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2 0 1 4 R e a d e R s C h o i C e a w a R d s

CARIBBEAN & ATLANTIC Beautiful, accessible and packed with marine life — these are among the many favorite things

divers love about the sun-kissed islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

OvERALL DEsTINATION p. 16 > MACRO p. 18 > BIg ANIMALs p. 19 > phOTOgRAphy p. 20 > MARINE ENvIRONMENT p. 22 > shORE p. 23 > BEgINNERs p. 24 > ADvANCED p. 25 > wRECk p. 27 vIsIBILITy p. 28 > wALL p. 29 > OvERALL DIvINg p. 30

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C a r i b b e a n & a t l a n t i C

B E s T O v E R A L L D E s T I N AT I O N TOP TEN 1 Cayman islands 2 Bonaire 3 Mexico 4 Belize 5 BahaMas 6 Bay islands, honduras

7 Turks and caicos 8 u.s. Virgin islands 9 grenada 10 BriTish Virgin islands

CAyMAN IsLANDsThere are a host of reasons why Grand Cayman became the birthplace of recre-ational diving back in the 1960s. Perched atop

the Cayman Trench in the warm Western Caribbean, this 76-square-mile

island offered the clean, clear water in which coral reefs thrive and marine life prolif-erates, combined with forward-thinking stew-ards with the vision to protect their natural wonders. Half a century later, landmark dive sites such as Stingray City, Big Tunnels and Devil’s Grotto continue to draw thousands of divers every year, and the roster of old favorites is but-tressed by a long list of new sites, including the Kittiwake artificial reef and dozens of spots that are part of the Dive 365 Program — one for each day of the year. But what consistently puts Grand Cayman over the top with our readers in this category are the periph-erals — talcum-powder beaches, high-quality dive operators, conve-nient airlift from major U.S. cities, and warm Caribbean hospitality. — Eric Michael

Go now scubadiving .com/caymanislands

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The Cayman Islands’ glories: healthy gorgonians, tarpon and silversides (left), and Kittiwake, to name just four.

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B E s T B I g A N I M A L sC a r i b b e a n & a t l a n t i C

B E s T M A C R O D I v I N g

curaçao Here the wonderful world of macro is always present: The longer you study a patch of reef, the greater the number of nudibranchs, sea slugs and crabs that reveal themselves.

Curaçao won high honors in this category thanks to healthy reefs, currents supplying a steady nutrient stream, and stellar visibility that eases the hunt. If you’re an advanced diver, it’s a mistake to pack only a wide-angle lens, or skip asking for help finding curios like the sap-sucking or headshield slugs. Where can you find these fanciful critters? The answer might surprise you: everywhere. — Brooke Morton // Go now scubadiving.com/curacao

Curaçao’s small wonders (clockwise from top left): a yellow-head jawfish; flamingo tongue; octopus eye; squid; secretary blenny; cleaner shrimp; sargassum frogfish; fluorescent bearded fireworm.

gladden spit, BelizeThere are few encounters in the world that can compare to sharing the water with a whale shark. Far from the thrill of cage diving with great whites or the adrenaline overload of a reef-shark disco during a controlled feeding dive, to glide alongside nature’s largest fish is to expe-rience pure majesty in motion. And one of the most consis-tent spots to witness these incredible fish, which can grow as large as 40 feet, is Belize’s

Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. Located

on the Mesoamerican barrier-reef system — a UNESCO World Heritage

Site that’s the planet’s second largest — this world-

famous spot attracts whale sharks that feed on the eggs of spawning snapper 10 days or so after the full moon from March to July. Catch a ride with a lo-cal operator out of Placencia, and prepare to have your mind blown. — Eric Michael

The marine reserve at Gladden Spit in Belize is one of the few places you can officially be on scuba with whale sharks.

TOP FIVE 1 Bonaire 2 CuRaçao 3 sT. VincenT and The grenadines 4 doMinica 5 grand cayMan, cayMan islands

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TOP FIVE 1 new ProVidence and grand BahaMa, BahaMas (Tie) 2 Gladden spit, Belize 3 BiMini, BahaMas 4 aMBergris caye, Belize 5 silVer Bank, doMinican rePuBlic

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B E s T u N D E R wAT E R p h O T O g R A p h y

From manta trains in open ocean to some of the loveliest — and most thrilling — freshwater diving you’ll ever experience, at sites like Car Wash (bottom left) and the Pit. Opposite: Akumal’s shallow reefs are a haven for green turtles and healthy hard corals, ranged across sparkling white-sand bottoms. Cenote Jardin del Eden hosts creatures like the sailfin molly, which inhabits fresh or brackish waters.

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TOP FIVE 1 grand cayMan, cayMan islands 2 Belize aTolls 3 exuMas, BahaMas 4 RivieRa maya, mexiCo 5 sT. croix, u.s. Virgin islands

riviera Maya, Mexico Home to one of the largest barrier reefs on the planet and otherworldly sinkholes known as cenotes, Mexico’s Riviera Maya has been rising in the Best Photography category — but only because its treasures have been so closely guarded by savvy shooters in the know. Now the secret is out. On the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula, div-ers can ramble down coastal Highway 307 through the state of Quintana Roo to some of the best dive sites in Mexico. Playa del Carmen of-fers world-class drift diving at Palancar Reef and Columbia Wall with more than 150 species of fish, plus regular bull-shark dives. The region is also the jumping-off point to reach the remote and un-spoiled Chinchorro Banks. And in Riviera Maya’s numerous crystal-line freshwater caverns, it might just be impossible to take a bad photograph — and that can only increase your odds of capturing your best image ever. — Eric Michael

Go now scubadiving.com/rivieramaya


B E s T s h O R E D I v I N gC a r i b b e a n & a t l a n t i CC a r i b b e a n & a t l a n t i C

TOP FIVE1 Roatan, Bay islands, honduRas 2 Bonaire 3 ProVidenciales, Turks and caicos 4 grand cayMan, cayMan islands 5 liTTle cayMan and cayMan

Brac, cayMan islands

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RoatanMaybe it’s the Bay Islands’ implementa-tion of 60 mooring balls as of 2009. Or it could be the enforcement of Roatan Marine Park policies that has secured the island’s win in the Best Marine En-vironment category. Whatever the reason, one dive reveals that these efforts are working: The envi-ronment supports the small stuff, from frogfish to seahorses, plus a slew of larger wonders, like nurse

and Caribbean reef sharks. Careen down a wall, be it at Mary’s Place or John’s Spot, and be overwhelmed by color — sponges in merry-prankster

hues elbow for room among sea fans and

corals. It’s that variety that prompts resorts to shuttle divers by boat when you could just kick out from shore. How much bottom time you log is determined only by your ability to fight the itch for a cold Salva Vida and a hammock siesta. — Brooke Morton

BoNaire The perennial champ in this category takes the Readers Choice crown for the 21st year. The island’s license plate says it all: Diver’s Paradise. With more than 60 named sites peppered along its western shore, there’s enough under-water variety to keep intrepid divers engaged visit after visit. When you share stories at the bar during sunset happy hour, you’ll discover that most of your new friends have been here before — many times. But it’s more than just the natural attractions and plentiful marine life that put Bonaire at the top of our readers’ list. A Bonaire dive vacation defines “user friendly.” Local operators offer true drive-and-dive packages that include rental trucks outfitted with tank holders, plus drive-through fill stations to simplify the process and keep divers wet in the most convenient way possible. Plus, the local waters are consis-tently warm and the weather balmy, so it’s one of the best dive destinations in the world to rack up more bottom time than you ever thought possible. — Eric Michael

Go now scubadiving.com/bonaire

#1Vibrant world: a rock hind (above) and bluebell tunicate.

Entry is half the fun in Bonaire (above), where decades of conser-vation have paid off in a pristine underwater environment.

TOP FIVE 1 BonaiRe 2 grand cayMan, cayMan islands 3 curaçao 4 sT. croix, u.s. Virgin islands 5 roaTan, Bay islands, honduras

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B E s T B E g I N N E R D I v I N g

NEw pROvIDENCENobody wants to remain a beginner. From the moment we clutch a C-card, we fix our eyes on better buoyancy or improved air consumption. The only thing separat-ing us from these achievements is bottom time — this Bahamian island ranked high for Best Beginner Div-ing thanks to doz-ens of shallow dive sites: wrecks, reefs and walls within

the 40-foot range. The famed shark-feeding arena is 45 feet beneath the surface; the only prerequisite is an open-water certification. After a stay her e, the only skill you’re not likely to have mastered is navigation: A bad day’s visibility off New Providence is 60 feet; on a good day, it’s 100 feet and beyond. — Brooke Morton

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Clear viz, shallow water and wonderful marine life make Bahamas a great place to start.

TOP FIVE 1 Bonaire 2 grand cayMan, cayMan islands 3 new pRovidenCe, Bahamas 4 roaTan, Bay islands, honduras 5 ProVidenciales, Turks and caicos

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B E s T A D vA N C E D D I v I N gC a r i b b e a n & a t l a n t i C

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TOP FIVE 1 GRand Bahama, Bahamas 2 cozuMel, Mexico 3 grand cayMan, cayMan islands 4 BriTish Virgin islands 5 BerMuda

gRAND BAhAMAA shark-filled cave is local legend Cristina Zenato’s ideal dive. Until she stumbles upon one, the shark handler and cave-diving instructor contents herself with

the next best thing: logging both ex-

periences in the same day. Grand Bahama delivers

an adrenaline rush in many underwater

forms: Caribbean reef sharks, a massive cave network and almost a dozen deep wrecks. Kneel and watch a shark-feeding show, or don chain mail and try your hand at offering snacks to predators. In-land, Lucayan National Park contains a labyrinth of caves and caverns; even those with no over-head experience can kick through light-filled rooms studded with sta-lactites. Those looking to build experience with overhead environments should target Blair’s Reef, where cracks and fissures carve through, creating tunnels. Come winter, clouds of silver-sides sweep through these cavities, luring in tarpon and jacks ready to snap. It’s all part of the action that keeps your senses piqued and your mind dreaming about future encounters. — Brooke Morton

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Sharks, caves, deep dives, wrecks to penetrate: Grand Bahama offers the advanced diver a world of choices.

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BERMuDABermuda returns to its rightful position as the No. 1 vote-getter in the Best Wreck Diving category for 2014. With more than 300 sunken ships — charting no

fewer than 500 years of nautical history — on display below the surface, no other

destination in the Atlantic or Caribbean can match the remote island’s roster of historic underwater attractions. While any recognizable wooden structures of the oldest vessels — Constel-lation, L’Hermine and others — are long gone, interesting artifacts such as ballast stones, bottles, and anchors tell tragic tales of weather, reef, and misfortune. More-modern vessels — including Civil War-era steamers like the Mary Celestia and Montana — are more intact and offer refuge for plentiful marine life to reward in-quisitive divers. Beyond the natural disasters, purpose-sunk ships such as Forceful and the Sea Venture continue to add to the legacy of Bermuda, ensuring its reputation in our annual reader poll for generations to come. — Eric Michael

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B E s T v I s I B I L I T y

Cayman IslandsWhy do the waters around Grand Cay-man, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac run so clear? Currents, up-welling, low run-off, giant sponges, gravity ... magic? A combination of all these factors inspired our readers to vote the Cayman Islands No. 1 in our Best Visibility cat-egory for 2014. It’s just one of the rea-sons so many divers rank the western Caribbean nation among the best

dive destinations in the world. Perched at the edge of the

25,000-foot-deep Cayman Trench — the

deepest part of the Caribbean — the trio of islands benefits from very fortunate geogra-phy. At special times along the plunging walls, it seems as though you could see straight to the bottom. For flat-out consistency, the Cayman Islands are tough to beat. — Eric Michael

From historic wrecks to pur-pose-sunk ships prepared specifically for divers, Bermuda is tops in this category.

Mirror-clear water perfectly reflects a green sea turtle.

TOP FIVE 1 BeRmuda 2 grenada 3 grand cayMan, cayMan islands 4 new ProVidence, BahaMas 5 BriTish Virgin islands

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TOP FIVE 1 little Cayman and Cayman BRaC

2 riViera Maya, Mexico 3 grand cayMan 4 Bonaire

5 roaTan, Bay island, honduras

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Go now scubadiving.com/caymanislands


C a r i b b e a n & a t l a n t i CC a r i b b e a n & a t l a n t i C

B E s T O v E R A L L D I v I N g

BAhAMAsThe Bahamas do so many things better than most anyplace else that it’s difficult to decide where to start with the archipelago’s many highlights. Let’s kick off the lovefest with waters so uncan-nily blue, you’ll want to dye Easter eggs in ’em. From the second you submerge, the brilliant contrast of white sandy bottoms and beyond-blue water sets the backdrop for sensory overload. Waving purple fans and swarms of tropical fish dominate sun-dappled reefs. Goliath grouper and monster lobsters lurk on fascinat-ing wrecks around Great Bahama Bank and Bimini. And the plunging walls of San Salvador and open water skirting Cat Island are all about encounters with the big boys — hammerheads, eagle rays, oceanic sharks and the occasion-al tiger shark too. Tie in a bevy of excellent (and affordable) live-aboards, and mask-to-maw encounters with the reef sharks of Nassau and tiger sharks off Grand Bahama, and you can see why the Bahamas always delivers. — Terry Ward

Go now scubadiving .com/bahamas

B E s T wA L L D I v I N g

#3 Belize atolls Patience is a virtue — but not one to hone during dive vacations. Thankfully, Belizean atoll wall dives go like this: Jump in. See only gray. A school — hundreds thick

— of Bermuda chub flits beneath the boat. (They’ll be there come safety-stop time.) Drop to 100 feet. The visibility unfurls endlessly in all directions. You spy the acute angle of a dorsal fin. Shark! The passing Caribbean reefie twists its torso for a split-second, changing course for a closer inspection. The blue abyss swallows it again. Then there’s the wall itself. It looks like teenage boys just finished playing paint ball. Purple tube sponges jut out several feet, like horns in a Ricola ad. Lobsters and green moray eels feel their way from inside hidey-holes. You’re good on air, so you cozy into a sand channel. Now meditate on patience: In moments, an eagle ray, turtle or tarpon will appear. — Brooke Morton // Go now scubadiving.com/belize

TOP FIVE 1 grand cayMan, cayMan islands 2 cozuMel, Mexico 3 Belize atolls 4 ProVidenciales, Turks and caicos 5 new ProVidence, BahaMas

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TOP TEN 1 Bahamas 2 cayMan islands 3 Bonaire 4 Belize 5 Mexico 6 Bay islands, honduras 7 Turks and caicos 8 u.s. Virgin islands 9 BriTish Virgin islands 10 grenada

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A riot of color is just one of the attractions on a Belize atoll wall dive.

All in one: sharks protected for decades; healthy, varied eco-systems; and big animals like Atlantic spotted dolphins.

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