Sometimes, a dive vacation isn't all about the diving. One of the best parts of dive travel is getting to experience topside activities that are culturally enriching and just plain fun.

These rankings are part of our 2017 World's Best Platinum Awards, a readers survey. For more on the survey and method, click here.

The Top 3

Volcanoes National Park | Hawaii Island, Hawaii

The biggest reason to trek to this park on the southwest region of the Big Island is lava — namely the flows of its two active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and the usually active Kilauea. But because volcanic activity can be unpredictable, the park’s main line gives daily volcanic activity updates, steering visitors to the most rewarding sites. For example, last September, a lake of lava was active for days in the Halemaumau Crater. But this park is more than just about oohing and aahing over hot lava. Hikers can access trails over lava deserts, through rainforests or along crater rims. The Iliahi Trail is an easy 1½-mile loop leading past vents and granting views of Kilauea Caldera and Halemaumau Crater. Plus, it winds through a rainforest thick with sandalwood trees. Backcountry hiking is also available, as are campgrounds.

Helicopter Tour | Maui, Hawaii

Fly over rivers and waterfalls — you get seven on the Oheo Gulch tour — and catch a glimpse of the rainforests and cliffs that aren’t easily accessed. Plus, whether it’s your first or 50th time on Maui, an aerial tour gives a new perspective of favorites like Hana Highway, the famous coastal route.

Half Moon Caye Natural Monument | Lighthouse Reef, Belize

The island is home to 4,000 nesting red-footed boobies and the only site where they breed in the western Caribbean. Beyond the birds, the cay offers a beach for walks amid no company beyond hermit crabs and iguanas.