It’s not just manatees – there’s a whole world of marine life you can swim with. So strap on a snorkel or a scuba tank and dive into our top watery encounters…
1 SEA TURTLES
Sipadan, Malaysia
With strong currents rushing in from the Celebes Sea, Malaysian Borneo’s Sipadan Island is the ideal place to glimpse some of the richest marine life in the world. Scores of scuba divers agree, frequently taking to the coastal waters to swim alongside bales of green and hawksbill turtles. Daily diving trips leave from South Point, where you can often drift alongside 20 sea turtles on a single dive. See them: Huge numbers of green turtles cluster in the water during August, at the start of nesting season (July–October), when experienced divers and snorkellers can watch their behaviour firsthand. Turtle mating is not for the faint-hearted, though – groups of males cause chaos, biting necks and flapping their fins wildly as they chase a mate.
2 SARDINES
South Africa
The world-famous ‘sardine run’ between South Africa’s Eastern Cape and the waters off KwaZulu- Natal draws countless visitors every summer. Silvery shoals of sardines migrate in their millions, hurtling north to warmer sub-tropical waters and straight into the waiting jaws of voracious sharks, seals and seabirds. See them: The sardine run occurs between May and July each year, when underwater escapades can be arranged for experienced divers and snorkellers keen to observe the theatre of nature. It’s a chaotic sight as the sardines swarm, helpless against the tide of bronze whaler sharks and dolphins that patrol the waters, fencing them into tight balls, ready to be devoured.
3 ORCAS Tysfjord, Norway
This story is from the June 2019 edition of Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
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This story is from the June 2019 edition of Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Vermont, USA
The Wanderlust team relocated to New England for part of this issue, as we explored a lush state filled with outdoor escapes, historic towns... and lashings of maple syrup
Unique North America
See a side to the USA and Canada beyond the big cities and discover incredible stories and special wildlife with our pick of the trips
The call of the Rockies
From historic ski lodges to rustic backcountry cabins and a mock-Scottish castle, we pick the stays in Canada's Rocky Mountains that make the most of their setting
A new dawn for the Garifuna community
When the Garifuna people settled in Belize, they had to carry their traditions and culture with them; now a new trail is inviting visitors to explore this heritage through local communities
On the edge of history
In south-west Colorado lies the largest archaeological preserve in the USA, a series of vast cliff dwellings whose residents 'vanished' overnight. But was the answer to their disappearance in plain sight?
Tigers burning bright
As India celebrates 50 years of its Project Tiger conservation scheme, we visit the reserves of Madhya Pradesh to see how its success has impacted a tiger population that once looked in danger of disappearing
SEASON'S GREETINGS
From fiery fall foliage to art fairs and harvest festivals, opens up a wealth of across the USA and Canada autumn experiences
Waking a sleeping GIANT
A slow drive along the North Wales Way, from the English border to Anglesey, reveals not only a land of incredible local food and castles, but a region that is slowly reimagining itself
The rebirth of old JEDDAH
As efforts to restore Al-Balad, Jeddah's historical district, take hold, we get an exclusive peek at how art and culture are taking centre stage
Star-studded escapes
Wilderness, history and wildlife combine at some of Britain's most iconic stargazing sites, as more and more travellers are looking to the heavens
