I’ve done a fair amount of diving: 200+ dives across 16 countries. Like to think I’ve seen a decent spectrum, so thought I’d share which ones stuck out for me and ultimately made the wow-factor.
To do so, I thought about each across a few angles.
- Big stuff – I like it all, but do tend to favour the
- Reef / Environment Quality – they vary hugely
- Above water beauty – diving isn’t just about what is underwater, but also the boat rides there, the chill out after. The overall place’s beauty plays a big part
- Fewer tourists – no one wants a dive where you see more divers than fish
- Wow factor – let’s call it the je ne sais quoi.
Don’t get me wrong – you can have some beautiful, pretty, simple dives. But they don’t make the wow list.
Note: all my own photos and videos, all my own opinions.
Tier: World’s Best
RAJA AMPAT 🇮🇩 – THE COMPLETE PACKAGE
Pristine reefs, huge fish life, manta rays, sharks, world-class macro and an incredible variety of dive sites, all set among some of the most beautiful tropical islands on earth. Raja Ampat is about as close as diving gets to the complete package. You can do it 3 different ways, and I’ve tried all of them: Raja Ampat by liveaboard / Raja Ampat at Misool Eco-resort/ Raja Ampat by guesthouse.
THE GALAPAGOS 🇪🇨 – BIGGEST WOW DIVING ON EARTH
So many hammerhead sharks you genuinely get bored of them, plus whale sharks, sea lions and marine iguanas, all in one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife environments. The trip out to Wolf and Darwin makes this the single biggest wow diving experience on the planet. Scuba diving at Wolf and Darwin Islands in the Galapagos.
Tier: Elite
TUBBATAHA REEF 🇵🇭 – REMOTE DIVING WILDERNESS
UNESCO-listed reef system in the middle of the Sulu Sea, only accessible by liveaboard. Enormous healthy reefs, big marine life and almost no other divers – everything feels wild, remote and untouched. The pride of the Philippines – so much so it appears on their 1,000 peso note. Tubbataha Reef liveaboard.
KOMODO ISLANDS 🇮🇩 – BIG FISH & WILD DRIFT DIVING
Strong currents, huge schools of fish, manta rays, sharks and some of the most exciting drift diving in the world. Plus the Komodo Islands themselves are one of the most beautiful locations to dive. Not always easy diving, but when Komodo is good, it’s elite. Sailing the Komodo Islands in November.
THE RED SEA 🇪🇬 – BEST EASY WORLD-CLASS DIVING
Tier: Specialist Dives
MALAPASCUA 🇵🇭 – THRESHER SHARKS
TULUM 🇲🇽 – CENOTES
Freshwater cave diving through crystal clear water, stalactites and beams of light – completely different from ocean diving and one of the most unique dive experiences in the world. Scuba diving the Cenotes of Tulum.
BEQA ISLAND 🇫🇯 – TIGER SHARKS
The most intense shark experience at least I’ve had and one of the only places you regularly dive outside of a cage with tiger and bull sharks. Not for the faint-hearted. Diving with bull and tiger sharks by Beqa Island.
CAPE TOWN 🇿🇦 – KELP FORESTS
Cold water diving through giant underwater kelp forests with seals, dramatic light and a very different feel to tropical diving – more like an underwater jungle. Kelp diving near Cape Town.
CORON 🇵🇭 – WWII WRECK DIVING
A collection of 12 Japanese WWII wrecks up to 170m in length and the result of an audacious 15min surprise attack in 1944. The best wreck diving destination in the world. Wreck diving in Coron.
I’ll call out very openly that I haven’t been to the likes of the Bahamas, the Maldives, or Palau . . . will have to update when I do!
Some general tips:
- If you can, dive in South East Asia. The reefs are the best in the world, typically fewer fellow divers (although I appreciate not always), way way cheaper than Europe or North America, and just generally a far more relaxed vibe.
- Tell the Dive Master what you like and don’t like. In my experience, the DM is often just following the standard route and is more than happy to mix it up if you have a particular interest.
- Get a GoPro. Even if you’re not a big photographer, having the option makes a big difference when you see something wow, and I’ve gotten so much joy over the years doing so.