An updated list of great scuba diving spots all over the world

Diving is the best way to see the most beautiful underwater places in the world. It is a marvelous feeling when you dive to a depth of several meters and explore corals, rich fauna, and see things you would never get the chance to see during your ordinary life.

It is not surprising that there are so many dive sites that people explore and that so many people love to engage in scuba diving. There are many outstanding spots out there that you should visit, so we have made the list of ten great diving spots all over the world.

Some of these places are notable for unique corals you won’t see anywhere else, others due to the rich fauna, and some of them allow you to explore long lost sunken ships. Continue reading below to find the best places for you to dive now.

Important: Given the still difficult travel situation in the world in 2022, check separately the possibility of going to a particular country, its regions, and local outdoor spots before the trip on the official tourist and other sites.

1. Brissare Rocks, Mahe, Seychelles

When you arrive at Mahe, there are more than 70 renown diving sites which you can reach in 15–40 minutes. To make Mahe an even more attractive site for scuba diving, locals have three sunken ships nearby: one drag and two arks.

No doubts, the best diving spot in Mahe is Brissare Rocks. This site is for experienced divers, as here you will face a strong current. Though that’s totally worth it as here, you can meet a wide range of fish, and enjoy the sites of coral arrays at a depth of 20 meters.

Season: April — May, October — November
Other diving spots nearby: yes
Diving depth: 8–40 meters
Level of riding: open water diver or up
Water temperature: +25–29 °C

Wind and weather forecast for Brissare Rocks, Mahe, Seychelles

2. Lagoon Truk, Micronesia

Lagoon Truk is a unique natural formation with an area of more than 2000 square kilometers in the form of a lake located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, near the shores of Micronesia.

The Lagoon Truk is located 1000 km southeast of the island of Guam, 1200 km north of Papua New Guinea, is located on the islands of the same name, belonging to the state of Chuuk (formerly also Truk), one of the states of the Federated States of Micronesia.

The lagoon is one of the most interesting places for wreck divers. Under its crystal clear water is one of the largest cemeteries of military equipment in the world. Under the water lies a whole fleet of Japan, among which: more than 50 ships, as well as tanks and aircraft. Boxes with shells and ammunition are stored in holds underwater. The lagoon is surrounded by a ridge of corals, which protects it from the strong currents of the open ocean, so the underwater picture of past years is well preserved.

It is also a great place for underwater photographers and video operators, because visibility is often more than 50 meters.

Season: December — April
Other diving spots nearby: yes
Diving depth: 10–40 m
Level: Experienced
Water temperature: +28–30 °C

Wind and weather forecast for Lagoon Truk, Micronesia

3. Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Raja Ampat is located near the island of New Guinea on the northwest side of the Chandravasih Peninsula. Raja Ampat Islands belong to the province of West Papua Indonesia. With over 1,500 small islands, shoals and reefs, they are grouped around the “Four Kings”: Indonesia’s main islands, the Raja Ampat archipelago: Batanta, Waigeo, Misool and Salavati.

The Raja Ampat Archipelago includes the so-called Coral Triangle, which ranks first in the world for its huge marine diversity. On the Raja Ampat Islands, you can take the best photos of your life.

Underwater diversity makes the Raja Ampat archipelago one of the most popular diving sites in the world. This territory contains the highest diversity of marine organisms on the planet and the richest ecosystem of coral reefs in the world. Local reefs are resistant to discoloration and disease and are virtually untouched by civilization. Due to the location of the islands between the two oceans, coral and fish from both the Indian and Pacific Oceans are present in this zone.

According to biologists, 1508 species of fish, 699 species of mollusks and 537 species of coral live in the water area of the Raja Ampat archipelago, which is 3⁄4 of all types of corals found in the world. In some places you can find huge schools of fish and the constant presence of carpet sharks.

Season: April — September
Other diving spots nearby: yes
Diving depth: 5–30 meters
Level: Open water diver or up
Water temperature: +28–30 °C

Wind and weather forecast for Raja Ampat, Indonesia

4. Ras Mohammed, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

Visiting Sharm el-Sheikh is a must if you are a diving enthusiast. Here you can dive almost everywhere. Though it is better to do this early in the morning due to the enormous traffic.

The best diving site you should visit here is Ras Mohammed National Park. This is the place where you can find the most variety of corals at a depth of five to 45 meters. This spot is one of the best in terms of visibility, which allows you to see a distance of 20–30 meters long, and diving here is available from February to October.

Season: February — October
Other diving spots nearby: yes
Diving depth: 5–45 meters
Level of riding: open water diver or up
Water temperature: +20–27 °C

Wind and weather forecast for Ras Mohammed, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

5. Aliwal Shoal, South Coast, South Africa

South Africa is one of the most interesting diving sites in the world. The local underwater world of two oceans - the Atlantic and Indian — impresses with its diversity and the number of large marine animals - sharks, whales, dolphins, seals, turtles, etc. The southern tip of Africa is a recognized graveyard of sunken ships. There are plenty of interesting coral reefs. And of course, South Africa is great, plus it’s stunning terrestrial nature and many reserves, which allows you to combine diving with unforgettable land safaris.

Scuba diving is carried out along the entire coastline of the country on Aliwal Shoal, Landers, Protea Banks, and other popular spots. The diving in South Afrinca is primarily daily diving, that is when boats return to shore after diving. One of the features of the local diving is quite large coastal waves, in which you have to go on boats to the diving spots. This must be considered for people with a weak vestibular apparatus.

For divers who loves to go extreme, serious diving with a tiger shark in certain places is possible. The most important rule when approaching a shark is not to panic and strictly follow the instructions of the instructor.

Season: May — September
Other diving spots nearby: yes
Diving depth: 6–40 meters
Level of riding: open water diver or up
Water temperature: +16–25 °C

Wind and weather forecast for Aliwal Shoal, South Coast, South Africa

Sebastian Pena Lambarri / Unsplash

6. South Ari Atoll, Maldives

One of the Top 10 diving sites here is Maaya Thila, where you can meet whitetip reef sharks. The maximum depth here makes 30 meters. The most notable feature for this spot is the ability to dive at night. You need to have some experience to dive here due to the fact the water can be freezing here.

At first, in the Maldives, you can see a great diversity of oceanic fish, especially at the Fish Head spot. Diving here starts from the reef plateau with a strong stream, so this spot is more suitable for experienced divers.

Season: November — June
Other diving spots nearby: yes
Diving depth: 5–40 meters
Level of riding: open water diver or up
Water temperature: +26–29 °C

Wind and weather forecast for South Ari Atoll, Maldives

7. Grand Bay, Mauritius

There are more than 30 diving spots on Mauritius certified by the Mauritius Scuba Diving Association (MSDA). The majority of them are located near central resorts and five and four stars hotels. Diving centers usually work from 9 am until 3 pm.

This is one of the few best dive spots where you can dive almost throughout the entire year, excluding January and February and July through August. The water temperature usually hovers between +25–28 degrees, and there is a mild stream. This spot is ideal for beginners, and you also can experience night diving here.

Season: April — June, September — December
Other diving spots nearby: yes
Diving depth: 18–40 meters
Level of riding: open water diver or up
Water temperature: +23–28 °C

Wind and weather forecast for Grand Bay, Mauritius

8. Koh Lanta, Thailand

One of the best diving locations here is Hin Daeng, with a maximum depth of 60–70 meters. Due to the strong current, it is more suitable for experienced divers. Anyone who dives here will be happy to experience the outstanding sights of soft anemones and corals, which are widely presented here.

To get to Hin Daeng, you need to arrive at Koh Lanta first, and then you can take a boat to reach this outstanding diving spot or any of the others nearby in less than one and a half hours.

Season: November — April
Other diving spots nearby: yes
Diving depth: 12–40 meters and more
Level of riding: advanced open water diver or up
Water temperature: +28–30°C

Wind and weather forecast for Koh Lanta, Thailand

9. Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Philippines

Diving on Mindoro is an outstanding experience. The majority of dive sites here can be reached by boat, although there are a couple of interesting places near the shore.

Mindoro Island is a great place for divers of any level. In the water of the island there are all types of diving: recreational, technical, Wreck, Drift, and many dive sites for divers who loves underwater photo and video.

The most famous diving spot here in our 10 best sites is Puerto Galera, and due to the excellent weather conditions, it is available year-round. However, the best months for diving here are November — May. The water temperature here is usually between 26–30 °C and the current is mild. Thus, this diving spot is suitable for beginners. It is well-known that there are typhoons in this region. However, Mindoro is well-protected from them.

Season: November — July
Other diving spots nearby: yes
Diving depth: 5–40 meters
Level of riding: open water diver or up
Water temperature: +24–32 °C
Wind and weather forecast for Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Philippines

10. Tongatapu Island, Polynesia

The Kingdom of Tonga is a small island state located in Polynesia in Pacific Ocean, which main island is Tongatapu. In total, it consists of more than 170 islands. The coastline is 400 km long, each corner pleases with unique underwater landscapes.

From July to November, a humpback whale migration route passes through the waters of Tonga, but it is better to come to watch them in August or September. It is during these months that the peak of the mating season of mammals falls, which migrating from the Antarctic to breed offspring. The islands of the archipelago are surrounded by wonderful corals with a unique ecosystem. In coastal waters you can find several species of sharks, barracudas and huge schools of tuna. On average, diving depth is 30 m, and visibility in winter reaches 40 m.

The Tonga archipelago has more than 170 islands, each of which will give divers a delight and an unforgettable experience. On the island of Eua, it is worth going for coral reefs and drift diving, as well as for diving to the caves. In the west of Haapai Island you can see a chain of underwater volcanoes surrounded by lava fields. The waters of Wawau Island are famous for caves, the walls of which are covered with soft corals. Extraordinary fish also live here.