Diving Bucket List: Top 6 Marine Megafauna Experiences
October 16, 2024
When it comes to your diving bucket list, it is hard to beat encountering the ocean’s giants. From whales and sharks to manta rays, there are some incredible animals you can dive with around the world. We have listed the best encounters, as well as key information on where and when to experience them, and in the best way.
Six Unmissable Experiences for Your Diving Bucket List:
Orcas are one of the ultimate animals to encounter in the water and deserve the top spot on your diving bucket list. These highly intelligent, adaptable, and skilled marine predators can be seen in many areas around the globe but two locations are best known for swimming with them: Tromsø in Norway and Los Cabos on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico.
Tromsø and the surrounding areas are famous for the annual aggregations of herring in the fjords, which orcas feed on. The orcas work together to condense the bait balls of herring and gorge themselves on this fat-rich food source. They are occasionally joined by humpback whales in their feeding activities in these locations. Views of the Aurora Borealis (northern lights) are not uncommon on these trips either.
You can snorkel or freedive with the orcas and accessing the water via zodiac inflatables makes for an exhilarating experience, but it is a physically demanding activity, so be prepared. The season is relatively short, running from November to January, and there are just a few hours of daylight each day during this winter season. The best way to dive with orcas is to join an Arctic orca liveaboard expedition.
Water temperatures are very cold 0-7 °C (32-45 °F) so drysuits and thermal undersuits are a necessity, as are thick gloves and a hood. A good quality windproof jacket is recommended to keep as much body heat in as possible when you’re sitting on the dive boat.
If you prefer warmer waters, diving in Mexico could be for you. The last several years have seen increased sightings of orcas off the Baja peninsula, in the Sea of Cortez. There are dedicated Mexican orca liveaboard safaris that combine searching for the orcas with swimming with sea lions, dolphins, and huge schools of mobula rays. Sightings have been most frequent in January to July with water temperatures falling between 20-24 °C (68-75 °F), so 5mm wetsuits are recommended.
Encountering humpback whales is a highly sought-after experience that needs to be on your diving bucket list. Swimming alongside these gentle ocean giants and looking them in the eye is a life-changing experience. Their continued revival as a species after long periods of merciless hunting by humans is a joy to witness. These interactions are snorkel or freedive-based encounters.
The winter months in the southern hemisphere (July-November) mark the annual migration of humpback whales from Antarctic waters to the shallows of some Pacific nations. There they give birth, raise their young or mate, and get involved with the social structure of adult whales.
Tonga and French Polynesia are the best places to swim with humpback whales and they both have well-established whale interaction industries with government regulations for boats, guides, and operators.
Winter water temperatures are 23-26 °C (73-80 °F) and 3mm wetsuits are often enough for in-water activities. Long days on the water can mean are in the sun a lot or might get cold if it is windy. It is a good idea to take a windproof jacket (or fleece-lined changing robe) and some reef-safe sunscreen with you.
Adult whales can reach lengths of 15 meters (50 feet) and weigh over 40 tons. Sharing the water with them must be done with experienced and knowledgeable operators to ensure the whales’ natural behaviors are not affected and to manage the safety of swimmers in the water.
Sperm whales are the largest predators in the world and also one of the deepest diving animals, regularly recorded at over 3048 meters (10,000 feet). After sperm whale hunting was banned, these iconic ocean giants successfully rebounded, and there are two well-known locations where you can snorkel and freedive with them.
If swimming with sperm whales is on your diving bucket list, Dominica is the place to go. This Caribbean island is renowned for its population of sperm whales. The waters around this Caribbean island are one of the few places in the world where sperm whales can be seen year-round, making it a top destination if you want to swim with these incredible animals. The deep waters off the coast of Dominica provide an ideal environment for sperm whales to thrive, and the island is known for offering responsible and sustainable whale-watching tours.
Dominica’s sperm whales are most commonly seen in November to March when water temperatures will be 26-28 C (80-82 °F). A 3mm wetsuit is sufficient to stay warm and protect yourself from the sun.
Mauritius in the southern Indian Ocean is another location where these ocean leviathans are now commonly seen. This large island southeast of Madagascar is a well-known holiday destination and is a breathtaking place to add to your diving bucket list.
Mauritius is an idyllic dive destination boasting water temperatures around 24-29 °C (75-85 °F), sperm whales year-round, and excellent reefs. The island also has lots of dolphins, humpback whales (July to November), and gorgeous beaches. Historically there are a lot of fascinating things to discover here with the unfortunate tale of the dodo bird being something all tourists should learn about.
Swimming with sperm whales in Mauritius is usually done as part of a guided tour with experienced operators who follow strict guidelines to minimize disturbance to the animals. These guidelines include maintaining a respectful distance, limiting the number of swimmers, and ensuring that interactions are non-intrusive. The best time to swim with sperm whales in Mauritius is typically between November and April when sea conditions are calmer, though sperm whales can be observed year-round.
Encountering whale sharks is on many snorkeling and diving bucket lists and you can meet these spotty giants at numerous dive destinations. South Ari Atoll in the Maldives is the most famous place to dive with whale sharks and other well-known whale shark hotspots include Cenderawasih Bay in Indonesia, Donsol in the Philippines, and Mozambique.
Ningaloo Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its marine biodiversity and is a jewel in the crown of diving in Australia. It is also one of the best locations to see whale sharks anywhere in the world. March to August are the prime months to encounter whale sharks at Ningaloo, and with water temperatures at around 24-29 °C (75-85 °F), a 3mm wetsuit is sufficient.
Isla Mujeres just off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is the best place to swim with whale sharks in the warm waters of Mexico. Hundreds of whale sharks gather there to feed on zooplankton at the surface every year. Water temperature at that time of year is about 29-31 °C (85-88 °F), so rash guards for sun protection or thin 2mm wetsuits are ideal.
The largest rays in the world’s oceans, mantas have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any fish and are highly intelligent. They are also incredibly graceful. Found in the tropics worldwide, there are many places you can dive and snorkel with manta rays. These include the Maldives, Ningaloo Reef in Australia, Raja Ampat and Komodo in Indonesia, the Galapagos Islands, Yap in Micronesia, Fiji, and the Azores.
Kona in Hawaii is famous for having mantas year-round and for offering a unique experience: night snorkeling with mantas. At night, large light rigs attract plankton to the areas where mantas love to feed. Divers or snorkelers alike can enjoy these interactions and the sight of a huge manta ray barrel roll feeding just a few feet from your face is a memory to treasure.
With water temperatures ranging from 21-26 °C (70-80 °F), you can choose between a 5mm or a 3mm wetsuit depending on personal preference and the time of year you visit.
Diving with giant manta rays at the Socorro Islands is a diving bucket list experience that captivates even the most seasoned divers. Known as the "Galápagos of Mexico," these remote islands are home to manta rays up to 23 feet (7 meters) in wingspan that are known to be exceptionally friendly.
The mantas at Socorro are incredibly curious and often approach divers, gliding through the water and even hovering over divers’ bubbles. The visibility is often good, allowing you to fully appreciate the mantas’ grace and their deep intelligence. The Socorro Islands are one of the few places on earth where divers can reliably experience such intimate interactions with these gentle giants. Being remote, you can only access these islands by Socorro liveaboard diving.
How to Choose the Best Dive Operator.
From whales to sharks, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this list. But when seeking out these experiences, it is important to remember that we are entering the animals’ habitat. The most important factor to consider is the safety and peace of the animals themselves.
When choosing which ocean giants to tick off your diving bucket list, be sure to research the best operators before you book anything. Choose a company that respects marine life, has good equipment, as well as experienced staff to help you get the best out of your trip. You can find the top operators worldwide using the SSI Center Locator.
Now you have some of the world’s best marine life experiences, which will you choose first?