For every dive, there is a season, dive dive dive. Well, the song and bible verse may not say that exactly like that, but the feeling is there. In the northeast, where I live, our short dive season is over except for a few ice divers getting ready for their diving season. Still, there is a whole world waiting for divers. Looking for the best places for a dive vacation in 2024? Many divers only have a few weeks and may have limitations on when they can take a vacation. To get you in the planning mood for your next dive vacation, I am going to make some suggestions by season. I am going to exclude locations that are best for very experienced divers, as well as those that are very expensive. Also, This article will focus on warm water dives. Let’s look at some dive destinations sorted by season for your next dive vacation, For every dive there is a season, dive dive dive.
Where Should You Scuba Dive This Winter?
The snowbirds have it right, when the first snowflakes appear it is time to head south for warmer weather. Florida and the Caribbean are popular destinations. This does make some destinations very crowded, but still, there are great destinations for the scuba diver. Here are a few suggestions for dive vacations in 2024:
Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula: The Yucatán Peninsula is in the southeast portion of Mexico and continues to contain a portion of Belize and Guatemala. The northern edge of the peninsula is where you will find Cancun and the separation of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. South of Cancun is the area called the Mayan Rivera. More of a marketing effort to establish tourism beyond Cancun, it stretches 75 miles south of Cancun along the Caribbean coast. It has outstanding beaches as well as cultural sites. Playa del Carmen is one of the most popular destinations in the region and is just an hour by bus from the Cancun International Airport. The scuba diving here is very good and the nightlife inviting while still retaining the local culture. Playa del Carmen is the transfer point for ferries to Cozumel. Cozumel has some of the best diving in the world. Tulum, a city known for its Mayan ruins, other cultural activities, and great beaches, is an hour south of Playa del Carmen. In 2024, Tulum will open a new international airport with direct flights from the US. This will provide additional travel opportunities for those traveling to Tulum as well as Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. I will be spending most of my winter here.
Cayman Islands: The Cayman Islands have often been called the birthplace of recreational scuba diving. The Cayman Islands are made up of three main islands, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Over 95% of the country’s population lives on Grand Cayman. The Cayman Islands has over 365 registered dive sites. There is diving for all types of warm water divers. Wall dives and wreck dives are some of the most popular sites.
·Philippines: The Philippines should not really be considered a single destination since there are so many outstanding destinations within the country. Subic Bay and Coron vie for the title of the Philippine wreck capital. Both have numerous shipwrecks available for recreational divers. Subic also has a selection of aircraft and even a half-track that no one can figure out how it ended up in deep water. The Province of Cebu has at least four major dive destinations. The Metro Cebu City has diving around Mactan which offers drift dives, wall dives, and outstanding coral reefs. Further south of the city is Oslob which is known for its whale shark encounters. To the west of the island is the Tanon Strait, known for outstanding dives and high biomass. Off the north coast is Malapascua. The outstanding diving around this island is often overshadowed by the cleaning station for thresher sharks. It is the only location where you have daily sightings of these sharks. If you must pick only one location, many divers will tell you to head for Puerto Galera. Located about an hour south of Manila by bus then a short ferry ride, PG is a must-do destination. It is located at the west end of the Verde Island Passage. This is one of the most biodiverse marine regions in the world. Scientists are still finding new species each year. Also, if bad weather impacts a dive site, other dive sites will be protected from the weather. On the negative side, airfare can be expensive and almost impossible to get in late December for arrivals and early January for departures due to Filipinos who work outside the country coming home for Christmas.
Where Should I Go for Spring Dive Vacations in 2024?
Speaking of traveling in the spring, the term spring breaks pops into the minds of most people. College students and some high school students head to warm destinations for some wild times. Beaches and the nightlife are a strong draw, leading to Florida and some Caribbean destinations. However, the students and their teachers are not the only ones looking for escape. An early spring trip is the perfect prescription for cabin fever. The winter destinations are still great choices, however, here are a few additional destinations to consider for your dive vacations in 2024:
Belize: Belize does not get the spring break crowd. For the most part, you will not find lively nightlife here, except while doing night dives. Diving here in the spring is a special treat, as numerous species gather here for breeding, attracting large pelagic, most notable being whale sharks. Our previous article on Belize will give you more details.
Australia: Another destination that is more than one. Two destinations, thousands of miles apart, attract divers from around the world. While diving is great year-round in Australia April to June provides some of the best diving. While I am listing this as a springtime dive, it is really their autumn. As colder waters come into play in the Antarctic, migratory species head to the warmer waters around Australia:
The Great Barrie Reef: Diving is always great on the GBR, still it is something extraordinarily special at this time of the year. Dwarf Mink Whales start migrating into the GBR generally around April, with the population peaking in June. A limited number of dive operators have permits to study these marine mammals and conduct scuba dives with them. Also, during this period, several other marine mammals and shark species migrate into the area to spend the winter. Visibility is generally outstanding, both within the barrier reef’s lagoon and along the deeper walls ocean side of the reef.
Ningaloo Marine Park: While the GBR is the focus of scuba diving on the east coast of Australia, the west coast has something very special as well. The Ningaloo Marine Park is a portion of a World Heritage Site. The Ningaloo Reef is remote, however, it is an easy destination to fly into. The reef is a fringing reef. Unlike a barrier reef that is far from shore, a fringing reef comes very near the land, often within feet of the low tide mark. Ningaloo Reef is one of the largest fringing reefs in the world, with many scientists considering it the largest. It also has one of the highest biodiversity in the world. UNESCO criterion credits it with over 300 coral species, 700 reef fish species, 650 mollusks and 600 crustacean species. There are an estimated 10,000 turtle nests each year as well. An algae bloom and fish spawning in this season lure approximately 500 whale sharks to the area. You will likely find large pods of humpback whales, other species of marine mammals, and manta rays. In addition to the somewhat shallow fringing reef, there are deep drop-offs with wall dives, drift dives, and caves/caverns.
It Is Summer Vacation Time
I think most divers already have some good diving locations picked out for the summer. I would suggest checking out a few coast locations that have a limited season for your Dive vacations in 2024:
North Carolina: The Graveyard of the Atlantic is a good choice during the summer.
California: The marine parks along the California coast are also at their best this time of the year.
It is Autumn, and Diving Season Coming To The End
While colder shorter winter days are rapidly approaching, there is still some good diving available. Here are a few places to consider for fall dive vacations in 2024.
Florida: We have done a full series of articles on the different diving and snorkeling destinations in Florida. In my view, the fall is the best time to go diving here, especially in the later part. Prices are generally lower as children are back at school and snowbirds have not flown south yet. Diving conditions are generally very good, and we are reaching the end of the hurricane season. Manatees are starting to head closer to the river and spring heads.
ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao generally referred to as the ABC islands are located just off the coast of South America. This is also the low season for the islands, and you can often find very good deals. These islands are often rated as some of the best diving in the world, with Bonaire often listed as the best shore diving in the world. Also, the ABC islands are outside the hurricane belt, so disruption of your dive vacation by weather is extremely rare.
Where Will You Go for Your Dive Vacations in 2024?
I hope that this article has gotten you started thinking of your next dive vacation. While you are at it, look over your equipment and see what you may want to update or add. Great time to start dropping hints for Santa to start shopping.
