14 breathtaking photos of some of the world’s best scuba diving locations

• Whether it’s your first time in open water or the hundredth entry in your logbook, these scuba locations provide the ultimate bucket list for explorers, adventurers, and ardent scuba divers no matter their skill level.
• Each location offers a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to explore the magic of our world’s oceans – from an armchair or with scuba gear in tow.
• From the Bahamas, to the Azores, to Antartica, here are some of the best scuba locations in the world.

Editor’s Note: The following are images from “100 Dives of a Lifetime” by Carrie Miller. Explore 100 breathtaking scuba diving sites across 60 countries and 6 continents through stunning National Geographic photography, expert tips, and cutting-edge travel advice.

You can purchase “100 Dives of Lifetime” by Carrie Miller here.

The gem of Rapid Bay Jetty: a leafy seadragon in south Australia

Tubbataha is home to 90% of the coral species native to the Philippines

Caribbean reef sharks patrol the national marine park’s waters in Cuba

Read more: 9 places you can go diving with sharks – and what it looks like

The shipwreck’s massive hull offers plenty for divers to explore

A diver captures underwater photos of the rich coral reefs in Indonesia’s Wakatobi National Park

Caribbean reef sharks circle a diver exploring the wreckage in the Ray of Hope wreck

A diver passes a school of fish on a dive in Kona

The stunning neon pattern of a giant hawkfish in Mexico

Brown boobies check underwater for lunch in Cocos Island

A dusky grouper explores the reefs in the Azores

The beach’s namesake shark patrols the reef in Tiger Beach

Divers prepare to descend from the landing dock of Devil’s Den

Divers explore the fascinating underwater ice formations in Antartica.

Before you dive, take in the Great Blue Hole from the sky in Belize

Read more: Scientists completed one of the most detailed explorations inside the Great Blue Hole. Here’s what they found at the bottom of the giant, mysterious sinkhole.