20 Best Diving Spots in the World
May 21, 2024
Are you thinking about planning the dive trip of a lifetime? With so many incredible dive spots scattered across this beautiful blue planet, it is hard to choose where to go, so we are here to help! We have shortlisted twenty of the best diving spots in the world for you to visit. But not just that, we have also included exactly why they are so awesome, with information such as what marine species you are likely to see there, and what time of year is best to visit.
Read on for the 20 best diving spots in the world
1. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is the crowning glory of diving in Australia, boasting vibrant coral formations and a wide range of marine life. This is one of the best diving spots in the world that caters for all dive experience levels. Divers can explore coral gardens, beautiful pinnacles, and swim-throughs, and encounter species like clownfish, reef sharks, and even majestic manta rays.
- Experience Level: Suitable for all levels.
- Best Time to Go: April to November.
- Top Tip: Dive early in the morning to witness peak marine activity.
2. Blue Hole, Belize
The Blue Hole of Belize is a natural wonder synonymous with diving in Belize and features a deep circular sinkhole surrounded by healthy coral reefs. Divers can descend into the abyss of the blue hole, encountering stalactites, reef sharks, and large schools of fish in this UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Experience Level: Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: April to June.
- Top Tip: The Blue Hole is not a vibrant coral reef dive. Focus on the beauty of the rock formations and the Blue Hole’s vast size to get the most out of it.
3. Maldives, Indian Ocean
The Maldives is considered by many to be the best dive destination in the world. This idyllic archipelago is a diver’s paradise with clear waters, gorgeous atolls, and diverse marine ecosystems. When diving in the Maldives, you can explore healthy reefs teeming with colorful fish, enjoy exciting drift dives, and encounter gentle giants such as manta rays and whale sharks.
- Experience Level: Suitable for all levels.
- Best Time to Go: November to April.
- Top Tip: Join a Maldives liveaboard safari to access the different atolls.
4. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands are a haven for marine enthusiasts, featuring unique species found nowhere else on Earth. Divers can swim alongside playful sea lions, hammerhead sharks, and even marine iguanas. Diving in the Galapagos certainly belongs on our list of the best diving spots in the world.
- Experience Level: Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: June to November for whale shark season.
- Top Tip: Bring a good underwater camera to capture the diverse marine life.
5. Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Raja Ampat is celebrated amongst divers for its unparalleled marine biodiversity and pristine coral reefs. Divers can explore vibrant soft-coral landscapes and encounter rare life including manta rays and pygmy seahorses.
- Experience Level: Advanced to Experienced.
- Best Time to Go: October to April for peak manta ray season.
- Top Tip: Currents at Raja Ampat can be strong, so get some drift diving experience under your belt before you visit.
6. SS Yongala Wreck, Australia
If you love wreck diving, add Queensland to your list of the best diving spots in the world. Although Queensland is better known for its coral reefs, diving the SS Yongala is a must. This shipwreck is considered THE best wreck dive in the world by many divers. Explore this well-preserved wreck inhabited by sea turtles, giant groupers, and schools of barracuda.
- Experience Level: Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: August to December.
- Top Tip: Plan more than one dive at the SS Yongala, there is so much to see!
7. Ras Mohammed, Egypt
The Red Sea is renowned for its excellent water clarity, vibrant marine life, and for hosting one of the best diving spots in the world: Egypt. Diving in Egypt you can explore the protected Ras Mohammed National Park, with rainbow-hued corals, underwater caves, and swim-throughs surrounded by warm, azure waters. As well as countless Red Sea reef fish species, this special National Park hosts dolphins, numerous reef sharks, and the impressive oceanic whitetip.
- Experience Level: Suitable for all levels.
- Best Time to Go: April to June and September to November.
- Top Tip: Make sure you go diving at the iconic Shark & Yolanda Reef.
8. Thistlegorm Wreck, Egypt
The Thistlegorm wreck is a world-famous dive site that showcases a sunken World War II cargo ship in warm, blue waters. It is a stunning wreck, and divers can explore the interior and spot well-preserved artifacts including motorcycles, trucks, and artillery, while encountering an array of marine life that have made the wreck their home.
- Experience Level: Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: April to June and September to November.
- Top Tip: Dive early in the morning to avoid day-boat crowds.
9. Barracuda Point, Sipadan, Malaysia
Barracuda Point offers thrilling drift dives with impressive marine life to spot along the way. Dive alongside large schools of jackfish, sea turtles, reef sharks, and hammerhead sharks.
- Experience Level: Advanced to Experienced.
- Best Time to Go: April to December.
- Top Tip: Dive with a knowledgeable guide to navigate challenging conditions.
10. SS President Coolidge, Vanuatu
The SS President Coolidge is one of the world’s most accessible wreck dives, offering a fascinating glimpse into its wartime history. It also happens to be at one of the best diving spots in the world for divers who enjoy a mixture of reef and wreck diving - Vanuatu. Explore the sprawling wreck adorned with artifacts, enjoy the colorful coral formations that have grown on the wreck, and then explore the other fantastic dive sites nearby.
- Experience Level: Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: April to October.
- Top Tip: Make sure you also dive at nearby Million Dollar Point. It is a wreck-diving mecca.
RELATED: SSI x Edges of Earth: Discovering Vanuatu’s Secret Dive Sites.
11. Silfra Fissure, Iceland
Silfra offers a unique opportunity to dive between two continents; the dive site is between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The clear (but cold) waters provide the best possible visibility of up to 100 meters (330 feet), making it easy to see the colorful algae and lava formations.
- Experience Level: Intermediate.
- Best Time to Go: May to September.
- Top Tip: Get certified as a Dry Suit Diver to make the most of this incredible dive site.
12. Costa Brava, Spain
Costa Brava boasts stunning Mediterranean diving with colorful reefs, caves, and abundant marine life. Divers can explore underwater rock formations, and encounter octopuses, moray eels, and schools of barracuda, while enjoying warm waters and excellent visibility. If you love diving in the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean, this part of Catalonia is one of the best diving spots in the world for you.
- Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: May to October.
- Top Tip: Dive early in the morning for quieter dive sites.
13. Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
The Phi Phi Islands of Thailand are definitely amongst the best diving spots in the world. They allow divers of all experience levels to explore dramatic walls, caves, and swim-throughs while encountering reef sharks, sea turtles, and even the occasional leopard shark.
- Experience Level: Beginner to Experienced.
- Best Time to Go: November to April.
- Top Tip: Watch out for strong currents, especially around dive sites like Shark Point.
14. Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Lanzarote boasts a thriving seabed and volcanic landscapes that extend beneath the waves, offering unique diving in this sought-after part of the Canary Islands. Discover one of the best diving spots in the world for lava caves, swim-throughs, and encounters with angel sharks, rays, and vibrant nudibranchs – all set amidst dramatic underwater scenery.
- Experience Level: Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: April to October.
- Top Tip: Visit the Museo Atlántico; Europe’s first underwater art museum.
15. Similan Islands, Thailand
The Similan Islands are popular amongst divers who want to explore underwater pinnacles and encounter whale sharks, manta rays, and schools of barracuda. These islands are teeming with rainbow-hued life and offer diving among beautiful soft and hard-coral landscapes, far from the hustle of daily life.
- Experience Level: Advanced to Experienced.
- Best Time to Go: December to April.
- Top Tip: Join a liveaboard to dive at Richelieu Rock and the Surin Islands as well.
16. Gozo, Mediterranean Sea
Gozo is next door to Malta and offers some of the most stunning diving in Europe, with underwater caves, tunnels, wrecks, and fascinating rock formations to explore. For its accessibility and breathtaking dive sites, Gozo is one of our best diving spots in the world. Diving in Gozo, you might encounter seahorses, octopuses, groupers, and colorful nudibranchs in crystal-clear Mediterranean waters.
- Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: April to November.
- Top Tip: Explore the famous Blue Hole and Azure Boulders dive sites.
17. Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Diving in Indonesia is on many divers’ wish lists and boasts more than one of the best diving spots in the world. Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich biodiversity and thrilling diving opportunities. Divers can explore colorful coral reefs, dive with manta rays and reef sharks, and encounter Komodo dragons at this paradise destination.
- Experience Level: Advanced to Experienced.
- Best Time to Go: April to November.
- Top Tip: Diving in Komodo can be challenging, with strong currents and rough conditions, so pack a good set of diving fins that work well in currents.
18. Malta, Mediterranean Sea
Gozo’s neighbor, Malta is consistently voted in the top 3 diving spots in the world and offers diverse diving with wrecks, caves, and underwater cliffs to explore. Divers can encounter plenty of Mediterranean marine life in Malta and explore historic wrecks such as the HMS Maori.
- Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: April to October.
- Top Tip: Visit in September for the warmest water and diving without the crowds.
19. Koh Tao, Thailand
Thailand offers some of the best diving spots in the world for divers seeking affordable diving without compromising on dive site quality. Koh Tao is no exception, boasting shallow coral reefs and abundant marine life in warm, calm waters. Divers of all experience levels can enjoy Koh Tao’s colorful coral gardens full of tropical fish and beautiful underwater pinnacles.
- Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: March to October.
- Top Tip: Thailand is one of the most popular and affordable places to learn to dive. Complete your dive certification at a dive center in Thailand and then start exploring!
Want to know more about diving in Koh Tao and its neighboring islands? Check out: Dive guide for Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui
20. Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico, USA
Flower Garden Banks is a series of underwater salt domes with otherworldly landscapes, located about 100 miles (161 km) off the coast of Texas. Divers can spot vast coral heads bigger than cars at this National Marine Sanctuary and bucket-list marine life including whales, sea turtles, whale sharks, hammerheads, manta rays, and hundreds of fish species. All of this makes Flower Garden Banks one of our top diving spots in the world off-the-beaten-path and well worth the effort.
- Experience Level: Advanced.
- Best Time to Go: April to October.
- Top Tip: Visit from January to March for spotted eagle rays and large schools of hammerhead sharks, or from July to September for whale sharks.
These dive sites represent some of the best diving spots in the world, offering diverse underwater experiences for divers of all levels. So where will you go first?
Check out SSI’s new Travel & Tours events to find your perfect adventure: