Where to Dive
Destination guides written for newer divers: season, water temperature, visibility, difficulty, what you will see, and typical prices.
Destinations at a glance
| Region | Highlights | For beginners |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt (Red Sea) | Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam, Dahab | |
| Israel & Jordan | Eilat, Aqaba | |
| Thailand | Koh Tao, Phuket, Similan Islands | |
| Indonesia | Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat | |
| Philippines | Moalboal, Malapascua, Anilao | |
| Maldives | Atolls, dive safaris | |
| Malaysia | Sipadan, Perhentian Islands | |
| Mexico | Cozumel, Yucatán cenotes, Baja | |
| Caribbean | Bonaire, Belize (Great Blue Hole), Bahamas | |
| Mediterranean | Croatia, Malta, Cyprus (Zenobia) | |
| Australia | Great Barrier Reef | |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | |
| South Africa | Sardine Run, shark dives |
Not sure when to go? Use the month-by-month destination calendar.
Diving in Egypt's Red Sea: Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam and Dahab
Year-round warm, clear water, affordable courses and famous wrecks. One of the best places to learn.
Diving in Eilat (Israel) and Aqaba (Jordan): Easy Red Sea Shore Diving
Calm, clear shore diving at the tip of the Red Sea, with wrecks and coral gardens a few fins from the beach.
Diving in Thailand: Koh Tao, Phuket and the Similan Islands
Koh Tao is a world-famous place to learn cheaply; the Andaman Sea offers Similan liveaboards.
Diving in Indonesia: Bali, Komodo and Raja Ampat
Bali is great for new divers; Komodo and Raja Ampat reward experience with world-class reefs.
Diving in the Philippines: Moalboal, Malapascua and Anilao
Sardine runs, thresher sharks and world-class macro, at friendly prices.
Diving in the Maldives: Atolls, Mantas, Whale Sharks and Liveaboards
Mantas, whale sharks and reef sharks in warm, clear water. Great for beginners at sheltered sites.
Diving in Malaysia: Sipadan and the Perhentian Islands
The Perhentians are perfect for learning; Sipadan is a bucket-list site for when you're ready.
Diving in Mexico: Cozumel, the Yucatán Cenotes and Baja California
Easy drift dives in Cozumel, magical cenotes (with a guide) and big-animal encounters in Baja.
Diving in the Caribbean: Bonaire, Belize's Great Blue Hole and the Bahamas
Bonaire is a shore-diving paradise for beginners; Belize and the Bahamas add legendary sites.
Diving the Mediterranean: Croatia, Malta and Cyprus (Zenobia Wreck)
Clear summer water, historic wrecks and dramatic rock formations, close to home for Europeans.
Diving the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: A Beginner's Guide
The world's largest reef system, with excellent day trips and training from Cairns and Port Douglas.
Diving the Galápagos Islands: Hammerheads, Whale Sharks and Why You Need Experience
Schools of hammerheads, whale sharks and marine iguanas. A bucket-list trip for experienced divers.
Diving in South Africa: The Sardine Run, Shark Dives and Aliwal Shoal
The Sardine Run and world-famous shark dives for experienced divers; Sodwana Bay for beginners.
The 10 Best Places in the World for Your First Dive
Warm, calm, clear and affordable: our top 10 places to take your first breath underwater.
Winter Diving: Where to Dive from December to March
Escape the cold: the best warm-water dive destinations from December to March.
Where to See Manta Rays, Whale Sharks and Turtles While Diving
The best places and seasons for the ocean's gentle giants, plus how to encounter them responsibly.
Cheap Diving: The Most Affordable Scuba Destinations in the World
Where your diving budget goes furthest, with typical course and dive prices.