The Best of the Best: Diving Destinations

Raja Ampat is unmatched when it comes to marine biodiversity, with a number of endemic species and 75% of the entire world’s coral species. Still considered to be largely “untouched” by tourism, quiet dive sites include coral gardens, caves, sloping reefs, and reef walls with windows and swim-throughs. Raja Ampat is also great for underwater photography, with incredible macro marine life, like pygmy seahorses. 

Top tip: For the best experience in Raja Ampat, we would recommend a boutique adventure cruise like True North or Aqua Adventures. This way, you can explore more of the beautiful archipelago and its 1500 islands.

This carefully protected and managed UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is known as one of the best places in the world for shark diving, with over 700 reef sharks congregating during spawning season and the so-called “wall of sharks” There are two main passes, and when combined with incoming tides, divers can expect some challenging drift dives.

Ludo’s experience: From the wall of sharks in Fakarava to schools of snapper and grouper, every dive brought something new. Hard coral gardens, steep drop-offs, black sand slopes; the range from Tuamotos to Marquesas to Bora Bora was unreal. French Polynesia should be on any diver’s list; drift dives, big pelagics, and some of the best visibility anywhere (40 metres most days).

The Mafia Island Marine Park is the oldest marine park in Tanzania and remains a quieter and more ‘under-the-radar’ destination in comparison to nearby Zanzibar. Alongside seasonal whale shark sightings, divers are drawn to the dense, healthy coral gardens. The area is great for underwater photography, and is home to macro marine life like seahorses, ghost pipefish and frogfish. 

Top tip: I was lucky enough to fit in two dives around Chole Bay, where healthy coral, good visibility, and a range of macro life made for rewarding underwater time. Heading out on a traditional dhow added to the charm, highlighting Mafia Island’s laid-back, off-the-beaten-path vibe. No whale shark sightings this time, but with seasonal visits common in the area, it’s definitely a place worth returning to.

Fiji is home to a number of incredible dive sites. From the Great Astrolabe Reef near Kadavu Island, which is one of the largest barrier reefs in the world, to the reefs surrounding the Yasawa islands, there are options to suit every level of experience. Marine life varies from manta rays and reef sharks to octopus and moray eels, and dives can vary from awe-inspiring drift dives through passes to easier shallow dives in calm lagoons. 

Ludo’s experience: I dived in the Yasawa Islands, where calm conditions and clear water set the stage for some unforgettable encounters, including gliding alongside manta rays at ‘Manta Ray Passage’. The dive sites offered a relaxed pace, ideal for soaking in the vibrant reef life and getting up close with Fiji’s famous marine biodiversity. It was a great introduction to the region’s underwater highlights and left plenty of reason to come back and explore more.