Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die: Diving Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations

by Chris Santella

SCUBA in Cuba? Find seashells in the Seychelles? Discover the must-dive destinations recommended by the experts—includes beautiful underwater photos.   The earth’s oceans hold many wondrous surprises—be they the small, colorful critters off the coast of Papua New Guinea, opportunistic red demon squids in the Sea of Cortes, or naval wrecks in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll. In Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die, Chris Santella has invited diving experts from around the world to share some of their favorite destinations, so ardent divers can experience these underwater wonders for themselves—either on location in their SCUBA gear, or at home in their armchair.   Part of the bestselling Fifty Places series, the book takes divers from hot-spot destinations like Raja Ampat (off the coast of West Guinea) to old Caribbean favorites like Grand Cayman. Swim among whale sharks off Myanmar, befriend wolf eels off the coast of Maine, and marvel at the giant mola mola of Lembognan, Indonesia. These wonderful creatures—plus the brilliant coral reefs that often provide their backdrop—are captured in forty gorgeous color photos from the world’s greatest underwater photographers. And for those who want to travel to these breathtaking locales, Santella provides complete “If You Go” suggestions to help you plan your trip.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Science Nature, Sports

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a fantastic book with lots of good information about all 50 places and had beautiful photos. one of my favourites from the 50 this book showed is the Raja Ampat. I recommend this book to whoever likes diving or even just watching the ocean.

[Loxie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Any "places to dive before you die" list that omits Tubbataha Reef is disqualifying. This isn't a taste disagreement — Tubbataha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the heart of the Coral Triangle (the global epicenter of marine biodiversity), and appears on virtually every serious diver-authored top-10 list published in the last twenty years. Leaving it out of a book with *fifty* slots isn't an oversight, it's evidence the author wasn't talking to divers.

The single Philippine entry compounds the problem. The Philippines sits inside the Coral Triangle and offers Tubbataha (pelagics, walls, sharks), Apo Reef (the second-largest contiguous reef system on earth), Anilao (world-class macro), and Moalboal (sardine run) — each of which would earn a slot on merit.

The pattern across the book suggests the list was built from tourism board press kits and liveaboard comps, not from logged dives. Accessible destinations with strong PR budgets are overrepresented; permit-restricted, seasonal, or liveaboard-only sites — which is where the actual best diving on earth tends to be — are underrepresented or missing entirely.

[Julianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was beautiful and informative and at some point when traveling is more of a possibility again, I would love to visit these places

[Susan Morrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Can’t wait to dive again. 🐠 🐢 🤿

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great if you want to learn a lot more about geography! There were so many places that I had never heard of and am still not sure where they are! Would be great to read alongside a map--or add maps to the book.

I learned about a ton of fish while reading this book, and also have a ton that I still need to look up. Definitely has some great first hand accounts and stories at each destination that will fuel your desire to dive more.

This book was really great.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for any diver's collection. My husband and I began diving a year and a half ago, and have this book out on our coffee table. Even our non-diving friends enjoy picking it up and looking through the beautiful pictures.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed here: http://www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blo...

[Antony Kuzmicich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great present for divers. Beautiful photos and stories, dipping into this book always makes me want to go diving.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not enough pictures, which I think are essential in this type of book. It didn't convince me that I need to dive the places listed.

[Lindsay Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and inspiring and will make you want to strip out of your work clothes and into a wetsuit.

[Mills College Library]

797.23 S234 2008

[Ray Savarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice worldwide list of diving locations, with 1 1/2 page descriptions of details on each and what makes them great.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this book doesn't inspire one to dive, nothing will.