Best Places To Dive In 2017 January 1, 1970 by lukesheppard

It’s a new year and that means new dives! But are you struggling to decide where? Here are some of our picks of the best places to dive in 2017.  

CENOTE DOS OJOS, PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO

The Dos Ojos is a popular dive site in Mexico due to the fact it has one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world. Some of the Dos Ojos caves were even featured in the IMAX film Journey Into Amazing Caves. The water temperature of this cenote is between 24 to 25 degrees throughout the year and a max depth of 10 metres; with its crystal clear waters you can see the caves structures and plenty of fish. The Cenote is 17 kilometres from Tulum and if you just fancy a bit of snorkelling it’s great for all the family.  

BARI REEF, BONAIRE

The Bari reef is the number one spot for fish diversity in the Caribbean. It is home to over 300 species, which includes Barracuda, Needlefish, soapfish, trumpetfish and goatfish to name a few. You start on the beach with a minimal current making this an easy shore entry to see the most diverse ecosystem in the world. If you’re a coral fan then head to Bari Reef in August, which is when the Coral Spawn occurs. The reef drop off starts at 25 to 30 metres and bottoms out as 130 metres but it’s a great dive no matter your experience. And lastly if you’re a fan of squid they love to scuttle along the terrace area.  

DEVIL’S GROTTO, GRAND CAYMAN

Devils Grotto is one of the most popular dive sites in the Cayman Islands. The Grotto is home to Tarpon, silversides, parrotfish and even Barracuda. The site is perfect for diving as well as all types of snorkelers. The best time to visit this dive site is between March and June when the water is at it’s clearest and calmest making it perfect to see all types of sea life. And because of the clear waters it’s also perfect to explore the Devil’s Grotto’s many mazes, tunnels and of course Grottos.  

MARY’S PLACE, ROATAN, BAY ISLANDS

If you’re looking for a breathtaking rocky canyon to explore then Mary’s Place has to be on your list. It’s famous for its cracks and deep crevices, that were formed by intense volcanic activity. This dive site is over 40 metres deep and it takes around 10 minutes to get to get there via a boat from the shore. Mary’s place has over 15 metres of visibility making it perfect to see all types of sea life. This includes stingrays, eels, octopus, nudibranchs, catfish and many more.  

PALANCAR REEF, COZUMEL, MEXICO

When it comes to the Cozumel Reef the star attraction is the Palancar Reef. This reef is made from 4 separate coral reefs and is home to sea turtles, rays, nurse sharks, lobsters and plenty of other sea life. To really appreciate the reef, regular boats take divers and snorkelers out 1.2 miles from shore. Divers can see huge brain corals and it also features swim though tunnels.   Which one would you love to dive? Or have you been to any of them? We would love to know so comment below…. safe diving.