From Jules Verne, whose imagination took us to the watery depths of 20,000 leagues, to the Beatles who yearned to be "in an octopus’s garden" to Disney's calypso-singing Sebastian from The Little Mermaid who said it best: "it's hotter under the water," us land-lovers have always had a fascination with the sea. The sea's seductive mystery comes from its many unique inhabitants: multihued fish, shimmering sea urchins, lithe predators like the shark or manta ray, breathtaking corals, eerie wrecks. Plus, add to all that the feeling of weightlessness and nary a cellphone, Blackberry or Treo in sight. Whether you want to decompress at Australia's legendary Great Barrier Reef, PADI train in Fiji, explore the Elbow in Belize or swim along a humpback whale in the South Pacific, our list of eclectic destinations will quench your undersea thirst. Our motto: Have wetsuit, will travel.

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AUSTRALIA

Great Barrier Reef
Lizard Island Resort
www.lizardisland.com.au

Home to the largest collection of coral reefs in the world (with more than 400 varieties of coral), the Great Barrier Reef is deserving of its World Heritage Site status. Surrounded by a fringing reef, Lizard Island is home to a contemporary, Down-Under-casual resort that takes full advantage of the area's marine wonders. Care to observe century-old giant clams or swim with the massive—and amusingly curious—Potato Cod? You can take the introductory Discover Scuba, a PADI open water referral course (this must be booked ahead) and nocturnal dives. When not splashing around, hide away on one of 24 beaches, hang out on the private deck of your airy villa, indulge at the day spa or dine at Osprey's Restaurant.

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BELIZE

Turneffe Atoll
Turneffe Island Resort
www.turnefferesort.com

Thirty recognized dive sites and three opportunities each day to explore them make Turneffe Atoll a treasure for divers. Adrift off the coast of Belize, this private, fourteen-acre resort harbors four intimate lodges, eight private cabanas that look like little beach shacks and plenty of hammocks for shedding the cares of daily life. Forget about TVs, phones and faxes — you have no choice. You’re here to discover The Blue Hole, an immense ancient underwater cavern charted by Jacques Cousteau, or the Elbow, whose pinnacles and sand shoots serve as a playground for hawksbill and loggerhead turtles, eagle rays and hammerhead sharks. The resort is also noted for fly-fishing, and guests often combine activities.

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CARIBBEAN

Bonaire
Bonaire Buddy Dive Resort
www.buddydive.com

The “B” of the ABC Islands (A=Aruba, C=Curacao), Bonaire is one of the Caribbean’s least tourist-developed and least visited larger Islands. With one of the most striking underwater worlds, it's also a scuba diver's haven. On average, Bonaire’s underwater visibility exceeds 100 feet, and the average water temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Operating for 25 years now, Buddy Dive Resort is a full dive center, situated in an unhurried, unspoiled natural paradise. Accommodations are no more than a giant stride from the fringe reef, accessible just a few feet from the shore. The reef is perfect for diving and snorkeling day and night. Drive and Dive packages include a rental truck to take advantage of one of the 60 dive sites accessible from the shore, and Dive Buddy houses a fleet of custom dive boats, rental equipment and a well-stocked “Drive Thru” offering air and nitrous tanks. Buddy’s is a DAN member and a PADI 5 Star Gold Palm Resort. All divers pay a nature fee of $25 per year to support the preservation of the local Marine Park.

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FIJI

Vatulele Island
Vatulele Island Resort
www.vatulele.com

The fact that Vatulele Island Resort was co-founded by a TV producer comes as no surprise, given its stage-like perfection. Of all the properties on our list, this one will appeal most to those who consider a buddy more than just a diving partner. Weddings and honeymoons figure prominently here. Vatulele is just a 25-minute light aircraft flight from Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, and boasts a ratio of nearly two dive sites for each of the fourteen freestanding accommodations. Resident instructors (where do we sign up?) at the PADI dive facility lead resort, open water and specialty courses. Beneath the waves, expect to find soft and hard corals, large drop-offs and above average to excellent visibility. On land, an all-inclusive set-up means unlimited French Champagne.

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INDONESIA

Onemobaa Island
Wakatobi Dive Resort
www.wakatobi.com

There’s something especially appealing about a resort with its own “house reef.” Especially when that reef features a trio of habitats—sand, sea grass and coral—and a dramatic panorama of marine life: turtles, rays, clownfish, ghost pipe fish, porcelain crabs, nudibranches, blue-ringed octopuses and pygmy seahorses. Located in a National Marine Park in the Wakatobi archipelago in the Banda Sea, this eco-friendly resort also offers easy access to several dozen outlying sites with three boat dives a day. Miles of drop-offs, slopes, caverns, caves and seamounts will give you plenty to dream about as you lie in bed each night in your rustic, romantic wooden bungalow.

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ITALY

Elba
Hotel Ilio
www.hotelilio.com

There’s no denying it. Under the Tuscan Sun has run its course. Sure, we adore the graciously shabby villas, ruby wines, velvety olive oils and fields of sunflowers, but we also appreciate Tuscany for its ability to surprise. In the Tuscan Archipelago National Park off the west coast of Italy, Elba—best known as the place of Napoleon’s exile—is a reminder of the region’s great diversity. Make yourself at home at the pretty Hotel Ilio, adjacent to a PADI dive center, and use it as a base for underwater explorations of Cape St. Andrea. In the shallows, fields of Posidonia seaweed shelter local fish varieties, while further out, intriguing dives can be found near le Formiche della Zanca rocks. Along with gorgonia, lobster and sunfish in the summer, you can hunt for the remains of two Roman merchant ships.

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KINGDOM OF TONGA

Neiafu, Vava'u
Mounu Island Resort
www.mounuisland.com

This six-and-a-half-acre atoll is designed to be an eco-resort, recycling the rain water and using solar power. Mounu Island, part of the only monarchy in the South Pacific, is one of a 176-island archipelago. Surrounding the locale are pristine waters with 70 meters of visibility and ample sea life including pacific reef fish, soft corals, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, nudibranchs and sea snakes. But the main star of this part of the sea is the humpback whale. Tonga is one of the few places in the world that permits “swimming” with these majestic mammals. Prime viewing season is between May to November when their 6,000 mile migratory path wends through Tonga to Antartica. Don’t be surprised if you are woken up in the morning by whales singing. Four fales (Tongan for house), constructed with coconut poles and shingle roofs, allow you to enjoy your own stretch of the white-sand beach.

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MALDIVES

Velavaru Island
Velavaru Island Resort
www.velavaru.com

Seeking that last lost corner of the world where no one will find you? Velavaru Island Resort is one of only two resorts in the Dhaalu Atoll, a chain of 1,190 coral islets. Consider these waters your own exclusive playground as you head out for daily morning and afternoon dives with a choice from four to eight dives a day. In fact, you can go for almost a week of unlimited diving without visiting the same site twice. Traditional Maldivian dhoni-style boats are used for all excursions, to destinations such as Kuda Giri (a wonderland of red sponges and white fan coral) and Madivaru Kandu (a narrow channel crossing filled with sharks and eagle rays). Bungalows are just steps from the beach, and offer courses from the Banyantree Marine Center including open water, dive master and PADI adventure dives.

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PHILIPPINES

Cebu
Badian Island Resort & Spa
www.badianhotel.com

Located on the southwest side of the island, the Badian Dive Center operates year round, offering courses for the beginner, night diver or dive master. Feast your eyes on undersea treasures like the garden eel, yellowtail barracuda, sea turtle, lionfish and barrel sponges with feather stars. With more than 2,000 species of fish and 800 species of soft and hard coral known to reside in the area waters, the list is endless. Five dive spots are situated right at the resort with ten others reachable via boat ride. Pescador Island, one of the main dive spots in the Philippines, is a twenty-minute boat ride away; if you’re lucky you could have a whitetip or hammerhead shark sighting in the deeper waters. Sumptuous suites, with views of the ocean and Cebu Mountains, offer a peaceful repose on its secluded balconies and open-air marble bathtubs in the family and junior suites. As a sendoff to all guests, a goodbye serenade with shell lei is included upon departure.

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REPUBLIC OF PALAU

Koror
Palau Pacific Resort
www.palauppr.com

This property has an appealing old school vibe. Rather than trying to heighten the tropical atmosphere with a sleek designer interpretation of island living, it offers the casual South Pacific-style made famous during the first half of the 20th century. Relaxation is paired with Splash, a PADI dive center offering guided diving tours on its dedicated dive boat, Splash, and a variety of certification courses. The waters here boast visibility up to 150 feet, more than 1,500 types of fish and 700 types of hard and soft coral. You can also work on your WWII history by diving to the wrecks of the Amatsu, Maru, Goxan Maru, Iro or Helmet. Those divers who want to capture their experiences at the Blue Corner or Ngemelis Drop-off on film can get advice at the in-house underwater digital video and photo center.

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(Updated: 05/03/12 NW)