2014 Reader's Choice Awards: Scuba Diving Top 100 Gold List
Looking for the best of the best? This is the Top 100 Gold List of operators, resorts, live-aboards, underwater experiences (i.e., best big-animal encounters, shore dives and wrecks), dive bars and more, determined on a popularity contest basis. Rankings are based on the total number of responses, regardless of category.
1. Best 24/7 Dive Destination: Bonaire
2. Best Dive Site: Darwin's Arch, Galapagos
3. Best Drift Dive: Palancar Deep, Cozumel
4. Best Dive Site: Roca Partida, Socorro Islands, Mexico
5. Best Wreck Dive: USS Spiegel Grove, Key Largo, Florida Keys
6. Best 24/7 Dive Destination: Roatan, Bay Islands
7. Best Animal Encounter: Schooling hammerheads, Galapagos
8. Best Drift Dive: Ulong Channel, Palau
9. Best Animal Encounter: Stuart Cove's Shark Dive, New Providence Island, Bahamas
10.Best Wreck Dive: San Francisco Maru, Truk Lagoon
11. Best Night Dive: Jack's Diving Locker Pelagic Magic, Big Island, Hawaii
12. Best Live-Aboard: Galapagos Aggressor
13.Best Wreck Dive: USS Kittiwake, Grand Cayman
14. Best Wall Dive: Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands
15. Best Wall Dive: Molokini Back Wall, Maui, Hawaii
16. Best Dive Resort: Buddy Dive Resort, Bonaire
17. Best Dive Site: E6, Bligh Water, Fiji
18. Best Wall Dive: Barracuda Point, Sipadan, Malaysia
19. Best Marine Park: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
20. Best Dive Operation: Scuba Shack, Maui, Hawaii
21. Best Night Dive: RMS Rhone, British Virgin Islands
22. Best Night Life: Key West, Florida Keys
23. Best Oil Rig Dive: Eureka Rig, Long Beach, California
24. Best Live-aboard: Palau Aggressor II
25. Best Dive Site: Stonehenge, South Andaman Sea, Thailand
26. Best Beach: Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
27. Best Wreck Dive: Superior Producer, Curaçao
28. Best Drift Dive: L'Anse Chemin, Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
29. Best Dive Resort: Sunset House, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
30. Best Live-Aboard: Turks & Caicos Aggressor II
31. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Antarctic Islands
32. Best Live-Aboard: Truk Odyssey
33. Best Shore Dive: Liberty, Bali, Indonesia
34. Best Marine Park: Bonaire National Marine Park
35. Best Wreck Dive: Cristobal Colon, Bermuda
36. Best Live-Aboard: Aqua Cat, Bahamas
37. Best Wall Dive: Half Moon Caye Wall, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize
38. Best Animal Encounter: Sea lions, Los Islotes, La Paz, Mexico
39. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Riviera Maya Cave Systems, Mexico
40. Best Live-Aboard: Arenui, Indonesia
41. Best Dive Operation: Ocean Frontiers, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
42. Best Wall Dive: Ngemelis Wall, Palau
43. Best Wreck Dive: Bianca C, Grenada
44. Best Animal Encounter: Manta Sandy, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
45. Best Wreck Dive: LuLu, Gulf Shores, Alabama
46. Most Family-Friendly Dive Experience: Anthony’s Key Resort’s Dolphin Encounter, Roatan
47. Best Night Dive: Lighthouse, Malapascua, Philippines
48. Most Romantic Dive Destination: Hawaiian Islands
49. Best Night Dive: Samurai Wharf, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
50. Best Wall Dive: Santa Rosa Wall, Cozumel, Mexico
51. Best Dive Operator: Fun Baja, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
52. Best Wreck Dive: U-352, Morehead City, North Carolina
53. Best Beach: Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
54. Best Live-Aboard: Mike Ball's Spoilsport, Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea
55. Best Wall Dive: Cane Bay Wall, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
56. Best Live-Aboard: Sun Dancer II, Belize
57. Best Drift Diving: Goofnuw Channel, Yap
58. Best Dive Operator: Unexso, Grand Bahama
59. Best Wreck Dive: USS Oriskany, Pensacola, Florida
60. Best Animal Encounter: Manatees, Crystal River, Florida
61. Best Bar: Soggy Dollar Bar, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
62. Best Dive Operator: Sam's Tours, Palau
63. Best Drift Dive: Kamikaze Cut, Tobago
64. Best Barrier Reef: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
65. Most Family-Friendly Dive Experience: Kids Sea Camp
66. Best Wreck Dive: Cedarville, Mackinac Straits Underwater Preserve, Michigan
67. Best Night Life: Bali, Indonesia
68. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Silfra Crack, Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
69. Best Drift Dive: Tumakohua Pass, Fakarava, French Polynesia
70. Best Shore Dive: CoCo View Wall, Roatan, Bay Islands
71. Most Romantic Dive Destination: Fiji
72. Best Wreck Dive: Numidia, Big Brother Island, Red Sea
73. Best Bar: My Bar, Sunset House, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
74. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Sardine Run, South Africa
**75. Best Animal Encounter: **Humpback whales, Dominican Republic
76. Best Beach: Tulum Riviera Maya, Mexico
77. Best Beach: Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii
78. Best Surface Interval: Watching the sun set, Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
79. Best Marine Park: Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, California
80. Best Barrier Reef: Belize Barrier Reef
81. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Peacock Springs Cave System, Luraville, Florida
82. Best Wall Dive: Browning Pass Wall, British Columbia
83. Best Shore Dive: Point Lobos, Carmel, California
84. Best Surface Interval: Looking for whale sharks, Utila, Bay Islands
85. Best Animal Encounter: Stingray City, Grand Cayman
86. Best Shore Dive: Blue Heron Bridge, Riviera Beach, Florida
87. Best Drift Diving: Nakwakto Rapids, British Columbia, Canada
88. Best Live-Aboard: Valentina, Sea of Cortez, Mexico
89. Best Bar: Thirsty Turtle Beach Bar & Grill, Roatan
90. Best Surface Interval: Hiking to waterfalls, Dominica
91. Best Bar: Caribbean Club, Key Largo, Florida
92. Best Wreck Dive: Mohawk, Sanibel, Florida
93. Best 24/7 Destination: Utila, Bay Islands
94. Best Night Life: Full Moon Party, Phi Phi Don, Thailand
95. Best Night Dive: Arborek Jetty, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
96. Best Restaurant with a View: Don Diego, Sandos Finisterra Resort, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
97. Best Off-Gassing Road Trip: Todos Santos, Baja Sur, Mexico
98. Best Marine Park: Gardens of the Queen, Cuba
99. Best Swimming Pool: Laguna Beach Resort, Utila, Bay Islands
100. Best Animal Encounter: Hammerheads, El Bajo, Sea of Cortez
Jon CornforthTop 100 Gold List of operators, resorts, liveaboards and underwater experiences of 2014.
Looking for the best of the best? This is the Top 100 Gold List of operators, resorts, live-aboards, underwater experiences (i.e., best big-animal encounters, shore dives and wrecks), dive bars and more, determined on a popularity contest basis. Rankings are based on the total number of responses, regardless of category.
1. Best 24/7 Dive Destination: Bonaire
2. Best Dive Site: Darwin's Arch, Galapagos
3. Best Drift Dive: Palancar Deep, Cozumel
4. Best Dive Site: Roca Partida, Socorro Islands, Mexico
5. Best Wreck Dive: USS Spiegel Grove, Key Largo, Florida Keys
6. Best 24/7 Dive Destination: Roatan, Bay Islands
7. Best Animal Encounter: Schooling hammerheads, Galapagos
8. Best Drift Dive: Ulong Channel, Palau
9. Best Animal Encounter: Stuart Cove's Shark Dive, New Providence Island, Bahamas
10.Best Wreck Dive: San Francisco Maru, Truk Lagoon
11. Best Night Dive: Jack's Diving Locker Pelagic Magic, Big Island, Hawaii
12. Best Live-Aboard: Galapagos Aggressor
13.Best Wreck Dive: USS Kittiwake, Grand Cayman
14. Best Wall Dive: Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands
15. Best Wall Dive: Molokini Back Wall, Maui, Hawaii
16. Best Dive Resort: Buddy Dive Resort, Bonaire
17. Best Dive Site: E6, Bligh Water, Fiji
18. Best Wall Dive: Barracuda Point, Sipadan, Malaysia
19. Best Marine Park: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
20. Best Dive Operation: Scuba Shack, Maui, Hawaii
21. Best Night Dive: RMS Rhone, British Virgin Islands
22. Best Night Life: Key West, Florida Keys
23. Best Oil Rig Dive: Eureka Rig, Long Beach, California
24. Best Live-aboard: Palau Aggressor II
25. Best Dive Site: Stonehenge, South Andaman Sea, Thailand
26. Best Beach: Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
27. Best Wreck Dive: Superior Producer, Curaçao
28. Best Drift Dive: L'Anse Chemin, Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
29. Best Dive Resort: Sunset House, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
30. Best Live-Aboard: Turks & Caicos Aggressor II
31. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Antarctic Islands
32. Best Live-Aboard: Truk Odyssey
33. Best Shore Dive: Liberty, Bali, Indonesia
34. Best Marine Park: Bonaire National Marine Park
35. Best Wreck Dive: Cristobal Colon, Bermuda
36. Best Live-Aboard: Aqua Cat, Bahamas
37. Best Wall Dive: Half Moon Caye Wall, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize
38. Best Animal Encounter: Sea lions, Los Islotes, La Paz, Mexico
39. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Riviera Maya Cave Systems, Mexico
40. Best Live-Aboard: Arenui, Indonesia
41. Best Dive Operation: Ocean Frontiers, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
42. Best Wall Dive: Ngemelis Wall, Palau
43. Best Wreck Dive: Bianca C, Grenada
44. Best Animal Encounter: Manta Sandy, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
45. Best Wreck Dive: LuLu, Gulf Shores, Alabama
46. Most Family-Friendly Dive Experience: Anthony’s Key Resort’s Dolphin Encounter, Roatan
47. Best Night Dive: Lighthouse, Malapascua, Philippines
48. Most Romantic Dive Destination: Hawaiian Islands
49. Best Night Dive: Samurai Wharf, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
50. Best Wall Dive: Santa Rosa Wall, Cozumel, Mexico
51. Best Dive Operator: Fun Baja, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
52. Best Wreck Dive: U-352, Morehead City, North Carolina
53. Best Beach: Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
54. Best Live-Aboard: Mike Ball's Spoilsport, Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea
55. Best Wall Dive: Cane Bay Wall, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
56. Best Live-Aboard: Sun Dancer II, Belize
57. Best Drift Diving: Goofnuw Channel, Yap
58. Best Dive Operator: Unexso, Grand Bahama
59. Best Wreck Dive: USS Oriskany, Pensacola, Florida
60. Best Animal Encounter: Manatees, Crystal River, Florida
61. Best Bar: Soggy Dollar Bar, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
62. Best Dive Operator: Sam's Tours, Palau
63. Best Drift Dive: Kamikaze Cut, Tobago
64. Best Barrier Reef: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
65. Most Family-Friendly Dive Experience: Kids Sea Camp
66. Best Wreck Dive: Cedarville, Mackinac Straits Underwater Preserve, Michigan
67. Best Night Life: Bali, Indonesia
68. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Silfra Crack, Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
69. Best Drift Dive: Tumakohua Pass, Fakarava, French Polynesia
70. Best Shore Dive: CoCo View Wall, Roatan, Bay Islands
71. Most Romantic Dive Destination: Fiji
72. Best Wreck Dive: Numidia, Big Brother Island, Red Sea
73. Best Bar: My Bar, Sunset House, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
74. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Sardine Run, South Africa
75. Best Animal Encounter: Humpback whales, Dominican Republic
76. Best Beach: Tulum Riviera Maya, Mexico
77. Best Beach: Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii
78. Best Surface Interval: Watching the sun set, Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
79. Best Marine Park: Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, California
80. Best Barrier Reef: Belize Barrier Reef
81. Best Push-the-Limits Diving: Peacock Springs Cave System, Luraville, Florida
82. Best Wall Dive: Browning Pass Wall, British Columbia
83. Best Shore Dive: Point Lobos, Carmel, California
84. Best Surface Interval: Looking for whale sharks, Utila, Bay Islands
85. Best Animal Encounter: Stingray City, Grand Cayman
86. Best Shore Dive: Blue Heron Bridge, Riviera Beach, Florida
87. Best Drift Diving: Nakwakto Rapids, British Columbia, Canada
88. Best Live-Aboard: Valentina, Sea of Cortez, Mexico
89. Best Bar: Thirsty Turtle Beach Bar & Grill, Roatan
90. Best Surface Interval: Hiking to waterfalls, Dominica
91. Best Bar: Caribbean Club, Key Largo, Florida
92. Best Wreck Dive: Mohawk, Sanibel, Florida
93. Best 24/7 Destination: Utila, Bay Islands
94. Best Night Life: Full Moon Party, Phi Phi Don, Thailand
95. Best Night Dive: Arborek Jetty, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
96. Best Restaurant with a View: Don Diego, Sandos Finisterra Resort, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
97. Best Off-Gassing Road Trip: Todos Santos, Baja Sur, Mexico
98. Best Marine Park: Gardens of the Queen, Cuba
99. Best Swimming Pool: Laguna Beach Resort, Utila, Bay Islands
100. Best Animal Encounter: Hammerheads, El Bajo, Sea of Cortez