If you’re into crowds, this might not be the article for you. If, however, you like short waiting periods at the airport, easy flights, no fuss, and a bit of solitude in your dive travel, this is right up your alley.
It’s the time of year where people are getting a bit of time off, that precious amount of travel time that, for so many, is spent either with family or going to the same holiday destinations that everyone else is trying to get to. Long lines, cancelled flights, delays, overbooked hotels, and bumping into people you know from work are things that most people would like to avoid.
No, Larry from the office, we will not be “catching margaritas together” in Cancun.
Because that’s not where travelers avoiding the crowds go.
For us, there are a lot of options out there. While the very nature of writing a travel article encouraging people to seek these destinations is counterintuitive in a way, and I’ve personally had small spots complain that writing has brought “too many” visitors, that just means that the next year new locales get to step up and take the crown.
So where aren’t people going?
Cuba
As we’ve mentioned previously in Deepblu Mag, Cuba is up and running and ready to host your dive vacation. That said, it’s still quite mysterious for people who were raised on propaganda. This makes it the perfect destination for the adventurous diver, as friendly locals and vast, nearly empty beaches give you free reign to find a sense of peace and quiet for you and your dive buddy.
Sudan
Sudan is a war-torn nation just coming into its own. While civil conflict has raged in the region for quite some time, the people of Sudan are ready to welcome you with open hearts and show you the absolutely beautiful landscape of the country. Sudan has a great deal of coastline along the Red Sea, access to amazing dive sites, and the opportunity to see things normally missed by those who visit its neighbor to the north, Egypt.
Turks and Caicos
This one might come as a bit of a surprise, as it’s on virtually every diver’s radar, but the Turks and Caicos island chain is still a relatively easy spot to disappear completely and never be scene. In part, it’s because of the sheer number of dive holiday opportunities available in the area. Supply is there, and demand fits just perfectly. If one place has too many people for your liking, the islands are small, and you can simply hop over to the next one.
The Andaman Islands
We’ve recently talked about this one, as many people have seen the region in the news, but we’d be amiss not to include the Andamans on this list. Almost the most remote, mysterious region of the world to outsiders until very recent times, the Andamans are accepting tourists and with that dive travel. This is a place that will go down on every traveler’s bucket list, but how many are going to be able to say that they went?
Saint Kitts and Nevis
You’ve planned it, that perfect trip to the Virgin Islands. How about something for the more experienced? Those who have been there and done that may want to skip the Virgins and head over to Saint Kitts and Nevis, where there is plenty of diving available without all of the fuss of needing to deal with everyone trying to get in. Being that it isn’t as well known of an area, a lot of sea life from the region has found the islands to be an amazing place to hide away for a holiday. We’re sure that you will as well.
Samoa
This small island nation with a population under 200,000 is a great place to get a good stretch in. It’s also a great place to dive, as lagoons, reefs, and deepwater areas are all at your disposal. The best part? Well, you guessed it if you’ve read this far… there’s hardly anyone around to bother you. Samoa is a quiet, tropical locale that brings more reef sharks than visitors around. If that’s your thing, this is your place.
No matter where you may head this holiday season, make sure to get some rest, 2019 is calling.
Happy holidays.
– Todd Allen Williams, Senior Editor
