2010 Top 100 Readers' Choice Survey - Diving for Advanced Divers
Diving for Advanced Divers
CARIBBEAN & ATLANTIC 1. Cayman Islands Cayman is accessible for all levels of diver, but what it has over other destinations for the more advanced crowd are the deep walls that attract tec divers the world over. Not only are they steep, they’re deep too — some, like the famous North Wall, descend into the depths as far as the eye can see. Another draw is the wreck of the Carrie Lee, a capsized freighter that sits in about 200 feet of water off the southern end of Grand Cayman. The ship rests on the edge of a drop-off, its bow hovering over the abyss. So strap on that trimix and go deep. And when you reach the top of the wall, the Carrie Lee will be waiting. Go Now » 2. Saba » 3. Bonaire » PACIFIC 1. Galapagos Diving in the Galapagos isn’t for the newly certified, or the faint of heart. It’s as if the islands have a built-in litmus test to weed out divers who aren’t qualified. If you’re not deterred by the sometimes rough surface conditions, often strong and unpredictable currents (which require that you bring a sturdy pair of gloves and some rock-climbing skills), and thermoclines guaranteed to chill you to the bone, then you’ll be disproportionately rewarded with schooling sharks that blot out the sun, iguanas that free-dive to check you out and a sense of accomplishment second to none. Of course many of the dives will be calm and peaceful, but where’s the fun in that? Go Now » 2. Micronesia » 3. Philippines » NORTH AMERICA 1. New York/New Jersey Here’s the thing about the Northeast: With literally thousands of wrecks off the coast, it’s kind of hard not to find a few deep, dark, penetration-worthy ships for the daring diver among us. And the divers in this area are known for their willingness to plunge right in. Perhaps the most dived of the many vessels off the Jersey shore is the SS Delaware, a 250-foot steamship that was disabled by fire offshore and sank before the tug could get her back into port. While it’s in only about 70 feet of water (many wrecks in the area are much deeper), it’s pretty dark and cold down there, so it’s still a great fit for advanced divers. Go Now » 2. Canada/British Columbia » 3. North Carolina »
Diving for Advanced Divers
CARIBBEAN & ATLANTIC 1. Cayman Islands Cayman is accessible for all levels of diver, but what it has over other destinations for the more advanced crowd are the deep walls that attract tec divers the world over. Not only are they steep, they’re deep too — some, like the famous North Wall, descend into the depths as far as the eye can see. Another draw is the wreck of the Carrie Lee, a capsized freighter that sits in about 200 feet of water off the southern end of Grand Cayman. The ship rests on the edge of a drop-off, its bow hovering over the abyss. So strap on that trimix and go deep. And when you reach the top of the wall, the Carrie Lee will be waiting. Go Now » 2. Saba » 3. Bonaire » PACIFIC 1. Galapagos Diving in the Galapagos isn’t for the newly certified, or the faint of heart. It’s as if the islands have a built-in litmus test to weed out divers who aren’t qualified. If you’re not deterred by the sometimes rough surface conditions, often strong and unpredictable currents (which require that you bring a sturdy pair of gloves and some rock-climbing skills), and thermoclines guaranteed to chill you to the bone, then you’ll be disproportionately rewarded with schooling sharks that blot out the sun, iguanas that free-dive to check you out and a sense of accomplishment second to none. Of course many of the dives will be calm and peaceful, but where’s the fun in that? Go Now » 2. Micronesia » 3. Philippines » NORTH AMERICA 1. New York/New Jersey Here’s the thing about the Northeast: With literally thousands of wrecks off the coast, it’s kind of hard not to find a few deep, dark, penetration-worthy ships for the daring diver among us. And the divers in this area are known for their willingness to plunge right in. Perhaps the most dived of the many vessels off the Jersey shore is the SS Delaware, a 250-foot steamship that was disabled by fire offshore and sank before the tug could get her back into port. While it’s in only about 70 feet of water (many wrecks in the area are much deeper), it’s pretty dark and cold down there, so it’s still a great fit for advanced divers. Go Now » 2. Canada/British Columbia » 3. North Carolina »
