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This is a guest post from Angie Picardo, a writer at TravelNerd.com.

If you are planning on going to the Caribbean, scuba diving and snorkeling is a must. Diving the underwater world of the Caribbean is a phenomenal way to experience the islands. Let’s look at some of the more magnificent reefs and islands suited to explore the underwater world. From huge holes in the ocean floor, to massive expansive reefs, the options are vast for anyone looking for the best places to go scuba diving in the Caribbean.

Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel is considered by many to be the best spot to snorkel or scuba dive in the Caribbean. The water surrounding the island is crystal clear due to the currents flowing around it, and visibility on a good day is around 100 feet.  There are at least 16 reefs to dive from, and the wildlife within them includes stingrays, eels, barracudas and nurse sharks. The landscape around Cozumel is extremely diverse, including dive levels from shore to deep, all of them being drift dives. You may discover landforms like underwater caves, drop offs that go deep down into the black ocean abyss, or underwater mountain pinnacles. An underwater camera would be a good piece of equipment to bring with, as the reefs are aglow with vibrant colors any traveler would want to remember.

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are a must for divers of any experience level. The level of natural beauty and ability to connect with wildlife makes it a bucket list type of event. The Cayman Islands are packed full of marine life, and nearly the entire pallet of colors is available for divers to see on the reefs. Stingray City will allow swimmers to float amongst stingrays and touch them as they swim by. The stingrays are fed regular meals of fish entrails daily, and as such are domesticated and highly unlikely to harm anyone. On an average day in the Cayman Islands visibility is up to 150 feet through the Caribbean waters, and 200 feet on a perfect day.

Roatan

If you want to find the largest reef in the Caribbean (2nd only the Great Barrier Reef in Australia) then you should travel to Roatan.  Of all the bay islands, Roatan is the largest. Each Bay Island offers great scuba diving locations. The reefs are all around the islands so they are very accessible, as are the underwater mountain ranges that stretch around. There are a variety of resorts that offer this experience including Coco View. Off the coast of Roatan there are plenty of abandoned shipwrecks and volcanoes for divers to explore. Combined with 750 species of fish, 80 species of coral, and a resort where you can interact and swim with dolphins in shallow water, Roatan makes a great choice for prospective vacationers.

Belize

Belize is another great choice for divers looking for a stunningly beautiful and awe-inspiring experience through scuba diving or snorkeling. Belize has a 185 mile long barrier reef which houses creatures and marine life ranging from sharks, sting rays, manatees, coral, sponges, and bigger fish. One unique feature of Belize is the Great Blue Hole, a hole in the ocean floor 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep. This magnificent hole lures divers from all over the world just to see it. In addition to the hole, one mile out from the shore the ocean floors drop over 2,500 feet down, offering plenty of terrain for the hardcore divers.

Angie Picardo is a writer at TravelNerd, a blog dedicated to helping you save money traveling to the destination of your dreams by comparing airport taxi options at over 72 airports.

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About the Author: RumShopRyan

Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. To learn more, visit our About Us Page.