Here are the World’s Best Scuba Diving Destinations (and the Best Times to Visit)

Written By River West

Scuba diving is more than just a hobby sport — it’s a gateway to an entirely different world. From drifting along coral walls in the Philippines to swimming through WWII wrecks in the Red Sea, the planet is teeming with extraordinary dive spots. But just like surface travel, the magic of diving depends on timing.

In this guide, we explore the most iconic and awe-inspiring dive destinations around the world, including the best months to visit for optimal visibility, marine life, and weather. Some spots are familiar to us, but some are one’s that we aspire to visit. The hopes are to one day see them all! Let’s embark on getting the together!

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park – Philippines

Best Time to Go: March to June

The Philippines’ Remote Coral Kingdom

Tucked away in the heart of the Sulu Sea, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park remains one of the Philippines' most extraordinary yet under-the-radar dive destinations—even as a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accessible only by liveaboard from Palawan between March and June, this remote marine sanctuary spans nearly 100,000 hectares and consists of two stunning atolls bursting with life and color.

Dive into sheer coral walls alive with more than 600 species of tropical fish, over a dozen species of sharks, graceful manta rays, and—if you're lucky—a cruising whale shark. Tubbataha's protected status ensures pristine conditions and a vibrant underwater ecosystem few places on Earth can match.

With occasional strong currents and options for night diving, Tubbataha is best suited for intermediate to advanced divers. But for those willing to make the journey, this isolated reef system offers bucket-list diving at its purest.

  • Top Dive Highlights: Vertical coral walls, 600+ species of fish, 360+ species of coral

  • Pro Tip: Only accessible by liveaboard and only open during the short March–June season.

Raja Ampat – Indonesia

Best Time to Go: October to April

The Crown Jewel of Coral Diversity

Welcome to Raja Ampat, Indonesia’s dazzling underwater metropolis, where coral reefs burst with life and every dive feels like an expedition into a living aquarium. This global biodiversity hotspot stunned the scientific community when marine biologist Dr. Gerry Allen recorded a jaw-dropping 374 fish species during a single 90-minute dive.

At iconic dive sites like Cape Kri, prepare to be surrounded by dense schools of barracuda, scorpionfish, trevally, and tuna, while reef sharks, manta rays, and rare hawksbill turtles glide gracefully through the blue. With an impressive range of dive sites suitable for all skill levels, Raja Ampat offers an ever-changing underwater scene—no two dives are ever alike.

Don't forget your underwater camera—this is the stuff of documentaries.

After your dives, unwind in style at one of the region’s top-tier eco resorts, such as the ultra-sustainable Misool Eco Resort or the luxurious Sorido Bay Resort, both offering world-class service and immediate access to house reefs teeming with marine life.

  • Top Dive Highlights: Manta Sandy, Blue Magic, Misool

  • Pro Tip: Visit in November for calmer seas and fewer crowds.

The Red Sea – Egypt

Best Time to Go: March to May, September to November

Wrecks, Reefs, and the World's Most Notorious Dive Sites

The Red Sea is a diver’s dreamscape—where vibrant coral gardens, historic shipwrecks, and the planet’s most infamous dive site converge. Home to more than 1,000 species of fish, this warm-water marine corridor teems with sharks, barracuda, dolphins, and dazzling reef life, making it one of the largest and most biodiverse reef systems on Earth.

Among its crown jewels is the legendary SS Thistlegorm, a British WWII cargo ship sunk in 1941. Now a hauntingly beautiful wreck dive, it’s covered in coral and inhabited by marine life, with barnacle-covered motorcycles, rifles, and railway cars still resting in its holds.

For advanced divers seeking the ultimate adrenaline rush, head to Dahab’s Blue Hole—a 130-meter-deep sinkhole often dubbed the "Everest of scuba diving." With its sheer depth and notoriety, this site demands both skill and respect.

Whether you're after history, thrill, or reef serenity, the Red Sea offers an unmatched underwater experience.

For divers who love history and adventure, Egypt’s Red Sea offers crystal-clear waters and legendary wrecks. Explore the SS Thistlegorm, a British WWII ship complete with motorcycles and rifles still onboard.

  • Top Dive Highlights: SS Thistlegorm, Ras Mohammed, Brothers Islands

  • Pro Tip: Water is warmest in September–October and marine life is most active.

Kona – Big Island, Hawaii

Best Time to Go: May to October

A Night Dive with Gentle Giants

Widely considered one of the best night dives in the world, the waters off Kona, Hawaii offer a front-row seat to a surreal underwater ballet. More than 200 manta rays call this coastline home, and each evening, they gather in mesmerizing numbers—drawn to the glow of dive lights that attract clouds of plankton, their favorite meal.

As you descend into the inky black, beams from dive torches and boats pierce the dark, creating a natural stage for these majestic creatures. With wingspans stretching up to 16 feet, mantas loop and glide just inches above, performing a hypnotic dance that feels otherworldly.

Join a guided scuba tour, float beneath the spectacle, and prepare to be humbled. And yes—bring your GoPro. You’ll want to relive every moment.

  • Top Dive Highlights: Manta Heaven, lava tubes, reef night dives and deep pelagic night dives. And look for spinner dolphins during surface intervals.

  • Pro Tip: Dive at night for the manta rays

Palau – Micronesia

Best Time to Go: November to April

Palau is a diver’s paradise with Blue Corner being one of the most thrilling drift dives in the world. Expect sharks, schools of barracuda, and a heart-pounding ride.

  • Top Dive Highlights: Blue Corner, Jellyfish Lake (non-diving), German Channel

  • Pro Tip: Go in February or March for peak pelagic sightings and visibility.

Galápagos Islands – Ecuador

Best Time to Go: June to November (for big pelagics), December to May (calmer seas)

The Galápagos is one of the few places where you can dive with hammerheads, sea lions, marine iguanas, and even penguins on a single trip.

  • Top Dive Highlights: Darwin & Wolf Islands, Gordon Rocks

  • Pro Tip: June–November is best for whale sharks and large schools of hammerheads, but it’s also colder and more advanced.

Las Catalinas and Cocos Island – Costa Rica

Best Time to Go: March to November

Las Catalinas is home to the largest Munk’s Pygmy Devil Ray AND the Shorthorned Pygmy Devil Ray migration in the world! Ascension Scuba was there first hand for an epic week of diving with these Mobulas and lots of Mantas.

Often called “Galápagos without the crowds,” Cocos Island is a remote liveaboard-only destination known for its thrilling shark dives.

  • Top Dive Highlights: Schooling hammerheads, white-tip sharks, bait balls

  • Pro Tip: Bring your advanced certification and strong nerves—this is for seasoned divers only.

Great Barrier Reef – Australia

Best Time to Go: June to October

A Living Masterpiece Beneath the Waves

It’s no surprise that Australia’s most iconic natural wonder makes this list. The Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans over 3,000 individual reef systems, dotted with idyllic islands and teeming with more than 1,600 species of fish.

Famous as the real-life backdrop to Finding Nemo, this underwater paradise is home to clownfish nestled in anemones, vibrant Maori wrasse, curious potato cod, and even migrating whales that pass through during the season.

The toughest part? Choosing where to dive.

Start with the SS Yongala, one of the top wreck dives in the world, then explore the beginner-friendly Agincourt Reef or the dramatic coral walls of the Whitsundays. For something completely unique, descend into John Brewer Reef, where the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) awaits—a submerged gallery accessible only to divers and snorkelers.

Whether you’re new to diving or a seasoned explorer, the Great Barrier Reef offers endless adventure beneath the surface.

The world’s largest reef system never disappoints. From gentle dives with giant clams to exploring the outer reefs, this destination suits all skill levels.

  • Top Dive Highlights: Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs, SS Yongala

  • Pro Tip: Choose a liveaboard to reach the best outer reef spots.

Maldives

Best Time to Go: November to May

Drift Diving in an Island Paradise

The Maldives offers some of the best drift diving and manta ray encounters on Earth.

Scattered across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives offer a dive experience that feels as luxurious as the overwater bungalows lining its shores. But travellers on a budget can still have an incredible and affordable experience here! With 26 atolls and over 1,000 coral islands, this tropical nation is a drift diving mecca, known for crystal-clear channels, coral pinnacles (thilas), and a dizzying variety of marine life.

Expect to glide alongside manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, and—if you're lucky—schools of hammerheads in deeper channels. The Maldives are also one of the best places on Earth to encounter whale sharks, especially around South Ari Atoll.

Top sites like Maaya Thila, Fotteyo Kandu, and Hanifaru Bay (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) offer everything from calm coral gardens for beginners to high-adrenaline drifts for experienced divers. Most dive trips are done by liveaboard or resort-based dhoni boats, making access to remote sites seamless.

With warm water year-round and visibility often exceeding 30 meters, the Maldives promise dreamlike diving in luxury surroundings—perfect for honeymooners, backpackers, and hardcore divers alike.

  • Top Dive Highlights: Ari Atoll, Hanifaru Bay, Maaya Thila

  • Pro Tip: Visit Hanifaru Bay between July and October for massive manta aggregations.

Similan Islands, Thailand

Granite Giants & Crystal Waters

Best Time to Go: November to April

Just off the coast of southern Thailand lies the stunning Similan Islands, a chain of 11 uninhabited isles known for their towering granite boulders, powder-white beaches, and exceptionally clear waters. Protected as part of a national marine park, the Similans are home to some of the best diving in Southeast Asia.

Beneath the surface, you’ll find vibrant coral gardens, massive sea fans, and thriving marine life—from reef sharks and turtles to schools of fusiliers, manta rays, and the occasional whale shark. Signature dive sites like Elephant Head Rock, North Point, and East of Eden offer dramatic swim-throughs, steep drop-offs, and swirling currents ideal for intermediate to advanced divers.

Best visited between November and April during the dry season, the Similans are only accessible by liveaboard or speedboat, giving you that exclusive, castaway feeling with every dive.

  • Pro Tip: Plan Liveaboards ahead of time since good ones tend to get booked fast!

Our Final Thoughts

Every dive destination has its own magic, but planning your trip around the right season can mean the difference between good diving and unforgettable diving. Whether you're chasing coral, sharks, wrecks, or pelagic spectacles, there’s a world under the waves waiting for you — at just the right time.

This guide offers a curated list of the world's most stunning dive destinations, from coral walls and wrecks to manta encounters and hammerhead hotspots. Use it to plan your next underwater adventure during the best seasons for visibility, weather, and marine life.

Bonus: Dive Trip Packing Checklist

- Dive certification card

- Logbook

- Wetsuit or dive skin

- Mask, fins, snorkel

- Dive computer and backup

- Underwater camera (optional)

- Reef-safe sunscreen

- Travel insurance (DAN recommended)

- Dry bag and towel

- Personal medications

Here are some extra resources to enrich your diving knowledge:

🌊 Tubbataha Reefs (Philippines)

  • UNESCO – Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
    Covers ~97,000 ha, 360 coral species, ~700 fish species, plus sharks, turtles, whales and dolphins (bluewateru.com, whc.unesco.org)

  • Tubbataha Reefs – Bluewater University
    Situated within the Coral Triangle: over 600 fish species and 350 coral species (bluewateru.com)

  • IUCN report on biodiversity
    Confirms 615 fish species, 11 of which are threatened (iucn.org)

⚓ SS Thistlegorm (Egypt)

  • PADI Dive-Site Overview
    Details WWII freighter, 126 m long, cargo of boots, motorcycles, rifles—depth ~30 m (padi.com)

  • ZuBlu (March 2025)
    Confirms sinking in October 1941, liveaboard morning dives, flood of artifacts, holds with locomotives, guns, ammo (zubludiving.com)

  • All Star Scuba Scene
    Wreck depth: bow at ~31 m, heavy marine life including batfish, nudibranchs (allstarliveaboards.com)

  • DiveZone
    Confirms wreck rests at ~30 m, stays mostly upright, artifacts include 2 locomotives, trucks, motorbikes (divezone.net)

  • Master Liveaboards
    Captain and 39-man crew, sunk after 2 bombs, sank 6 Oct 1941, rediscovered 1955 by Cousteau (masterliveaboards.com)

🐠 Additional Background Resources

  • UNESCO World Heritage & marine species detail
    Marine complexity, apex predators, nesting seabirds species list (whc.unesco.org)

  • 2024 SPR report
    Coral cover data, trends in large marine life, manta ray occurrence (coast.ph)

  • Barron’s (2019)
    Noted 791 fish species and 360 coral species in Tubbataha (barrons.com)

🔗 Full Links for Reference

Topic Source URL Tubbataha UNESCO info UNESCO https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/653/ Biodiversity counts & species Bluewater University https://www.bluewateru.com/post/why-dive-tubbataha-reef-scuba-diving-blog IUCN fish species IUCN https://iucn.org/content/tubbataha-reefs-natural-park-philippines 2024 monitoring report SPR 2024 Report https://www.coast.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SPR_2024_Tubbataha.pdf SS Thistlegorm dive overview PADI https://www.padi.com/dive-site/egypt/thistlegorm-wreck/ Thistlegorm history & diving ZuBlu https://www.zubludiving.com/articles/zublu-insights/diving-egypts-thistlegorm-wreck Dive conditions & marine life DiveZone https://divezone.net/divesite/ss-thistlegorm-wreck Depth & history All Star Scuba Scene https://allstarliveaboards.com/red-sea-diving-scuba-scene/ Wreck discovery & sinking details Master Liveaboards https://masterliveaboards.com/dive-the-thistlegorm-a-wreck-dive-into-history/ Species count confirmation Barron’s https://www.barrons.com/articles/the-diving-mecca-of-tubbataha-reef-struggles-amid-the-pandemic-01616845361

River West