film production team last month that I was finally able to see it for myself. In the process of getting cave certified, I entered the cave system with my instructor and have trouble finding the words to describe what lay before me. A cathedral of 20ft crystals and huge walls, scouring 100ft in both directions. I will never forget this dive and only wish Rob was still around for me to tell him.
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Addu Atoll, Maldives
Leaney's Description: I dove Addu Atoll at the bottom of the Maldives Islands chain in the Indian Ocean in 1970. Hans Hass (original inductee in 2000) had dove there 13 years earlier so it was a great thrill. The reefs and marine life were simply stunning. I remember leveling off at 200 feet on the outside reef and looked up and could clearly see the small dive boat we used. That's some amazing clarity!
Red Sea at Aquaba, Jordan
Leaney's Description: There was nothing there in the early 70s. Only one hotel. Very very primitive conditions, but the diving was breathtaking. I was employed by the Royal Palace to research the possibility of starting a dive center there and was diving alone from a small motor launch with one crewman. No other boats and no other divers for miles. Most of the time I was probably the only diver in the waters of Jordan for days on end. It felt like I had the whole ocean to myself and the blizzard of fishes that were my companions. Plus, the locals were just fascinated that you could go underwater and stay there. It was an amazing cultural experience. Today, there are many opportunities to dive recreationally.
Hall of Fame Sidebar:
Started in 2000, the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame is dedicated to the pioneers of diving, celebrating their contributions in the field of dive travel, entertainment, art, equipment design and development, education, exploration and adventure. Each year, the Cayman Islands hosts the annual Dinner and Induction Ceremony, where the pioneers, artists and entrepreneurs are presented with awards for their contributions to the sport. The Board of Directors of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame maintain the high standards of the Hall of Fame and oversee the prestigious induction ceremony. These Board members are internationally recognized individuals who have contributed to the sport, are actively involved in the scuba diving industry, and are leaders of their local dive communities.
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