Pacific & Indian Oceans
	Galapagos Islands
	Phuket Thailand
	Southern California
	Australia
	Red Sea

Galapagos Islands

Galapagos is world central for weird and plentiful wildlife. And that goes for what's under the water as well as what's hanging out on the dry part of these volcanic islands. Penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, golden rays, mantas, and turtles are some of the marine creatures you'll see under and among the waves. When it comes to sharks, you're in for a treat. The waters host silky, Galapagos, white-tip, and scalloped hammerhead sharks. Whale sharks are also sometimes encountered. Hammerheads are the ultimate experience. Immense schools of them circle underwater peaks, perhaps drawn by the electromagnetic patterns. This is not an experience of one or two big sharks: This is an experience of sharks as far as the eye can see.

Phuket, Thailand

"Lush" is the word for Phuket: This is an area of dense humid air, big sky, searing blue sky, and palm trees shaggier than a 1970s rock guitarist's haircut. At night when the sun goes down, all pay homage to the croak of the monitor lizard. The water at Phuket is very clear, and the diving is very diverse: great for the advanced as well as somebody just starting out. There are many, many resident fish, but what makes Phuket so interesting is the large number of migratory fish. Reigning over all the migrants is the whale shark. Forget the whole idea of killer sharks. These gentle giants can reach lengths of 50 feet or more, 30 is more common. Like many whales, these sharks feed on plankton, shrimp, and small fish by filtering them through their huge mouths.

Southern California

Out on the ocean, away from the glare of Los Angeles' fabled city lights, the real stars of the ocean swim. And it ain't Charley the Tuna. California shark dives are offered by operators from the Los Angeles area, Catalina Island, and San Diego. The dives vary, but all involve long boat rides out to deep water. Generally, you'll be in a cage, though one operator offers floating cages that snorkelers can use: no need for a diving license. For the daring, chain-mail clad leaders will guide you out of the cage for an outside-of-the-cell experience. Expect to see blue sharks, but makos show up about a quarter of the time.

Australia

The Land Down Under is prime territory for diving. The Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea is arguably the best diving in the world. A cruise through Shark Alley will lead to action from the moment you enter the water until you return to the surface. White tip sharks patrol the area and are occasionally joined by gray reef sharks, cruising in from the Coral Sea. Adelaide in south Australia is a center for dives top see Great White Sharks. Sightings have been declining, but the Australian government is finally protecting the great whites, so who knows? You could get lucky.

Red Sea

The Red Sea has a cornucopia of shark species: black fin reef shark, black tip reef shark, white tip reef shark, silver tip shark, oceanic white tip shark, grey reef shark, whale shark, tiger shark, variegated shark, silky shark, sandbar shark, tawny shark, pelagic thresher shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, great hammerhead shark. Enough for you? The most popular area is the Ras Mohammed region. This is where to go to find a bewildering diversity, thanks to intricate reef structures and varying depths.