Danger lurks in feathered form...

There’s one on every dive boat.  You know the guy, the one with so much scuba gear that he clangs when he walks.  His gear is so heavy that the boat lists to the side he chooses to place his dive bag.  Underwater, he uses his computer to calculate depth, air, speed, moon phase and the heart rate of a passing tuna.  It’s Scuba Gear Guy, guaranteed to have all of the latest dive toys and gadgets.

I myself am more partial to paired down diving, opting for the basics and relying on the sea life to provide the entertainment.  But, I’d be lying if I said all of those gadgets aren’t cool.  In fact, I’m amazed at the array of products gear companies have come up with to cater to a diver’s every need and interest.  Some seem pretty handy.  Some seem like a great subject for a humorous scuba diving blog post.  Here are some of my favorites that I have recently come across.

Mares Cyrano 1100 44″ Speargun – What’s better than a spear gun?  A gigantic spear gun.  If you suffer from spear gun size envy, this is the product for you.  Now you can shoot even the largest of majestic underwater creatures with a simple pull of the trigger.  Warning: shoot to kill, or be prepared to be dragged underwater by your enormous prey to the next continent.  Product can be converted to a water skiing rig if used on the surface (tow bar and bathing suit trunk replacements not included).

Sub-Duck Underwater Signaling Device – No sound in nature signals danger more than the quack of a duck.  This underwater horn uses “tiny pulses of air to rapidly vibrate a steel disk” resulting in a “quacking” sound your dive buddy just can’t ignore.  The sales website helpfully suggests “you and your buddy can even set up simple codes for additional communications throughout your dives,” a scenario that when executed correctly will closely resemble a Donald Duck cartoon.  This product also can be heard on the surface up to 0.5 miles away, though side effects include flocks of overeager mallards attempting to hump a diver’s leg after use.

Slurp Gun Extra Large – I swear this came from a dive equipment website and not an adult toy catalog.  The description said “great for capturing lobster and certain kinds of fish,” though even with a great deal of imagination I just can’t seem to figure out how one would apply this product to these tasks.  I am open to suggestions.  Perhaps if they sold it in an adult catalog its use would become more apparent.

Innovative Scuba Laser Stick – Curiously, when this product was listed in the diving catalog as “Battery Operated Flashlight” it saw limited sales.  It glows green, blue or red, the last of which makes the entire product disappear below 15 feet when the red wavelengths disappear (maybe that’s the innovative part).  Comes in a flashing model that prolongs the battery life, enabling you to do the Hustle for 20 hours underwater (disco ball not included).

The Shark Shield – “The Shark Shield incorporates two electrodes, which project the field from the unit and thus create an invisible protective shield that surrounds the user…” Sort of like one of those canine electric fences, but for sea life. Order in the next ten minutes and we’ll include a free can of Turtle Repellent. One question: if it is invisible, how do you know its working?

Lobster Inn w/Zipper – “The most popular collection bag for lobstering.” Lobsters check in, but they can’t check out. When you are ready to eat, just unzip and boil. Comes in your choice of 3 colors, none of which you can see underwater.

Jumbo Instructor/Divemaster Slate  - At 8″ x 11″, this product is perfect for writing an entire novel while underwater or carrying on a lengthy conversation on existentialism with a dive buddy.  Where do you store it during the dive when you aren’t using it?  “Um…Bob…is that a ream of copier paper in your wetsuit?”  People who bought this product should have also bought the Guide to Underwater Hand Signals.

Half Moon Caye Wall, Lighthouse Reef, Belize – Half Moon Wall is an exceptional dive site now included in the newly erected Half Moon Caye National Monument on Lighthouse. With almost no current and typical 100ft+ visibility, this is a site you can enjoy for days on end.   Large and small marine life abounds on the Half Moon Wall reefs. If you want to see garden eels, conch, rays, flounder, star-eye hermit crabs and tilefish, check out the sand flats behind the reefs rimming the wall. Rays and a variety of reef fish forage in this area regularly, too. On the reef, groupers and yellowtail snappers hide out beneath the coral hanging over the reef canyons, while arrow crabs, redbanded coral shrimp and juvenile spotted drums hide in the lavish stands of staghorn coral. Razorfish and toadfish are another common sight on the reef, adjacent to the sloping sand flat. Large pelagics frequent the reef wall. Spotted eagle rays and turtles are most common, but occasionally sharks and large black groupers visit the area.

Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman– Along the western half of Little Cayman’s 10-mile-long  north shore, Bloody Bay is protected not only from fishing and anchoring, but from the prevailing winds.  Surface conditions are typically calm with little or no current. At its shallowest point in Bloody Bay, the wall drop-off begins at a depth of 18 feet and descends to the great beyond.  As vertical as the side of a skyscraper, the only breaks in its facade are narrow, irregular cuts running toward shore. High visibility and great sunlight filtering make for great photo shoots here. Underwater visibility averages 100 feet or more.  Sharks, turtles and several types of rays are commonly found here.   Plenty of smaller fish call the site home as well: horse-eye jacks, parrotfish, triggerfish and many other small tropicals.

West Wall, Grand Cayman – Grand Cayman’s West Wall offers amazing canyon-ways and swim-throughs along with the best consistency and overall variety for both novice and beginner wall divers.  The wall is riddled with tunnels, crevices and passageways and features intricate swim throughs, chutes, caverns and topography.  Divers frequently see spotted eagle rays turtles and (occasionally) sharks.  Black coral can be found near depths of 100ft, usually under outcrop pings or inside tunnels. Large orange elephant ear sponges adorn many walls near depths of 70-130 feet.

Green Outhouse Wall, Roatan- Honduras– A lovely canyon dive with a fascinating maze-like interior wall covered in brain coral, sea fans and gorgonians. A 30ft deep trench beneath the mooring line twists and turns through the reef crest, carving dynamic swim thrus under towering coral heads. Schools of blue tangs and sergeant majors scour this maze for algae while resident lobsters and king crabs watch from the shadows. Plenty of angel fish, big scrawled filefish, durgeons, whitespotted filefish, smooth trunkfish, barracuda and stingrays cruise throughout the site. Close inspection of the rocky floor will reveal camouflaged peacock flounders and diminutive lettuce sea slugs in various brilliant colors and forms oozing their way from stone to stone.  Occasionally, even a sea turtle or spotted eagle ray appears in the vicinity.

Salt River East, St. Croix – A yawning abyss separates Salt River East wall from the West wall.  The East wall is notable for its narrow passageways that cleave the reef to the wall, providing excellent shelter for all manner of sea life.  The East Wall is unfailingly the “fishiest” dive on the North Shore of St. Croix. While horse eye jacks, hogfish, and snappers swim off the wall, the sponge and coral-encrusted slope is covered with schools of black bar soldier fish and striped grunts at 60 ft. Large angel fish, parrot fish and groupers are featured throughout the dive, with the occasional spotted eagle ray or black tip reef shark lurking off the wall. Conch, lobster and crab are also found crawling around in the nooks and crannies. 

 
Scott’s Head Pinnacle, Dominca – Crossing a flat area of coral encrusted rock formations leads to the pinnacle itself. At a depth of only 35 feet, a picturesque swim-through bisects the pinnacle, bringing you to the other side – a steep wall on the inside of the volcanic crater that falls off to more than 120 feet. The swim-through is usually full of blackbar soldierfish, grunts, gnarly rocks and lobster. The wall is dominated by deepwater sea fans, giant barrel sponges and a variety of other colorful smaller sponge types.  Turn around, and out in the blue you can see masses of black jack, bar jacks, rainbow runners, tuna, yellowtail snapper and cero, all pursuing schools of baitfish who dart back and forth in a futile attempt to escape their hunters.

Santa Rosa Wall, Cozumel– Currents surrounding the south-western part of Cozumel bring nutrients to feed the many inhabitants of the underwater reef on top of this wall, keeping it healthy and colorful.  Once over the edge of the abyss, this spot turns into a comfortable entertaining drift dive.  Sponge covered coral heads, gorgonians, azure vase sponges, orange elephant ear sponges, elkhorn coral, pillar coral and sea fans are crammed so close together on the wall it is sometimes hard to see the rock behind it all. Add to the fun some novice level (but no less breathtaking!) swim-throughs, and you’ve got yourself a fantastic dive. If that is not enough, occasionally divers come face to face with a local 20 pound grouper.

Mola Mola

So you want to dive with a Mola Mola (a.k.a. Giant Sunfish)?  These have got to be one of the most bizarre looking fish in the sea.  They  appear as if their bodies have been somehow truncated leaving them little more than a large head equipped with long sweeping fins atop and below.  The body is less than twice as long as it is deep.  To illustrate my point, the name for them in German is schwimmender kopf, meaning “swimming head.” 

They presently hold the record for the world’s heaviest bony fish: a 10 ft long specimen found in 1995 weighed in at 4927 lbs.  Typically silvery in color with a slight opalescent sheen, Molas can exhibit strikingly changeable spotty patterns. They sport tiny little circular mouths which they use to slurp in jellyfish, their primary food source. 

Mola Mola have to be seen to be believed.  Visit these dive spots to increase your chances of seeing them in person:

• The giant Bali Sunfish inhabit the dives sites of Bali all year round. However, the most common time of year to see the Bali Sunfish is from July until November. Two dive sites they favor are Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida.
• At Vincente Roca at the north-eastern tip of the island of Isabela in the Galapagos, Mola Mola can be seen year round.

Whalesharks

So you want to dive with whale sharks?  These filter-feeding sharks are the largest fish in the world. The whale shark is found in tropical and warm oceans and lives in the open sea with a lifespan of about 70 years.  It can grow up to 40 feet long and weigh up to 47,000 lbs., making it an awesome sight to behold.  But, your average family trip to the Florida coast will not bring you in contact with these beauties.  Instead, try planning a visit to these places:

• Whale Sharks can be seen in the Bay of Islands, Honduras from January to April
• Whale Sharks in the Andaman Sea, Thailand from February to April.
• There is a good opportunity to see Whale Sharks off the coast of Zanzibar in February and March
• Whale Sharks arrive at Ningaloo Reef following the coral spawning on the Western Australian coast, and stay around these waters until June
• During the months of April to June, southern Belize offers the opportunity to dive and snorkel with the gentle and curious Whale Shark. The best time to see these creatures is from three days before the full moon to three days after the last quarter moon when the Cubera snapper are spawning
• In November,  Whale Sharks arrive off the Kenya coast and stay until January
• Mexico boasts a huge migration of whale sharks during June through September in the waters surrounding Isla Mujeres and Cancun
• Whale Sharks are often spotted in the Galapagos Islands from May through to August
• There are Whale Shark sightings from May to August as they migrate past Tobago.  May through July sees Whale Sharks migrating between Trinidad and Tobago
• August is when Whale Sharks visit the Seychelles

One point to note – some destinations, such as Honduras, do not allow you to scuba dive with the whale sharks, limiting your experience to snorkel only.  This is a good thing, as it reduces man’s impact on the sea life.  But, if you have your heart set on scuba diving with them it is possible in some places like Belize and the Seychelles.  Contact a dive operator or hotel in advance to get the scoop.

Here fishie, fishie, fishie...

So you want to dive with a Great White Shark?  These toothy wonders average 10-15 feet in length, but can grow up to 21 feet.  They are apex predators equipped with two of the most powerful sensing mechanisms in nature, a highly developed sense of “smell” and the ability to sense the electrical fields radiating from living creatures.  Their favorite snacks are seals, but they will eat almost any living creature they can find in the ocean.  They are not mindless killers as some might suggest, but they have been known to occasionally chew a human (although they are likely to spit us out because the low fat content of our bodies does not taste very good to them).  Sooo…cage diving – what a good idea!

• August through November are the best months to come face to face with the Great White Sharks off Guadalupe Island in Mexican waters. Isla Guadalupe is located 160 miles off the coast of Baja California and over 220 miles southwest of San Diego in open ocean water that has over 100 feet of visibility.
• The Farallon Islands, located along the California coast 26 miles west of San Francisco, boast excellent GWS viewing September thru November.  The water isn’t as clear as off of Guadalupe Island, but the site is so close to shore you can do it as a day trip.
• The best season of the year for shark diving/viewing near the fishing village of Gansbaai, South Africa, is during the months of April to October when the sharks are particularly active in their feeding patterns in “Shark Alley.”
• June through to September is the best time to see Great White Sharks in South Australia around Australia’s largest seal colony.  The famous Neptune Islands boasts clear, blue water where the Spencer Gulf meets the Great Australian Bight.

To chum…or not to chum.  Believe it or not, although you may have been thinking a lot about the GWS before your dive trip, he has not been thinking about you.  The dive company you use will need to do something to attract the attention of one or more of these fish so you can get an up close and personal view of their molars.  Simply calling them by name does not seem to work, so one of two techniques is used: chumming or surface floats.  Chumming involves throwing fish bits and blood in the water, a technique used in most places.  Surface floats are “seal shaped” and bob on the top of the water, impersonating the shark’s favorite snack.   Both activities will impact the shark; after all, if done correctly it will have expended some energy but not actually procured a meal.  However, I have read some arguments that chumming has more of a negative environmental impact than the floats.  Alternatively, some people are just put off by jumping into water that recently absorbed a bunch of fish blood and guts.  I’m not advocating one approach or another, but if you have a preference, make sure to contact a dive operator in advance to get the scoop.

Someone's hungry...

So you want to dive with Manta Rays?  There are few sights more awe inspiring for scuba divers than watching manta rays performing their graceful somersaults. These magnificent creatures are frequently seen feeding alone or in small groups near the surface or hovering at a cleaning station.   So, where can you go to see them? 

Here are some of the best spots, but make sure you go at the right time of year:

• Although spotted year round, April and May are the best times to see Manta Rays in Bali, Indonesia and Komodo, Indonesia
• June through November is the best time to see Manta Rays in the Yasawa Islands in Fiji, especially at the cleaning stations off the coast of Kadavu
• Over 100 Manta Rays live year round in the waters surrounding Yap, Micronesia. In the winter (usually December to late April) the Mantas congregate in even greater numbers in Mi’l Channel for the mating season. During the summer season, they spend their mornings in Goofnuw channel in the Valley of the Rays.
• Head to the east side of the Maldive atolls from May until November for the best sightings of Manta Rays; Manta Rays are found on the west side of the Maldive atolls from December to April.
• Head to Rangiroa, Tahiti for good sightings of Manta Rays. Large numbers of Manta Rays are visible September until October

Throughout the year, you can see the rays at:

• Thailand scuba diving sites such as Koh Bon
• Black Rock in Myanmar,
• Cabo Marshall in the Galapagos Islands
• Offshore from Keahole Airport  in Kona, Hawaii

So you want to dive with Hammerhead Sharks?  This shark’s unusual name comes from the unusual shape of its head, an amazing piece of anatomy built to help it maneuver and maximize the fish’s ability to find its favorite meal: stingrays. The shark’s eye placement, on each end of its very wide head, allows it to scan more area more quickly than other sharks can.

Numerous types of hammerhead sharks can be found throughout the world.  The ten known species range from 3.0 to 20 ft long and weigh from 500 to 1000 pounds.  Hammerheads are pretty nomadic, however, so if you want to increase your chances of seeing one (or more!) on a dive, here are the places and times  to go:

• Tahiti is well known for its shark viewing, notably the island of Rangiroa. From January to February large numbers of Hammerhead Sharks congregate, making this an even more exceptional dive area
• Large numbers of Hammerhead Sharks can be seen at Layang Layang, Malaysia, with March and May being the best time for seeing schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks performing mating rituals
• Head to the east side of the Maldive atolls from May until November when Hammerhead Sharks are common in the shallower waters
• June through August a good time to see Oceanic Hammerheads in Fiji especially around Kadavu
• Hammerhead Sharks most active in the Cocos and Malpelo Islands, as well as the Galapagos Islands, from July through October
• Hammerhead Sharks are seen in the Canary Islands from October to November
• November until March there are good sightings of Hammerhead and Zambezi Sharks in Southern Mozambique
• From November to June there is a good chance of seeing Hammerhead, Zambezi, Bull, and Tiger Sharks at Protea Banks, South Africa

Alexandria offers one of the most interesting diving experiences in the world, with more sites being discovered each year. This part of the Mediterranean boasts no reefs or colorful tropical fish, but rather a wealth of archeological treasures such as sunken cities, palaces and numerous wrecks.  Experts estimate that some 7000 monuments belonging to the Pharaonic and Roman dynasties are preserved under Alexandria’s waves.

The diving around Alexandria can be divided into some logical groupings based on features and historical period.  Some of the more interesting diving includes:

Underwater city of Cleopatra and her Palace – The site is located just inside the Eastern Harbor of Alexandria. The city dates back to 300 BC, and was built by Alexander the Great.  The city collapsed and fell into the sea after several earthquakes. Divers can see Cleopatra’s royal districts, the statue of Mark Anthony, Cleopatra’s sun boat and the wreckage of a 2nd World War plane that exists inside the ruins. Various monuments, carvings and building ruins can be seen throughout the site.

Quaitbay Fort – There are three wrecks to dive in the waters below present-day Quaitbay Fort. Two wrecks were ships used to carry goods to Alexandria during Cleopatra’s era. The third wreck is the remains of a Roman shipwreck also used to carry goods to Alexandria. Though quite old, the ships’ structures and typical nautical characteristics can still be distinguished.

Underwater city of Heracleon – Located at a distance of 4 km from the coast of Abou Kir bay, at depth of 8m, lies the ruined buildings of the city of Heracleon, complete with a nearby pharaonic style temple.  Found in the temple were 3 colossi carved on red granite for Ptolemy & his queen.   Other relics, such as stone monuments, utensils, bronze figures, gold coins and pottery have been recovered at the site, their origin identified as dating from sometime between the 4th. and 1st. centuries BC.  This site continues to produce archeological treasures and demonstrates advanced construction techniques.

Napoleon’s Wrecks – In the late 1700’s, Napoleon Bonaparte began his French invasion of Egypt by landing his fleet in Alexandria.  His flagship, the Orient, exploded and sank in the Battle of the Nile.  At 2700 tons and carrying 120 cannons, this ship makes for a fascinating and well preserved wreck dive. Two other nearby wrecks, the Serieuse and the Artemise were also frigates belonging to Napoleon’s fleet. Artifacts recovered from the wrecks include anchors, cannons, portable firearms, ammunition, navigation instruments, and gold, silver and copper coins.

WWII Wrecks – There are two WWII wrecks near Alexandria.  The HMS Calcutta was a C-class British light cruiser, built by Vickers during 1917, and launched during 1918. Despite to her anti-aircraft weapons, the HMS Calcutta was damaged and sunk by a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber in the waters north-west of Alexandria.  Due to the location, the visibility around this wreck is consistently better than in Alexandria harbor, and the remaining structure is overflowing with sea life.  The second wreck, the HMS Galatea was an Arethusa-class British light cruiser, built in Greenock by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. during 1933, and launched during 1934.  She was intercepted and torpedoed by the German submarine U-557, the explosion scattering the ship’s ruin across the sea floor.  Again, the currents surrounding the wreck deliver superior diving visibility.

Siwa Oasis – This isn’t ocean diving, but the opportunity is still fantastic.  Siwa is located on the edge of the Great Sand Sea approximately 3-hours into the desert by car from Alexandria.  During the Roman Occupation in the early 300 B.C.’s, the Romans modified many of the natural springs that occur here and turned them into wells. The oasis itself is too shallow to dive in, but the surrounding 190 springs and wells offer plenty of unique diving action. The water is crystal clear with fairly constant temps. Typical depths are between 6 and 8 meters with some wells having unique fish varieties which are not native to Egypt. Perhaps the most unique feature, however, is that many contain remains of Roman era construction.

There are some drawbacks to the unique diving in Alexandria.  Dive conditions can be difficult at some sites, with medium to low visibility from silt and pollution.  Also, divers have a limited selection of reputable dive companies to use, as the lack of a large volume of dive tourists makes it difficult to sustain a dive operation.  Finally, government permission to dive some of these sights, like Heracleon, may change without warning as authorities take into account local archeological, political and drug smuggling activities.  But, it seems the challenges may be worth the rewards as few other places in the world allow a diver to combine their sport with such a rich exploration of history.

Sucks if you forget your mask....

The helicopter hovers about 7 feet over the reef.  You’re in full scuba gear, hanging on to the door strap for the “go” signal.  Adrenaline pumping, heart racing you look up to see the pilot’s fist raise in the air, the ultimate green flag in diving, and you let go, plummeting into the depths below.  The entry is exhilarating, then you look around you at the pristine reefs and riot of fish, and your adrenaline peaks again.  This is going to be a very memorable day.

Helicopter diving, or Heli-diving, is slowly but surely increasing in popularity.  For one thing, it makes getting to a dive site a snap.  At places like the Great Barrier Reef it replaces a 90-minute boat trip out to the reef with a quick 10-15 minute scenic flight. The view over the reef before the dive is incredible, giving you a bird’s eye glimpse of the coral maze below.  And, of course, there’s the accompanying adrenaline rush that few other activities could produce.  You’ll have to pay up for the experience; it is definitely not cheap.  But, this is one of those once in a lifetime experiences that takes the sport of scuba to a new extreme.

The number of dive operators offering this experience is increasing. You can explore the Great Barrier Reef, Phuket’s Anemone Reef and Phi Phi Islands, and a number of reefs and wrecks in Curacao, to name but a few.  If you are looking for a more rigorous experience, Global Rescue offers a PADI course in helo-casting or deplaning (hover exit) from a helicopter for both rescue swimmers and Search & Rescue Divers for the SCUBA industry.  No matter how you go about it, it’s sure to be the dive of a lifetime.

One of the lorries on the deck of the Zenobia Wreck

Wreck diving offers a unique twist to the sport – the opportunity to see manmade achievements superimposed on the underwater world.  Whether intentionally sunk or not, these structures provide a playground for ocean creatures and divers alike.  Below are some of our favorite wreck dives here at Scuba-dive.org.

The Thistlegorm, The Umbria, Mid-East Gulf Region –  Many novice divers visit Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt to enjoy some of the most colorful coral reefs in the world, but few are aware of the fascinating wreck diving that is also available here. The Thistlegorm, a British Merchant Navy ship that was sunk by German bombers in WWII, was bombed and sank here in 1941, forever destined to become a fascinating dive site rich in marine life. The 400ft long container ship filled with motorbikes, Bedford trucks and even Lee Enfield rifles sank when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards (rather like opening a tin of sardines) giving divers an inside display of the ships merchandise. This Red Sea dive site has got plenty to see both inside and out, with plenty of marine life around. Sightings of hammer-heads, jacks, trevallies and huge napoleon wrasses are reported here. The only drawback is the site’s busy nature, as it is not uncommon for 20 dive boats stationed above the wreck at a time. In neighboring Sudan, the Italian cargo ship Umbria was scuttled by its crew in 1940 at Wingate Reef after an attack by the British and hit the seabed along with its cargo of unexploded bombs, Fiat Lagunas and wine bottles. Both of these wrecks make up the most interesting dive sites to be found in the Gulf region.

The Blackjack, the SS President Coolidge, South Pacific – Some of the best kept secrets of World War Two lie immortalized beneath the Pacific Ocean. Off the shores of Papua New Guinea at Milne Bay lies the site of Blackjack, a former B17 Bomber aircraft and an intrepid former member of the US 5th Air Force. In 1943 the aircraft took off to attack the Japanese airstrip at Rabaul but crashed into the sea after hitting severe thunderstorms, leaving a relic which even today has remained almost intact. Papua New Guinea’s crystal clear waters and this mint condition aircraft wreck make it a topnotch spot to experience. At Vanuatu in the South Pacific, the SS President Coolidge offers several excellent dive sites of varying depths. Built originally as a luxury cruise liner, the vessel was being used to ferry reinforcements to nearby US bases during the second world war, before the explosion of two mines close to the island’s harbor heralded its final demise to the seabed.  This massive luxury liner, built in 1931 converted into a Second World War troop ship, is more than 600ft long.  Divers can explore it on both shallow and deep dives. To see the whole ship in its entire majestic splendor sitting at the bottom on the sea bed would require at least 10 dives. What you can expect to see other than the ship itself are heaps of military gear including howitzer cannons, a 10-wheel General Motors Corporation truck, jeeps, tracked vehicles, steering wheels and tires.

Fujikawa Maru, Truk, Micronesia – Yes, Micronesia is in the South Pacific, but Truk’s wreck diving so good it gets its own section.  Truk Lagoon, Micronesia is a definite must on any serious wreck divers list. It holds the remains of the almost an entire Japanese fleet including 60 shipwrecks and dozens of sunken air crafts destroyed in 1944. Of these many wrecks to choose from the 7,000 ton freighter Fujukawa Maru is notable as one of the best. This specific wreck stands upright in shallow water, making the 437ft wreck pretty accessible. The bridge area with sake bottles, the engine room and wings in the hold covered in soft coral and frequently circled by grey reef makes this an exciting wreck to dive.

The Zenobia, Mediterranean – Head for Larnaca Bay in Cyprus to see one of the world’s most interesting wrecks. The Zenobia, a Swedish built ferry, has been lying on the seabed here since it sank in 1980 on its maiden voyage to Syria, after the computerized pump system for the ballast developed faults. The fact that the vessel was carrying £200 million worth of cargo including over 100 articulated lorries makes this a truly fascinating undersea treasure trove.

Felipe Xicotencatl, Laguna Mandinga, Patzcuaro, Cozumel – It’s best known for drift diving on sheer vertical walls, but you can enjoy wrecks in Cozumel, too. Take the Felipe Xicotencatl, for example, better known as the C-53. It was originally built as a U.S. Navy minesweeper, measuring 184 feet long with a 33-foot beam. In 1962, she was sold to the Mexican Navy for a dollar, converted to a gun boat and renamed the Felipe Xicotencatl C-53. She patrolled the Mexican Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico until 1999, when she was decommissioned, donated to the Cozumel Marine Park and laid to rest in 82 feet of water off Chankanaab. The marine park has recently restricted access there, so you dive it at your own risk, but it’s generally believed to be safe and she remains one of Cozumel’s most popular dives. Hurricane Wilma spun the C-53 around and broke her in two, and her average depth of 65 feet makes her a perfect second dive. Also upping the ante for wreck divers are two naval patrol vessels intentionally sunk just outside the marine park: the 85-foot Laguna Mandinga and the 42-foot Patzcuaro. At less than 40 feet, divers and snorkelers alike can enjoy them.

SS Yongala, Gothenberg, HMAS Brisbane, GBR - The SS Yongala is a 350-foot-plus luxury passenger ship and freighter that sits smack dab on the world’s largest reef. She went down in a cyclone and sat undisturbed in 50 to 100 feet of water 50 miles off Townsville for almost 50 years, until it was discovered in 1958. Today, it’s arguably one of the GBR’s most popular dive spots, an artificial reef sitting in the midst of the world’s largest real one, clouded by yellowtail demoiselles and Maori wrasse, sea snakes, turtles, grouper and the occasional tiger shark. A protected historic wreck, the Gothenberg isn’t intact but offers shallow depths (maximum 60 feet) for beginning wreck divers.  Reef sharks are often seen in the area. Another popular Queensland wreck is the 440-foot U.S.-built, Australian guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane, which served in Vietnam and the first Gulf War, and now rests in 115 feet of water off the Gold Coast. Large holes have been strategically cut along the entire length of both sides of the ship to allow divers easy entry and exit. It is virtually impossible to get lost inside the ship or become entangled.  Green wrasse, octopi, turtles, scorpion fish and many other interesting sea creatures can be found here.

USS Oriskany, Florida – If the idea of exploring the largest artificial reef in the world inspires you, head to the Gulf of Mexico and dive the USS Oriskany at Pensacola, which was scuttled here in May 2006. A former US navy aircraft carrier, the ‘Mighty-O’ enjoyed a naval career that began in 1950, serving in the Korean War as well as Vietnam. Much can be seen at shallow depths here including the vessel’s gun platforms. But, for a more close encounter with the wreck, the Oriskany dive is a deep dive.

More Wrecks than You can Count, Bahamas – The Bahamas-assembled from more than 700 sandy spits of land sprinkled over an ocean area the size of Wyoming-forms the bottom leg of the Bermuda Triangle. It’s no wonder the islands offer some of the region’s best wreck diving. Off New Providence-home to Nassau and two-thirds of the Bahamas’ population-there are a handful of interesting wrecks tended by a rather sizeable population of reef sharks. Offerings here include the Willaurie, the “Bond” wrecks (movie props including the Tears of Allah from Never Say Never Again and Vulcan bomber from Thunderball), Caribe Breeze, Bahama Mama, Steel Forest (actually three wrecks-the Captain Fox, Fenwick Stirrup and the Manana) and Ray of Hope. The Hope is both a wreck and a big animal encounter-Stuart Cove’s does a very enthusiastic shark feed on it. Other greats include Bimini’s Sapona and Bimini Barge and Grand Bahama’s Theo’s Wreck and Sugar Wreck.

HMCS Yukon, John C. Butler, The Delphy, Chauncey II, Fuller, Woodbury III, S.P. Lee, Nicholas and the Young, California – The sinking of the 366-foot Canadian destroyer HMCS Yukon to create an artificial reef in 2000-the West Coast’s biggest-may have shined new light on the Golden State’s wreck offerings, but local divers have been enjoying dozens of submerged boats for decades. Not too far from the Yukon is the S-37, a 219-foot steel submarine that saw some action in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Her infamously cramped quarters and leaking engine made her despised by her crew. She was ultimately depth-charged by her foes and, as a final insult, used for aerial target practice in 1945, sinking in 30 feet of water off Imperial Beach. The 306-foot destroyer escort John C. Butler sits off San Clemente Island in 60 to 80 feet of water, another war veteran that fought in famed battles including those in Palau, Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Another interesting dive is the 100-foot El Rey, which harvested kelp off Southern California and logged more than 800,000 miles. Near Lompoc, in what is generally considered to be the worst peacetime disaster in U.S. Naval history, seven destroyers wrecked on the rocky reefs at Point Pedernales. The Delphy, Chauncey II, Fuller, Woodbury III, S.P. Lee, Nicholas and the Young are all 314-foot steel destroyers lying in depths above 40 feet with visibility ranging from nil to 50 feet.