Each year scuba divers from all over the world rate the best places and destinations they’ve been during the previous season. One of the greatest things about this is that other divers can read all about the best places to scuba dive and plan for their next vacation based upon these reviews. Of course, everyone takes into consideration divers with real in-person experience from each of these spots, so it’s no wonder these types of articles are so well received.

Scuba Diving Magazine takes a poll from its readers to gauge the best scuba diving spots around the world. The list goes into detail and shares each of the destinations based on diver choice and what the place offers in regards to visuals and what you will be diving for. The vote was taken from over 5,000 readers which gives it a significant edge to be as accurate as possible. The great aspect of this list is that it is also broken down by the type of diver you are. Let’s “dive” into some of the best destinations.

One of the most significant ways to look at scuba diving destinations is to review the best overall and all around dive locations by the different regions. Within the Atlantic and Caribbean region, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Bonaire, as well as Turks and Caicos are among the top five. The Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea include Hawaii, Indonesia, Galapagos, the Philippines, and Fiji, to name a few. If you’re looking for places a little more local where you may not have to spend all the travel money to go abroad, here are the top five locations within the United States and Canada that include the Florida Keys, California, the Great Lakes, Florida Panhandle, and Washington. If you live close to any of these places, you already know you are in prime diving territory.

In reviewing some of the other relevant categories, Scuba Diving Magazine breaks each region’s top five into the follow which includes, big animals, macro life, wreck diving, cavern, cave and grotto, shore diving, beginner diving, advanced diving, underwater photography, and the best value. This yearly recap of destinations serves as a great way to get the best out of your next diving adventure and make sure you experience precisely what you came for.