Best Scuba Diving Destinations in the World
by Yannick SchrothAug 3, 20266 min read
Photo: Leonardo Lamas / Pexels.
The detail and the sourcing sit in each linked guide.
How we chose
This is the broadest list on the site, so the rule is consistency over peak: places that deliver good diving across a long season, with enough operators that a single bad one does not ruin your month. Trophy sites that need a specific week and a lot of luck sit in the specialised lists instead, where their season can be explained properly.
Raja Ampat
The richest marine biodiversity on earth, in warm West Papua water, best explored by liveaboard.
World's best reefs, tripRead the guide → 8°29′S 119°53′E · IndonesiaLabuan Bajo (Komodo)
Manta rays and thrilling currents in Komodo National Park, from a growing Flores base.
Mantas, currentsRead the guide → 20°25′N 86°55′W · MexicoCozumel
World-class Palancar drift diving off the Yucatan, on a rare dive island with real fibre.
Drift diving, fibreRead the guide → 12°11′N 68°16′W · Caribbean NetherlandsBonaire
The shore-diving capital: drive-and-dive a protected reef any month, warm and stable.
Shore diving, year-roundRead the guide → 9°57′N 123°23′E · PhilippinesMoalboal
A permanent sardine run and turtles metres off the beach, at rock-bottom Philippine prices.
Sardine run, cheapRead the guide → 12°00′N 120°12′E · PhilippinesCoron, Palawan
Some of the world's best WWII wreck diving in warm Palawan water.
WWII wrecksRead the guide → 9°33′N 123°46′E · PhilippinesPanglao, Bohol
Balicasag walls, easy reefs and thresher day trips, warm and well set up for nomads.
Walls, value baseRead the guide → 4°29′N 118°37′E · MalaysiaSemporna (Sipadan)
Sipadan's permit-limited wall is a bucket-list dive, with Mabul macro next door.
Sipadan wall, tripRead the guide → 3°54′N 73°21′E · MaldivesMaldives local islands
Mantas and whale sharks in bath-warm water, from budget local islands not just resorts.
Mantas, whale sharksRead the guide → 25°04′N 34°53′E · EgyptMarsa Alam
Southern Red Sea reefs, Elphinstone and dugongs, quieter than Hurghada.
Red Sea reefs, dugongsRead the guide → 23°51′S 35°33′E · MozambiqueTofo
Manta rays and whale sharks year-round off a remote Mozambique beach.
Mantas, whale sharksRead the guide → 8°20′S 115°41′E · IndonesiaAmed, Bali
Forgiving warm shore diving, a wreck and muck sites on Bali's quiet east coast.
Easy shore divingRead the guide → 8°44′S 115°33′E · IndonesiaNusa Penida
Mantas and seasonal mola mola in clear water off Bali's dramatic neighbour.
Mantas, mola molaRead the guide → 16°23′N 86°26′W · HondurasRoatán
Warm Mesoamerican-reef diving and cheap courses on a laid-back Caribbean island.
Reef, cheap, CaribbeanRead the guide →Picking a dive destination
- Best reefs on earth (as a trip): Raja Ampat and Komodo.
- Best to base and work: Cozumel and Bonaire for fibre, Moalboal and Panglao for value.
- Big animals: mantas and whale sharks at Tofo and the Maldives, threshers off Malapascua.
How the picks differ
This is the broadest diving list on the site, so the differences are large: a cheap training island and a remote big-animal destination both appear, and they suit opposite trips.
| Base | What it is best at | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cozumel | world-class Caribbean drift diving with reliable wifi, a rare combo | roughly $1,500 to $2,300 a month; pricier because it is an island |
| Moalboal | cheap, world-class diving: the year-round sardine run, turtles and Pescador Island | roughly $700 to $1,100 a month; a long-stay room $250 to $450 |
| Amed, Bali | focused solo nomads and couples who dive most days and do not need office-grade wifi | roughly $1,070 to $1,480 a month, cheaper than Canggu; a villa is $600 to $1,200 |
| Nusa Penida | world-class manta ray and mola mola diving off Bali | roughly $1,000 to $1,800 a month; a premium over mainland Bali |
| Roatán | world-class reef diving with reliable fibre wifi and comfort | roughly $1,500 to $2,500 a month; pricier than Utila |
Who each one is wrong for
A world-class dive destination can still be the wrong choice for your certification level, your budget or your working month. Here is where each one does not fit.
- Cozumel:
think twice if you want rock-bottom costs or a big coworking scene
- Moalboal:
think twice if you need fast, guaranteed wifi or big-city amenities
- Amed, Bali:
think twice if you need reliable high-bandwidth video calls all day or a large coworking community
- Nusa Penida:
think twice if you are a new diver (strong currents) or need reliable wifi
- Roatán:
think twice if you want backpacker prices, go to Utila instead
FAQ
What is the best scuba diving destination in the world?
For sheer marine life, Raja Ampat in Indonesia is widely rated the richest reef system on earth, with Komodo close behind, both best explored by liveaboard. If you want to base and work while you dive, Cozumel and Bonaire pair world-class diving with real fibre, and Moalboal and Panglao offer superb value.
Where can I dive year-round in warm water?
Bonaire, Cozumel, the Philippines (Moalboal, Coron, Panglao), Indonesia (Amed, Nusa Penida) and the Maldives all offer warm water more or less year-round, though individual sites have better and worse seasons for visibility and big animals, which each linked guide details.
Sources
- Every entry above is drawn from our own destination guide for that place, and the claims here are the ones those guides already verify: Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo (Komodo), Cozumel, Bonaire, Moalboal, Coron, Palawan, Panglao, Bohol, Semporna (Sipadan), Maldives local islands, Marsa Alam, Tofo, Amed, Bali, Nusa Penida, Roatán.