best reef and life dive sites

[kidspot]

The more I dive, the more I discover I really love reef and life ... and understand they are not always both in the same spot. But the only place with abundant reef or life I've dived has been Hawaii. I hear stories about the Great Barrier Reef, Red Sea, the Kelp Beds of Cali - and wonder which has the best reef area, and which has the most life?

So ... in your opinion, where in the world would you go to see the most expansive, healthiest reef and where would you go to find the most life?

Aloha, Tim

[Ben]

While I probably have not seen the best HI has to offer, I have done a few dives off of Oahu and Kauai. I was not all that impressed with the reefs. I have not been to many of the places that divers here have been, but my vote for best reefs I have actually dove is the Flower Gardens off the coast of TX/LA which has some crazy reefs and for the best reef and life would be Bonaire. That's my 2 psi based on the question. The Channel Islands are my favorite for diverse scenery, but I'm not sure it falls in the same category that you are describing.

[LCF]

The most amazing reef I've seen anywhere was on Rangiroa. Incredibly healthy, varied corals, lots of color, and reef fish so thick you felt you had to brush them away to swim. Add clear water and lots of pelagics, and you have a recipe for some amazing diving.

The shallow portions of the reefs in Bunaken were amazing, too -- the walls were colorful with lots of tiny things, but once you got up over the top of the reef (20 feet and shallower) you felt like you were in some madman's garden, with all the soft corals, crinoids, and hundreds of fish.

[CompuDude]

Pretty much anywhere in the golden triangle. (Indonesia, PNG, etc.)

[KMD]

Monterey, California

[kidspot]

Would Fiji be one of those spots? I've got friends there, and one more excuse to visit never hurt

[CompuDude]

Would Fiji be one of those spots? I've got friends there, and one more excuse to visit never hurt

Absolutely!