Reader Rankings: Top 10 Animal Encounters for Scuba Divers
For many divers, it's the animal encounters that make dives truly unforgettable. Some places give you better odds for a special experience. We asked our readers to rank their top 10 favorite animal encounters.
These rankings are part of our 2017 World's Best Platinum Awards, a readers survey. For more on the survey and method, click here.
TOP 10 ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
| ANIMAL ENCOUNTER | RESULTS |
|---|---|
| Hawksbill Turtles, Cozumel, Mexico | 22.01% |
| Green Sea Turtles, Hawaii | 20.80% |
| Pacific Manta Rays, Kona, Hawaii | 17.28% |
| Manatees, Crystal River, Fla. | 16.77% |
| Caribbean Reef Sharks, New Providence Island, Bahamas | 15.08% |
| Goliath Grouper, Jupiter, Florida | 14.66% |
| Dolphins, Grand Bahama, Bahamas | 11.38% |
| Whale Sharks, Isla Mujeres, Mexico | 8.90% |
| Spinner Dolphins, Hawaii | 7.96% |
| Humpback Whales, Hawaii | 7.21% |
The Top 3
Hawksbill Turtles | Cozumel, Mexico
A hawksbill sea turtle in the Caribbean Sea
Reinhard Dirscherl/Alamy
This island’s windward side is a critical nesting ground for hawksbill sea turtles May to October. To protect them, as well as the loggerhead turtles that also lay their eggs on this coast, the Punta Sur Park Turtle Salvation Program was founded in 2000, making its goal to record egg layings and mark nests. Their efforts protect turtles and make it easier for tourists to participate in hatchling releases. This is one of the main reasons that divers encounter green sea turtles nearly every time they giant-stride into the waters off Cozumel. The other is that the reefs are covered in sponges, one of the staples of the hawksbill diet. Because of this, when divers come face to face with a turtle, odds are good it’ll be eating — or will be full from eating, and thus relaxed and more open to longer face-to-beak time.
Green Sea Turtles | Oahu, Hawaii
A baby sea turtle in Hawaii
Jeff Milisen/Alamy
Hawaii’s honu, or sea turtles, may be smaller than their Caribbean counterparts, but what they lack in size, they more than make up for in numbers. If it’s sunny, many shorelines and lava-rock outcroppings fill with dozens of honu, and any dive site is good for sightings of at least two or more.
Pacific Manta Rays | Kona, Hawaii
A Pacific manta ray off Hawaii
iStockphoto
Dive operators visit three sites off the Big Island where they shine massive underwater lights at night to attract plankton, which lures in manta rays. On average, 11 show up, each with a wingspan of 12 feet or greater. And keep your eyes peeled in the day for Pacific mantas cruising by in the blue.