10 Amazing Drift Diving Sites [Videos]

Drift divers, don’t to miss out on these unforgettable drift diving sites.

I am sure we are all in agreement that drift diving is an amazing experience.  You can find all types of drift diving experiences in the following list of sites that that will satisfy your diving preferences.

It is great to go with the flow when drift diving, but remember to keep your wits about you.  Ocean currents are very powerful and there is no way you are going to go against the flow. At least not for long.  The trick is to watch your pace and try to move along  with the fish and find places to tuck away and enjoy the marine-life that passes by.

If you like speed, the following fast river drift dive in the Clutha River, NZ may interest you.

Images Source: YouTube Clips

One rather famous drift diving site, that shouldn’t be overlooked is called the Washing Machine. Its located in the Bahamas.

Drift diving The Washing  Machine –  Bahamas

Watch these divers enjoy the Washing Machine like pros in the clip below.

“Diving The Washing Machine site-. 9/3/15 Bahamas-Blackbeard Cruises” –  YouTube video by Dan Morris

 

Drift diving Komodo –  Cozumel Mexico

 

The list of 10 amazing drift diving sights as highlighted on diviac.com include:

Vancouver Island, BC

A surprising place to find drift dives is way up north, in Canada. The cool waters surrounding Vancouver Island are pulled in from the Pacific into the Puget Sound. Most dives are accomplished from Port Hardy, a larger town on the north side of the island.

One of the best drift dives in the region is found near 7 Tree Island. Here, you can be sucked through the Nakwakto Rapids, where you can reach a rocketing 22 knots. These rapids are listed in the Guiness Book of World Records, and are not to be taken lightly. Only advanced and expert divers should attempt this wild ride.

Maldives

The more than 1,000 islands that make up the Maldives are undoubtedly riddled with a variety of dives, and fortunately for us, drift diving is among them. The waters here are gin clear, and the abundance of wildlife is staggering.

A particularly lovely drift dive can be accomplished at Maamigili Beru, a site found alongside Ari Atoll. The steady current draws you from Holiday Island to Sun Island, passing beautiful reefs and rippling sands. The current is at an ideal pace, so explore at your leisure, exerting energy isn’t required.

Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico is home to a plethora of astounding drift dives, and is often referred to as the drift diving capital of the Caribbean. The currents run through a network of underwater canyons and crevices, pulling the clear waters hither and thither.

Fakarava, French Polynesia

The Gray Shark Wall in Fakarava, French Polynesia is an exciting dive for those adventurous divers among us. A boat drops you off into the deep sea, where the looming wall lies in wait. Swimming toward the wall, flickers of gray greet you. The dive is aptly named: before you careen through the narrow Tumakohua Pass you come face to face with a barrage of sharks. Blacktips, whitetips, and gray sharks wait in front of the channel’s entrance, waiting for snacks to be sucked into the current.

Kamikaze Cut, Tobago

The most popular and exciting drift dive is the Kamikaze Cut, a deep crevasse near the southern side of Goat Island. A part of what is called the Japanese Gardens, the Cut is a thrilling dive, hurtling divers through narrow gaps as slim as 7 feet (2.1 meters) wide. The current isn’t over the top, though, at its fastest it reaches a stout 5 knots, but the speed depends entirely on the tide and weather.

Red Sea, Egypt

Head to the Ras Mohamed region of the Red Sea for some of the best drift dives in Egypt. There is a lovely route that runs between Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, one of the most animal packed places in the whole sea. Any creature you can find in the Red Sea, you can find on this dive.

Florida, USA

With so much coastline it’s no surprise that Florida boasts its own set of drift dives. Two of the best locations to check out are Juptier, FL, and Singer Island.

Molokini Island, Hawaii

Along the far side of the island is a fantastic drift dive, where you can come across large creatures like humpbacks, manta rays, and dolphins. If you are fortunate, you may even run across a whale shark, the largest fish in the world.

Clutha River, New Zealand

New Zealand is certainly a land of surprises. The Clutha River is no exception. This clear blue river winds along through the South Island, and is the second longest river in New Zealand. The current here is incredibly strong, making the Clutha, perhaps, the fastest river drift dive in the world. You can get up to 10 knots, here; a seemingly breakneck speed.

Ulong Channel, Palau

The fantastic current that pulls through the Ulong Channel in Palau is nothing to take lightly. Sucking through the channel at a tremendous pace, as soon as you hit the water you are in for quite a ride.

Read the full article here on diviac.com for more details

Images Source: YouTubeClips,,2

Cover Image Source: YouTube Clips

[Updated: 11/8/2020]