One of the most magical parts about diving is having the opportunity of an intimate experience examining and appreciating the wonderfully colourful world of coral reefs, and all the life that calls it home. To mark World Reef Day in June, we’ve teamed up with PADI to discover some of their Favourite Reef Dives
1. Indonesia: The Coral Triangle
Raja Ampat is located at the intersection of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, right in the heart of the prestigious Coral Triangle. The powerful deep sea currents funnel nutrients into the coral reefs, making Raja Ampat a ‘species factory’. Home to over 600 species of hard coral, or about 75% of the total in the entire world, Raja Ampat contains the richest coral reefs on earth and thus welcomes everything from sharks to manta rays and whales.
Best time to dive in Indonesia: October – April
2. Australia: Coral Conservation Expeditions
Sign yourself up for an all-immersive, multi-day expedition through the Great Barrier Reef with No Limit Adventures. The itinerary is created to offer a deep dive into conservation, where you will get your PADI Open Water Diver certification, help monitor the resilience of the surrounding reefs, and support the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. Led by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, you will get over a dozen dives while on this multi-day liveaboard.
Best time to dive in Australia: year-round, but November is the best month for coral spawning
3. Fiji: The Soft Coral Capital of the World
Leading the way in nature-based tourism are the 333 islands of Fiji, which have taken a destination-wide approach to ensure that Fiji remains the Soft Coral Capital of the World. Even after Cyclone Winston ripped through the South Pacific in 2016, the damaged reefs have completely rebounded thanks to the extra love and nurturing from locals and tourists alike.
One of the best success stories and places to dive with coral in Fiji is Waya Island in the Yasawas. With house reefs creating a sparkly sensation of underwater hues as soon as you enter from the shoreline, you can easily spend hours snorkeling, diving and simply admiring the purples, oranges, pinks and blues of the corals.
Best time to dive in Fiji: July to December
4. Belize: Corals Fit for Royals
The Belize Barrier Reef is perhaps one of the most amazing success stories, having actually been removed from the UNESCO list of World Heritage in Danger. The conservation efforts led by local communities have shown the true power that grassroots efforts can have for real ocean change. In fact, earlier this year Prince William and Kate Middleton dove into the Belize Barrier Reef. They surfaced, absolutely praising the country for its incredible marine conservation work.
While the Blue Hole is the most iconic spot within the world’s largest reef system, there are tons of other great spots within the reef to explore as well. This includes the Turneffe Atoll, which is the largest atoll in Belize and has a perfectly formed ring-shaped reef creating crystal clear lagoons to dive in.
Best time to dive in Belize: April to June
5. Philippines: The Seventh Wonder of the World
Tubbataha National Park has just recently been dubbed as the Seventh Wonder of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and for good reason. With there being a special array of over 100 different types of coral, and home to a dozen different species of whale, words really cannot describe how sensational diving here is.
Best time to dive in Phillippines: March to June
6. French Polynesia: A Photographer’s Paradise
The Fakarava Atoll in French Polynesia is not only a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve but equally the dream spot for any underwater photographer. With an abundance of diversity in healthy reefs teeming with hard corals, and home to grey reef sharks, humpback whales, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, and mantas, it can be overwhelming to choose what shot you want to capture.
Best time to dive in French Polynesia: year-round, with July-December also being humpback whale season
7. Egypt: The Speedy Success Story
The Red Sea is one of the world’s most recent success stories, with corals so healthy and in such abundance, you will find it hard to believe that the coastline is a sandy, barren desert.
The current here plays a big factor in keeping the corals clean and bringing in a steady flow of zooplankton to keep the reefs nourished, making the coral gardens some of the fastest-growing on the planet. The best case study for this is Sharm-el-Sheikh, which, thanks to the healthy reef ecosystem, is now welcoming back larger marine species like grey sharks and whale sharks. One reef not to miss is the Ras Nasrani long coral wall, which is perfect for all experience levels in the ocean.
Best time to dive in Egypt: March-May or September-November
To get started on your PADI Open Water Diver Course, contact your local PADI Dive Centre
For more information visit www.padi.com
