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Beyond Cozumel

Cozumel is one of the busiest dive hubs in the world. These destinations dive in a similar way, with the same good months, marine life and kind of diving, and see far fewer divers.

If you're new to diving

Destinations with at least 4 documented Open Water sites.

  1. Fernando de NoronhaBrazilBest Mar–Jul, Oct5 Open Water sitesMostly calm waterGood in the same months (All year)Also sharks, rays, turtlesSame kind of diving: reefs79match
  2. UtilaHondurasBest Mar–May6 Open Water sitesMostly calm waterGood in the same months (All year)Also sharks, rays, turtlesSame kind of diving: reefs, walls78match

For certified divers

Some of these need Advanced certification or more: check each site's level.

  1. GrenadaBest Dec–MayGood in the same months (All year)Also sharks, rays, turtlesSame kind of diving: reefs, drift dives, walls86match
  2. GalápagosEcuadorBest Jun–NovGood in the same months (All year)Also sharks, rays, turtlesSame kind of diving: reefs, drift dives, walls81match
  3. BelizeBest Mar–JunGood in the same months (Nov–Jul)Also sharks, rays, turtlesSame kind of diving: reefs, walls80match
  4. Roatán & Bay IslandsHondurasBest Mar–SepGood in the same months (Dec–Oct)Also sharks, rays, turtlesSame kind of diving: reefs, walls79match
  5. Abrolhos Marine ParkBrazilBest Dec–MarGood in the same months (All year)Also turtlesSame kind of diving: reefs71match
  6. Salish Sea (Vancouver, Victoria & Nanaimo)CanadaBest Sep–MayGood in the same months (All year)Same kind of diving: reefs61match

How we match: share of the good months in common (up to 25 points), same region (25), marine life seen regularly (20), kinds of diving (15), how many sites suit Open Water divers (10) and water temperature (5). We only suggest destinations in the same region of the world that share at least one kind of diving, and that are not among the busiest dive hubs we identified from dive volumes, dive-centre counts and marine-park visitor numbers.

More quieter alternatives to famous dive spots →

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