Scuba Dive Travel Expert

View My Main Profile
Ryan Dandy, Travel Agent in Henderson, NV

Ryan Dandy

Henderson, NV Travel Agent

Ryan Dandy

Henderson, NV · 23 Years of Experience

Expedition Endangered, an independent agent with Nexion, LLC, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
About
My Places
Travel Stories & Media

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Australia, South Pacific, Galapagos Islands, Fiji, Micronesia

Interests:

Scuba, Beach Vacations

About Me

A swim-through in Indonesia.
A swim-through in Indonesia.

I got my dive certification when I was 15 years old.  This was a gift from my dad and he took the course as well.  My first international dive took place in Australia after I graduated college.  The reef was amazing with crazy creatures like wobbegongs, bull rays, and many pufferfish and trumpetfish.  I started selling dive travel in 2003 which has allowed me to dive the world from the Galapagos to Raja Ampat, Fiji to the Cayman Islands.  Have a look at my blog for more on different dive destinations.  I now know all the top dive operators worldwide and best dive resorts and liveaboards for you to stay.  I have been diving with ocean ambassadors such as Jean-Michel Cousteau and Peter Hughes and I still take my dad on some trips.  Contact me and we can get a dive, snorkel or beach adventure in the works.          

My Places

When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.
Australia, Australia & New Zealand
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Look for wildlife as Austrailia has so many unique creatures on land and in the sea.
Kenya, Africa
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Bora Bora, French Polynesia, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
Relax and enjoy the prettiest lagoon in the world.
Tanzania, Africa
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
Do at least three stops as the destinations are so diverse.
Australia & New Zealand
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Visit Tasmania for friendly people and beautiful scenery
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, South America
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
My recommendation is to book a smaller boat and I have some great options.
French Polynesia, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
Enjoy this underwater playground.
Botswana, Africa
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Special safari destination due to remoteness and wetlands
South Africa, Africa
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Contact me for the best safari experience.
Fiji, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 15 Times
Must Do:
The Fijians are so friendly and invite you to experience their culture. Join a chief in a kava ceremony and listen as the school children sing.
Palau, Micronesia, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Jellyfish Lake, Chandelier Cave, mandarinfish at Sam's dock.
Uganda, Africa
Booked It 50 Times
Must Do:
Search for the Shoebill Stork.
Micronesia, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Visit Palau's Rock Islands.
Vanuatu, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Go to Tanna for the volcano.
Africa
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 4 Times
Congo, Africa
Booked It 5 Times
Must Do:
A less touristy destination to encounter gorillas.
Egypt, Africa
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Visit the Red Sea after seeing the Pyramids and Nile
Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya, Africa
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Tsavo West National Park, Kenya, Africa
Booked It 10 Times
Been There
Madagascar, Africa
Booked It 20 Times
Must Do:
Lemurs galore
Mozambique, Africa
Booked It 25 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Great beaches and ocean sports
Namibia, Africa
Booked It 50 Times
Must Do:
Desert and wildlife
Rwanda, Africa
Booked It 50 Times
Must Do:
More than just gorillas
Cape Town, South Africa, Africa
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Stay at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
Franschhoek, South Africa, Africa
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
See the duck parade at Vergenoegd Winery.
Kruger National Park, South Africa, Africa
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Keeps a lookout in the trees while on safari as many eagles, vultures, etc. can be seen.
Soweto, South Africa, Africa
Booked It
Been There
Zimbabwe, Africa
Booked It 25 Times
Must Do:
Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls
New Zealand, Australia & New Zealand
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Extreme activities like white water rafting, bungee jumping and zorbing
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Booked It 10 Times
Been There
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Booked It 10 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Two words: rooftop bar
Caribbean
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 10 Times
Must Do:
Wear lots of sunscreen! :)
Anguilla, Caribbean
Booked It 10 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Visit some of the 30+ white sandy beaches
Anguilla, Anguilla, Caribbean
Booked It 10 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Waterpark at Aurora
Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean
Booked It
Been There
Must Do:
Explore different beaches as there are so many beautiful ones.
Bahamas, Caribbean
Booked It
Been There
Must Do:
Visit an outer island
Barbados, Caribbean
Booked It 5 Times
Been There
Cayman Islands, Caribbean
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Search for the endangered blue iguana only found here.
Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands, Caribbean
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
Dive the wreck.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Caribbean
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Cheers on Seven Mile Beach at sunset.
Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, Caribbean
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Try conch fritters.
Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean
Booked It 50 Times
Must Do:
Relax on the beach with cocktail in hand
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
Scuba diving
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
Great scuba diving
Saba Island Netherland, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean
Booked It 20 Times
Must Do:
Great scuba diving
St. Eustatius (Statia), Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Hike the Quill
Puerto Rico, Caribbean
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Spend a full day in Old San Juan.
St. Lucia, Caribbean
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
The southwest offers rugged landscape and the Pitons.
St. Martin, Caribbean
Booked It 25 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Visit both sides.
Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean
Booked It 25 Times
Been There
Must Do:
The nature here is incredible, from bird watching to turtle viewing.
Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Stroll along one of the Caribbean's best beaches.
Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Booked It 50 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Rum tasting is a good way to spend an afternoon (or morning or evening).
Belize, Central America
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Combine the beach and the jungle.
Ambergris Caye, Belize, Central America
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Hug a nurse shark.
Dangriga, Belize, Central America
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
The nearby small town of Hopkins is a great adventure base.
Lamanai, Belize, Central America
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Don't just do a day trip, overnight.
Placencia, Belize, Central America
Booked It 50 Times
Must Do:
Monkey River Tour.
San Ignacio, Belize, Central America
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
Makes a great base for Tikal and ATM Cave
Turneffe, Belize, Central America
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
A diver and snorkeler's dream.
Costa Rica, Central America
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Visit numerous destinations.
Arenal, Costa Rica, Central America
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Tabacon Hot Springs
Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Central America
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Palo Verde River Tour
Monteverde, Costa Rica, Central America
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Go birding while looking for the rare quetzal and bellbird.
Roatan, Honduras, Central America
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Scuba diving
Panama, Central America
Booked It 10 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Don't just come for the canal as the beaches and wildlife here are extraordinary.
Panama Canal, Panama, Central America
Booked It 10 Times
Been There
India, Central Asia
Booked It 50 Times
Must Do:
Visit a tiger reserve.
Maldives, Central Asia
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
Book a liveaboard or resort, you cannot go wrong.
Cambodia, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 25 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Explore as many ruins as possible.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Your experience will be better with a private guide to teach you meanings and whisk you in and out of the ruins.
Indonesia, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
Head to North Sulawesi for wildlife encounters.
Bali, Indonesia, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Gam Island, Indonesia, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Raja Ampat has the most pristine reefs in the world!
Ubud, Indonesia, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Yogyakarta Java, Indonesia, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 5 Times
Been There
Must Do:
A crazy adventure awaits at Jomblang Cave.
Kota Kinabalu (Borneo), Malaysia, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Amazing wildlife viewing and Sipadan for diving!
Sandakan Sabah, Malaysia, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Amazing wildlife viewing!
Philippines, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
With thousands of islands, a must is to contact me to see where you should go.
Thailand, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It
Been There
Must Do:
Visit numerous destinations during your Thailand stay.
Chiang Rai, Thailand, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Three country tour.
Koh Samui, Thailand, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Eat lots of yummy street food (some Pad Thai sounds really good right about now)
Phuket, Thailand, East and Southeast Asia
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
Go to the Similan Islands for fantastic marine life.
Iceland, Europe
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Try local cuisine and visit the Blue Lagoon.
Turkey, Europe
Booked It 20 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Take a ferry on the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia.
Mexico
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 10 Times
Must Do:
My secret Mexico destination is Holbox. Ask me more.
Ensenada, Baja California Norte, Mexico
Booked It 20 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Head to Guadalupe on a liveaboard to cage snorkel with great white sharks.
Baja, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Pet gray whales in Feb-Mar
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Sunset whale watching cruise
La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Watch as the sun sets over the Pacific.
Tulum, Mexico, Mexico
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Snorkel the cenotes.
Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
If you are there in the summer, do a day trip to snorkel with whale sharks.
Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
Diving is a must if certified.
Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Visit the water parks such as Xel-Ha.
Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 4 Times
Must Do:
Stay in an all-inclusive on a secluded sandy beach.
Cappadocia, Turkey, Middle East
Booked It 20 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Besides taking a hot air balloon, the best thing you can do is hike this crazy landscape.
Istanbul, Turkey, Middle East
Booked It 20 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Splurge for a meal or drinks at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At Sultanahmet
Brazil, South America
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Watch some Futebol, live if possible.
Amazon Jungle, Brazil, South America
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Riverboat or lodge? Both are great.
Pantanal, Brazil, South America
Booked It 25 Times
Must Do:
The best place in the world to spot jaguars in the wild.
Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, South America
Booked It 2 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Go to the islands.
Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America
Booked It 2 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Visit a Brazilian steakhouse.
Easter Island, Chile, South America
Booked It 25 Times
Must Do:
So remote
Ecuador, South America
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Combine Galapagos with the Amazon or Machu Picchu.
Coca, Ecuador, South America
Booked It 50 Times
Must Do:
This is the perfect combo with Galapagos.
Guayaquil, Ecuador, South America
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Book a day tour of Guayaquil pre or post Galapagos.
Peru, South America
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
Combine the cities with the Amazon and Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu, Peru, South America
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
Spend at least one night.
Manu National Park, Peru, South America
Booked It 50 Times
Must Do:
A very biodiverse destination!
Tambopata, Peru, South America
Booked It 25 Times
Beqa Island, Fiji, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 4 Times
Must Do:
Raft the Upper Navua River and dive the famous shark dive for tigers and bulls.
Kadavu Island, Fiji, South Pacific
Booked It 50 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Snorkel or dive with the manta rays.
Mamanuca Islands, Fiji, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 5 Times
Must Do:
island hop and experience a meke.
Matangi Island, Fiji, South Pacific
Booked It 50 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
A favorite island of mine. Snorkel secluded Horseshoe Bay.
Savusavu, Fiji, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 8 Times
Must Do:
I proposed to my wife at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort. Namale, Koro Sun and others are also great.
Taveuni Island, Fiji, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 8 Times
Must Do:
Visit for Fiji's best diving and waterfalls.
Yasawa Island, Fiji, South Pacific
Booked It 50 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
Visit for Fiji's best beaches.
Fakarava, French Polynesia, South Pacific
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Dive the south pass.
Moorea Island, French Polynesia, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Swim with humpback whales and dine at Tiki Village.
Rangiroa Atoll, French Polynesia, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 2 Times
Must Do:
Visit the pearl farm, winery and dive with the local dolphins.
Tahaa, French Polynesia, South Pacific
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Stay in a beach villa at Le Tahaa!
Tahiti, French Polynesia, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
Visit the market and roulottes in downtown. Dive with the sharks.
Tikehau, French Polynesia, South Pacific
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Visit the pink beach.
Truk Island, Micronesia, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Must Do:
The top wreck diving destination in the world.
Yap Island, Micronesia, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Check out the Stone Money Bank.
New Caledonia, South Pacific
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Serious beauty at Isle of Pines!
Palau, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Jellyfish Lake, Chandelier Cave, mandarinfish at Sam's dock.
Papua New Guinea, South Pacific
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Spot a bird of paradise.
Alaska, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
If cruising, get a room with a balcony as scenery and whales are constant.
Juneau, Alaska, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Whale watching.
Arizona, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 50 Times
Must Do:
Explore the Sonoran Desert.
California, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 100 Times
Must Do:
Being from California I have all sorts of secret spots and tips.
Florida, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 10 Times
Must Do:
Manatees of Crystal River
Hawaii, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 6 Times
Must Do:
Maitai upon arrival is my style.
Hawaii Island, Hawaii, USA
Booked It 50 Times
Been There
Must Do:
So many awesome activities on the Big Island and I can piece together a perfect plan.
Kauai Island, Hawaii, USA
Booked It 50 Times
Must Do:
Take your hiking shoes.
Maui Island, Hawaii, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 4 Times
Must Do:
Travel during whale season and stay in an oceanview condo.
Oahu Island, Hawaii, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Drive to the laid back North Shore.
Idaho, USA
Booked It 5 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
Flyfishing
Illinois, USA
Booked It 50 Times
Been There 100 Times
Must Do:
Tour via the Chicago River.
Montana, USA
Booked It 25 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
Glacier National Park and Beartooth Highway.
Nevada, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 100 Times
Must Do:
Valley of Fire.
New York, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 15 Times
Must Do:
Central Park.
Tennessee, USA
Booked It 25 Times
Been There
Must Do:
Grand Ole Opry.
Texas, USA
Booked It 25 Times
Been There 5 Times
Must Do:
BBQ!
Utah, USA
Booked It 100 Times
Been There 10 Times
Must Do:
Zion and Bryce.
Washington, USA
Booked It 10 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
San Juan Islands.
Wyoming, USA
Booked It 50 Times
Been There 3 Times
Must Do:
Yellowstone and Grand Tetons.

My Photo Albums and Videos

Tahiti
View Album

    My Travel Stories

    Friendly dolphins visit divers in Rangiroa.

    Top 5 Dive Destinations

    A question I get asked all the time is, "Where is your favorite dive destination?"  Picking 1 is not easy but here are my top 5 in no particular order.   1) Palau: This island group in the Pacific between Hawaii and the Philippines has something for everyone.  Palau is known as the Serengeti of the sea with a wide variety of underwater li...
    Read more

    BESbswy