What to See Diving

With so many dive destinations across the globe, it can be difficult to work out where best to see particular varieties of marine life. Here we provide information on some of the different species that may be of interest as you think about booking your next trip, along with recommendations for where best to see them. The list is by no means exhaustive - Coral, Sharks, Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, Macro, Marine Mammals and All-Round – it merely represents some of things that get us excited about diving here at Dive in Style. And, of course, we’re always here to advise you when it’s the best time of year to see them. If you want to learn more, call us. We would be happy to discuss. If the weather above the surface is a more important consideration, visit our ‘When to Go’ section, or if you have a particular destination in mind, try our ‘Where to Go’ section. Coral   Corals are tiny animals that live together in colonies to form coral reefs. These reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by the corals, and which grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters. Reefs are one of the most biologically diverse habitats on the planet, and play host to an extraordinary variety of marine plants and animals. In fact, although coral reefs occupy less than one per cent of the world’s surface, they are home for 25 per cent of all marine species. Sadly they are also one of the world's most fragile and endangered ecosystems.   There are a huge number of different corals, but most are classified as either hard corals or soft corals. Hard corals are the building blocks of coral reefs as it is these that secrete the calcium carbonate. Soft corals do not have a hard skeleton and are often bendy, with a leathery feel. These corals often have wood-like cores made of calcium for support and fleshy rinds for protection; they can also display truly vibrant colours under torch or flash light.   There are three main types of coral reef: fringing reefs, which are the most common and exist along a coastline; barrier reefs that grow parallel to shorelines but are farther from shore and are usually separated from the land by a deep lagoon, and finally coral atolls, which are rings of coral reef growing on top of old sunken volcanoes in the ocean. They begin as fringing reefs surrounding a volcanic island; then, as the volcano sinks, the reef continues to grow, and eventually only the reef remains.

Three top destinations for coral

Dive Australia - Lizard Island Lodge Lizard Island, situated at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef, is home to little more than a Marine Research Station, a luxury hotel, a population of large lizards, and some world-class diving.

Dive Indonesia - Wakatobi Dive Resort, Sulawesi The location could not be more exotic, dangling like an earring off the southern tip of Sulawesi in the Banda Sea. And with about 400 species of coral and 700 species of fish, Wakatobi is not to be missed.

Dive Indonesia - Silolona - Boat Named after the magical boat of local legend, the Silolona liveaboard provides the ultimate way to dive, snorkel or just visit the remote islands of Indonesia.

Other Top Destinations: Dive Indonesia – Amanikan - Boat | Dive Egypt - Four Seasons Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula | Dive French Polynesia - Pearl Beach Tikehau | Dive Fiji - Wakaya Club

Top of Page

Sharks   Let’s face it, sharks have a bad reputation, thanks in no small part to Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic Jaws. However, we – and most divers – think these magnificent creatures should be admired rather than feared. These fish have been around since before the dinosaurs, diversifying along the way into some 400 different species from the tiny six inch dwarf lanternshark, to the biggest fish in the sea, the harmless whale shark, that reaches in excess of 40 feet in length. In between is an incredible array of beautiful fish. Common varieties that you are likely to encounter on our trips include white and black tip reef shark, grey reef shark, bull shark, nurse shark and hammerhead shark.

Three top destinations for sharks

Dive French Polynesia - Four Seasons Bora Bora Crystalline turquoise waters, pure white sand, swaying palms, cobalt blue sky…Add the colourful and exotic culture of the Polynesians and a twist of Gallic flair, and you have somewhere truly special.

Dive French Polynesia - Pearl Beach Tikehau Jacques Cousteau once described the atoll of Tikehau as richer in fish life than any other lagoon in the world. Praise indeed, even decades later.

Dive Mozambique - Vamizi The Maluane Conservation Area comprises three Indian Ocean islands (one being Vamizi) and a 33,000 hectare inland wildlife safari area, but it’s the wildlife beneath the waves that wins hands down.

Other Top Destinations: Dive Egypt – Four Seasons Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula | Dive the Maldives – Soneva Fushi | Dive the Maldives – Four Seasons Explorer - Boat | Dive Palau – Palau Pacific, Koror | Dive the Caribbean - Amanyara, Turks and Caicos

Top of Page

Whale Sharks   The whale shark is one of nature’s most incredible creatures. By far the largest fish in the sea, it can grow to in excess of 40 feet and weigh over 20 tonnes. This gentle giant is a filter feeder whose favourite meal is plankton. In order to feed, it juts out its formidable jaws and sucks in everything in the vicinity. It then shuts its mouth, forcing water to filter out of its gills. Everything that remains becomes the giant shark's dinner.   With a preference for warm waters, whale sharks populate every tropical sea but are notoriously difficult to spot but, naturally, we know the best places to see them. Among other destinations, they are known to migrate every spring to the continental shelf of the central west coast of Australia. The coral spawning of the area's Ningaloo Reef provides the whale shark with an abundant supply of plankton. An encounter with one of these beautiful giant’s is something you will never forget.

Three top destinations for whale sharks

Dive Belize - Turtle Inn, Placencia A marine park since 2001 thanks to a groundbreaking initiative by Friends of Nature and the Belizean government, this is a site where, at the right time of year, diving or snorkelling with whale shark is virtually guaranteed.

Dive Mexico - Hotel Maroma Resort and Spa, Yucatán Peninsula The Yucatán Peninsula in south-east Mexico separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. On the Caribbean side, the coastline offers pure white-sand beaches, calm blue waters and excellent diving.

Dive the Maldives - Soneva Fushi by Six Senses Soneva Fushi is set on the privately owned tropical island paradise of Kunfunadhoo in the Northern Maldives, one of the 1,190 islands and atolls which make up this far-flung  nation, and surely one of the most idyllic of a pretty idyllic bunch.

Other Top Destinations: Dive the Maldives – Four Seasons Explorer - Boat | Dive Oman – Zighy Bay | Dive Mozambique – Marlin Lodge, Benguerra Island | Dive Indonesia – Amanikan - Boat | Dive Costa Rica - Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo

Top of Page

Manta Rays   The graceful manta, the largest of the rays with a wingspan of as much as 24 foot, glides through the water much like a bird through the air. Closely related to the shark, these gentle giants feed on plankton, fish larvae and the like, filtered from the water passing through their gills as they swim. Interestingly they have the largest brain-to-body ratio of all sharks and rays, which may explain why they are often found to be so playful with humans.   Mantas live in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. They prefer open water close to the surface, only dropping to the floor to have parasites removed by cleaner wrasse. Mantas usually travel alone, but can sometimes be seen in groups when there is a zooplankton swarm.

Three top destinations for manta rays

Dive the Maldives - Four Seasons Explorer - Boat Four Seasons Explorer barely counts as a liveaboard, more a floating Four Seasons resort that just happens to have a first-class dive set-up onboard. You don't need to be a diver to enjoy this..

Dive Palau - Palau Pacific, Koror Located midway between the Philippines and Guam in the western part of the Caroline Islands (otherwise known as Micronesia), the nation's claim to fame is now world-class diving and stunning topography.

Dive Fiji - Wakaya Club Life (and the diving) is beautifully simple at the Wakaya Club. This immaculate private island retreat is just 40 minutes by turboprop from Fiji itself, and once in resort, life could not be easier.

Other Top Destinations: Dive the Maldives – Soneva Fushi | Dive Indonesia – Silolona - Boat | Dive Costa Rica - Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo | Dive French Polynesia – Four Seasons Bora Bora | Dive Australia – Lizard Island Lodge

Top of Page

Macro   Most divers want the big stuff, but there are so many beautiful tiny creatures in the sea that it would be a shame to ignore them. For macro divers, small is most definitely beautiful. They are not blown away by a manta or a shark gliding past - they just want to get up close with the marine creatures of lesser stature but no less fascination. Pygmy seahorses, pipefish and commensal shrimps, anyone? The sheer variety of life that is encompassed by the word ‘macro’ is too much to list here but suffice to say that almost anywhere you dive there will be something of considerable beauty. To find the best, you’ll need to head for habitats that tend to be in shallow areas free from the dangers posed by larger reef predators, as these areas not only allow juveniles to develop, but also allow other creatures to dominate the food chain. Areas must also be protected from strong currents, swells, and surf, as these would destroy the delicate balance and structure of the environment. Small bays, lagoons and coves, are often suitable as macro sites for this reason.

Three top destinations for macro

Dive Indonesia - Wakatobi Dive Resort, Sulawesi The location could not be more exotic, dangling like an earring off the southern tip of Sulawesi in the Banda Sea. And with about 400 species of coral and 700 species of fish, Wakatobi is not to be missed.

Dive the Maldives - Soneva Fushi by Six Senses Soneva Fushi is set on the privately owned tropical island paradise of Kunfunadhoo in the Northern Maldives, one of the 1,190 islands and atolls which make up this far-flung  nation, and surely one of the most idyllic of a pretty idyllic bunch.

Dive Indonesia - Amanwana, Moyo Perhaps best described as a five-star nature reserve, Amanwana is part of the exclusive Aman group of hotels and set on the nature reserve of Moyo Island, just to the east of Bali in Indonesia.

Other Top Destinations: Dive Palau – Palau Pacific, Koror | Dive Tanzania – Fundu Lagoon, Pemba | Dive Mozambique – Vamizi | Dive the Maldives – Four Seasons Explorer - Boat | Dive Thailand – Amanpuri, Phuket

Top of Page

Marine Mammals   For those looking to swim or dive with some of the largest creatures in the oceans, there are some 120 varieties of ocean-dwelling mammal or ones that depend on the ocean for food. Probably of most interest to divers and non-divers alike are the cetacean species that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises.   Bubbles tend to scare whales and dolphins so unless you are very lucky it is unlikely you will get to dive with these incredible mammals. Having said that, a snorkel or swim with a humpback or minke whale is an experience never to be forgotten.

Three top Destinations for marine mammals

Dive the Caribbean - Turks and Caicos Aggressor II - Boat The Turks & Caicos Islands has some exceptional diving, with more than 1,000 square miles of coral reef encircling the islands, excellent wall diving and a healthy marine environment

Dive Costa Rica – Four Seasons Papagayo Peninsula This is the finest diving on Central America’s Pacific coast, with the notable exception of the Cocos Islands, a few hundred miles offshore and only reachable by liveaboard.

Dive French Polynesia – Four Seasons Bora Bora Crystalline turquoise waters, pure white sand, swaying palms, cobalt blue sky…Add the colourful and exotic culture of the Polynesians and a twist of Gallic flair, and you have somewhere truly special.

Other Top Destinations: Dive Belize – Turtle Inn, Placencia | Dive the Caribbean - Amanyara, Turks and Caicos | Dive Tanzania – Fundu Lagoon, Pemba | Dive Mozambique – Vamizi

Top of Page

All-Round   When you can’t decide what exactly it is that you want to see. Or if you are more interested in the all-round experience, there are a number of destinations that have a bit of everything. This is not to say that they will be devoid of the specialist marine life - more that they are solid all-rounders when it comes to coral and fish life. The variety found at these destinations is truly breathtaking and virtually guarantees a great experience where no two trips beneath the waves are the same.

Three top all-round destinations

Dive Egypt - Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula At the tip of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Sharm el-Sheikh still offers some of the best diving to be had in the Red Sea.

Dive the Philippines - Amanpulo, Pamalican Amanpulo means ‘peaceful island’ in the local language of Pamalican, and you fill find a seemingly endless stretch of the finest white sand sloping into clear turquoise waters.

Dive Mozambique - Marlin Lodge, Benguerra Island Benguerra lies within a National Marine Park and its warm tropical waters and reefs offer some of the finest diving and snorkelling sites in the world.

Other Top Destinations: Dive Mozambique – Vamizi | Dive the Maldives – Soneva Fushi | Dive the Maldives – Four Seasons Explorer - Boat | Dive Fiji – Wakaya | Dive Oman – Zighy Bay

Top of Page