By Jim Kittrell

The biodiversity on a tropical reef has been compared to that of a tropical jungle. But when you're scuba diving--versus traipsing through the rainforest--the temperature is just right, your gear is rendered weightless, and best of all, there are no mosquitoes. So for many, choosing scuba is a no-brainer; choosing from among the many great possible trips, however, can be more difficult.

Wreck or Reef
First, decide what you want to see--shipwrecks, coral formations, spectacular colors, rare fish, or large animals--and then choose a destination accordingly. Remember, there's a much bigger difference between Grand Turk and Truk Lagoon than the order of the letters. (For the record, you'll find great reef diving off the former, wreck diving at the latter.)

If you have a burning love for history and little aversion to freezing cold water, a wreck dive is the trip for you. You also have to be a fairly experienced diver: You’ll be diving deeper than you would for a reef, there’s lower visibility, and it’s a bit more dangerous to be snaking in and out of a downed ship than swimming around a reef. But if you’d prefer to look at the pretty fishies, coral, and plant life in warm, tropical water, we certainly can’t blame you.

Live at Sea or Stay on Land
Staying aboard a ship will entail eating, sleeping, and diving (not necessarily in that order). You’ll have the opportunity to explore hideaways unreachable on day trips, and you’ll get to know people who are as mad about diving as you are. Live-aboards are usually sold as all-inclusive packages ranging from $150-$400 per day.

On the other hand, if you want a vacation that also includes going out for Thai food, tying off a sailboat, or just having a few Mai Tais, you should choose a land-based package that offers shore and/or boat diving. This trip is ideal if you’re in an area that offers much more to the tourist than what’s below the water’s surface.

Finally, take your diving skills into consideration when choosing a destination, whether it be by land or sea. If you're looking to push the envelope a little, you'll be disappointed if you end up on a trip where most of the good sights are at 10 meters or less. Similarly, some spots touted as can't miss may not be right for you, particularly if you're not yet ready for such conditions as rough seas, strong currents, low visibility, and cold water. This is no reason to hang your head: After all, just because you're not Jacques Cousteau doesn't mean you're jack...well, you know.

Jim Kittrell is the co-editor of Down Time, a collection of essays about the joys of scuba diving.