There's something absolutely liberating about dropping to the depths of the deep blue, blowing bubbles of air, and watching in awe, a whole other world where creatures glide effortlessly. The best part about diving is that it is a true escape. With the sounds of everyday life tens of metres away, it's one of the few places where doing everything slower is better. You just focus on breathing, look around, and kick once in awhile. It's an experience like no other.
Over these many years, I've been lucky enough to be able to travel to some of the top diving destinations in the world that would make most seasoned divers squirm in jealously. Now these aren't in any particular order but from top to bottom, these are all incredible sites that are worth making travel plans exclusively for. So pack your scuba diving gear, it's time to hit the water!
Read more about diving
- Conrad Maldives Diving With Subaqua
- Once In A Lifetime Chance Shark Cave Diving
- Scuba Diving In The Dominican Republic
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Here's what we're covering:
[1] Palau
Any WWII buff will know that these chain of islands is well-known for one of the bloodiest battles in the war. Today however, it is home to arguably the best diving in the world.
What makes Palau a top favourite is that it is filled with a wide assortment of underwater features including wrecks, caves, channels, walls, and holes. When I was there, every dive that I went on revealed completely different terrain. On one dive it'd be an wall to my right shoulder with what seemed to be an endless drop and in another I'd be squeezing through coral rock to get to the other side.
I haven't even mentioned the aquatic life here. Palau is known to be a shark sanctuary and so that means your chances of seeing shark are pretty much guaranteed. On top of that, there's also the famed Jellyfish Lake here which is one of the few opportunities where you can snorkel with thousands of non-stinging jellyfish.
Note: Currently the lake is closed to allow the population of jellyfish heal due to effects of global warming
All of this adds up to an outrageously good travel destination for diving with the bottom line of excellent visibility, famous diving sites, and constant water temperatures all year.
How to Get There
Palau is located in the Pacific Ocean and is directly East of the Philippines and also Southwest of Guam. The main island and commercial centre for the country is Koror (ROR) and this is where the airport is located. The best ways to get to Palau are through Manila, Guam, Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul.
Best Time To Go
Diving is good all year round with tropical temperatures hovering around 29-30°C. Despite being close to the Philippines, only fringe effects of typhoons are typically felt and that is usually between the months of June to December. The best time from a weather perspective is February to April.
Popular creatures can be found in Palau all year round including including blacktip reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, eagle rays, nautilus, and whitetips. Sightings of whale sharks and manta rays are more likely from January to April. Green and hawksbill turtles can be seen year round but most frequently during the April to July period.
Where to Stay
Since almost all the diving outfits are located on Koror, it doesn't make sense to stay anywhere else. For an ultimate luxury experience, there's the Palau Pacific Resort with their overwater bungalows. Palau Plantation Resort is another upscale but affordable property on the island. For something a little more economical, I stayed at the West Plaza Malakal which served its purpose as a bed between diving. There's also the DW Motel.
Don't forget to look into liveaboards if all you want to do is dive. There are many companies that offer this and is a great option for scuba divers.
BEST
Luxury resort offering tropical accommodations, spa services, a private beach and on-site dining.
BUDGET
No frills hotel nearby dive shops such as Sam's Tours that is clean and spacious.
[2] Red Sea
Blessed with an abundance of marine life, crystal clear water, and favourable weather, it's not a surprise that Egypt's Red Sea has long been considered one of the top diving places in the world.
Highlights here include spectacular reefs that have stayed healthy despite changes in climate. The most pristine reefs can be found in Ras Mohammed National Park. Wrecks are also in abundance with several remnants from WWII and other ships that date back to the 19th century. Lastly of course are the charismatic creatures you can find here, including whale shark, hammerhead shark, and dolphins.
My experience with the Red Sea is from my time in Hurghada. I would say now is the best time to go because the region has been hurting due to recent political events and as a result, occupancy and overall traffic there has been at an all time low. You'll find that the prices are extremely low and is not crowded at all.
How to Get There
The best part about a trip to the Red Sea is that you can often combine it with a trip throughout Egypt. I started with a cruise along the Nile before exploring Luxor and then cutting through the desert to get to Hurghada. That said, there are so many ways to do the Red Sea that it really depends on personal preference.
Resort towns line the coast and so you have your choice of Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, or Marsa Alam. Each one of these places puts you closer to specific dive sites so make sure you do your research ahead of time.
In terms of flying, your best bet is to fly into Cairo (CAI) and then book a shuttle to your resort along the Red Sea.
Best Time To Go
Temperatures vary throughout the year. From June to August, the waters climb to 30°C but in the winter season does drop to 22°C in February. Similarly, air temperature rises to 40°C in the summer and fall to 22°C in the winter.
Now if you're looking to spot a whale shark, your best bet is the end of May to the end of July. Hammerhead sharks are also easier to spot in the summer months. That said, cooler temperatures do offer better visibility and there are some sharks that prefer these waters.
Where to Stay
As I mentioned, the tourism industry is hurting in Egypt and that means that there are a lot of good hotel deals in this region. Without naming specific hotels, there are an abundance of Hilton category 1 hotels that cost a paltry 5000 points per night which is excellent value. Alternatively, look into liveaboards if you're hoping to exclusively dive.
I personally stayed at the Hilton Hurghada which was superb and would recommend it to anyone for their quality of rooms, service, and location.
BEST
Large 5-star beachfront property that is family-friendly and contains a number of pools to enjoy. Excellent breakfast as well.
BUDGET
Located in Quseir, this is a fabulous property along the Red Sea that has everything you'd look for in a resort but at a fraction of the cost.
[3] Maldives
I'm probably a little bit biased, but I would say that my favourite out of everywhere I've been so far is the Maldives. Known to be a luxe resort destination, this tropic nation is also a wonderland of reefs, blue lagoons, and the best of marine life. Comprised of idyllic atolls scattered over the Indian ocean, it has become a world-class destination for diving, not so much for the reef, but more so for the massively diverse aquatic life that can be seen here.
My trip to the Maldives was special because we were spoiled with the number of manta rays that we encountered diving and would often come to the resort to play. In addition to that, this was also the place of my first whale sharks. It was at this point that I finally invested in my own men's dive watch which paid dividends because I no longer needed to pay to rent them anymore considering we went diving practically everyday.
When it comes to the reef, the Indian Ocean has been going through serious bleaching in recent years ever since El Niño, however soft coral is on the bounce back and are slowly returning to their former colourful glory.
How to Get There
As the Maldives gains popularity as a top vacation destination, more and more routes open to the capital of the country, Malé (MLE). To name a few, you can reach the Maldives via Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Dubai (Emirates), Colombo (Sri Lankan Airlines), and Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific).
TRAVEL TIP: The best value of frequent flyer points are on routes like Singapore to Malé which count as a domestic zone if you can believe it or not.
Best Time To Go
Diving here is honestly good all year round and that's what makes the Maldives so attractive. Whether it be the manta rays, whale sharks, turtles, or reef sharks, they stick around throughout the year.
While the weather has been harder to predict of late, the key thing to pay attention to is the monsoons. There are two monsoons that hit Maldives – the northeast and southwest. The northeast monsoon runs from the end of December to May where the skies are blue and lack of wind means that the waters stay calm. The waters on the eastern side of the atolls is the best at this time of the year but current is also the strongest. The southwest monsoon is the exact opposite where skies are cloudy and the water is rougher because of stronger winds. This happens between June to November with rainy season hitting in June to July.
Water temperatures stay pretty constant throughout the year at 26-29°C.
Where to Stay
There are a plethora of resorts in the Maldives with each one owning its own island and sprawling with overwater bungalows. It's safe to say that properties here are going to run pretty high but if you're strategic on hoarding points like I was, you'll be able to spend them all at resorts such as the Conrad Maldives, which to this day is still one of my favourite properties in the world. Alternatively, take a look at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas or Kurumba Maldives for best-in-class experiences.
If you're a bit more budget conscious, the best way to do the Maldives is via one of the many guesthouses you can find. A highly recommended guesthouse is the The Amazing Noovilu Guesthouse which can be found on Airbnb (get free credit by signing up for a new account).
BEST
Quite possibly the best property in the Hilton chain of hotels. Incredible beach and over-water villas across two of the Rangali islands.
BUDGET
Who said you can't do Maldives on a budget? This is a well-known guesthouse for backpackers on the island of Mahibadhoo.
[4] Seychelles
Sitting 480 kilometres off the coast of Africa, Seychelles is made up of 115 islands and is the perfect destination for diving with its warm waters and air temperatures year round. The clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean are teeming with fish and coral life that features stunning topography of pinnacles, expansive reefs, and canyons.
I recently was lucky enough to explore Seychelles as part of our honeymoon where we stayed at the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, an exclusive resort on Silhouette Island. During our two days of diving here, we were treated with the most incredible experience of being encircled by at least 15 nurse sharks.
How to Get There
Seychelles is the perfect companion to a trip to Africa and that is precisely how we planned our trip. They call it “Beach and Bush” and is in my opinion, the best way to make the most of coming to this part of the world.
All flights inbound go through the island of Mahé (SEZ) where Air Seychelles is the national carrier. They have routes that fly to Johannesburg, Paris, Abu Dhabi, and Mumbai to name a few. Alternatively, Ethiopian Airlines makes it very easy to get to Seychelles with routes connecting through Addis Ababa. Emirates and British Airways also fly here which opens up even more possibilities.
Best Time To Go
The Seychelles islands have a tropical climate that makes to comfortable to visit throughout the year.
If we're concerned with the best times to dive, April, May, October, and November are the optimal months because the winds and seas are calm with water temperatures at 29°C and visibility exceeding 30 metres.
Where to Stay
Like the Maldives, Seychelles ranks amongst the world's most idyllic island getaways and as such comes at a price. That being said, if you play your cards right with hotel points, things may not be as expensive as they seem. In addition, during low season, properties run hugely discounted packages that make things quite affordable.
I've personally stayed at both Hilton properties in Seychelles (the Labriz and Northolme) and would highly recommend both with a preference to the Labriz for its diving.
On a budget, there are a number of self-catering villas where you can stay for as low as 50 EUR a night. Make sure to take a look at Le Port Guest House in Praslin, Le Passe Guest House in La Digue, and Carana Hilltop Villa in Mahé.
BEST
Lone resort on Silhouette Island that covers massive stretches of whites and beach and features incredible diving, villas, and restaurants.
BUDGET
Affordable holiday villa on the main island of Mahé. Conveniently located and features a pool, breakfast, and shared kitchen.
[5] Dominican Republic
Last but not least is the Caribbean country, Dominican Republic, or as I affectionately call, the DR. While perhaps not as exotic as the other locations mentioned so far, this is somewhere that offers great diving options at a fraction of the cost.
What you might not know is that in the winter months, the offshore region of the Silver Bank fills with humpback whales. Off every coast and conveniently located by most resorts, there are dive sites that offer vibrant reefs, light beam-filled caverns and sunken ships to explore.
I had the opportunity to dive with SeaPro Divers a few years ago and was treated with a tanker that we ducked through. Since it was relatively shallow, the visibility was excellent with the sun above filling in the shadows and lighting up the imposing beams of metal.
How to Get There
As a popular destination for folks in North America, there are a ton of flights in and out of the Dominican Republic. What you'll need to decide is which part of the country you want to see as there are airports in Puerto Plata (POP), Santo Domingo (SDQ), and Punta Cana (PUJ). Where you fly into will largely depend on what resort you select.
Best Time To Go
Diving is fantastic year-round. From June to November, summer brings about calmer seas and better visibilities. Air temperature is hot and humid during the summer months with water temperature averaging 28°C on the Caribbean side and 27°C on the eastern Atlantic side. What you should note is that June through October is hurricane season.
If humpback whales and seeing their mating rituals, book your holiday between December and May. This also coincides with high season though so resorts and dive sites tend to be more crowded.
Where to Stay
There are too many properties to name in the Dominican which is why I would recommend you take a look at what's on sale for the time you're looking to visit. If you're located in Canada, take a look at Sunwing for deals.
I stayed at the Catalonia Royal Bavaro in Punta Cana which I absolutely enjoyed.
BEST
An adults-only resort that has a beautiful beachfront and several pools. Restaurants are good for DR standards and good service overall.
BUDGET
A surf & yoga resort at Encuentro Surf Beach in Cabarete is an example of why you don't have to stay at an all-inclusive resort in the DR.
So that sums it up! 5 awesome destinations for diving that might just sway your upcoming travel plans.
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