World’s Best: Top 10 Marine Protected Areas

Thanks to their high levels of protection, Marine Protected Areas are some of the most biodiverse and healthy corners of the ocean. These 10 are a true delight for divers:

Galápagos Marine Reserve, Ecuador

The Galápagos archipelago, located about 600 miles from mainland Ecuador, has the most endemic species of anywhere in the ocean. Despite becoming the first-ever designated World Heritage Site in 1978, it didn’t become a marine reserve until 2016. Now, the sharks, sea lions and marine iguanas of the area are more protected than ever.

Apo Island Marine Sanctuary, Philippines

With more than 400 species of soft and hard corals, Apo Island is the postcard image of a healthy ocean. Created in the 1980s, this area was the country’s first community-organized marine reserve, and it went on to inspire the establishment of hundreds of other protected areas across the Philippines.

Molinière-Beauséjour Marine Protected Area, Grenada

The Molinière-Beauséjour Marine Protected Area isn’t just home to the typical cast of ocean creatures. The park is also the site of 65 lifelike sculptures by artist Jason deCaires Taylor. His signature piece in the park is Vicissitudes, a circle of 26 life-size multi-ethnic children holding hands.

Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, Mexico

Off the east coast of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, about 6,000 marine species habituate Cabo Pulmo. Because of the park’s efforts to grow, restore and conserve coral reefs, which have brought in an abundance of sea life. it’s been deemed the most successful marine park in the western hemisphere.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef isn’t only one of the best-known areas of the ocean — it’s also one of the best-protected. A large parts of the world’s biggest reef system is protected by the designation of a marine park. It has a dedicated group called the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority that ensures park rules are being followed.

Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica

From scalloped hammerheads to large pelagic tuna, big-animal aggregations are in no short supply around Cocos Island. The remote island is located almost 350 miles from mainland Costa Rica, and the only inhabitants of the island are park rangers, so the land itself is just as pristine as its surrounding waters.

Palau National Marine Sanctuary

When this marine sanctuary was created in 2015, Palau became the first country in history to declare the entirety of its waters a marine protected area. Eighty percent of the sanctuary is fully protected, while 20 percent is a reserved domestic fishing zone for local communities and small-scale fisheries.

Gardens of the Queen National Marine Park, Cuba

The most spectacular reefs in the Caribbean can be found in Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina, or Gardens of the Queen. The park is constantly monitored and uses adaptive management strategies, so if any aspect of the marine environment becomes off-balance, action is immediately taken to restore the area, ensuring the park keeps its pristine conditions.

South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area, Maldives

This MPA was created with a specific species in mind — the whale shark. South Ari Atoll is a mega aggregation site for the biggest fish in the sea, and the gentle giants can be seen year-round. The 42-square-kilometer MPA is the largest protected area in the Maldives.

Revillagigedo Archipelago National Park, Mexico

With an area of nearly 58,000 square miles, the Revillagigedos (better known to divers as the Socorros) is the largest fully protected marine reserve in North America. It’s also one of the newest, only being designated by Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto in November 2017.