From majestic coves and luminescent waters to impressive limestone and gypsum caverns, these striking underwater formations should be on every diver and snorkeler's bucket list:
Great Blue Hole, Belize City, Belize
This massive underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize is the world's largest natural formation of its kind and a popular destination for scuba divers. Inside the 400 ft deep sinkhole, you'll find enormous stalactites, oxygen-less caverns and stunning coral formations. The crystal-clear waters also make it easy to witness the region's spectacular marine life that includes nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, giant groupers and several other species of tropical fish. Best time to visit: November to April. And if you want to avoid the tourist rush, plan a trip in March.
Grotto Azzurra, Capri, Italy
Also known as the Blue Grotto, this spectacular sea cave is one of the best reasons to visit the Italian island of Capri. According to historians, Grotto Azzurra was the private natural pool of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. The water cave is about 190 ft long and 82 ft wide. To enter visitors must board a small rowboat (which can seat four passengers) to navigate through the 3 ft-high cave mouth. Once inside, you'll be astounded by the clear waters that seem to emit a turquoise glow, illuminating the whole place. This intense blue hue is caused by refraction of sunlight. Though you can admire the azure blue waters any time on a sunny day, the waters glow the brightest between noon and 2 p.m. Best time to visit: April to June or between September and mid-October.
Cathedral Cove Sea Cave, Coromandel, New Zealand
Located on the northeast coast of the Coromandel, the Cathedral Cove is one of the most picturesque sea caves out there. Its naturally formed archway together with calm, clear water and golden sand beach make this place Instagrammable from every angle. Cathedral Cove is also famous for being featured in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. The cove, which includes five sea caves, is accessible only by boat or on foot. Visitors can take a boat tour, go for kayaking or swim with the fish. You might also come across seals and blue penguins in the caves' depths. In addition, you can also go for snorkeling and diving in other nearby popular attractions like Gemstone Bay and Stingray Bay. Best time to visit: All year round. But if you want to avoid high tourist traffic, the best time to visit is from May until October.
Chandelier Cave, Palau
Famous for its remarkable stalactites that hang above like chandeliers, this five-chamber cave system is one of the most unique dive sites in the world. Apart from the limestone structures that pierce clear waters, visitors can also marvel at the cave's diverse marine life that includes cardinalfish, soldierfish and the colorful Mandarinfish. Though Chandelier Cave is listed as an intermediate dive, avoid this site if you're claustrophobic or haven't attempted cave diving before. Best time to visit: December to April.
Cenote Dos Ojos, Mexico
Located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum in the Yucatan peninsula, this cavern-and-sinkhole system is one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world. Also known as "two eyes cenote" (a reference to cenote's two pools of water) these caverns boast of impressive stalagmites and stalactites. The cenote was first discovered in 1986. Since then, its cool, pristine waters attract scores of snorkelers and divers every year. The cenote's marine life includes freshwater shrimp and a few species of colorful tiny fish. You can also see bats hanging upside down among the stalactites. Best time to visit: October to December. The peak tourist season starts in January and ends in March.
Kuredu Caves, Maldives
With over 60 dive sites, Kuredu caves are a paradise for recreational scuba divers. The caverns feature enormous, craggy rock formations. These underwater caves are home to a whole host of aquatic animals, including green turtles, balloonfish, leaf fish, Moray eels, Manta rays, angelfish, butterflyfish and ferocious barracudas. Divers can also spot stingrays near the deeper ledges of the cave. Needless to say, diving in Kuredu waters is a feast for the eyes! Best time to visit: Throughout the year.
Orda Cave, Perm Krai, Russia
Measuring over 16,000 ft long, the Orda Cave is the longest cave in Russia and the largest underwater gypsum cave in the world. It boasts of huge cathedral-like galleries, crystalline overhangs and pristine waters. The Ice Palace is the largest grotto of Orda Cave (164 ft in length and 50 ft wide). Because of low water temperatures (39-44°F) and fragile gypsum interiors, diving in this incredible cave is suitable only for experienced divers. Best time to visit: June to August.
The Grotto, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario, Canada
Located on the Georgian Bay shoreline in Ontario, the Grotto is a popular attraction in Bruce Peninsula National Park. The cave's intricate limestone structure was shaped by years of erosion. Inside, the cool, clear waters emanate a rich turquoise glow when light beams from an underwater tunnel in the grotto hit the cave. Best time to visit: March to June or between late September and November.
Other must-visit underwater caves include Utah's Homestead Crater, Smoo Cave in Scotland, Thailand's Phang Nga Bay Caves and Cuevas de Mármol in Chile.
So, which underwater cave are you eager to explore? Let me know in the comments section below!
