The World's Best Coral Reefs

A healthy coral reef is a stunning sight, with its vibrant colors, striking architecture and teeming sea life. Those features make coral reefs a central feature of many tropical beach vacations, whether the reef is experienced by scuba diving, snorkeling, snuba or glass-bottom boat.

Climate change, pollution and over-fishing have seriously damaged many coral reefs, and a quarter of the coral reefs around the world are now considered dead. That can put a serious crimp in vacation plans. Travelers going to Cancun and Playa del Carmen will be shocked to learn that the reefs just off-shore are completely dead, and would miss out entirely if they did not learn that the reefs off Akumal farther south or the island of Cozumel were still alive. Many travelers arrive in Jamaica to find that the beaches live up to their expectations, but the almost-dead corals do not.

For those who want to guarantee that a National Geographic-style underwater wonderworld awaits them on their tropical beach vacation, these are the best coral reef destinations to target.

1. Buck Island National Reef Monument: Part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Buck Island's underwater environment is protected in the full style of the U.S. National Park System. It is widely regarded as one of the best coral gardens in the Caribbean. Furthermore, the park supports the main triad of underwater activities -- scuba diving, snorkeling and boat touring.

2. Belize: Off the coast of Belize is a long stretch of the Meso-American Barrier Reef, and that stretch is usually thought of as the best part as well. It has long been famous among scuba divers for its staggeringly beautiful corals, as well as the Great Blue Hole, one of the world's top dive sites. However, most resorts on the chain of offshore barrier islands support snorkeling, sea kayaking and boat trips, as well as scuba diving.

3. Cape Verde: The Virgin Islands and Belize are famous for their sea life, but this West African island nation and former Portuguese colony represents the best coral system you've probably never heard of. That makes this the choice for travelers who want to beat the crowds at virtually any time of year. The main focus of underwater activity in Cape Verde is Ilha do Sal ("Salt Island").

4. Tulamben, Bali: Tulamben used to be a humble fishing village located on a bay of same name. It grew into one of Bali's major underwater destinations due to the presence of the wreck of the USS Liberty, a Second World War transport, in the bay. Right off of Tulamben's pebble beach is not only this wreck, but also vibrant coral reefs. All of it is within swimming distance of shore, and in water open to divers and snorkelers.

5. Bonaire: Part of the Dutch ABC Islands in the Caribbean, Bonaire is renowned among scuba divers as the "shore diving capital of the world." The island is almost ringed with vibrant corals, most of them within swimming distance of shore and many of them in shallow water. The island supports scuba diving, snorkeling, snuba and boat tours.