The World's Best Scuba Diving Destinations

If the wondrous marine life and vividly colored reefs hidden beneath the seas have been calling your name, it's time to suit up and dive in! Scuba diving opens us up to another world beneath the surface, and there's nothing else quite like it. Unfortunately, not everywhere is blessed with crystal-clear seas and abundant sea creatures, so you'll need to plan your diving adventure accordingly. From the colorful coral of the Red Sea to the biodiverse waters of Indonesia, we're unveiling the best scuba diving destinations on the planet.

Galapagos, Ecuador

Ecuador's legendary Galapagos Islands are among the world's greatest destinations for wildlife viewing, so it's fitting that it's also a bucket list spot for divers. Thanks to the sheer diversity of marine life and sublime visibility, very few locations can compete with the Galapagos for its underwater offerings. Darwin Island is easily the most popular spot. From here, you'll enjoy a diving experience of epic proportions with whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and manta rays. Head to Isabela Island for a chance to swim with the adorable Galapagos penguins and sea lions.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Indonesia boasts more top-tier diving sites than most, but none are quite as spectacular as those in Raja Ampat. The archipelago's remote location means that most of the reefs remain untouched, and the water is exceptionally clear. However, the extraordinary sea creatures residing in these waters really put Raja Ampat on the map. Fascinating animals like wobbegong sharks and pygmy seahorses exist alongside majestic reef sharks and whales. Thousands of species call Raja Ampat home, meaning no two dives here are ever the same.

Ras Mohammed, Egypt

Whether you want to dive down into decades-old shipwrecks, get a close-up of vibrant coral, or swim with whitetip sharks, Ras Mohammed has it all. Egypt has no shortage of diving hotspots, namely Dahab and Hurghada, but none are quite as acclaimed as Ras Mohammed. Sitting on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, this nature reserve showcases the best of the Red Sea. If there's one thing you can't miss here, it's the SS Thistlegorm. Due to the plethora of cargo visible to divers, this sunken British steamship has become the site of the world's most iconic wreck dive.

Tiger Beach, Bahamas

Frequently dubbed the best place in the world to swim with tiger sharks, Tiger Beach is unlike anywhere you've ever seen. The name can be a little misleading if you're not familiar with this diving site. Tiger Beach is actually a patch of powder-white sand beneath shallow waters about an hour away from the coast of the Grand Bahama island. While the tiger sharks are the star attractions, you'll also have a pretty good chance of spotting other species at Tiger Beach. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of nurse, hammerhead, or bull sharks.

Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

Diving at Thingvellir National Park is quite a different experience than most destinations on this list, and that's because you'll see little to no marine life. Plenty of sea critters live here, but most aren't visible to the naked eye or hidden in the rock's cracks and crevices. It's also worth noting that diving here isn't for the fainthearted, as water temperatures remain between 2 and 4°C (35 to 39°F) even during the warmer months. Thingvellir offers something no other place on earth can, and that's the chance to swim between two tectonic plates. The Silfra Fissure is the specific area in the park for this dive. At certain points, the gap between the Eurasian and North American plates is so narrow you'll be able to touch two continents at once. All things considered, that's not a bad trade-off for the lack of noticeable underwater creatures and chilly conditions!

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Quite possibly the most renowned scuba diving location in the world, the Great Barrier Reef needs no introduction. Stretching for over 2,000 km along Australia's east coast, the Great Barrier Reef consists of almost 3,000 coral reefs and 900 islands. Naturally, this expansive reef has hundreds of diving sites, but some are particularly impressive. Head to Norman Reef to hang out with turtles, giant clams, and moray eels, Osprey Reef to search for whaler sharks, and Flynn Reef for turtles and clownfish. If you're prepared to venture further afield, check out Cod Hole to marvel at the massive potato cod in action.

Palau, Micronesia

The Micronesian island nation of Palau is astonishingly beautiful, yet it's equally mesmerizing beneath the water as above it. It's certainly one of the harder-to-reach destinations on this list, but that's why the diving conditions are so remarkable. On a good day, the visibility here can reach almost 50 meters, meaning you can spot whale sharks, eagle rays, colorful reef fish, and dazzling coral with ease. Palau is also home to the aptly named Jellyfish Lake. Thousands of divers flock here every year to swim with golden and moon jellyfish, as their stings are painless and harmless to humans.

Sipadan Island, Malaysia

Sipadan is a tiny island off the coast of Malaysian Borneo and is the country's finest diving destination. Parrotfish, bearded scorpionfish, and stingrays are regularly spotted off the coast of Sipadan. Still, its most sought-after sites are Barracuda Point and Turtle Patch (no prizes for guessing what species you'll find here!). Many of the island's other diving sites are similarly named after their most famous dwellers, such as White Tip Avenue and Lobster Lair. The captivating creatures aren't the only reason divers visit Sipadan, as the Hanging Gardens and Coral Gardens are abundant in eye-catching soft and hard corals that are sights to behold.

Pack Your Bags and Get Ready to Take to the Seas!

Currently, there are over 4,000 certified dive sites in the world. Needless to say, reaching even a fraction of those is quite an achievement. With this failsafe guide, we've chosen the creme de la creme of destinations that are sure to be on any devoted diver's list!