Learning about Jacques Cousteau, a famous French marine explorer, is a right of passage for any new scuba diver. He’s widely known as the father of scuba diving and marine conservation, having actually pioneered scuba gear. He’s often pictured with an iconic red beanie and is known for his exploration ship, Calypso. Cousteau’s contribution to our oceans can be summed up as an inventor, filmmaker, and conservationist who sailed the world for much of the late 20th century, and educated millions of people about the Earth’s oceans and conservation through his TV series and books. Cousteau’s favorite dive destinations are widely respected today, based on his recommendation alone.
Cousteau co-invented the Aqua-Lung, a breathing device for scuba-diving, in 1943. In 1951, he began going on yearly trips to explore the ocean on the Calypso. In 1968, he produced the television series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, which ran for nine seasons. Millions of people followed Cousteau and his crew traversing the globe presenting intimate exposés of marine life and habitat. It was during this time that Cousteau began to realize how human activity was destroying the oceans. Cousteau also wrote several books, including The Shark in 1970, Dolphins in 1975, and Jacques Cousteau: The Ocean World in 1985. With his increased celebrity and the support of many, Cousteau founded the Cousteau Society in 1973, in an effort to raise awareness of the ecosystems of the underwater world.
Jacques Cousteau & former PADI CEO John Cronin in 1970
Many years before travel and dive influencers appeared on our Instagram feeds, Jacques Cousteau inspired the world through his famous ocean exploration documentaries. Recommendations from Cousteau carry a lot of weight, even decades later. Sites that he discovered and praised over 50 years ago are steadfast diving meccas today. Let’s travel through Cousteau’s favorite dive destinations around the globe.
Sipadan, Malaysia
Sipadan, a Malaysian island off Borneo’s east coast, became famous following Cousteau’s early ‘80s film “Ghost of the Sea Turtles.” Cousteau proclaimed of the area, “I have seen other places like Sipadan 45 years ago, but now no more. Now we have found an untouched piece of art.”
Boasting more than 3,000 marine species and corals, it’s topped off with a large number of turtle sightings. The nutrient rich currents entering this area attract small fish, large fish, sharks and turtles. Lucky divers can expect to run into hammerheads or thresher sharks occasionally here as well. Lucky divers can expect to run into hammerheads or thresher sharks occasionally in this area.
Important diving information: Sipadan has been protected since 2002, so there are no resorts on the island and divers can only visit by day boat. Since 2013 regulation has been put in place which only allows 120 divers on Sipadan each day between 8:00am and 3:00pm. Most dives here are drift, with very strong currents in a few places. An Advanced Open Water certification or minimum of 20 logged dives is required. It’s important to note that only 176 permits are issued a day, so dive access is not guaranteed. It is recommended divers secure a permit before arrival to ensure a smooth trip. Booking far in advance, a longer stay, and going off-season up your chance of securing access.
Best time to go: The weather and diving in Sipadan are great year-round. Currents are strongest between January and March, while turtle nesting and highest visibility are found here from May to August.
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The Sea of Cortez, Mexico
Cousteau considered the Sea of Cortez, now known as the Gulf of California, “the world’s aquarium.”
At 25 million years old, this deep gulf brims with critters and is thought to be one of the most diverse seas on the planet. Among its residents: the world’s widest variety of dolphins and whales, rays, turtles, hammerheads and over 900 species of fish. The Sea of Cortez is a must if you love sea lions: there’s a colony where you can get so close they’ll nibble at your fins.
Important diving information: Given this is such a large area, there are dives to cater to every experience level. Beginners can check out Cabo Pulmo, La Paz, Los Cabos. For explorers with a few more dives under their weight belt, the Midriff Islands, El Bajo or Gordo Banks are worth a visit. Head to Isla San Pedro for hammerheads and Los Islotes to swim with sea lions. Divers may encounter whale sharks in the fall, and winter brings the opportunity to swim with humpbacks, sperm whales, rays and mobulas.
When to go: This site is a balancing act. Water is warmest August to November, so it is a popular time for liveaboards and hammerhead shark sightings. The water cools down from December to March, making it prime time for spying animals like octopuses, whales and sea lions.
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SS Thistlegorm, Red Sea, Egypt
This World War II gravesite was forgotten until Cousteau featured the site in The Living Sea, The Silent World in the 1950s and made it a worldwide hit.
German air bombers sunk the SS Thistlegorm in 1941 off the coast of Egypt. Most of the cargo survived, making the site a gold mine of WWII artifacts—motorcycles, guns, trucks, airplane parts and more. Over the decades, a bustling artificial reef developed on the wreck.
Egypt’s reefs are teeming with bright corals, schools of fish, and wonderfully calm and clear conditions. Due to the excellent visibility and the easy access to excess depths it’s an attractive location for technical diving and training.
When to go: If Hammerhead sharks are on your bucket list then head to Egypt between June-September. This is also when the water temperature is at its warmest. The best time to spot a Whale Shark is between May-August although they have been known to be spotted at any time of year.
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Vancouver Island, Canada
Vancouver Island, on Canada’s west coast, boasts over 17,000 miles of coast line. Cousteau said of the area that it’s “the best temperate-water diving in the world and second only to the Red Sea.” Vancouver diving still today ranks among the best in North America because it was sited as one of Cousteau’s favorite dive destinations. Marine life includes prehistoric looking wolf eels, bluntnose sixgill sharks, seals, sea lions, giant Pacific octopus and the ever-adorable sea otters.
The current-fed waters in this area are rich in plankton and marine life, including well-known giant Pacific octopuses, sea stars, anemones, rockfish and sponges. This island is an underwater photographers dream site, with its rich array of colors.
Important diving information: With more than 2000 miles of shoreline, the island offers scores of diving options. If you love wrecks, check out the nonprofit Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia , which has been sinking diver-safe ex-warships and one Boeing 737. Browning Pass Wall is covered in corals and anemones. Canadian waters are cold, so divers need a drysuit certification. A dive light is also recommended to retain sites’ stunning colors as you descend.
When to go: The waters of Vancouver Island are easiest to access in the summer months, when the weather is warmer and the skies clear.
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Cozumel, Mexico
In the early 1960s, Cousteau said, “Cozumel is one of the best places around the world for diving, thanks to its fantastic visibility and its wonderful marine life.”
As a Mecca for dive vacations, you’ve likely heard of Cozumel. This island is famous for its relaxing drift dives through incredible coral reef ecosystems. Over 25 kinds of coral and over 500 species of fish reside here, including several endemic species like the toadfish.
There are two main reef systems, known as Colombia and Palancar, which are protected from fishing in many areas. Nearly all of the dive sites here are located on the west side, although there are some sites on the windward side that require favorable weather conditions and an advanced certification. Cozumel is known for drift diving, which keeps the visibility very clear. Divers can expect to see many fish, lobsters, turtles and rays.
Important diving information: Cozumel is an island off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, so you need to take a ferry from Playa del Carmen on the mainland to get there. Divers can stay on Cozumel itself, or make it a day trip. The marine park around Cozumel houses a large number of dive sites, making this site accessible for divers of any level, but a drift diving certification may be useful.
When to go: Cozumel has great diving conditions all year. December to April is generally the most popular time to visit Mexico given its warm winter weather. From May through November, however, the waters are even warmer, the crowds smaller and the prices lower—but note that hurricane season runs from June through November, and historically the chance of a hurricane is strongest from August through October.
Richelieu Rock, Andaman Sea, Thailand
Exactly where the name “Richelieu Rock” came from is disputed, with one version of the story saying Cousteau named the red-to-purple coral-laiden rock for the famous red robes and hats of 17th-century Cardinal Richelieu. Others say it’s named after Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu, the only non-Thai commander in chief of the Royal Thai Navy.
This horseshoe-shaped reef, discovered by Cousteau, is in what’s now known as the Mu Koh Surin National Park in the Andaman Sea off Thailand, though it is closer to Burma. This site includes a limestone pinnacle rising up from around 164 feet (50 m) deep to just below the water’s surface, which teems with marine life.
This rock crop is an underwater photographer’s dream. Nudibranchs, seahorses, shrimp and moray eels all flock to the coral-coated rock. Pelagic animals also frequent the area since the arched formation is a considerable distance from the shore. It is also considered one of the best places in Thailand to encounter manta rays and whale sharks.
Important diving information: Richelieu Rock is part of the Mu Koh Surin marine park, which is open every year from October 15 to May 15, and closed the rest of the year for the wet season. There is a nominal fee to enter the park, which is usually wrapped into the price of an organized dive trip. Day trips to the rock are available, but most divers opt for liveaboards that include a stop at Richelieu. The formation goes as deep as 115 feet, so an advanced diving certification will give you more access to the site.
When to go: The park is open 24/7 from mid-October to mid-May, when the weather in Thailand is generally hot and dry. The peak whale shark spotting season in the area is from February to April.
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Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand
A group of islands 15 miles off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island might not seem like a spot for great diving, but the great visibility and abundant marine life were enough for to rate these islands in the top 10 of Cousteau’s favorite dive destinations.
The Poor Knights are the remains of volcanoes that formed part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, and which now form a marine reserve with over 50 recognized dive sites, including the world’s largest sea cave. The underwater diversity includes everything from kelp forests to sea walls, sandy areas, coral and caverns. Divers can also visit two purpose-sunk wrecks. The marine life here is teeming with larger marine mammal sightings, such as dolphins and various whale species.
Off the tip of New Zealand’s North Island, the cliffs of Poor Knights sweep down into pelagic-filled ocean. These clear subtropical waters are paradise for dolphins, orca and rays, with huge aggregations of bull rays and stingrays often sighted at several of the islands’ dive sites.
From the moment you arrive it’s clear you don’t dive around Poor Knights, you dive in them: there’s no shortage of grottoes, chimneys, tunnels and archways to burrow into. Healthy fish populations create mesmerizing displays below the waves. Swim through huge clouds of pink and blue mao mao sheltering in volcanic arches or drift over kelp forests with snapper and trevallies. Feeding fish make the sea surface bubble and ‘boil’.
When to go: Winter (May-October) has better visibility (over 30m on good days) while the remaining summer months (November-April) have more plankton and marine life.
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Sha’b Rumi, Sudan
Red Sea diving is not just restricted to Egypt – further south you’ll find incredible diving off the coast of Sudan. Sha’b Rumi, a reef about 30 miles from Port Sudan. In the middle of the reef is a lagoon that can be entered via a narrow route blasted by Cousteau himself. It’s important to note that these were different times, and this likely wouldn’t have been done now.
This site is also home to a number of experiments in underwater living. In 1963, Cousteau began the second of his Conshelf experiments with the building of Precontinent II, an underwater living structure where the team lived for a month. The structures were removed afterwards, but a submersible hanger can still be seen.
Sudan lies in an equatorial region where the temperatures remain tropical throughout the year. You can expect to see delightful coral gardens and a variety of sharks. barracuda, manta rays, dolphins humpback whales, pilot whales and turtles. When the current permits divers will often be rewarded with the super stars- schooling scalloped hammer heads and the odd grey reef shark.
When to go: The best time for diving in Sudan is between February and June, as this is when marine life is most rich. The fall months (September-November) are also great for diving, especially October when it is manta season in Sudan near Mesharifa reef.
Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Cocos Island is a national-park island, which takes 36 hours by boat from the west coast of Costa Rica to get to. This may seem like a rather large ask, but just know that it’s well worth the journey! The only inhabitants of the island are park rangers, and, because of its remoteness, the only way to visit is via liveaboard.
The island, formed from volcanic activity, is the first point of contact for the northern equatorial counter-current, which brings in nutrient-rich waters and, famously, large pelagic species like whale sharks and schools of hundreds of scalloped hammerheads. Dive sites vary from shallow reefs to the deep, deep blue and plenty in between, including deep volcanic pinnacles. You may also encounter blacktip, whitetip, silvertip, tiger sharks, as well as many species of rays.
Important diving information: Due to the nature of the environment, Cocos is best suited to only the most experienced divers. Very strong currents are common, and even though the water can be between 75 and 86F (24 to 30C), because of the deep currents, thermoclines can suddenly drop the temperature to as low as 43F (6C).
When to go: The best time to visit the Cocos Islands corresponds to the months of September and October, since they are, on average, the least rainy of the year. However, some showers should be taken into account also in this period.
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The Great Blue Hole, Belize (Yucatan Peninsula)
This site was declared one of Cousteau’s favorite dive destinations after he first dived the site in 1971, which was featured in his series, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.
Even though there are many blue holes, and Cousteau has been associated with a number of them, the most famous is in Belize. Even more spectacular from the air, the perfectly round limestone sinkhole is 984 feet (300 m) across and 407 feet (124 m) deep. Although visibility often exceeds 100 feet (30 m), there’s not much marine life to speak of save for the occasional Caribbean reef shark. Underwater rock formations are what divers note about this experience, not animal encounters or decadent reefs. Though divers may spot the occasional shark hanging out in the hole, the focus is the topography.
Important diving information: It takes two hours to reach Lighthouse Reef, home of the Great Blue Hole, from Belize City. An advanced diving certification is required to reach the stalactites and stalagmites, which start at a depth of 130 feet.
When to go: Belize offers great dive conditions year-round, though March to December is when conditions are ideal for marine life. It is also worth noting the rainy season in Belize is April to October.
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