Best Scuba Diving in the World: 15 Incredible Destinations
When choosing the best scuba diving in the world, we think it is important to include a mixture of dive spots that offer something for everyone: beginners, advanced divers, wreck divers, macro lovers, tech divers, and marine life fans, as well as all the other kinds of divers who are ready for a new adventure.
With that in mind, we have put together the ultimate list; from vibrant coral gardens to dramatic walls and legendary wrecks, we have 15 destinations for you that span continents and oceans. Each provides a unique underwater experience, and we have included local tips to ensure your trip combines adventure, culture, and discovery.
In This Article
1. Raja Ampat, Indonesia
2. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
3. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
4. Komodo National Park, Indonesia
5. The Blue Hole, Belize
6. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
7. Blue Corner Wall, Palau
8. Sipadan Island, Malaysia
9. Similan Islands, Thailand
10. Cenotes, Mexico
11. Socorro Islands, Mexico
12. Fiji
13. Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands
14. Maldives
15. Egypt, Red Sea
Best Scuba Diving Destinations Around the World
From biodiversity hotspots to iconic pelagic encounters, these destinations are consistently ranked among the best places to scuba dive on the planet.
1. Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Diving in Raja Ampat stands out for its marine biodiversity, often hailed for providing the best scuba diving in the world. Located in the Coral Triangle, it boasts over 1,500 species of fish and 600 types of coral.
Dive sites like Misool and Wayag offer clear waters that are home to colorful marine life, including manta rays, reef sharks, and an array of macro critters. After a day of diving, take a kayak trip through the mangroves to witness the stunning karst landscapes from a different perspective.
Best time to dive: October to April
Experience level needed: All levels
Remote oceanic islands like the Galápagos are famous for thrilling pelagic encounters.
2. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galápagos Islands offer some of the most exhilarating diving experiences globally and are frequently included among the destinations offering the best scuba diving in the world. Here, divers can encounter hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, marine iguanas, and even playful sea lions.
Sites like Darwin and Wolf Islands are particularly famous for pelagic encounters. A visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station provides insights into conservation efforts and the unique ecosystems of the islands.
Best time to dive: June to November
Experience level needed: Advanced
Cocos Island, Costa Rica
3. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Cocos Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a remote paradise for divers seeking pelagic action. The waters around the island are rich with schools of hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and the occasional whale shark.
The journey to Cocos is an adventure in itself, typically requiring a liveaboard trip from Costa Rica's mainland. Once there, divers are rewarded with pristine dive sites and abundant marine life.
It is widely regarded as part of the best scuba diving in the world for big-animal encounters. Between dives, take time on the liveaboard deck to watch the incredible seabird colonies that nest on the island's cliffs.
Best time to dive: June to November
Experience level needed: Advanced
Would you love to go on a liveaboard of a lifetime? Read this: 7 Liveaboard Dive Trips For Experienced Divers
Komodo National Park, Indonesia
4. Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Komodo National Park is renowned amongst places to go diving in Indonesia, boasting diverse marine life and dramatic underwater topography. Dive sites like Batu Bolong and Manta Point offer encounters with manta rays, reef sharks, and vibrant coral gardens. Komodo is often listed as one of the destinations for the best scuba diving in the world, and it is not hard to see why!
The park's unique biodiversity extends beyond the water, with the famous Komodo dragons roaming the islands. Combine your diving adventure with a hike to see these prehistoric creatures in their natural habitat.
Best time to dive: April to December
Experience level needed: Advanced
The Blue Hole, Belize
5. The Blue Hole, Belize
The Blue Hole of Belize is a world-famous dive site known for its impressive underwater stalactites and deep blue abyss. This giant marine sinkhole offers a unique diving experience, with the chance to see blacktip reef sharks and various species of fish.
Many divers consider it some of the best scuba diving in the world due to its dramatic formations. Consider visiting Half Moon Caye, a nearby island that serves as a sanctuary for nesting seabirds.
Best time to dive: April to June
Experience level needed: Advanced
The Great Barrier Reef offers vast coral systems and diverse marine life across thousands of kilometers.
6. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is synonymous with world-class diving, and it unsurprisingly ranks highly among some of the best scuba diving in the world. Stretching over 2,300 kilometers, it offers countless dive sites, each with its own unique charm.
From the vibrant coral gardens of the Ribbon Reefs to the deep walls of the Coral Sea, divers can encounter a wide mix of marine life, including turtles, reef sharks, and many fish species. Explore the reef from a liveaboardto access more remote and less crowded dive sites.
Best time to dive: June to November
Experience level needed: All levels
7. Blue Corner Wall, Palau
Blue Corner in Palau is a drift diver's dream. Strong currents bring with them an abundance of pelagic life, including eagle rays, barracudas, and sharks. The site's unique topography, with its steep walls and coral-covered pinnacles, provides a stunning backdrop for underwater photography.
After your dive, take a trip to Jellyfish Lake, where you can swim among millions of harmless jellyfish. Diving in Palau is often recognized for offering some of the best scuba diving in the world.
Best time to dive: November to May
Experience level needed: Advanced with drift dive experience
Sipadan Island, Malaysia
8. Sipadan Island, Malaysia
Sipadan Island in Malaysia is often considered to have some of the best scuba diving in the world due to its rich marine biodiversity and dramatic drop-offs. Sites like Barracuda Point and Turtle Cavern offer encounters with large schools of fish, turtles, and pelagic species.
Due to limited permits, make sure you book your dives well in advance to secure a spot.
Best time to dive: April to December
Experience level needed: Intermediate to advanced
Encounters with turtles are common at Sipadan Island.
9. Similan Islands, Thailand
Diving in Thailand is idyllic, known for its turquoise waters, thriving coral reefs, and diverse marine life—especially at the Similan Islands. Dive sites like East of Eden and Elephant Head Rock offer encounters with manta rays, whale sharks, and a many varieties of reef fish.
Visit during the dry season (November to April) for the best visibility and calmer seas.
Best time to dive: November to April
Experience level needed: All levels
10. Cenotes, Mexico
The cenotes of Mexico offer a very unique diving experience, with freshwater-filled limestone caves adorned with stalactites and stalagmites. Sites like Dos Ojos and The Pit provide surreal underwater landscapes and excellent visibility.
Consider a guided cave diving tour to safely explore these fascinating systems further. The cenotes are frequently cited among the best scuba diving sites in the world for cave diving.
Best time to dive: November to April
Experience level needed: Advanced (cave diving certification required to explore inside)
Need more information about diving in the Mexican Cenotes? We have got you: Best Scuba Diving in Mexico Part 4 - Yucatán
11. Socorro Islands, Mexico
The Socorro Islands, part of the Revillagigedo Archipelago, are renowned for their large pelagic encounters. Divers can expect to see giant manta rays, humpback whales (seasonal), and various shark species. The islands are accessible via liveaboard trips from Cabo San Lucas.
During surface intervals, spend time on deck spotting humpback whales or dolphins; they often swim alongside liveaboards, offering incredible wildlife encounters even when you are not underwater. Socorro definitely deserves its spot on the list of the best scuba diving in the world due to its big-marine life encounters.
Best time to dive: January to April
Experience level needed: Advanced
Large pelagic species like manta rays are a highlight of advanced dive destinations worldwide.
12. Fiji
Diving in Fiji, often referred to as the "Soft Coral Capital of the World," offers vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, and excellent visibility. Dive sites like the Great Sea Reef and Rainbow Reef are teeming with fish, sharks, and turtles.
Fiji consistently ranks among the best scuba diving in the world for colorful soft coral and accessible reefs, and there are some fantastic land-based highlights as well. After diving, relax in the natural hot springs of Sabeto Valley or visit the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.
Best time to dive: May to October
Experience level needed: All levels
Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands
13. Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands
Diving in Bonaire offers world-class shore diving, with easy access to over 80 dive sites, many of which are just a short swim from the shore. The island's marine park is home to healthy coral reefs, seagrass beds, and diverse marine life. Rent a truck to explore the island's remote dive sites at your own pace.
Best time to dive: Year-round
Experience level needed: All levels
Maldives
14. Maldives
Diving in the Maldives offers some of the most picturesque diving experiences, with its famous blue waters, rich marine life, and luxurious resorts on white sand beaches. Dive sites like Maaya Thila and Fish Head are famous for encounters with reef sharks, manta rays, and vibrant coral gardens.
The Maldives are widely recognized as offering the best scuba diving in the world due to visibility and pelagic encounters. Visiting with kids? Stay at a resort with a house reef for easy access to daily diving or snorkeling.
Best time to dive: November to April
Experience level needed: All levels
15. Egypt, Red Sea
The Red Sea is a must-dive destination, particularly diving in Egypt, which is often celebrated for some of the best scuba diving in the world thanks to large wrecks, healthy reefs, and clear waters year-round.
Shaʽb Abu Nuħas offers a concentration of historic wrecks amid its coral reefs. Beyond diving, a visit to the desert near Sharm El Sheikh for a Bedouin tea experience and stargazing.
Best time to dive: Year-round
Experience level needed: All levels
Ready to Book the Trip of a Lifetime?
Scuba diving opens the door to some of the most extraordinary places on Earth—and the destinations on this list represent the very best the underwater world has to offer.
Whether you are dreaming of coral gardens, historic wrecks, or unforgettable encounters with big marine life, your next great adventure is waiting beneath the surface.