While the world is still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, certain countries are slowly lifting lockdowns and travel is becoming available once again. After spending most of 2020 and 2021 cooped up in our homes and trying meditation to cope with the stress of being in a pandemic, we can finally continue exploring the world and use our connection to nature to make us feel better.

If you are a marine life enthusiast that has gone way too long without interacting with some of these wonderful creatures, here are some of the most beautiful destinations on Earth that you should consider visiting once you have the opportunity.

Visit Mexico’s Sea of Cortés

Located between the Baja California Peninsula and the west coast of Mexico, the Sea of Cortés is one of the most diverse seas on the planet. Also known as the Gulf of California, this place is often referred to as the “world’s aquarium” as there are over five thousand species of macroinvertebrates. While this is a relatively shallow sea, more than a dozen whale species can be found here. Moreover, you can also spot hammerhead sharks, spinner dolphins, sea lions, eagle rays, and a type of tropical fish that can only be found in the Sea of Cortés – the brown cheek blenny. Swimming with whale sharks is a popular activity but make sure you find a licensed and experienced tour guide. Activities like kayaking, diving, and snorkeling are widely available as well.

Explore Canada’s newest territory

Nunavut – the largest and northernmost territory of Canada – is another great destination if you want to explore the local marine life. If you don’t mind the hard climate, you have a unique chance to familiarize yourself with the Arctic wildlife. For instance, you can see polar bears, narwhals, walruses, bowhead whales, and beluga whales here. While bowhead whales can be spotted all year round, July is the best time to spot beluga whales, as they gather in Hudson Bay to molt and mate. Don’t skip Iqalugaarjuup Nunanga Territorial Park, Pond Inlet, and Ellesmere Island while in the area.

Get up close and personal with the animals of the Galapagos

On the other hand, if you’re looking for something warmer, you should book a trip to the Galapagos Islands. It’s not too hot nor too cold, and the water temperature is very pleasant during the warm season so you can interact with the variety of marine creatures that live here. In addition to seeing marine iguanas, sea lions, and whitetip reef sharks, you can also get a glimpse of the only penguins that live in the northern hemisphere. You can go diving or snorkeling if you’re looking for a close encounter but you can see many animals while on land as well. The animals on this volcanic archipelago are very unbothered by humans so you won’t feel threatened at any time.

Take in the vastness of Australia

It comes as a surprise to no one that Australia is a great place to see many amazing marine animals. Completely surrounded by water, this continent is full of opportunities to spot and interact with some lovely creatures that live underwater. For example, if Queensland is on your bucket list, there is no way that you are skipping the Great Barrier Reef while there as you will get a chance to swim and dive alongside many endangered species. Then, you should also not overlook Bremer Marine Park – home to the biggest congregation of orcas in the southern hemisphere. Book your trip anywhere from January to March if you want to spot some Bremer Bay killer whales. Finally, a spot you should add to your itinerary as well is the Ningaloo Reef, part of the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast. From turtles and dugongs to whales and dolphins, you can see many species here too.

Portugal

There is no shortage of marine wildlife in Europe, either. Visit Madeira in Portugal if you want to admire some dolphins. About half a dozen species visit these waters so you can spot common, bottlenose, and Atlantic spotted dolphins here. You can visit this region all year long but to see these majestic creatures, you want to go sometime from May to September. There are boat and catamaran trips from Funchal harbor so you can easily swim with the dolphins as well. The visibility in the region is excellent so you can also go diving. There are several diving sites where you can see some sunken ships as well as barracudas and anemones.

Witness the ‘sardine run’ in South Africa

Africa is teeming with interesting wildlife that you simply need to see at least once during your lifetime. From Namibia to Botswana, there are so many countries that allow you to have an extraordinary experience with many vulnerable species. However, it’s not just land animals that you can spot here. By visiting South Africa, you can witness the world-famous ‘sardine run’ during which billions of sardines spawn in the Agulhas Bank and move northward along South Africa’s east coast. If you’re an experienced diver or snorkeler, you can observe this from the water while there are also boat tours that will provide you with a great view. This event occurs each year, between May and July, so plan your trip accordingly.

The planet is full of breathtaking beauties and hopefully we will have plenty of time to explore all of them. From Palau to Hawaii, there are so many more you can visit in addition to the above-listed destinations.

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