Book the Best Diving Hotels

Dive deeper

You can thank Jacques Cousteau's intrepid spirit for the invention of the Scuba breathing system. At the very least, divers should honor his unquenchable curiosity with a few expeditions of their own.

Queensland's coast obviously springs to mind; you'll find turtles, clownfish, eels, snakes, and the wreck of the Yongala, arguably one of the best dives in the world.

Of course, you could always learn hula by day in Hawaii, and sink down deep for a manta ray dive after sunset.

If you're really channeling Mr. Cousteau, pack your gear and jet off to Belize, where you'll descend from salt to fresh water in the Blue Hole, home to angelfish, hammerheads, and huge tuna.

But if you're a diver worth his or her salt, you'll only be seeking one thing: whale sharks. For that, Thailand's Richelieu Rock is the only place that will do.