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Readers Choice Awards Articles

Best Dive Destinations for Value

We asked, and you ranked your top destinations for value—the diving hotspots where your dollar goes a whole lot further.

Best Destinations for Macro Diving
Big is nice, but there's so much more to see buried in the muck. These are the blest places to dive if you're all about the littles.
Readers Pick: 3 Top Dive Destinations for 2026
See where divers picked as the top three best destinations in our 2025 Readers Choice awards. Discover big wrecks, wild drift diving, macro photography and shallow reefs with gardens of elkhorn coral.
Best Destinations for Underwater Photography
Don't leave your underwater housing at home. From giant Pacific octopuses to nudibranchs and postcard-worthy seascapes, these destinations are a photographer's paradise.
Best Destinations to Dive With Big Animals

If big animals—think hammerheads and sunfish—rank high on your list of must-sees when you dive, look no further. These destinations practically guarantee the thrill you seek.

Best Destinations for Shore Diving

Some of the most magical dive experiences happen closer to the shore than you may think. Here, we've got three of the best places to get your shore-diving fix—no boats needed.

Best Destinations for Snorkeling

You don't always have to dive into the depths to see a wealth of underwater life. Here's where our readers go for baby barracuda, baitballs, tarpon, massive coral heads and turtles galore—all while staying shallow.

Best Destinations for Wreck Diving

If you can't be dazzled enough by spectacular underwater structures overtaken by marine life, add these destinations to your dive wishlist. Our readers gave them top marks for their smorgasbord of wreck diving opportunities.

Best Destinations for Caves and Caverns

These three destinations are top-notch for underwater natural wonders, according to our readers. Find out where to go for the ultimate in cave and cavern exploration.