St. Lucia, Fernando de Noronha, Bonaire, Puerto Aventuras: Undercurrent 10/2026

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From time to time, I select readers' reports to highlight, including destinations to try, those to reconsider, and problems that traveling divers should keep in mind. Here are this month's reports.

Indonesia has become the go-to country for the world's best diving, and Curtis Bok (Panama City, Panama) has a preferred spot: "With at least half of our 1200 logged dives in the Coral Triangle, Kalimaya Dive Resort is at the top of our list for excellence and special care for divers and snorkelers, especially for us older divers and/or those who may need some help with dive prep.

"Kalimaya is the only dive operation on the west side of the Komodo Sea, so no other boats were at any of our dive sites in May! Staff is all Indonesian, and divemasters come from other dive ops on various other islands and liveaboards. The chef and team were wonderful; the food was delicious. Bungalows have big bathrooms, balconies, and nice ocean views . . . Since we began diving in the Coral Triangle in 1995, we have observed, especially in the past eight years, that the abundance of medium-sized species, larger fish, pelagics, cephalopods like cuttlefish and octopuses, and a wider variety of nudibranchs has been significantly reduced. Where we once saw huge schools of many species, now we see fewer species, and, when we do see a favorite species, there may be a dozen or so when there used to be swarms. Where we used to see large families of mantas, we now see one or two or maybe three and not as regularly at 'manta' sites. Overfishing, dynamite fishing, and too many crowded dive boats over and over at the same sites are taking a toll." www.kalimayadiveresort.com

If you want a Caribbean liveaboard on the cheap, Blackbeard's in the Bahamas runs $1400 for six nights. You just have to endure summer camp accommodations. Aboard in September, William Hubbarth (Austin, TX), with 1000 dives, says, "Large, comfortable boat, even with 25 people, but it could get crowded at times. Food was varied and delicious. Bunks were sufficient, but could use thicker bedding. The heads were small but functional. One shower with fresh water restrictions, 'Navy' showers. Hose on deck and wipe-downs from the sink were good . . . Ladders to the salon and berths could be challenging. Diving was fantastic! Six different wrecks, Escobar's crashed C-47, Shark feeding dive, and an incredible wall dive. Great coral, reefs, swim-thrus, fantastic tropical fish."...

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