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TravelTips24 :

Scuba diving in Asia

This article is a travel topic.

This page is an overview of scuba diving in Asia, primarily of dive destinations. Check individual destinations for operators and accommodation.

Destinations

India

Andaman and Nicobar

The untapped potential here is huge, but for now diving is centered around Havelock Island, and while it's great you leave satisfied yet hungering for what you didn't see but know is out there. As tourism on the islands increase massive amounts of new dive sites should start to appear.

Lakshadweep Islands

Dive sites at Lakshadweep are centered around Kadmat and Bangaram islands.

Goa

Goa is India's top dive destination, but mostly just because it's the easiest to get to: visibility is usually only 5-6m. Diving season is mid-October to mid-May.

Indonesia

Bali

Menjanan Island, Tulamben (USS Liberty wreck) and Amed located along the north shore, offer some of Asia's most pleasant and accessible shore diving through wrecks, walls and reefs. Divers visiting Bali often base themselves out of Lovina to access the sites.

Manado

Wall diving at Bunaken

Papua

Japan

The southern islands of Okinawa have great diving, but prices are steep: you can expect to pay upwards of $100 for two dives.

Okinawa

Miyako Islands

Yaeyama Islands

Manta rays, hammerheads and mysterious underwater ruins.

Malaysia

Perhentian Islands

Redang

Tioman

Splendid coral, fish, turtles and reef sharks off the Malaysian East Coast

Sipadan

Reef diving on a wall that descends 600m into the ocean

Maldives

Deep in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the entire country is built on coral reefs and has some of the best diving on the planet. Prices for accommodation and diving services are expensive, though, and currents can be strong on the outer reefs.

Philippines

Boracay

The most popular place in the Philippines to become certified. Quality beginner diving as well as a few good intermediate dive sites.

Sabang

(also commonly refered to as Puerto Galera) Macro (i.e. small life) heaven. Approximately thirty dive sites that feature a dazzling variety of small sea life with the occasional shark, ray and/or turtle. Several sites are drift dives and often turn into (strong) current dives with the best diving (for coral and small life) being at 20m or 60 feet.

Panglao

Home of the Alona Beach - A mix of relaxation and diving. Dive the islands of Balicasag, Cabilao and Pamilacan from here.

Thailand

Ang Thong National Marine Park

A short hop from Ko Samui islands Surat Thani Provincewebsite

Similan Islands

70 km due west of Phang Nga. Widely regarded as Thailand's best diving. Best accessed via liveaboard or a lengthy boat ride from Khao Lak

Ko Tao

Great for beginners and almost certainly Asia's most popular place to get certified from Ko Samui ,Surat Thani Provincewebsite

Krabi

Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, etc — less than 10 dive sites but most are certainly worth a visit with several sites rivaling the Similan Islands. All diving is located well off the coast, requiring a boat.

Pattaya

See: Diving in Thailand

Itineraries

See One month of Southeast Asian diving and culture for a possible trip.

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This page was last edited at 03:06, on 26 August 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by bornDistinction and Jani Patokallio, Wikitravel user(s) Cacahuate and Hypatia and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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