Eager to infuse your soul with some thrill? We list the places where you can dive with the most magnificent aquatic lifeforms
Looking for a chance to have a ‘lifetime encounter’ with monsters of the deep? Here’s a list of places:
MANTA STATION
Location: Maldives
We love Mantas, they’re the largest species of ray and majestic-looking especially when they glide underwater. Mantas are also plankton feeders and are virtually harmless as they don’t possess a barb on their tail like their cousins the Stingray. One of the best places in the world to see Mantas up close is the Manta Station, located beneath the deep blue of the North Male Atoll. The surrounding waters are home to schools of Mantas many of which are there to feed and linger around the cleaning station.
WHALE SHARK INTERACTION
Location: Donsol, Philippines
One of the best places in the world to see the largest fish in the ocean is in the Philippines. Donsol has been a breeding and feeding ground for the creatures for a number of years now especially during the months of December to May. It’s not uncommon to see up to several Whale Sharks during an excursion out on the water, and they can be pretty big too, oftentimes as big as a mini bus.
SHARK CAGE DIVING
Location: Capetown, South Africa
It takes balls of steel to get into the water with a Great White, which is why most just opt to get into a cage instead. Capetown, South Australia has several operators offering Shark Cage Diving tours, giving visitors an opportunity to get up close and personal with the Apex Predator of the deep blue sea. How up close and personal you ask? Well they have been known to charge the cage on occasion during a feeding frenzy. That’s how close.
CAGE OF DEATH
Location: Darwin, Australia
Located in the middle of the Darwin city centre, Crocosaurus Cove is an aquarium that’s dedicated specifically to Australian crocodiles. Visitors to Crocosaurus Cove can take their pick of seeing crocs and even feeding them but the brave often come here for the chance to enter the Cage of Death. The enclosure made out of sturdy plexi-glass gives visitors the chance to go eyeball to eyeball with Salties, large saltwater crocodiles that happen to be the biggest in the world.
SHARK ENCOUNTER
Location: KLCC
Did you know that the best place for us Malaysians to get a shark encounter is right smack in the city centre? Aquaria KLCC has an existing Cage Rage and Dive with Sharks programme that puts visitors in the middle of the Living Ocean aquarium, where they can be seen swimming next to Aquaria’s sea creatures, including a Sand Tiger Shark.