You can travel all over the globe, see the wonders of the world and fly above the clouds, but until you’ve explored what’s on offer below the surface you’re missing out on 71% of what this crazy planet has to offer.

With so much to do and see beneath the waves, I’m starting to think being on dry land is a total waste of my time! You could be role-playing The Little Mermaid, weaving in and out of pastel coloured corals, or being a serious action man descending to investigate long lost ship wrecks. As if you need any more convincing, here are some of the world’s most extraordinary dive sites.

The Yongala, Australia

The sunken S.S. Yongala has become one of the world’s most celebrated dive sites. Laying in the depths of the Great Barrier Reef, the Yongala sunk in 1911 and remained undiscovered for more than 50 years. By the time the ship had been uncovered, it had become the home of a fascinating array of marine life; from manta rays, sea snakes, and octopuses, to turtles, bull sharks, and tiger sharks, as well as the spectacular coral that makes the Great Barrier Reef a World Heritage site.

Manta Ray Night Dive, Hawaii

Manta Ray Night Diving: it’s as exciting as it sounds. On the other side of the world in stunning Hawaii lays Kona Coast, a manta ray hotspot and diving attraction for keen adventurers from around the globe. Night diving tours kick off at sunset and use under water spotlights to illuminate the sea bed, attracting hungry manta rays which feed on the plankton found there.

Thistlegorm, Egypt

In 1941 the S.S Thistlegorm was sunk by German bomber planes in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. A merchant ship, Thistlegorm carried cars, trucks, wartime cargo and even motorbikes which now sit on the seabed offering a unique glimpse into military history to those who dive here. Time stands still inside the wreck where stone fish lurk in rusted train carriages and brightly coloured corals wrap around the ships decaying hull.

Blue Corner Wall, Micronesia

In beautiful Palau advanced divers congregate to explore the Blue Corner Wall; a world-class diving spot with plenty of sheer drops and mysterious caves, not to mention an abundance of sea life from sharks and barracudas to eagle rays and snappers. If you’re feeling brave enough to go for it, you’ll have to hook yourself to the wall of the reef so the strong currents do pull you out to sea! This is a dive with many risks but even more bountiful rewards.

Barracuda Point, Malaysia

If you like to get up close and personal with the locals under the sea you’ll love this dive! It’s not called barracuda point for nothing; this diving hot spot is teaming with barracuda, which can often be seen swimming in the thousands in whirlpool-like formations. Barracuda aren’t the only sea-critters to call this region home, and divers regularly witness dozens on turtles and schools of whitetip sharks.

Great Blue Hole, Belize

This dive is not for the faint hearted. As the name might have already revealed, Great Blue Hole is a very deep, wide, dark hole inhabited by sharks. Sounds fun, right!? The experience of descending over 130 feet into the dark abyss is often described as otherworldly, as nitrogen narcosis inevitably takes over to give divers a euphoric feeling as they sink to investigate this bizarre World Heritage Site.