have you gotten to a point where you swim by a loggerhead turtle and feel absolutely nothing? great, then you have come to the right place. though we admittedly love turtles and will always get excited to see one, we can understand that seasoned dive travelers are looking for more excitement in their marine encounters. this is why we came up with this list of places that you can visit 100 times and still feel a thrill underwater. or you might just need a new hobby.
if you have any questions about any of those destinations or would like to plan a trip, you can always get in touch with us.
tuamotus islands, french polynesia.
this french polynesian chain of just about 80 islands in the southern pacific ocean is the largest chain of atolls in the world. this is where the best diving in the region takes place with beautiful coral reefs, abundant marine life, deep walls, and drift dives. the major islands are rangiroa, anaa, fakarava, hao, tikehau, and makemo.
marine life: plenty of blacktip, whitetip, silvertip and gray reef sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, and bottlenose dolphins are all spotted year-round. different fish species such as snappers, barracudas, clownfish, jacks, and napoleon wrasse can be found anywhere. whales are seen frequently in august and september. the famous grouper spawning in the southern pass of fakarava happens between june and july.
best time to dive: you can dive french polynesia year-round. the warmest months are from january to march with water temperatures in the high 80s, but it can also be very humid. the rest of the year the water temperature is between high 70s and low 80s.
suitable for: experienced divers.
average visibility: visibility is great year-round and almost always about 100 feet.
how to dive: most diving in french polynesia is accessible from land-based operators. there are only two liveaboards that operate in fakarava.
revillagigedo islands, mexico.
also referred to as just “socorro”, this group of four volcanic islands in the pacific ocean is a large animal lover’s dream. a typical itinerary will include san benedicto island, socorro island, and roca partida island.
marine life: giant mantas, silky sharks, hammerheads, tiger sharks, galapagos sharks, oceaning white tip sharks, barracudas, jacks, and more. whale sharks are mostly seen in november, december, and may. humpback whales are commonly seen from mid-february to mid-april.
best time to dive: you can dive the revillagigedo islands between the months of november and may.
suitable for: advanced divers.
average visibility: visibility is generally good and can reach 100 feet. the plankton in the water in november and december attracts whale sharks, but can also lead to lower visibility.
how to dive: the islands can only be reached via liveaboard and crossings can take 24 to 30 hours depending on conditions. most 9-night itineraries will include 6 days of diving and 2 days of travel.
galapagos islands, ecuador.
this chain of volcanic islands surrounding the equator in the pacific ocean were made famous for their large number of endemic species that were studied by charles darwin. the diversity and topography of the galapagos islands make it one of the most exceptional dive destinations in the world.
marine life: walls of hammerhead sharks, galapagos sharks, silky sharks, reef sharks, sea lions, seals, pregnant female whale sharks, mobula rays, eagle rays, dolphins, octopus, seahorses, marlins, and the only place in the world to see marine iguanas.
best time to dive: the “warm” season runs from december through may and offers better visibility and more chances of being able to see the large hammerhead walls. the “cool” season runs from june through november when there are more nutrients in the water. this attracts more marine life, including the large pregnant whale sharks.
suitable for: advanced divers only.
average visibility: visibility can range between 30 and over 100 feet depending on the season and the currents. january to april is generally when the visibility is at its best.
how to dive: most of the best dive sites are only accessible via liveaboard. land-based diving is also possible but limited.
raja ampat, indonesia.
located in the west papua province of eastern indonesia and in the heart of the coral triangle, raja ampat is known for its unparalleled biodiversity. the name means “four kings” and refers to the four main islands of waigeo, misool, batanta, and salawati.
marine life: pristine coral reefs, large schools of fish, cuttlefish, wobbegong sharks, reef sharks, pygmy sea horses, walking sharks, nudibranchs, jacks, barracudas, manta rays, and more.
best time to dive: october to may is the ideal time to visit. most liveaboards will not sail to raja ampat during the monsoon season between june and september.
suitable for: divers of all levels.
average visibility: it can range between 40 and 80 feet.
how to dive: raja ampat is accessible via liveaboard and land-based resorts.
skjervøy, norway.
located in the northern end of norway, this region is known to attract the largest number of killer whales every year between october and mid january due to an enormous amount of herring.
marine life: orcas and humpback whales.
best time to dive: between october and mid january.
suitable for: drysuit divers and snorkelers. the freezing cold water and air temperature make this destination suitable for divers who have experience with drysuits and are good swimmers.
average visibility: between 15 and 25 feet.
how to dive: we recommend doing this trip on a liveaboard.
papua new guinea.
located in the heart of the coral triangle, papua new guinea is a gem of incredible marine biodiversity and mesmerizing shipwrecks. the most popular dive sites are around milne bay in the solomon sea, and kimbe bay and kavieng in the bismarck sea. dive travelers can also enjoy a few days of exploring the beautiful lush jungles and the unique indigenous cultures.
marine life: various types of sea mammals, pelagic sharks, nudibranchs, frogfish, shrimp, frogfish, seahorses, various types of rays, and more.
best time to dive: can be dived year-round with peak season being between may and october.
suitable for: all levels.
average visibility: between 66 and 130 feet.
how to dive: papua new guinea can be dived via resort and liveaboard. we recommend spending a few extra days doing some topside exploration.
