The best overall destinations have to deliver diving that appeals to a range of interests, from unusual biodiversity to underwater thrills. But a top overall pick can’t stop there — the traveling diver needs more when it comes to the entire experience, including the food, resort amenities and topside activities. For the perfect combo of ­unforgettable diving and all-around excellence, these are your top picks as voted by Scuba Diving magazine readers in 2018.

HAWAII

Only Here The eight major Hawaiian ­Islands are famous among divers for their local biodiversity: Thirty percent of ­Hawaii’s fish life can be seen only there. This includes the fiery neon orange and electric cobalt of the Potter’s angelfish, and the striped mustache conger eel. Plus, this state’s waters are the cruising grounds of spinner dolphins, monk seals, and more green sea turtles than you’ll likely see anywhere else. Want more? ­Hawaii is home to a host of critters, such as leaf ­scorpionfish, frogfish in a rainbow of ­colors i­ncluding mint green, and the bright red Spanish dancer nudibranch — which can grow up to 2 feet in length.

Wild Attractions Hawaii knows how to cater to return visitors, offering a mix of attractions. Off Kona, advanced ­divers can take on black-water diving, out in open ocean, to witness the amazing parade of glowing creatures that rise only in ­darkness. The Big Island also offers the legendary manta night dive; if you’ve done it before, try adding on the Manta Ray ­Diver specialty to gain a ­better understanding of the animal’s ­anatomy and behavior. Sign up at Jack’s Diving Locker and you can learn from Keller Laros, known as the Manta Man himself.

Lunar Landscape Credit an ages-old flow of lava for the unique pillars, caves and lava tubes of the 50th state. The sites First and Second Cathedral off the island of Lanai welcome divers into large rooms with skylights — gaps in the lava walls where light pours in — creating a holy effect. The volcanic Molokini Crater, a day trip from Maui, is a must for divers ready to drop in on a sheer wall where whitetip and gray reef sharks, eagle rays, and a host of other big stuff passes by.

Pooled Assets Sure, the Pacific offers much by way of scenery and entertainment — after all, you did travel to dive — but an equally vital part of a Hawaii getaway, especially if you’re traveling with wee ones, is the hotel pool. Few destinations do ­it as well as Hawaii. Try the Hilton ­Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort on Oahu for its slides, waterfall and tropical grotto. The Kauai Marriott Resort houses the state’s largest single-level outdoor pool — in other words, plenty of real estate in the water and poolside for you and yours to spread out, play and relax.

YUCATAN, MEXICO

Do It All Plan it right, and you can pack drift dives, shark dives or whale shark snorkel trips plus cavern dives into one week’s vacation. Start on Cozumel for thrill rides on the current as it sweeps along the wall, then ferry to the Mexican mainland for shark dives off the city of Playa del Carmen, November through March. From June through August, snorkelers can depart on day tours from Cancun or Isla Mujeres to swim alongside 40-foot whale sharks. Year-round, divers can tour caverns such as Pet Cemetery, 30 miles south of Playa del Carmen, for curtains of stalactites that reach to meet the floor. The site also contains preserved animal bones — including a tapir’s jawbone and the fossilized bones of an extinct species of camel.

Rain or Shine Nobody likes arriving at their destination, ready to dive, only to have rough seas or inclement weather cancel the outing. In the Yucatan peninsula, diving is always possible: If the seas are rough, head to the interior to dive a cavern or cave, which offers perfect conditions all the time, sometimes with up to 300 feet of visibility.

Cuisine Scene Yes, it’s tacos, tacos, ­tacos in the Yucatan Peninsula, but it’s also so much more. In Tulum, try Flor de Michoacan to take advantage of the area’s ­bounty sweetened. This spot on the main drag vends popsicles in flavors such as watermelon and pineapple-jalapeño. In Playa del Carmen, come hungry to Puerto Cocina Urbana, specializing in all things seafood, from tuna ceviche to marlin tacos.

FLORIDA KEYS

Where the Watermen Are It’s no ­wonder so many accomplished watermen call the Florida Keys home. Offshore of this ­113-mile chain, sports enthusiasts can deep-sea fish, kayak the mangroves, kitesurf, and of course, dive. While the Florida Reef stretches the length of this chain of islands, the Keys might be better known for its artificial reefs. World-class wrecks such as the Spiegel Grove, Duane and ­Vandenberg provide massive playgrounds for underwater explorers.

Together We Rise One of the strengths of these islands is that the dive operators live by the credo “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.” To that end, they created the Wreck Trek Passport Program, mapping out the highlights of each island so travelers know the must-sees and lesser-known gems, such as Marathon’s Thunderbolt and ­Islamorada's Eagle.

Readers Choice Winners

The best ­operators, resorts and liveaboards to get you this experience, as chosen by ­readers.

Best Dive Operators: Jack’s Diving Locker Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Kona Honu Divers Hawaii; Dive Maui Hawaii; Pro Dive International — Mexico; Horizon Divers Key Largo, Florida; Ocean Divers Key Largo, Florida

Best Dive Resorts: Scuba Club Cozumel; Hotel Cozumel; InterContinental Presidente Cozumel Resort & Spa

Best Liveaboards: Kona Aggressor II Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Complete Readers Choice Awards.

Pacific and Indian Oceans

1. Hawaii
2. Indonesia
3. Maldives
4. Great Barrier Reef/Queensland
5. Palau

Caribbean and Atlantic ocean

1. Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
2. Cayman Islands
3. Bonaire
4. Roatan
5. Belize

North America

1. Florida Keys
2. California
3. British Columbia
4. North Carolina
5. Great Lakes

What is Readers Choice?

More than 3,000 readers rate their experiences in our annual survey. Winners are selected via average scores.