Top 32 Best Scuba diving in the World
Scuba dive is one of the most prevalent activities in the world, which is why it comes as no surprise that divers are on the lookout for new destinations.
Every year, we discover new diving destinations around the globe and people scramble to make their way to these places. The best diving locations in the world are not only great for underwater exploration, but they also offer a unique experience in the water.
Many of these destinations offer stunning landscapes and natural beauty that make your dives even more memorable. There is no better way to start this list than with tropical islands and clear waters.
What is scuba diving?
Scuba meaning is a process in which individual breaths underwater using a self-contained breathing apparatus device (scuba). What do scuba divers breathe? They use their breathing gas, compressed air, which allows them to move freely underwater and travel for extended periods without resupply from the surface. They breathe a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, and helium. The higher the pressure, the deeper you go, and that pressure requires you to use the proper mixture of these gases so your lungs can breathe comfortably. The combination is determined by how far you intend to travel.
There is proper training and certification to dive for divers to follow safety procedures, but most people get this training before they dive on their own.
Underwater diving without breathing apparatus is possible using other methods, but scuba provides the greatest freedom in movement. The most important aspect of scuba diving is the location and traveling is the new trend and if you want to travel in luxury, then plunging underwater is the best choice.
So, the next question is, are you an experienced diver who is looking for a new location to dive? If so, then this article will interest you.
The 31 Best Places to Scuba Dive In The World
Many divers have a dream of exploring the most famous, exotic locations in the world. This year is going to be a special one for you! Let’s look at our dive guide of the Top 31 Diving Spots in the World!
Table of Contents:
- Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia
- The Yongala, Australia
- Thistlegorm, Egypt
- Shark and Yolanda Reef, Egypt
- Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii
- Great Blue Hole, Belize
- USAT Liberty, Bali, Indonesia
- Navy Pier, Western Australia
- Wolf And Darwin Island, Galapagos, Ecuador
- South Pass, Fakarava, French Polynesia
- Anemone City, Alor, Indonesia
- Richelieu Rock, Andaman Sea, Thailand
- Tiger Beach, Grand Bahama, Bahamas
- Roca Partida, Socorro, Mexico
- Blue Heron Bridge, Florida, USA
- Cape Kri, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
- Rapid Bay Jetty, South Australia, Australia
- Apo Island, Dumaguete, Philippines
- Los Islotes, La Paz, Mexico
- Barracuda Point, Sipadan, Malaysia
- Mellow Yellow, Vatu-I-Ra, Fiji
- Bajo Alcyone, Cocos Island, Costa Rica
- The Boiler, Socorro, Mexico
- Magic Mountain, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
- Dinah’s Beach/Lauadi, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
- Batu Bolong, Komodo, Indonesia
- Big Brother, Egypt
- The Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand
- Cenote Angelita–Tulum, Mexico
- Sardine Run–Agulhas Bank, South Africa
- Silfra Fissure–Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
Now that we named these islands, let’s see more of the details!
The Top 9 Best Diving Spots In Asia:
Diving in Asia presents several unique opportunities for underwater exploration. Asian waters are home to some of the best diving destinations in the world. Although it’s possible to dive in almost any body of water, some areas offer divers more opportunities for exploration than others.
Amazing coral reefs, beautiful oceans, exotic marine life, and plenty of water sports are only some reasons to make Asia your next scuba diving destination.
1. Liberty Wreck–Bali, Indonesia
The USS Liberty wreck dive location is about 40 meters from the shore, with its bow pointing north. This wreck is roughly three meters deep at its shallowest point, and nearly 30-meters deep at its deepest point, where parts of the superstructure and debris can be found scattered on the sandy bottom. Some of the Liberty’s port side and hull have been buried by sand in the shallows, but the vertical remains of the deck and structural system, as well as parts of the engine room, hold, and bow section, can all be traversed.
This place is well known by both professional and amateur divers because it is an easy dive for beginners and advanced divers alike.
Because of its large presence, Liberty is one of the most crowded diving sites in Bali. This is best dived by staying in or near Tulamben and arriving early in the morning when visibility is usually better and day-trippers from the south of Bali have yet to arrive. By 10 a.m., Liberty is crowded, so it’s best to dive one of the other sites in the area before returning for a late afternoon or night dive once the site has quieted down. Be careful when navigating the wreckage as some areas are very dark.
2. Anemone City, Alor, Indonesia
Anemone City is a shallow reef located in Alor, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. This dive location is only recommended for experienced divers due to the current and surge. The topography varies from sand patches to rock formations. Fish life is abundant, with schools of fish, rays, and turtles scattered throughout the area. If you are lucky you may see a Napoleon Wrasse or even a Mola Mola that comes up to the surface to feed off the plankton attracted by the lights at night time.
This site is about 25 meters deep, with visibility ranging from 10 to 20 meters, and is famous for being home to thousands of anemones. Rhinopias, the holy grail of fish, is also found in Alor. Something about the conditions in this area makes it one of the best places in the world to see this rare fish.
There are several scuba dive locations where they are likely to be found. Kalabahi Bay is one such area. This bay is where you will find Alor’s fantastic muck diving. Along with Rhinopias, we’ll be looking for octopus, frogfish, ghost pipefish, squid, cuttlefish, strange and wonderful shrimps, and nudibranchs galore! Inside Kalabahi, the dive spots are Mucky Mosque, Rocky Church, and Pertamina Jetty.
It’s the perfect place to get up close and personal with one of the ocean’s most beautiful creatures.
3. Richelieu Rock, Andaman Sea, Thailand
The Richelieu Rock is one of the top 10 dive locations in Thailand. It’s a small rock of the Andaman Sea, about 4 hours south of Phuket, close to the border with Malaysia. And with the formation is a part of the Phi Phi Islands in Krabi, Thailand. Richelieu Rock is home to beginner and intermediate-level divers.
There are two dives locations at Richelieu Rock. The first one is about 1000 meters east of the rock, near the border of Malaysia. Secondly, the one is much closer to the rock itself, and it’s a brilliant spot for inexperienced divers. A few minutes from the shore, you’ll find a beautiful reef inhabited by a lot of tropical fish, eels, and even turtles.
Thailand is more of a wide-angle location, showcasing vibrant reefs and migratory action. However, if you delay things, you’ll be shocked at what macro life you may find. At any given time, Richelieu appears to have a combination of exquisite harlequin shrimps, as well as highly patterned baroque ghost pipefish. Another common sighting is tiger tail seahorses, and a resident gigantic frogfish has made Richelieu it is home for the whole 2020–21 season. Tiger cowries can always be found on gorgonian corals, peacock mantis shrimp can be found scuttling around, and a vast variety of nudibranchs, provide enough life to keep most macro fans satisfied.
4. Magic Mountain, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Diving at Magic Mountain in Raja Ampat, Indonesia is one of the most incredible experiences in the world. The dive location is a small island with a mountain rising from the center.
On the north side of this mountain, several caves and tunnels drop from the surface to over 90 feet deep. Here are several large underwater caverns that form between these tunnels and caves which are home to many types of marine life, including sharks, rays, and eels.
Raja Ampat, which translates to “Four Kings” in Indonesian, is a globe marine park known for being the epicenter of marine biodiversity. This park spans a huge area, with a distance of around 170 nautical miles between its northern and southern boundaries. It would be feasible to dive for weeks on end and not see the same locations.
The North, Central, and Southern Sections of Raja Ampat can be separated into three sections. This heritage region is one of a kind, with spectacular beauty both above and below the sea, making it a must-see for divers and nature enthusiasts alike.
As long as you swim through these caverns, you can see all three creatures in their natural habitat.