Region

Diving in the Coral Triangle

80 curated dive destinations across 7 countries including Brunei and Indonesia in the Coral Triangle. Conditions peak around Apr, May, Jun and Jul.

Alor · photo Sims8899

Destinations: 80
Countries: 7
Peak season: Apr–Jul

Common encountersNudibranchsSea turtlesMacro crittersReef sharksFrogfish

Diving by country

What is diving in the Coral Triangle like?

The Coral Triangle covers the tropical seas around Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, and it holds more than three quarters of the world's shallow-water reef-building coral species. In Indonesia, manta rays hold at cleaning stations in Raja Ampat, and in Papua New Guinea a single bay at Kimbe Bay holds roughly half the world's recorded coral species.

It is also where muck diving took hold: slow searches over dark volcanic sand for frogfish, mimic octopus and pygmy seahorses. The style began in the bays of Milne Bay, and whole trips at Lembeh Strait, Anilao and Dauin are built around it. Wreck divers head to Coron, where Second World War Japanese wrecks sit largely intact in a limestone bay, and big-animal divers to Tubbataha for hammerheads and to Malapascua for thresher sharks.

Source: Coral Triangle, Wikipedia

Best diving in the Coral Triangle for wrecks, big animals, beginners, macro and liveaboards

One destination per theme, picked from the species, dive types, access and site records on each destination page.

Wrecks
Coron
Philippines
Its dive sites take in 13 wrecks, including Akitsushima and East Tangat Gunboat.
Big animals
Donsol & Ticao Pass
Philippines
Whale sharks, manta rays, thresher sharks and 1 more big species are all on its species list, the most of any destination here.
Beginners
Ambon
Indonesia
Rated for beginners, with mild current and shore diving. Best Mar–Apr.
Macro
Anda
Philippines
Muck and macro diving is one of its main dive types, with nudibranchs, macro critters and frogfish on the species list.
Liveaboards
Banda Islands
Indonesia
Dived only from liveaboards, best Oct–Nov; hammerheads and mobula rays are on its species list.

When is the best time to dive the Coral Triangle?

The busiest stretch is April–May: in April, 48 of the 79 destinations here are in peak season.

The leanest stretch is December–January, when Anda, Anilao and Apo Reef are still at their best.

Bunaken, Cenderawasih Bay, Gili Islands and 10 more rate good or better in every month.

Destinations in prime seasonRated good

Destinations in Coral Triangle in prime and good season, by month
Month	Prime	Good
Jan	17	19
Feb	21	15
Mar	27	32
Apr	48	25
May	48	27
Jun	33	34
Jul	32	23
Aug	28	25
Sep	28	28
Oct	27	34
Nov	27	29
Dec	17	23

Compare every destination in the Coral Triangle

Tap a column heading to sort.

Dive destinations in Coral Triangle: best months, water temperature, level, signature animal and access

Alor Indonesia	Jun–Sep	22–29°C	Advanced	Reef sharks	Liveaboard
Ambon Indonesia	Mar–Apr	27–30°C	Beginner	Frogfish	Shore, Day boat, Liveaboard
Amed Indonesia	Jun–Sep	26–30°C	Beginner	Reef sharks	Shore, Day boat
Anda — Bohol Philippines	Nov–May	27–30°C	Beginner	Nudibranchs	Shore, Day boat
Anilao Philippines	Dec–Apr	24–30°C	Beginner	Nudibranchs	Shore, Day boat
Apo Island Philippines	Apr–May	25–30°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Apo Reef Philippines	Dec–May	27–30°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Day boat, Liveaboard
Ataúro Island Timor-Leste	May–Sep	26–29°C	Intermediate	Reef fish swarms	Shore, Day boat
Balicasag Philippines	Nov–May	27–30°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Banda Islands Indonesia	Oct–Nov	26–29°C	Advanced	Hammerheads	Liveaboard
Bangka Island Indonesia	Apr–Sep	27–30°C	Intermediate	Pristine corals	Shore, Day boat
Batanes Philippines	Mar–May	24–28°C	Intermediate	Trevally & jacks	Shore, Day boat
Belitung Indonesia	May–Sep	27–29°C	Beginner	Reef fish swarms	Day boat
Belongas Bay & South Lombok Indonesia	Aug–Nov	25–30°C	Intermediate	Hammerheads	Day boat
Biak & Padaido Islands Indonesia	May–Sep	29–30°C	Intermediate	Napoleon wrasse	Day boat
Bunaken Indonesia	May–Oct	27–29°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Day boat
Cabilao Philippines	Nov–May	27–30°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Shore, Day boat
Camiguin Philippines	Nov–Apr	26–30°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Cenderawasih Bay Indonesia	Jun–Oct	27–30°C	Intermediate	Whale sharks	Liveaboard
Coron Philippines	Dec–Apr	27–30°C	Intermediate	Barracuda	Day boat, Liveaboard
Dauin Philippines	Apr–May	26–29°C	Beginner	Frogfish	Shore, Day boat
Davao Gulf & Samal Island Philippines	Nov–May	27–31°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Day boat
Derawan & Sangalaki Indonesia	Apr–Jul	27–30°C	Beginner	Manta rays	Shore, Day boat
Dili Timor-Leste	Sep–Nov	27–31°C	Intermediate	Dugongs & manatees	Shore, Day boat
Donsol & Ticao Pass Philippines	Feb–May	26–30°C	Intermediate	Whale sharks	Day boat
El Nido & Bacuit Bay Philippines	May	24–30°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Day boat
Florida & Russell Islands Solomon Islands	May–Oct	28–30°C	Intermediate	Manta rays	Day boat, Liveaboard
Gili Islands Indonesia	Apr–Oct	26–29°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Gizo Solomon Islands	Nov	27–32°C	Intermediate	Reef fish swarms	Day boat
Halmahera — Kusu & Sali Islands Indonesia	Year-round	27–29°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Shore, Day boat
Iron Bottom Sound Solomon Islands	Apr–Jun	28–30°C	Intermediate	Reef fish swarms	Shore, Day boat
Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) Indonesia	Apr–Oct	28–30°C	Intermediate	Groupers	Day boat
Kimbe Bay Papua New Guinea	May–Oct	27–30°C	Beginner	Pristine corals	Day boat, Liveaboard
Komodo Indonesia	Jul–Sep	20–29°C	Advanced	Manta rays	Day boat, Liveaboard
Kota Belud — Usukan Bay & Mayne Rock Malaysia	Feb–Jul	27–30°C	Intermediate	Eagle rays	Day boat
Krakatau & Sangiang Island Indonesia	Mar–Nov	27–30°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Day boat
Labuan & Brunei Wrecks Brunei	Apr–Jul	28–30°C	Intermediate	Reef fish swarms	Day boat
Layang-Layang Malaysia	Closed	27–30°C	Advanced	Hammerheads	Day boat
Lembeh Strait Indonesia	Jul–Nov	25–29°C	Beginner	Frogfish	Day boat
Mabul & Kapalai Malaysia	Mar–Oct	27–30°C	Beginner	Frogfish	Shore, Day boat
Mactan & Olango Philippines	Mar–May	26–31°C	Intermediate	Hammerheads	Shore, Day boat
Madang & the North Coast Papua New Guinea	Nov–Apr	28–30°C	Intermediate	Hammerheads	Day boat
Malapascua Philippines	Mar–May	25–30°C	Intermediate	Thresher sharks	Day boat
Mantanani Islands Malaysia	Feb–Jul	27–30°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Day boat
Marovo Lagoon Solomon Islands	Apr–Jun	28–30°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Shore, Day boat, Liveaboard
Maumere Bay Indonesia	Apr–Oct	26–29°C	Intermediate	Frogfish	Shore, Day boat
Menjangan & West Bali Indonesia	Apr–Oct	26–29°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Milne Bay Papua New Guinea	May–Sep	27–30°C	Intermediate	Frogfish	Liveaboard
Misool Indonesia	Feb–Mar	26–28°C	Intermediate	Manta rays	Day boat
Moalboal Philippines	Apr–Jun	26–29°C	Beginner	Sardine baitballs	Shore, Day boat
Morotai Indonesia	Apr–Oct	28–30°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Day boat
New Ireland & Kavieng Papua New Guinea	May–Oct	29–32°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Shore, Day boat
Nusa Penida Indonesia	Jul–Oct	18–28°C	Advanced	Mola mola	Day boat
Padangbai & Candidasa Indonesia	Jul–Oct	23–29°C	Intermediate	Mola mola	Day boat
Pamilacan Philippines	Nov–May	27–30°C	Intermediate	Sea snakes	Day boat
Panglao Philippines	Nov–May	27–30°C	Intermediate	Sardine baitballs	Shore, Day boat
Puerto Galera Philippines	Jan–Apr	26–29°C	Intermediate	Nudibranchs	Shore, Day boat
Pulau Aur & Pulau Dayang Malaysia	Oct	25–29°C	Intermediate	Manta rays	Shore, Day boat, Liveaboard
Rabaul & Simpson Harbour Papua New Guinea	May–Oct	29–30°C	Intermediate	Frogfish	Day boat
Raja Ampat Indonesia	Nov–Apr	27–30°C	Intermediate	Manta rays	Day boat, Liveaboard
Romblon Philippines	Nov–Apr	27–30°C	Beginner	Macro critters	Shore, Day boat
Rote Island Indonesia	Apr–Oct	25–29°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Day boat
Sangeang & Bima Bay Indonesia	Jun–Oct	24–28°C	Beginner	Pygmy seahorses	Day boat, Liveaboard
Sangihe — Banua Wuhu Indonesia	Apr–Aug	27–30°C	Intermediate	Pristine corals	Day boat, Liveaboard
Semporna Islands — Pom Pom, Mataking & Tun Sakaran Malaysia	May–Sep	28–30°C	Intermediate	Sea turtles	Day boat
Siargao Philippines	Mar–May	26–30°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Day boat
Sibu & Tinggi Islands Malaysia	Mar–Jul	27–30°C	Beginner	Barracuda	Shore, Day boat
Sipadan Malaysia	Mar–May	27–30°C	Intermediate	Barracuda	Day boat
Siquijor Philippines	Nov–May	27–30°C	Beginner	Sea turtles	Shore, Day boat
Solomon Islands — Munda Solomon Islands	Jun–Sep	27–30°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Day boat, Liveaboard
Southern Leyte — Sogod Bay Philippines	Nov–Apr	27–30°C	Intermediate	Whale sharks	Shore, Day boat
Subic Bay Philippines	Nov–May	27–29°C	Intermediate	Eagle rays	Shore, Day boat
Sumbawa — Moyo, Satonda & Saleh Bay Indonesia	Apr–Nov	24–28°C	Intermediate	Whale sharks	Day boat, Liveaboard
Takabonerate & Selayar Indonesia	Apr–Jun	27–30°C	Intermediate	Reef sharks	Day boat, Liveaboard
Togian Islands Indonesia	Apr–Aug	28–30°C	Beginner	Stingless jellyfish	Shore, Day boat
Triton Bay Indonesia	Nov–Dec	27–30°C	Intermediate	Whale sharks	Liveaboard
Tubbataha Reefs Philippines	Apr–May	27–29°C	Advanced	Reef sharks	Liveaboard
Tufi Papua New Guinea	Apr–Jun	27–30°C	Intermediate	Macro critters	Shore, Day boat
Tulamben Indonesia	Apr–Jul	26–29°C	Beginner	Reef fish swarms	Shore
Wakatobi Indonesia	Sep–Nov	25–30°C	Beginner	Pristine corals	Shore, Day boat, Liveaboard

Destination guides

80 guides

Best Jun–Sep
Alor
Indonesia
Strong straits sweep past pristine coral cover between remote volcanic islands.
22–29°C · 72–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftadvanced
Best Mar–Apr
Ambon
Indonesia
The endemic psychedelic frogfish lives on Ambon's harbour slopes
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Jun–Sep
Amed
Indonesia
Easy beach entries onto walls, a small wreck and an artificial reef
26–30°C · 79–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftbeginner
Best Nov–May
Anda — Bohol
Philippines
A limestone wall the length of the coast, dived by almost nobody
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftbeginner
Best Dec–Apr
Anilao
Philippines
Rubble slopes near Manila hold an outsized range of nudibranchs and seahorses.
24–30°C · 75–86°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftbeginner
Best Apr–May
Apo Island
Philippines
A community-run no-take reef since 1982, with turtles on nearly every dive
25–30°C · 77–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Dec–May
Apo Reef
Philippines
The world's second-largest contiguous coral reef, closed to fishing
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best May–Sep
Ataúro Island
Timor-Leste
A 2016 survey found the world's highest average reef fish count per site here.
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Nov–May
Balicasag
Philippines
A permanent tornado of jacks and barracuda on a wall from 6 m
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Oct–Nov
Banda Islands
Indonesia
Seamounts off a still-active volcano occasionally draw hammerheads into open water.
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftadvanced
Best Apr–Sep
Bangka Island
Indonesia
Soft coral grows so thick on Sahaung's pinnacles the rock disappears
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Mar–May
Batanes
Philippines
Volcanic walls and canyons where the Kuroshio mixes temperate and tropical life
24–28°C · 75–82°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best May–Sep
Belitung
Indonesia
Granite boulders above and below the water, with coral and wrecks among them.
27–29°C · 81–84°Fvis 18 m · 60 ftbeginner
Best Aug–Nov
Belongas Bay & South Lombok
Indonesia
Schooling scalloped hammerheads on the open-sea pinnacles of Belongas Bay
25–30°C · 77–86°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Best May–Sep
Biak & Padaido Islands
Indonesia
An intact Second World War Catalina seaplane on the seabed off Biak.
29–30°C · 84–86°Fintermediate
Best May–Oct
Bunaken
Indonesia
Sheer walls drop from the surface, patrolled by turtles and napoleon wrasse.
27–29°C · 81–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Nov–May
Cabilao
Philippines
Walls from 5 m past 60, and a dive base of its own
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftintermediate
Best Nov–Apr
Camiguin
Philippines
A volcanic island with its own walls, a wreck and a submerged graveyard
26–30°C · 79–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Jun–Oct
Cenderawasih Bay
Indonesia
Whale sharks feed under fishing platforms for one of diving's most reliable encounters.
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Dec–Apr
Coron
Philippines
Historic wrecks packed into one bay, from shallow gunboats to a seaplane tender
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Best Apr–May
Dauin
Philippines
Black-sand shore muck with mandarinfish spawning at dusk
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Nov–May
Davao Gulf & Samal Island
Philippines
Overhung walls, caves and wartime wrecks a boat ride from Davao City
27–31°C · 81–88°Fintermediate
Best Apr–Jul
Derawan & Sangalaki
Indonesia
Turtles nest on Derawan's beaches; mantas cycle through Sangalaki's cleaning station.
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftbeginner
Best Sep–Nov
Dili
Timor-Leste
Wall and muck dives start a few steps from the beach along Timor's north coast.
27–31°C · 81–88°Fintermediate
Best Feb–May
Donsol & Ticao Pass
Philippines
Community-run whale shark tourism, and mantas queueing in Ticao Pass
26–30°C · 79–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best May
El Nido & Bacuit Bay
Philippines
Coral gardens, limestone walls and a 40 m swim-through tunnel in protected Bacuit Bay.
24–30°C · 75–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best May–Oct
Florida & Russell Islands
Solomon Islands
Up to a dozen manta rays feeding in formation at Devils' Highway
28–30°C · 82–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Oct
Gili Islands
Indonesia
Eighty human figures stand in a ring on the sand off Gili Meno
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Nov
Gizo
Solomon Islands
A 140-metre WWII transport ship on its side a short boat ride from town
27–32°C · 81–90°Fvis 24 m · 80 ftintermediate
Year-round
Halmahera — Kusu & Sali Islands
Indonesia
Blacktip reef sharks by day and the endemic Halmahera walking shark after dark.
27–29°C · 81–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Jun
Iron Bottom Sound
Solomon Islands
Wade off a Honiara roadside onto a Japanese transport from 1942
28–30°C · 82–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Oct
Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands)
Indonesia
Reefs and wrecks a fast-boat ride from Jakarta
28–30°C · 82–86°Fintermediate
Best May–Oct
Kimbe Bay
Papua New Guinea
A single bay holds roughly half the world's recorded coral species.
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftbeginner
Best Jul–Sep
Komodo
Indonesia
Drift dives past sharks and tuna on current-swept seamounts
20–29°C · 68–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftadvanced
Best Feb–Jul
Kota Belud — Usukan Bay & Mayne Rock
Malaysia
Bamboo, cat and leopard sharks resting on remote reefs with no other divers in sight
27–30°C · 81–86°Fintermediate
Best Mar–Nov
Krakatau & Sangiang Island
Indonesia
Day-boat dives on the flanks of Krakatau's volcanic islands
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Jul
Labuan & Brunei Wrecks
Brunei
Four protected wrecks plus coral reefs nearby
28–30°C · 82–86°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Closed
Layang-Layang
Malaysia
Scalloped hammerheads school along a wall that drops 2,000 m
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 45 m · 148 ftadvanced
Best Jul–Nov
Lembeh Strait
Indonesia
Slow scans over black sand reveal mimic octopus and hairy frogfish.
25–29°C · 77–84°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftbeginner
Best Mar–Oct
Mabul & Kapalai
Malaysia
Jetty pilings and sand slopes turn up ghost pipefish and mandarinfish at dusk.
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftbeginner
Best Mar–May
Mactan & Olango
Philippines
A flashlightfish cave and Olango's 73 m wall, minutes from the airport
26–31°C · 79–88°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Nov–Apr
Madang & the North Coast
Papua New Guinea
Wrecks, a shark seamount and an endemic walking shark from one lagoon town
28–30°C · 82–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Mar–May
Malapascua
Philippines
Pelagic thresher sharks at a cleaning station, now at Kimud Shoal.
25–30°C · 77–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Feb–Jul
Mantanani Islands
Malaysia
Shallow turtle reefs with visibility often reaching 15 to 40 m
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 40 m · 130 ftbeginner
Best Apr–Jun
Marovo Lagoon
Solomon Islands
Step off a jetty into the world's largest lagoon, or cross to open ocean
28–30°C · 82–86°Fvis 40 m · 130 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Oct
Maumere Bay
Indonesia
Black-sand muck slopes for frogfish and mimic octopus, with a wreck off the beach
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Oct
Menjangan & West Bali
Indonesia
Bali's best walls, sheltered enough to dive in almost any weather
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best May–Sep
Milne Bay
Papua New Guinea
Sheltered volcanic-sand bays where modern muck diving first took hold.
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Feb–Mar
Misool
Indonesia
Reef and oceanic mantas share a cleaning station inside a patrolled no-take reserve
26–28°C · 79–82°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Jun
Moalboal
Philippines
Millions of sardines form a shifting baitball reachable straight from shore.
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Apr–Oct
Morotai
Indonesia
Reef sharks a short boat ride out and WWII bombers on the deep slopes.
28–30°C · 82–86°Fintermediate
Best May–Oct
New Ireland & Kavieng
Papua New Guinea
Sharks and tuna on the tide at Albatross Passage, and wartime floatplane wrecks
29–32°C · 84–90°Fintermediate
Best Jul–Oct
Nusa Penida
Indonesia
Manta rays all year and mola mola from July to October
18–28°C · 64–82°Fadvanced
Best Jul–Oct
Padangbai & Candidasa
Indonesia
Sheltered macro bays and current-swept islets from one harbour
23–29°C · 73–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Nov–May
Pamilacan
Philippines
Banded sea kraits on Cervera Shoal, an hour out of Alona
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftintermediate
Best Nov–May
Panglao
Philippines
Napaling's resident sardine shoal, and the base for all of Bohol
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Jan–Apr
Puerto Galera
Philippines
A narrow strait holds one of the highest recorded densities of shore fish on Earth.
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Best Oct
Pulau Aur & Pulau Dayang
Malaysia
Offshore rocks with barracuda and a chance of mantas and whale sharks
25–29°C · 77–84°Fintermediate
Best May–Oct
Rabaul & Simpson Harbour
Papua New Guinea
Japanese wartime wrecks and jetty critters inside a volcanic caldera
29–30°C · 84–86°Fintermediate
Best Nov–Apr
Raja Ampat
Indonesia
Drift dives through some of the richest marine life on Earth
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Nov–Apr
Romblon
Philippines
New species are described from these slopes with unusual regularity
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Apr–Oct
Rote Island
Indonesia
Reef sharks and seasonal mantas around a quiet surf island
25–29°C · 77–84°Fintermediate
Best Jun–Oct
Sangeang & Bima Bay
Indonesia
Black volcanic sand that bubbles from vents, full of macro critters
24–28°C · 75–82°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Apr–Aug
Sangihe — Banua Wuhu
Indonesia
Hot gas vents stream through the reef from an active submarine volcano
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftintermediate
Best May–Sep
Semporna Islands — Pom Pom, Mataking & Tun Sakaran
Malaysia
Turtle-heavy reefs and pygmy seahorses within 25 minutes of Pom Pom by fast boat.
28–30°C · 82–86°Fintermediate
Best Mar–May
Siargao
Philippines
Blue Cathedral, a Pacific cavern swept by schooling jacks and barracuda
26–30°C · 79–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediate
Best Mar–Jul
Sibu & Tinggi Islands
Malaysia
Calm marine-park reefs and twin pinnacles a short boat ride from the Sibu resorts
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Mar–May
Sipadan
Malaysia
Tornado-like schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally beside sheer walls.
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 40 m · 130 ftintermediate
Best Nov–May
Siquijor
Philippines
Shore-accessible walls from 5 m into blue, dived one boat at a time
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Jun–Sep
Solomon Islands — Munda
Solomon Islands
WWII aircraft wrecks rest near lightly dived, pristine barrier reefs.
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Nov–Apr
Southern Leyte — Sogod Bay
Philippines
Whale sharks in the shallows and a sanctuary wall almost nobody dives
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Best Nov–May
Subic Bay
Philippines
US and Japanese war wrecks 15 minutes by boat from the dive centres
27–29°C · 81–84°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Nov
Sumbawa — Moyo, Satonda & Saleh Bay
Indonesia
Whale sharks gather at Saleh Bay's fishing platforms all year round.
24–28°C · 75–82°Fintermediate
Best Apr–Jun
Takabonerate & Selayar
Indonesia
The world's third-largest atoll, and a wall running the length of Selayar
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 40 m · 130 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Aug
Togian Islands
Indonesia
A B-24 Liberator at 22 m and a lake full of stingless jellyfish
28–30°C · 82–86°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftbeginner
Best Nov–Dec
Triton Bay
Indonesia
Whale sharks hang under fishing platforms year-round in Papuan soft coral
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Best Apr–May
Tubbataha Reefs
Philippines
Sheer mid-ocean walls hold schooling hammerheads and grey reef sharks.
27–29°C · 81–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftadvanced
Best Apr–Jun
Tufi
Papua New Guinea
Muck diving in drowned volcanic valleys with rainforest on the walls
27–30°C · 81–86°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftintermediate
Best Apr–Jul
Tulamben
Indonesia
The USAT Liberty wreck lies coral-encrusted just off a black-sand beach.
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftbeginner
Best Sep–Nov
Wakatobi
Indonesia
A community-protected house reef drops straight off the jetty into dense coral.
25–30°C · 77–86°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftbeginner