<strong>Raja Ampat, Indonesia:</strong> Ribboned sweetlips shelter under a coral ledge, surrounded by hundreds of golden sweepers.
Raja Ampat, Indonesia: Ribboned sweetlips shelter under a coral ledge, surrounded by hundreds of golden sweepers.
Photo © Brandon Cole
<strong>French Polynesia: </strong>A blacktip reef shark swims among a school of one-spot snappers.
French Polynesia: A blacktip reef shark swims among a school of one-spot snappers.
Photo © Brandon Cole
<strong>Palau, Micronesia: </strong>The aerial view is a stunner in Palau. So is the underwater scenery.
Palau, Micronesia: The aerial view is a stunner in Palau. So is the underwater scenery.
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<strong>Fiji:</strong> The South Pacific islands of Fiji are known among divers for being the soft coral capital of the world.
Fiji: The South Pacific islands of Fiji are known among divers for being the soft coral capital of the world.
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<strong>Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia: </strong>Machinery is seen inside the bridge of the Nippo Maru shipwreck.
Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia: Machinery is seen inside the bridge of the Nippo Maru shipwreck.
Photo © Brandon Cole
<strong>Key Largo, Florida</strong>: The Coral Restoration Foundation in Key Largo has offshore coral nurseries for reef restoration.
Key Largo, Florida: The Coral Restoration Foundation in Key Largo has offshore coral nurseries for reef restoration.
Courtesy of Coral Restoration Foundation
<strong>Vancouver Island, British Columbia:</strong> The giant Pacific octopus is found in the waters off British Columbia. They average 16 feet across.
Vancouver Island, British Columbia: The giant Pacific octopus is found in the waters off British Columbia. They average 16 feet across.
Photo © Brandon Cole
<strong>Baja, Mexico:</strong> The Sea of Cortez is home to giant manta rays. Whale sharks, schooling hammerheads and megapods of dolphins also live here.
Baja, Mexico: The Sea of Cortez is home to giant manta rays. Whale sharks, schooling hammerheads and megapods of dolphins also live here.
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<strong>Cocos Island, Costa Rica: </strong>This remote Pacific Ocean island lies some 330 miles off mainland Costa Rica.
Cocos Island, Costa Rica: This remote Pacific Ocean island lies some 330 miles off mainland Costa Rica.
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<strong>Bahamas:</strong> Dive site Tiger Beach is a destination for shark seekers.
Bahamas: Dive site Tiger Beach is a destination for shark seekers.
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<strong>Solomon Islands:</strong> This remote South Pacific nation was a major battleground in the Pacific Theater during World War II, so there's a lot to explore underwater.
Solomon Islands: This remote South Pacific nation was a major battleground in the Pacific Theater during World War II, so there's a lot to explore underwater.
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<strong>Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico: </strong>National Park Revillagigedo lies some 250 miles southwest of the Baja California Peninsula.
Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico: National Park Revillagigedo lies some 250 miles southwest of the Baja California Peninsula.
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<strong>Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand:</strong> Sunrays shine on fish and kelp through clear water near Poor Knights Islands off New Zealand's North Island.
Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand: Sunrays shine on fish and kelp through clear water near Poor Knights Islands off New Zealand's North Island.
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<strong>Red Sea, Egypt: </strong>Wreck divers delight in Red Sea exploration. There are also extraordinary walls of healthy hard corals.
Red Sea, Egypt: Wreck divers delight in Red Sea exploration. There are also extraordinary walls of healthy hard corals.
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<strong>Dominica:</strong> A rough fileclam mesmerizes in the Caribbean Sea waters off the lush island of Dominica.
Dominica: A rough fileclam mesmerizes in the Caribbean Sea waters off the lush island of Dominica.
Photo © Brandon Cole
<strong>Portugal:</strong> Some of Portugal's best diving is offshore just 40 minutes south of Lisbon.
Portugal: Some of Portugal's best diving is offshore just 40 minutes south of Lisbon.
Cláudio Dias/Courtesy Portugal Dive