Marine Life

CARIBBEAN AND ATLANTIC 1. Bonaire Bonaire is home to a diversity of marine life all crammed into coral gardens that are some of the richest in the Caribbean. The Bonaire National Marine Park keeps it all alive with regulations that make Bonaire a rich and spectacular diving oasis, with long-snout seahorses, tangs, parrotfish and the peacock-eye flounder. Bonaire’s diversity can be sampled in a single day; don’t miss sites like Alice in Wonderland, Oil Slick Reef, Angle City and the famous wreck of the Hilma Hooker –– all of which earned Bonaire the top spot in the Caribbean. Go Now » 2. Cayman Islands » 3. Curacao » PACIFIC 1 .Galapagos They may not have the macro life of Indonesia, or the visibility of PNG, but the Galapagos has big marine life, and where else but this wonderfully quirky destination (and the local aquarium) can you see a penguin, marine iguana, and shark on the same day? Nutrient-rich ocean currents are to thank for the Galapagos’ grandiose display of marine life. Baleen whales, sea lions and over 450 species of fish live around the 13 major islands that make up the Galapagos, which features the second largest marine reserve in the world. Diving the Galapagos grants you the unique experience and opportunity to see whale sharks, green turtles and manta rays all in one descent. Go Now » 2. Indonesia » 3. Malaysia » NORTH AMERICA 1. North Carolina Some of the most diverse and plentiful marine life on the USA’s east coast lives off North Carolina’s 4,000-mile-long shore, making it little wonder why North Carolina nabbed the top spot in the marine life category. One of the main attractions is the sand tiger shark, which can be found in large numbers near the wreck of the Papoose, a tanker torpedoed by a German U-Boat. Sand tigers are unaggressive creatures masked by a face filled with grueling teeth and eyes of steel. North Carolina’s shores are also filled with marine life that would typically live on tropical reefs, including the red lionfish, a native to Pacific waters, which can be found along with blue angelfish and barracuda. Go Now » 2. Florida and the Florida Keys » 3. California »