15 Coolest Underwater Sites You Can Visit
When I was a kid, I used to wish that I could live in the ocean after becoming enchanted with Disney’s The Little Mermaid. I guess I took the song “Under the Sea” too literally! But the underwater world truly has a beauty all its own. The sunlight filtering through the water creates an ethereal glow, and the rock formations and coral reefs take on otherworldly shapes and colors.
Home to a mind-boggling diversity of marine life, the sea always has new things to discover. The ocean floor is a vast submerged museum, preserving shipwrecks, ancient cities, and fossils that tell stories of human history and prehistoric times. Some places in the world even have incredible hotel rooms and restaurants located in the water! Add some of these amazing underwater travel destinations to your bucket list!
1. Silfra fissure – Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
Would you pass on the chance to swim between two continental plates? Silfra Fissure, located in Thingvellir National Park, sits between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and is filled with bright glacial meltwater.
The water takes about 30 to 100 years to filter through the lava rock before reaching the fissure, making it incredibly pure and drinkable! Silfra is a popular spot for snorkeling and diving, and many tour companies offer guided tours. Visit in summer for the best experience!
2. Underwater Post Office – Vanuatu
Who would’ve thought you’d ever come across a post office while swimming amongst colorful fish in a beautiful coral reef? Vanuatu is an independent Island nation located in the South Pacific with an underwater post office. Opened in 2003, the post office is the only one of its kind in the world, and it’s definitely worth checking out.
The underwater post office is located on Hideaway Island, which is a short boat ride from Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. The post office itself is situated in about 10 feet of water, so you can snorkel or scuba dive to get there. It’s open during regular business hours with a raised flag to let you know when it’s open. Buy a waterproof postcard, write your message, and get it stamped underwater—how cool is that?
3. Shipwreck of the Sweepstakes – Ontario, Canada
If you love history, you won’t want to miss the Shipwreck of the Sweepstakes, located at Fathom Five National Marine Park in Ontario, Canada. This 1867 schooner sank in 1885 and now lies just 150 feet from shore, open for exploration.
For certified scuba divers, the Sweepstakes is a dream come true. The calm, clear waters offer a stunning view of the nearly intact hull. If you’re not a diver, Glass-bottom boat tours allow you to see the shipwreck from the comfort of your seat. Imagine peering down and spotting the remains of this historic vessel!
4. Orda Cave – Perm Krai, Russia
Orda Cave is a breathtaking underwater cavern that is off-limits for recreational diving due to its dangers, but it is a dream for experienced cave divers! It’s the longest gypsum cave in the world, stretching over three miles with translucent, 40°F water and white, cathedral-like walls.
Above ground, it looks like a grassy hill, but below, divers enjoy visibility over 50 yards. To add to the cave’s mystique, a local legend speaks of the Lady of the Orda Cave, a ghostly figure who is said to dwell within the caves!
5. The Great Blue Hole – Belize
Did you know that the Great Blue Hole is so massive that it can even be seen from space? Located off Belize’s coast, this giant underwater sinkhole is a world-famous dive site formed 25,000 to 100,000 years ago.
A boat trip from Belize’s barrier islands takes 3-4 hours, and diving costs around $300 before equipment rentals. But it’s worth the time and money if you’re an experienced diver because tourists can look forward to seeing amazing underwater wildlife such as sharks, stalactites, stalagmites, and a kaleidoscope of tropical fish, shrimp, and other Caribbean wildlife.
6. Underwater Suites Atlantis – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Want to sleep next to sharks and fish? At Underwater Suites Atlantis at The Palm in Dubai, you can! The rooms are located inside a giant aquarium with over 65,000 marine animals. You can see them swimming around from your floor-to-ceiling windows in your bedroom and bathroom!
This isn’t just any hotel room, though. It’s super luxurious, with a private butler, a decadent breakfast in bed, and even access to a private beach. Plus, you get free entry to the world’s largest waterpark and another cool aquarium experience – right next door!
7. Christ of the Abyss – San Fruttuoso, Italy
Christ of the Abyss in the Italian Riviera is a hauntingly beautiful underwater statue of Jesus. Sculpted by Guido Galletti and commissioned by Italian diver Duilio Marcante in 1954, it’s a memorial spot where Marcante’s friend Dario Gonzatti died while diving a few years prior.
This eight-foot bronze statue rests 56 feet underwater, surrounded by colorful marine life, and is open for visitation year-round. It’s a must-see for divers and snorkelers and is best visited during sunny summer months. Tourists can also enjoy the stunning scenery of the Italian Riviera, with its turquoise waters and lush green mountains!
8. Ithaa Undersea Restaurant – Maldives
Dining at a classy restaurant is nice, but how about eating at the world’s first undersea restaurant? The South Asian island country of Maldives offers a unique dining experience at Ithaa, located 16 feet below the ocean and surrounded by vibrant coral reefs and fish.
Opened in 2005 and made entirely of glass, it feels like dining in a giant aquarium. With only 14 seats, reservations are a must. Enjoy a four-course lunch or a six-course dinner!
9. The Underwater Room – Manta Resort, Zanzibar
What if you could wake up surrounded by the calming sound of the ocean while gazing at a 360-degree view of colorful fish swimming by? This isn’t a dream–it’s what it’s like to stay at The Underwater Room! Located on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, off the Eastern coast of Africa, this unique three-level suite has an underwater bedroom with panoramic marine views.
At night, underwater spotlights bathe the room in a soft glow, attracting even more sea creatures. It’s like having your own private aquarium, except you’re the attraction for the fish! And in case you’re wondering, there’s an eco-friendly marine toilet and open-air freshwater shower!
10. Underwater Museum – Cape Tarkhankut, Ukraine
Imagine swimming alongside the ghosts of the USSR’s past! The “Alley of Leaders” is an underwater museum featuring over 50 sculptures of former communist leaders like Lenin, Stalin, and Marx.
With clear visibility exceeding 30 feet underwater, you can easily spot the sculptures even from the water’s surface. The scuba diving community and the museum operators always want to add new sculptures to the collection. So, who knows what you might find on your next dive!
11. Dos Ojos (Two Eyes) – Tulum, Mexico
Named for its two eye-like openings, this stunning cenote is part of a vast underground cave system. Featured in the IMAX film Journey Into Amazing Caves and BBC’s Planet Earth, it attracts divers worldwide. Explore clear blue waters, unique rock formations, and two dive routes.
The beginner-friendly Barbie dive route has a maximum depth of 6 meters and plenty of beautiful fossils and rock formations to see. The adventurous Bat Cave route is a shorter, darker route with narrow passages.
12. Ginnie Springs – Florida, USA
Jacques Cousteau, the famous oceanographer, once said about Ginnie Springs: “No wind, no waves, and visibility forever.” And it’s easy to see why! This Florida network of springs offers incredibly clear turquoise waters and easy access for certified divers to explore a 100-foot-wide cavern.
There’s plenty to do with activities like freshwater diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and river tubing. For the full experience, book a campsite and enjoy everything Ginnie Springs has to offer!
13. Neptune Memorial Reef – Miami, Florida, USA
Would you visit an underwater graveyard if you had the chance? Neptune Memorial Reef, 3.25 miles east of Key Biscayne, Miami, is a submerged memorial site for cremated remains and the world’s largest man-made reef. The site was created to resemble the Lost City of Atlantis.
The ashes of over 1,500 people have been laid to rest here. Open to scuba divers and snorkelers, it’s a popular dive site filled with marine life, including colorful coral reefs, fish, stingrays, eels, lobsters, and even some sea urchins that were once thought to be extinct.
14. Underwater Military Museum – Aqaba, Jordan
The Underwater Military Museum, just off Aqaba’s South Beach in Jordan, features a variety of interesting military hardware, including a U.K.-built Chieftain tank, a U.S.-made M42 Duster anti-aircraft gun, and even a Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter. Dive or snorkel to see it forming an artificial reef teeming with marine life. Safe and accessible, it’s a must-see for adventure seekers!
15. Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) – Queensland, Australia
MOUA is the first underwater art museum in the Southern Hemisphere! Established in 2020, It’s the brainchild of world-renowned underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. The sculptures are not just art installations; they’re also designed to be artificial reefs, providing a new home for marine creatures and encouraging coral growth.
MOUA holds the Guinness World Record for the largest underwater art structure, the Coral Greenhouse. Explore dozens of installations, including the haunting Ocean Sentinels sculptures, depicting children gazing up as a plea to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkelers can enjoy the Ocean Siren statue at Townsville’s Strand promenade.
