Spell It: Visit the best diving sites in the world

Oceans cover over 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, so there’s no question that its mysterious depths hold innumerable places to explore.

Click start to play today’s Spell It, where we search for the world’s best ‘diving’ spots.

In order to find some of the best scuba diving spots at accessible limits, you’ll need two things: a diving certification and you’ll need to know where to look. Here are a few spots around the world to note, as you work on the first requirement and prepare to deep dive into a world of wonder:

1. Indonesia

According to US-based Dive Magazine, Indonesia is regularly voted as one the best place in the world to scuba dive. It has over 13,000 islands, each as remarkable below the water’s surface as above. The country is part of the Coral Triangle – a place that’s regarded by marine biologists to be the most biodiverse habitat in the Earth’s oceans. Its Raja Ampat islands, for instance, are home to more than 75 per cent of all known coral species, and more than 1,500 species of fish. From monstrous hammerhead sharks to minute schools of fish, it has everything a diver dreams of seeing underwater.

2. Philippines

For year-round diving that even beginners will feel comfortable enough to enjoy, head to the Philippines. Places like Cebu, Palawan, Boracay and more, all exist within the Coral Triangle. One island in particular – Malapascua – lies just off the coast of Cebu and attracts divers from the world over, because it’s famous for regular sightings of thresher sharks. Philippines has over 500 different species of hard and soft coral, and plenty of shipwrecks to explore. From native dugongs to manta rays and barracuda schools, you’ll find amazing sights here, no matter which month you go.

3. Mexico

In Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is the Riviera Maya – the country’s top holiday resort and diving destination. Here, you’ll find cenotes – deep sinkholes that are the area’s most famous features. Mexico is also known for its elaborate underwater cave systems that divers can access, and a variety of marine animals, from bull sharks and sailfish to turtles and whale sharks.

4. The Red Sea

Whether you’re heading to Egypt, Jordan, Sudan or Israel, you’re in for a treat in the Red Sea. The region is home to some of the best and most accessible shipwrecks in the world – from the Giannis D to the SS Thistlegorm. In Aqaba, Jordan, you’ll find one of the region’s most celebrated dive sites – a wreck called Cedar Pride, which has become an artificial reef. Go towards Dahab, Egypt, and you’ll find the Blue Hole, where the reef drops down vertically to 115m, leading to a drop-off in the open sea, where the maximum depth is around 800m. Not the forget, the Red Sea is home to bright nudibranchs, long-nosed hawkfish and a variety of sharks – it’s a treat for the eyes, and suitable for both novices and vetern divers.

There are many more world-famous diving regions, from the Maldives to Galapagos Islands. Have you been to any of them?

Play today’s Spell It and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.