Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system in the world. Located off the northeast coast of Queensland, the reef includes almost 3,000 individual reefs stretching more than 1,600 miles. The variety of sea life in the Great Barrier Reef includes six different species of turtle, sea horses, sea snakes and pipefish. You'll also be likely to find dolphins and whales in the area. The corals are widely considered to be the most vibrant corals in the world.
The Belize Barrier Reef is 186 miles long and, in certain areas, comes as close as 900 feet from shore. The second largest reef in the world, it is part of the nearly 560-mile-long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which stretches along Cancun and Guatemala. Not only is the reef home to more than 500 species of fish and stunning coral, it also contains a number of shipwrecks scattered along the sea floor as well as areas of volcanic formation.
The Florida Barrier Reef is the third largest reef in the world, stretching from the east of Florida, through the Florida Keys and toward the southwest part of the state. The reef is situated in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which stretches from the east coast of Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico. With a large variety of fish, including a number of rainbow parrot fish, the reef is one of the most popular spots to dive in the United States.
The Andros Barrier Reef lies off the east coast of Andros Island in the Bahamas. The reef extends for 124 miles and contains more than 164 species of fish and coral. The reef begins at 78 feet and then plummets down a 6,000-foot cliff where you'll find a trench known as the "Tongue of the Ocean." It is this deep trench that makes the area famous for its deep-sea sponges and red snapper.
