Dive sites
The 100 most famous dive sites in the world.
Shark walls, manta cleaning stations, legendary wrecks and the reef that broke a world record. These are the places divers talk about for years. Pick one and see what is spotted there, month by month.
Red Sea
- 01
Red Sea, Egypt
SS Thistlegorm
The world’s most famous wreck dive: a WWII cargo of motorbikes, trucks and locomotives.
Explore the site → - 02
Dahab, Egypt
Blue Hole, Dahab
A sinkhole in the reef that drops into the deep blue, steps from the shore.
Explore the site → - 07
Ras Mohammed, Egypt
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Two reefs, a sheer wall and a scattered cargo of toilets from the Yolanda wreck.
Explore the site → - 12
Marsa Alam, Egypt
Elphinstone Reef
A long Red Sea reef where oceanic whitetip sharks patrol the plateau.
Explore the site → - 13
Brothers Islands, Egypt
Big Brother
An offshore island with two wrecks on its walls and oceanic sharks in the blue.
Explore the site → - 14
Red Sea, Egypt
Daedalus Reef
A lonely lighthouse reef in open sea, known for schooling hammerheads.
Explore the site → - 51
Safaga, Egypt
Salem Express
A passenger ferry lost in 1991, dived with respect as a memorial.
Explore the site → - 52
Abu Nuhas, Egypt
Giannis D
A tilted freighter on the reef famous for swallowing ships.
Explore the site → - 53
Abu Nuhas, Egypt
SS Carnatic
An 1869 P&O steamship whose open iron ribs are now full of glassfish.
Explore the site → - 54
Port Sudan, Sudan
SS Umbria
A WWII freighter with bombs and Fiat cars still in her holds.
Explore the site → - 55
Dahab, Egypt
The Canyon, Dahab
A narrow crack in the reef full of glassfish, with the most species on this list.
Explore the site → - 56
Strait of Tiran, Egypt
Jackson Reef
A wreck on top, a coral wall below and strong currents in the Strait of Tiran.
Explore the site → - 57
Marsa Alam, Egypt
Sha’ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
A horseshoe reef where spinner dolphins rest in the lagoon.
Explore the site → - 58
Ras Mohammed, Egypt
Jackfish Alley
A drift past caves and sand channels along the Ras Mohammed wall.
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Asia
- 03
Sipadan, Malaysia
Barracuda Point, Sipadan
Tornadoes of barracuda, turtles everywhere and reef sharks on the wall.
Explore the site → - 06
Surin Islands, Thailand
Richelieu Rock
Thailand’s most celebrated pinnacle, with barracuda, jacks and a chance of whale sharks.
Explore the site → - 09
Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
USAT Liberty
A WWII wreck you swim to from a black-sand beach, covered in coral.
Explore the site → - 11
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Cape Kri
The reef that set a world record for fish species counted on a single dive.
Explore the site → - 15
Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Crystal Bay
Bali’s famous bay for the giant mola mola and some of its clearest water.
Explore the site → - 16
Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Manta Point
A cleaning station where reef manta rays circle a few metres below you.
Explore the site → - 17
Komodo, Indonesia
Batu Bolong
A rock in a racing current, covered in coral and turtles on every side.
Explore the site → - 18
Komodo, Indonesia
Castle Rock
A submerged seamount where reef sharks hunt the fish balls in the current.
Explore the site → - 27
Sulu Sea, Philippines
Tubbataha Reefs
A UNESCO-listed atoll reached only by liveaboard, with sharks on pristine walls.
Explore the site → - 28
Malapascua, Philippines
Monad Shoal
The dawn dive where thresher sharks come up to be cleaned.
Explore the site → - 70
Koh Tao, Thailand
Chumphon Pinnacle
Koh Tao’s big pinnacle, with barracuda, groupers and the odd whale shark.
Explore the site → - 71
Koh Phangan, Thailand
Sail Rock
A lone rock in the Gulf of Thailand with a vertical chimney to swim up.
Explore the site → - 72
Koh Lanta, Thailand
Hin Daeng
The “red rock”, covered in red soft coral, in the Andaman Sea.
Explore the site → - 74
Similan Islands, Thailand
Elephant Head Rock
Granite boulders and swim-throughs, with ghost ribbon eels in the cracks.
Explore the site → - 75
Similan Islands, Thailand
Koh Bon
A ridge in the Similans known for manta ray encounters in season.
Explore the site → - 76
Phuket, Thailand
King Cruiser
A car ferry that sank in 1997 between Phuket and Phi Phi, now full of fish.
Explore the site → - 77
Koh Tao, Thailand
Twins
Two coral boulders on sand, the most-logged dive site in our data.
Explore the site → - 78
Coron, Philippines
Akitsushima
A WWII Japanese seaplane tender, one of the famous wrecks of Coron Bay.
Explore the site → - 79
Moalboal, Philippines
Pescador Island
A tiny island with walls, a cathedral cave and turtles all around.
Explore the site → - 80
Moalboal, Philippines
Moalboal Sardine Run
Millions of sardines in one shoal, a few fin kicks from the beach.
Explore the site → - 81
Negros, Philippines
Apo Island
A community-run marine sanctuary where green turtles graze the shallows.
Explore the site → - 82
Malapascua, Philippines
Kimud Shoal
A deep shoal off Malapascua where thresher sharks and hammerheads pass.
Explore the site → - 83
Gili Islands, Indonesia
Shark Point, Gili Trawangan
Turtles and whitetip reef sharks on a drift off the Gilis.
Explore the site → - 84
Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
Tulamben Drop-off
A volcanic wall beside the Liberty wreck, rich in lionfish, frogfish and macro.
Explore the site → - 85
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Blue Magic
A Raja Ampat seamount with wobbegongs, reef sharks and passing mantas.
Explore the site → - 86
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Melissa’s Garden
Hard coral gardens as far as you can see, one of Raja Ampat’s most loved reefs.
Explore the site → - 87
Komodo, Indonesia
Cannibal Rock
Cool, plankton-rich water in south Komodo, covered in sea apples and life.
Explore the site → - 88
North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Bunaken
Vertical walls in a marine park, with turtles resting on every ledge.
Explore the site → - 98
Yonaguni, Japan
Yonaguni Monument
Giant stone terraces under the sea, and a mystery divers still argue about.
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Indian Ocean
- 10
North Ari Atoll, Maldives
Maaya Thila
A small thila ringed by white-tip and grey reef sharks, famous at night.
Explore the site → - 30
North Ari Atoll, Maldives
Fish Head
A protected thila where grey reef sharks circle schools of fusiliers.
Explore the site → - 31
Baa Atoll, Maldives
Hanifaru Bay
The bay in a UNESCO biosphere where manta rays gather to feed in the monsoon.
Explore the site → - 73
South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Kuda Rah Thila
A Maldives pinnacle of coral and soft corals, ringed by reef sharks.
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Pacific
- 04
Palau
Blue Corner
Hook in on the edge and watch grey reef sharks ride the current.
Explore the site → - 20
Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
SS President Coolidge
A 200 m liner you can dive from the beach, full of jeeps, guns and chandeliers.
Explore the site → - 29
Palau
German Channel
A channel cut through Palau’s reef where manta rays come to feed and be cleaned.
Explore the site → - 32
Rangiroa, French Polynesia
Tiputa Pass
Ride the tide into the lagoon with dolphins, grey reef sharks and barracuda.
Explore the site → - 68
Maui, Hawaii, USA
Molokini Crater
A half-sunken volcanic crater off Maui, with whitetip reef sharks on the back wall.
Explore the site → - 69
Kona, Hawaii, USA
Garden Eel Cove
The Kona manta night dive: manta rays feeding in your lights.
Explore the site → - 99
Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia
Shinkoku Maru
A WWII tanker in Truk Lagoon, overgrown with coral and anemones.
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Americas
- 05
Lighthouse Reef, Belize
Great Blue Hole
The giant sinkhole seen from space, with stalactites and Caribbean reef sharks.
Explore the site → - 21
Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Alcyone
A seamount off the most remote island in the Pacific, with walls of hammerheads.
Explore the site → - 22
Galápagos, Ecuador
Gordon Rocks
A sunken crater in the Galápagos with hammerheads, eagle rays and sea lions.
Explore the site → - 23
San Cristóbal, Galápagos
Kicker Rock
A split volcanic rock where turtles, hammerheads and sea lions share the channel.
Explore the site → - 24
Revillagigedo, Mexico
Roca Partida
A lone rock in the Pacific where giant mantas glide past silvertip sharks.
Explore the site → - 25
Revillagigedo, Mexico
The Canyon, San Benedicto
Giant oceanic mantas and hammerheads at a volcanic island’s cleaning stations.
Explore the site → - 26
Malpelo Island, Colombia
Malpelo
A remote Pacific rock with hundreds of hammerheads and silky sharks.
Explore the site → - 33
Cozumel, Mexico
Palancar Gardens
Gentle drift through coral towers and swim-throughs on Cozumel’s best-known reef.
Explore the site → - 34
Cozumel, Mexico
Santa Rosa Wall
A drift along a deep Caribbean wall with eagle rays, turtles and nurse sharks.
Explore the site → - 35
Cozumel, Mexico
Punta Sur – Devil’s Throat
A deep cave swim-through on Cozumel’s southern tip, for experienced divers.
Explore the site → - 36
Salt Island, British Virgin Islands
RMS Rhone
The 1867 Royal Mail steamer that starred in the film The Deep.
Explore the site → - 37
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
USS Kittiwake
A former US Navy rescue ship sunk as a reef, shallow enough for every diver.
Explore the site → - 38
Little Cayman, Cayman Islands
Bloody Bay Wall
One of the Caribbean’s great walls, dropping into the blue from a few metres down.
Explore the site → - 39
Bonaire
Hilma Hooker
A drug-running freighter that sank in 1984 and now lies on its side, full of tarpon.
Explore the site → - 40
Bonaire
Salt Pier
Light beams through pier pillars covered in sponges, with tarpon and turtles.
Explore the site → - 41
Bonaire
1000 Steps
Bonaire’s classic shore dive: down the stairs and straight onto the reef.
Explore the site → - 42
Key Largo, Florida, USA
USS Spiegel Grove
A 155 m navy ship sunk off Key Largo, with barracuda and goliath groupers.
Explore the site → - 43
Key Largo, Florida, USA
Christ of the Abyss
The bronze Christ statue standing on the reef in shallow water.
Explore the site → - 44
Key Largo, Florida, USA
Molasses Reef
One of the most-dived reefs in the Florida Keys, easy and full of fish.
Explore the site → - 45
Riviera Beach, Florida, USA
Blue Heron Bridge
A shallow shore dive under a bridge that is a legend for macro life.
Explore the site → - 46
Pensacola, Florida, USA
USS Oriskany
The “Great Carrier Reef”: an aircraft carrier sunk on purpose in 2006.
Explore the site → - 47
Key West, Florida, USA
USNS Vandenberg
A 159 m missile-tracking ship sunk as a reef in the Gulf Stream.
Explore the site → - 48
Grand Bahama, Bahamas
Tiger Beach
Shallow sand where tiger, lemon and reef sharks come close.
Explore the site → - 49
Cuba
Jardines de la Reina
A protected archipelago with silky sharks, groupers and untouched Caribbean reef.
Explore the site → - 50
Ambergris Caye, Belize
Hol Chan Marine Reserve
A reef cut where nurse sharks and stingrays swim right up to you.
Explore the site → - 66
Carmel, California, USA
Point Lobos
Cold, green kelp forest with seals and sea lions for company.
Explore the site → - 67
Catalina Island, California, USA
Casino Point
A kelp dive park right off Avalon, bright with orange garibaldi.
Explore the site → - 100
La Paz, Mexico
Los Islotes
A sea lion colony in the Sea of Cortez where the pups come to play.
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Europe & Atlantic
- 19
Larnaca, Cyprus
Zenobia
A whole ferry on her side, lorries still on the decks, in the Mediterranean.
Explore the site → - 59
Gozo, Malta
Blue Hole, Gozo
A natural rock pool that opens through an arch into the Mediterranean.
Explore the site → - 60
Gozo, Malta
Inland Sea
Swim from a lagoon through an 80 m tunnel in the cliff out to open sea.
Explore the site → - 61
Malta
Um El Faroud
A 110 m tanker scuttled off Malta’s cliffs, one of the Mediterranean’s best wrecks.
Explore the site → - 62
Ċirkewwa, Malta
P29
A patrol boat sitting upright on sand, a shore dive from Ċirkewwa.
Explore the site → - 63
Lanzarote, Spain
Museo Atlántico
Europe’s first underwater museum, with angel sharks among the statues.
Explore the site → - 64
El Hierro, Spain
El Bajón
A volcanic pinnacle in the Mar de las Calmas reserve, crowded with groupers.
Explore the site → - 65
Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Spain
Playa Chica
The Canaries’ favourite shore dive, with seahorses, cuttlefish and angel sharks.
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Africa
Australia & NZ
- 08
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
SS Yongala
A 1911 shipwreck turned into one of the richest marine habitats in Australia.
Explore the site → - 91
Exmouth, Australia
Navy Pier
A military pier near Ningaloo whose pylons are crowded with sharks and fish.
Explore the site → - 92
South West Rocks, Australia
Fish Rock Cave
A cave right through an island, with grey nurse sharks at the entrance.
Explore the site → - 93
Byron Bay, Australia
Julian Rocks
A marine reserve off Byron Bay with turtles, wobbegongs and leopard sharks.
Explore the site → - 94
Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef
Cod Hole
Where potato cod as big as a diver come to say hello.
Explore the site → - 95
Coral Sea, Australia
North Horn, Osprey Reef
An oceanic reef in the Coral Sea famous for its shark encounters.
Explore the site → - 96
Northland, New Zealand
Poor Knights Islands
Arches, caves and rays in New Zealand’s best-known marine reserve.
Explore the site → - 97
Cavalli Islands, New Zealand
Rainbow Warrior
The Greenpeace ship bombed in 1985, now an artificial reef.
Explore the site →
Which one is next?
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