10 April 2024
No other place on Earth is as rich and varied in marine life as the "Coral Triangle", which is part of the Asia and the Pacific region. It covers Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Australia.
The Indo-Pacific comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean and the seas connecting the two. African diving is here.
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Caribbean • Central America • Europe • The Gulfs • Mediterranean • North America • Red Sea • South America
New Zealand now has its own section: for the up-to-date reports go to New Zealand Diving.
| Indonesia Dive Sites |
Indonesia now has its own section: click here for Indonesia Diving.
East Timor now has its own section: click here for East Timor Diving.
Dive Sites • Dive Operators • Further Reading
| East Timor Dive Sites |
East Timor is South-East Asia's newest nation and a new destination for diving. Whilst the border region with West Timor may be troublesome, Dili and areas further East are generally safe.
"Totally unspoilt diving - couldn't wish for more - sharks, turtles, millions of fish, giant squid, rays, abundance of living coral. Only need to swim out from shore about 5 metres before you hit the drop off round the island - and this slopes gently to about 40 m, and then straight down to about 2 km! Also great diving around 10 m mark - so air lasts for ages. More fish species here than anywhere else in the world. Living coral like I have never seen. Divers paradise. "
Gemma Steel
Dili Rock
Reviews: 
"Shore Dive. Slope to drop off.. garden eals, Frog fish, leaf scorpian fish and more.... one of the closer dive sites to Dili. "
Kathy
"Closest of all dive site. I was told this was the training dive site. Although not as fantastic as the rest of Timor with a good guide this is a great close dive. "
Brett Edwards
Secret Garden, Dili
Reviews:
"Fantastic dive when the tide is in as there is a 40 m surface swim. With the tide out its a little harder in the shallows. But well worth the effort. Another great Site in Timor...Has to be visited. "
Kathy
"A lovely gentle dive. You should only dive this site at high tide as you may damage coral at low tide. "
Michael Lym
Cave, Dili
Reviews:
"30 m Cave on 100 m wall...Everything everywhere...got to see it to believe it. "
Kathy
Big Fish, Atauro Island
Reviews:
"Great fast deep dive. Thousands of pelagics and sharks. One wild ride. "
Mick Daffy
"Deep Dive on Atauro island. Great dive with strong current. The highlight is the large schools of pelagics and sharks. Great thrill rush dive. Good guides and safety needed. "
Nathan
"Awesome "
Chris, 2012
Oecussi
Reviews:
"Freedom and peaceful "
Chris, 2012
Manta Cove
Reviews:
"Cove dive in smooth waters. Huge 80 m wall with great overhangs and amazing reef and marine life. "
Mick Daffy
"Calm wall dive with great reef and wild over hangs. Best time to dive around 2 pm as the shadows make for a great effect for photos. No mantas on my dive but everything else. "
Nathan
"Bite in the corner of a cliff. Great wall dive with many over hangs and no current. Deep or shallow this wall dive has it all. Must dive from boat. "
Brett Edwards
Bar Stool
Reviews:
"Great wall dive with huge amount of fish and Jurassic size corals. Can have a wicked current too. "
Mick Daffy
North Point, Atauro Island
Reviews:
"Wall dive that ends on a sand flat bottom with sharks gallore. Great dive with the best vis i have seen (40 m easy). "
Nathan
"Great clear water dive at the tip of Atauro Island. Great wall dive that opens up to flat sand bottom with small coral outcrops. Great for sharks. "
Brett Edwards
"We wanted to dive at Atauro, and Kim from Compass Charters was very helpful...On the journey to Atauro we saw dolphins and whales – our skipper carefully steered the boat so we could watch them as long as possible. The diving at Atauro is excellent - the coral is in beautiful, undamaged, pristine condition and visibility was approximately 25 meters."
David Johns, Australia, 4 March 2013
" A whole island of walls, currents, pelagics and critters. Untouched for thousands of years "
Brett Edwards
Jako Island
Reviews:
"Small island at the east end of the country. The best diving I have ever seen. Clear calm water with so many fish and untouched reefs. "
Brett Edwards
East of Dili
Reviews:
"20 dive site within 40 km of the capital. From wall to muck to amazing reefs. Easy access via car. "
Brett Edwards
One Tree (Lone Tree)
Reviews:
"Easy dive, swimming along sloped dive wall, huge turtle, great scorpion fish, "anenome city", good sandy patch to hover and watch the world swim by."
Gemma Steel
| East Timor Dive Operators |
Compass Charters, Ave. Dos Martires Da Patria, Palapaso, Dili, Timor Leste (our office is located in the Tiger Fuels Complex). Tel: (+670) 77230967, E-mail: kym@dtceasttimor.com, Web: compassadventuretours.com/
Reviews:
(2)
"We wanted to dive at Atauro, and Kim from Compass Charters was very helpful. We contacted them in Dili one day, and they were able to organise to take us by boat to Atauro the next day (they need 3 divers as a minimum number). The diving is run by an Australian couple, with a Timores First Mate, and they were great to dive with. The boat that we went out to Atauro on is a powerful, safe, (ex-US embassy) boat. On the journey to Atauro we saw dolphins and whales – our skipper carefully steered the boat so we could watch them as long as possible. The diving at Atauro is excellent - the coral is in beautiful, undamaged, pristine condition, and visibility was approximately 25 meters. The diving instructors are extremely competent - they gave a safety briefing before we departed Dili - and they are relaxed and friendly, and provided a tasty lunch. A great day."
David Johns , Australia, 4 March 2013
"Just had a fabulous experience diving off Atauro Island and east of Dili in East Timor with Compass Charters. Professional, good equipment, careful dive briefings and good company. The diving itself was amazing with almost perfect viz. So much coral and so many fish all in a small area, water was a perfect temperature and absolutely no one else around!! Highly recommended."
Jan T, Australia, 4 March 2013
Dive Timor Lorosae, Dili, East Timor. Tel: (+670) 7237092, E-mail: dive@divetimor.com, Web: divetimor.com/
Five years experience in the country. Full time PADI instructors, 3 dive vessels and two dive centres.
Reviews:
"Dive Timor Lorosae has to be Timor's premier dive centre. With purpose built dive vessels (with seats) full time staff (rare in Timor) and professional and friendly staff, it's easy to see why Dive Timor Lorosae has established themselves as the leaders in this undiscovered country. Their boat is a purposed built dive vessel that is made especially for Timor. The hour trips in Timor mean you need a seat on the trip. Worth the price at around 125 USD you get your money's worth. Best diving I have seen to date. Will be coming back in the new year. "
Mick Daffy, UK, 2005
"Dive Timor Lorosae is without doubt the premier dive centre in East Timor. Located right on the beach (and having two dive centres) these guys are the friendly, professionals you expect to find in the diving game. I would dive with these guys every time. The boat is great. Heaps of room and with seats. All boat dives take about 1 hour to get to so comfort is needed. Be careful the other dive operators (if they have boats) don't have seats! I stayed next to the dive centre is these massive rooms that cost about 30 USD a night. Great value and location. Boat dives are around 125 USD with everything included. Gear, lunch, drinks and guides. The day is from 9am till 5pm with whale watching dolphin watching and heaps of other water activities. Well worth the cash - but ask for a discount! The diving would have to be the best I have seen. So untouched and remote. These guys have been doing it for 5 years so they really know how to look after you. "
Nathan, 2005
"Dive Timor Lorosae is by far the most experienced and professional company within in this new dive destination. With the only fleet of dive vessels that are comfortable and safe DTL is the way to go if diving in East Timor. A twin dive was 100 USD including everything, gear, tanks, lunch, drinks and whale/dolphin watching. Good price for what you get. Probably one of the best dive areas i have been to. Lots to see and so close. More fish than divers. The night life is a little slower but great food. "
Brett Edwards, 2005
Explore Timor, Dili - Tel: (+670) 725 5382, E-mail: info@exploretimor.com
Reviews:
"Explore Timor are a new operation in Dili East Timor. All the equipment is brand new from the ground up...A refreshing change, need I say more...I would dive with them again. Very well run and great attitude from all the staff. Very good value for money. different packages for different people...the more we dived the cheaper it got. And it was cheap with the FREE rooms. They are basic with A/C but it is all i needed. The staff there would do anything. Carry tanks wash your gear...you name it...Some places in my experience in Timor will not even help you off load your car after a days diving. "
Kathy, Washington DC
FreeFlow Diving, Dili - Tel: (+670) 332 1187, E-mail: dive@freeflowdiving.com
Reviews:
"FreeFlow Diving were excellent. The owner/divemaster knew the dive sites very well. He has done over 3000 dives in East Timor already! The cost was very competitive compared to the rest of Asia. I would definately dive with FreeFlow again. And I didn't have to carry my equipment from the car afterwards. FreeFlow arranged all my accommodation for me and my party. Very efficient. The food provided by FreeFlow was outstanding. My girlfriend is vegan and she said the meal was better than she could have prepared herself. "
Michael Lym
| Further Reading |
Timor-Leste (East Timor): Country Guide
Includes 32 dive sites. 176 pages, 2011.
| Brunei Dive Sites |
Cement Wreck
"A fabulous wreck dive with mostly great visibility. The bottom being at 30 m you can on a good day see the wreck from the surface. Fabulous to 'fly' through the bridge etc. "
Michael Eades
Brunei in General
" Poor viz from river run off in close dive sites. The one dive shop there was not good - saw the instructor (who owned the shop) stand on coral to demonstrate mask clearing. The owner also anchored straight onto pristine coral with no care. Few diving facilities and not really a place for a full on diving holiday. "
Sarah
Dive Sites • Dive Operators • Further Reading
| Papua New Guinea Dive Sites |
"I have lived in New Guinea for 15 years. 3 of those years I have spent diving in the waters around New Guinea, in the that short time I have seen 5 major ship wreaks 7 WWII bombers fully intact and enough coral and wildlife to fill up the continent of Asia.
Most diving operators are PADI and Australian. There are all sorts of marine life ranging from clown fish to tiger sharks. I went to a dive sight called coral head, there where sharks everywhere, at one point I saw six at once, they came with in ten feet of me, most are harmless and are reef sharks, but there was a shark that circled me, it looked about 7 feet.
There are wrecks from all over the world in new guinea, one ship I dived was 32 meters under, but the mast was only 5 meters below the surface. It was a cargo ship from WWII it was about 45 meters long. There are many places around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands that are excellent for seeing blob-headed clown fish, schools of 400 barracuda, sea turtles, sharks: the fish come in ever colour in the world.
There is one dive that I did called the gates...two massive coral pillars that form the sides of a long wall underwater. When the tide goes out all the water is sucked through the gates which are forty metres high, when the tide comes back in all the sea life comes to feed on the plankton, and then the larger predators come to feed on the sea life it is an awesome sight. If I were to count the sea life individually, I would say, at the Gates, there was about fifty million fish. No joke. Despite what rumours you have heard about New Guinea, it is really a friendly and secure place if you go to the scuba places. There are a few that I will name for you, Coral Sea's Resort, Kevieng (New Ireland Province), Jasoben, Madang (Madang Provence), Hoskins (West new Britain). "
Nick Murray
Rabaul
"Rabaul has a reputation for wrecks, particulalry WW2 wrecks. Well, I just wanted to let people know that I have recently come back from a trip to Rabaul and found it a little disappointing. To put this into context, whilst I have not dived Truk, I have dived a fair few of the WW2 wrecks in the Solomon Islands and Coron, Philippines. Back to Rabaul: because the volcano is still smoking, it is dropping ash into the harbour which is close by, so many of the wrecks are quite silty and vis can be poor. In addition, because of seismic activity, it is inadvisable to penetrate many of the wrecks in the harbour. This is a great shame, because there are many good sized wrecks around. My vote for best wreck goes to the Manko Maru, followed by the Italy Maru, both of which are a short boat ride in the harbour. Outside the harbour, George's wreck was not bad either. Hope this helps divers thinking about their next wreck diving foray.
Iona Hill
Inglis shoals
"Many hammerheads, silver tip sharks, whale sharks, bait ball etc. schooling jacks etc.
Scubajack
Albatross Passage, Kavieng
"This is a great and relatively shallow drift dive - around 23m. When the current is running, this attracts lots of sharks, from white and black tipped reef sharks to the bulkier grey reef sharks. You have to be careful not to get swept down the passage, which would be a bit annoying, but there is a permanent mooring line to latch on to when ascending and doing safety stops. This really is a shark divers dream - I was totally "sharked out" after three dives here. "
Iona Hill
"Unbelievable fish life, especially on a current."
Jennifer Dachroeden
Observation Point
"Great for small critters. Mimic octopus, pegasus moth fish, seahorses, etc."
Jennifer Dachroeden
Echuca Patch, Kavieng
"A real adrenaline dive. You can get 2 dives in one, depending on how vicious the current is and so where yoou jump in: there is a ship wreck at the edge of a finger shaped piece of coral. You can descend to see the boat first and then head for this area of coral where there is usually a fast running current. Here you usually see lots and lots of BIG fish, ranging from Spanish Mackerel, tuna, trevally, to all the usual reef sharks. You do need to hunt out a piece of dead coral to hold on to as the current here can be pretty racy, but is at least one permenent mooring line to help with descents and ascents. "
Iona Hill
Joel's, New Britain
" Diving off the coast of New Britain, this reef has something for everyone who likes reef diving. A wall, large sponges, anenomes/anenome fish, unicorn fish, plenty of cleaning stations, sharks in the large variety, blind shrimp and gobies, soft coral and a plethra of reef usuals for PNG. "
Jerry Hamberg
Kilibob's, Fathers Reef Area, New Britain
"Resident sharks, clams, anenomes,cuttle fish, ocotpus, eels, stone fish, scorpion fish, hard and sort corals, feather stars, anthias and PNG reef usuals like pyramids, triggers, batfish, angels, ect. "
Jerry Hamberg
| Further Reading |
Diving Papua New Guinea
World Adventure Dives
See also: Irian Jaya (West
Papua)
Vanuatu has it's own page - Diving Vanuatu
Dive Sites • Dive Operators • Further Reading
| Dive Sites |
The President Coolidge
The SS President Coolidge, launched in February 1931, was a luxury ocean liner. She broke several speed records on her trips to Japan from San Francisco. During World War II she became troop carrier for the American Army. In 1942 she hit mines on the way into Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. All but two of the men got safely off the ship before she sank. She now lies on her side between 17 and 70 m, bow to stern.
The President Coolidge is fully protected by law and both it and the surrounding seabed has been designated a Marine Reserve. The wreck is huge and needs several dives to do it justice.
"The best wreck dive - fantastic! The President Coolidge off Santo, northern Vanuatu, was a WW2 luxury liner. It was commandeered by the US navy and fitted out as a naval ship. Unfortunately, it bumped into one of its own mines and now we dive it. (There was no loss of life.) I dived with Alan Powers December 2001 - there are 3 dive operators, Alan Powers and Aquamarine plus 1 other Pro Dive?? Safety is hugely important as it is such a deep dive. First dive is a check out dive to see how you are to around 30 m. If you are comfortable, then it's 2 dives a day and deeper and deeper if that is what you want. The engine room and one of the dining rooms are about 47 m, the promenade deck is about 33 m, the mosaic lined swimming pool - weird -is about 50 m It's a fabulous dive, as, if you are suitably qualified, you can penetrate certain parts of the wreck - the best wreck! There are long deco stops, which if you dive with Alan Powers you can spend in their transplanted coral garden and try and blow better bubbles than Twami. Mind you, this is not a good dive site if you are heavy on air! "
Iona Hill
"The world's largest accesible wreck. Even as a shore dive! Starts at 8 metres dropping off to 70 metres. Total penetration. Swim through the holds to see American WWII jeeps still in their crates! "
Chris Wardle
"Especially a night dive with the flashlight fish with no lights - one of the most other worldy experiences on the planet - beats drugs hands down!! What a beautiful beast the old girl is looming up out of the sand. "
Ray Kloss
"Awsome, I cant give it justice by writting about it, Just do it :) "
Phill Slater
"Enormous wreck, so much to see with a great coral garden providing entertainment during the deco stop "
Matt Jackson, UK, 2012
"Full penetration, deep deco diving, historical artifacts, easy access shore dive. "
Heath
| Dive Operators |
| More Details... |
Please go to the Fiji Diving page in our Pacific section.
Find a flight to.Fiji Dive Sites • Fiji Diving Operators • Further Reading
| Dive Operators in Fiji |
Aboard-a-Dream Dive, Suva, Zentral, Fiji
Scuba Bula, P.O. Box 2748, Nadi, Fiji. Tel: +679 6280190, E-Mail: info@scubabula.com
Ovalau Watersports, Box 149 Levuka, Ovalau, Fiji. Tel: (+679) 344 0166, E-mail: dive@owlfiji.com
Tokoriki Diving,
Tokoriki Island Resort,
PO Box 10547,
Nadi Airport,
Fiji.
Taveuni Dive, Taveuni Estates, P.O. Box 89, Taveuni Island, Fiji. Tel: (679) 8880063, E-mail: info@taveunidive.com
Fiji Diving, Matangi Island Resort, Fiji. E-mail: info@matangi-island-fiji-resort.com
AquaBlue, Wailoaloa Beach, PO Box Box 9168, Nadi Airport, Fiji. Tel/Fax: ++ 679 6726111, E-mail: info@aquabluefiji.com
Aqua-Trek, , PO Box 10215, Nadi Airport, Fiji
Tel: +679 670 2413, Fax: +679 670 2412, E-mail: info@aquatrekdiving.com
"Very very professional, especially with handling and explaining sharks...well done." Clee, Netherlands
| Further Reading |
Fiji, Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guide
Fiji's Wild Beauty: A Photographic Guide to Coral Reefs of the South Pacific
New Caledonia is an island to the East of Australia, governed by France. Citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the USA can enter without a visa. New Caledonia claims the world's second biggest coral reef. Getting there from Europe means either flying from France, or flying from the UK to Eastern Australia and getting an onward flight from there. North American flights go from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Vancouver. All international airlines land at Tontouta International Airport, 45 km north-west of Noumea. From mid-November to mid-April the weather is warm and humid, the coolest months are July and August. Average maximum temperatures vary from 22 oC to 28 oC (71 oF to 82 oF). The cyclone season runs from December to March.
| Dive Sites |
Cathédrale , Hienghène , New Caledonia
"A series of walls, tunnels, canyons for an incredible atmosphere and an underwater photographer paradise. Some walls covered with gorgonians and all the usual tropical indo pacific marine life. The best dive site in New Caledonia, on the second biggest barrier reef in the world and one of the world best kept secret diving destination. "
Romain Michallet, 7 July 2015
Noumea, Boulari pass
"The minimum to be expected to see in South-Pacific can be observed during the first ten minutes: multicolored tropical fishes, huge triggerfishes, tunas, banks of carangs and phosphorescent corals. In the following fifteen minutes, local specialities have been observed in drifting dive: a big mother loach, some small black-tipped and white-tipped sharks (a metre fifty maximum), some grey sharks (two metres fifty maximum) and a big tortoise at a distance within ten metres. With that, one already can be satisfied and it is what Gérald was thinking whereas they were crossing a rather beautiful coral platter but with no more surrounding fauna: "And here we are, it is finished ... Not bad at all!". But suddenly, appearing from the deep blue end of the platter, two manta rays, the biggest one of about three / four metres in width, came quietly on them, swam over them and left. Fantastic! But they turned back and came closer and stay about 10 minutes with them, playing so close that half of the divers have been able to caress them (It is not good! But difficult to refrain from it!). Extraordinary! "
Gérald
| Further Reading |
Pronounced nyu-way, Niue has less than 2000 inhabitants. It is in the South Pacific, east of Tonga.
"Recently visited Niue Island on recommendation from a friend that had previously visited and found the place a treasure. It has the most amazing water visibility and excellent cave dives with a diverse array of marine life. Have already booked for 2008 with a couple of other friends. Check out www.niueisland.com. Not a lot of people have heard of this little island but its worth the trip despite arriving at 3 am in the morning. Have to go thru New Zealand to get there and flights are only once a week. Apparently the island gets less than 2000 visitors a year. "
Macey Rauruina, 2007
Whales from Antarctica visit the relatively warm, crystal-clear waters of Tonga to give birth. Brightly coloured, with dark tops and white bellies, the Antarctic humpback whales arrive from July through to September. You can see these from a liveaboard.
Maldives Dive Sites • Maldives Dive Operators • Maldives Underwater Photos • Maldives Further Reading
Diving The Maldives is now in its own section. Please go to the latest Maldives information.
French Polynesia Dive Sites • French Polynesia Dive Operators • Further Reading
| Dive Sites |
"Fast drift dive though the pass with schools of grey sharks, bottlenose dolphins, rays, and even the great hammerhead shark! Out-of-this-world vis. "
Renee Capozzola, 19 November 2012
"I'm diving instructor, I've been in many dive location around the world, and believe me, the Tuamotu is unbelievable and there is not only Rangiroa and Fakarava, at least 10 other atolls have great dive spots with pristine warm waters. Open water is enough to come here, you're allowed to go 29m with this cetification. Let's go diving French Polynesia ! ;-)"
Serge Renault, 2011
"It helps to understand French - at least enough to understand diving terms and instructions. Not as many fish as in the Red Sea, but lots of Black and White Tip Reef Sharks. However, avoid Tahiti. For serious diving go to Rangiroa - one of the world's largest atolls with loads of sharks."
Matthew Moore
Rangiroa
"Two passes full of pelagic fauna like 10 different kind of sharks, school of dolphins, manta rays, turtles, barracuda, sail fish, eagle rays... "
Serge Renault, 2011
Awatoru Pass, Rangiroa
Rangiroa means endless sky.
"Great visibility (60 m at least), different kinds of sharks (from hammer to reef sharks) and hundreds of them, eagle rays, turtles, moray eels, very nice current (approxm. 2-3 m/s!!) and dolphins on surface before jump - experience for all my life!"
Einari Talviste, Estonia
Tiputa Pass, Rangiroa
Tiputa Pass is famous for its large animals: grey reef sharks, turtles, manta rays, dolphins, barracuda and others. The pass is one of two entrances to an enormous interior lagoon, and you need to dive on an incoming tide. The season runs from February until November, but September is the best time for sharks.
"Similar to Awatoru pass. We dived five days in these two sites and even during all those dives we could jump and jump in again - it's difficult to imagine something better. "
Einari Talviste, Estonia
"If you are interested in large pelagic animals, this is THE place. It can be done at various depth. Around 45-50 m there is ALWAYS a large number of big sharks of a variety of species. I dove 3 times there; I had dolphins playing at my side each time (mostly near the surface)."
Mario Giordano
"Drift dives (strong current, 5-6 knots). Grey, blacktip, whitetip, silvertip and hammerhead sharks. Manta rays, eagle rays, napoleon fish, barracudas, jackfish and many others. Water visibility among 60 metres. Fantastic dives! "
Enrico Conte
South Pass, Fakarava
"The south pass is definitively easy to dive, and incredibly rich in diversity. Wall of grey sharks, amazing unspoiled corals with a huge density of reef fishes... "
Serge Renault, 2011
"A truly amazing experience. Normally a drift dive through 18-30m with the Wall of Sharks with numbers of Reef Grey, Black Tip and the occasional Tiger and Silver "
Stewart Henderson, 2017
Garuae Pass, Fakarava
"Not as demanding as the Tiputa pass of Rangiroa (and not as amazing), but a great dive. Lots of large schools of big fish; large pelagic animals (tuna, shark, mantas), many very friendly white tips at the ebottom. As in most places in Polynesia, the most amazing thing is how close animals get to you."
Mario Giordano
Tumakohua Pass, Fakarava
"Put Palau dive sites to shame. In one dive I saw some hundreds grey reef sharks patrolling the pass (with the occasional white tip and silver tip). It's a jaw dropping dive spot even for someone like me who's not particularly keen on sharks. Corals are also in very good shape contrary to Tiputa in Rangiroa."
Roberto Spanghero, 2018
"Magnificent drift dive and over benches of several dozens of grey sharks."
Gerald Semenjuk
Fitii's Pass, Huahine
"Grey sharks, leopards rays, tortoise and big napoleons."
Gerald Semenjuk
| Further Reading |
Lonely Planet: Diving and Snorkelling Tahiti & French Polynesia
Bikini's name derived not from the bathing suit, but from the Marshallese language. It means surface of coconuts. Comprised of a ring of little islands, in 1946 Bikini had 167 inhabitants. The military governor of the Marshall Islands told them that their land was needed for the good of mankind. They were moved, several times, to different islands. None of which gave them the environment to be self-sustaining. They were briefly moved back to Bikini but the high radiation there resulted in miscarriages and genetic abnormalities in the children. In 1975 they sued the U.S, were awarded $75 million in damages and the creation of a $90 million trust fund to pay for medical expenses, cleanup and to give each islander about $550 per year.
"Bikini Atoll is a great place to dive world war 2 ships wrecks and the shark pass.
Berman Lirok Caleb, September 2016
"Once you get to the Marshall Islands there's nothing to do BUT dive. Regardless, it is the best diving I have EVER experienced, even better than Palau. Reason being that you could go to 4 different atolls have 4 completely different yet equally as amazing dive experiences in each. Jaw dropping coral in Arno, eery WWII wreck dives in Bikini Wotje, massive eagle rays in Rongelap, sea turtles sharks in Ailinglaplap, etc. etc. etc. I lived there for a year, and so, got to experience more than the average vacationer. However, despite the cost time it takes to get there, the RMI is more than worth it. I, personally, was blown away."
Alisha
An American aircraft carrier which after the second World War became surplus to requirements. She became part of Operation Crossroads - a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in the summer of 1946. Its purpose was to investigate the effect of nuclear weapons on naval ships. Baker was detonated 90 feet (27 m) underwater. The Saratoga and 11 other crafts were sunk.
The wreck of the Saratoga lies between 12 and 50 m. She is upright and in good condition with abundant sea life. A great dive - voted one of the best wreck dives in the world.
Crossroads Baker nuclear weapons test, 26 July 1946. The Saratoga, to the left of the picture, is being lifted out of the water. She sank later that day.
"US carrier, WWII. Sunk at Bikini atoll after war by Baker H-bomb test. Completely loaded when it was sunk. Bombs all over the place. About 160' to the sand. Best wreck anywhere.
Paul Ludwick
"Amazing aircraft carrier on Bikini Atoll, with huge amounts of historical history with lots to explore
Michael Jonkhoff
"Japanese battle ship sunk at bikini atoll. Largest superstructure I've ever seen, by a long shot. 170' to the sand.
Paul Ludwick, January 2019
"This place must be the hard coral capital of the world! Enormous corals, anemonies, nudibranchs, WWII wrecks. There used to be lots of sharks, but the Chinese are illegally fishing them. I know because we caught and reported a boat shark fishing inside the atoll. Very hard to visit, no dive operation there. We went on an expedition trip. No tourist facilities. No restaurants. One grocery store which had nearly no merchandise. We brought our food with us. There's only one guest house on the whole atoll which sleeps 8 with 2 bathrooms. No hot water. Hotplate cooking in the kitchen. Very rustic. I'd go back there in a heartbeat.
KC Skinner, USA
"Beautiful gorgonians at 24-30m. Unfortunately the area is overfished and lacks large fish, however, the corals are excellent, with many scorpionfish sp. and other macro life.
Adam Jennings, March 2019
Cook Islands Dive Sites • Cook Islands Dive Operators • Cook Islands Accommodation
| Truk Lagoon Dive Sites |
"All the Truk dives are amazing
C.D. Tyler, 16 January 2019
Fujikawa Maru
"Picture perfect shipwreck - awash with coral and sea life. Each of the five holds offer exciting finds, however the highlight for me was the massive engine room which occupies the midships area, taking up 3 floors.
Andrew Murray
"Magnificent wreck with cargo of Zero fighter planes in one of her holds and heaps of artifacts. Brilliant dive
Paul A Chesterman, Australia, 2013
Nippo
Maru
Reviews:
"Deepish dive, fully intact upright shipwreck. Water visibility is good and many shark often frequent the ship. Excellent penetration opportunities for the trained diver. "
Andrew Murray
"Another excellent wreck has a small Japanese battle tank on the deck. Penetration of this ship is a fantastic experience "
Paul A Chesterman, Australia, 2013
San Francisco Maru
Reviews:
"75 year old "million dollar" wreck with deck at 165'. Three small Japanese tanks still on the deck, gun mounted on bow, trucks and mines lining the front hold. Top of mast at 100' and densely covered with a variety of sealife. "
Jim, 14 May 2019
"Very Deep but a great dive for the untouched undamaged wreck that sits there. "
Brad, Australia, 13 September 2016
"Tanks on the deck and other armaments, sunk during the US raid on the Japanese supply fleet after The destruction of Pearl Harbour, extremely photographic in warm water, sitting upright, a must see. "
Jackie Bone-George, Australia, 1 July 2013
Japanese feeded ships.
"I penetrated 6 of the Japanese feeded ships. All eeire and in surprisingly good condition. Lots of amo, and parts to feed a war. The penetration was the best Ive done (Even better then Thistlegorm). We went deep into the belly of some of the ships. What an experience. Huge Barricuda hanging aroiund on our exit. The ultimate wreck dive experience!!!! Do it!! "
Brendan
| Truk Lagoon Dive Operators |
Truck Lagoon Dive centre
"What a great dive experience, what a great place to relax. I spent 5 days in Truck Lagoon Dive centre. Good people, good food, good centre but best of all - great diving.
Brendan, 2011
| Further Reading |
World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon
The diving at Palau is so good we have given it its own page. Please go to our new Palau Diving section.
| Dive Operator and accommodation |
The Pathways Hotel, 718 Pathways Lane, Colonia Yap FM 96943. Tel: 691-350-3310 or 3309, Fax: 691-350-2066, E-mail: PathwaysRes@mail.fm
A small family owned and operated ecolodge offering diving.
The tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to May.
| Dive Sites |
Grand Central Station, Solomon Islands
"Loads of fish, sharks, tuna, everything all at once - couldn't see the surface of the water there were so many fish. "
Grant
Baracuda point, Mary Island, Solomon Islands
"Cliff face dive with one of the largest bigeye travally schools ever seen. Baracudas, grey reef sharks and tuna. "
Richard Banks, 2019
Tulagi Island, lava tubes
"Depth of 35m to descend to the bottom of lava tubes. You then exit through a opening at approx 35m, circle the reef and slowly ascend. Spotted a Manta ray throughout the dive. Amazing. "
Shayla Osborne, 2017
Kastom shark cave, Munda, Solomon Islands
"Got it all: walk in, drop down 10 mins through cave onto wall "
Ian Gilding, 2014
Toa Maru, Gizo, Solomon Islands
"55 minutes of penetration. Tons of life, Japanesse tanks."
Kyle Folden, May 2016
Gizo, Solomon Islands
"This area has got the best all-round diving I've ever done. Walls, pelagics, lots of big stuff - sharks, mantas, schools of eagle rays, a great wreck, several plane wrecks and no crowds . "
Frank Curran
Shark Point, Solomon Islands
"Enter in what seems like open sea to hit a 1 km deep wall and cruise along in the company of giant leatherbacks, huge pelagics, black, white and grey tips, plus a few oceanic white tips and hammerheads. The best feeling I've ever had."
Luke, 2006
Hot Spot, Solomon Islands
"More fish species than I realised existed, let alone had ever seen."
Luke, 2006
Uepi, Tulagi, Solomon Islands
"Solomon Islands, deeper dive, destroyer sitting upright on the sand, largely intact as she sank very quickly in the battle for Guadacanal in WW11, penetration possible for the properly trained and experienced."
Jackie Bone-George, Australia, 2013
"Tiny Island on the edge of the worlds largest lagoon. Clearest water, best visibility, friendliest staff. Highlight was diving with hammerheads."
Zac Sarnecki
USS Aaron Ward, , Solomon Islands
"Deep and those guns, wow "
Ian Gilding, 2014
Bella Bella, Munda, Solomon Islands
Reviews:
"Silvertips that chase you away, make the turn and you will see 20 ft gorgan fans, sponge corals hanging down 120 ft. Light shinning through the trees make this dive site one of the best ever "
Kyle, 2011
Shooting Gallery, Solomon Islands
Reviews:
"Dive into huge crevaces and experience crayfish propelling themselves in all direction. Imagine a hundred crayfish going in every direction at high velocity. It is something to see."
Kyle, Canada, 2011
| Solomon Islands Dive Operators |
Dive Munda, Solomon Islands
"Dive Munda is located in Munda, Solomon Islands,inside the Hotel Agnes Lodge. 190 au$ or 1520 SBD$ for 2 dives and all equipment rent. They didn't really let me choose what kind of dive to do. I went with 3 locals, nice BUT JUST. It was a 2 dives trip from 9am till 1 pm with an hour stop in a beautiful little island. I WOULDN'T DIVE WITH THEM AGAIN, MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER PLACES AND NOT REALLY PROFESSIONAL... OLD GEARS TOO. "
Marco, Italy, 2011
Further Reading Solomon Islands...
A commonwealth in political union with the United States, comprises 15 islands.
| Dive Sites |
Wing Beach, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
"The best shore dive you'll ever make. Deep cut gorges, giant moai-shaped pillars, giant arches. An amazing dive, only feet from the shoreline. "
Robert, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Cambodia now has its own page on the site - for updated information please see the Cambodia Diving Section.
Dive Sites • Dive Operators • Accommodation • Further Reading
| Cambodia Dive Sites |
Many of the dive sites around Cambodia are as yet completely undived. New ones are found virtually every week. There is a lot of hard and soft coral virtually untouched, the usual collection of reef fishes and an enormous variety of macro-life. The diving around the islands closer to shore (2 hours) reflects this and tends to be fairly shallow (10-15 m max). Further out there are deeper pinnacles, wrecks and a greater number of pelagics and larger fish.
The cost for diving is around US$70 per day (2 dives) for a day trip, including equipment and food. A two-day liveaboard with 5 dives, costs around US$195.
Diving Vietnam has moved to its own page. Please visit our Pacific section for the full low down on diving Vietnam.
| Further Reading |
The Rough Guide to Vietnam, by Jan Dodd, Mark Lewis, Ron Emmons , 2006.
The traditional diving season is from November to April. May is low season when the rainy season starts. As in many places though, the rains over the past few years have come later so May can be a good time to go. Prices and crowds are both lower then.
Thirteen species of whales and dolphins visit Sri Lanka. Unique snorkelling expeditions take place on the west coast (Colombo region) from November through April.
| Dive Sites |
Hikkaduwa
"I dived in Hikkaduwa with Poseidon Diving Station and would definitely recommend the area and the centre. There are some great wrecks, ranging from 1750-1900's, a mixture of steam and sail boats. There is also a chance to see intact soft corals on some of the deeper dives. Sri Lanka is a beautiful and friendly country with some great places to visit and tasty food. "
Dianne Wilkins
HMS Hermes
Reviews:
(2)
"9 April – World War II: Japanese Navy launches air raid on Trincomalee in Ceylon (Sri Lanka); Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier HMS Hermes is sunk off the country's East Coast. She was the world's first ship to be designed and built as an aircraft carrier.Commissioned in 1924, Hermes served briefly with the Atlantic Fleet before spending the bulk of her career assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet and the China Station.Most of the survivors were rescued by a nearby hospital ship although 307 men from Hermes were lost in the sinking. The ship lies in 53 m of water in clear warm water on its port side and is intact. Teeming fish life. "
Ben Reymenants, Belgium, 11 September 2012
HMS Hermes, The Royal Navy aircraft carrier, sinking after Japanese air attack in 1942.
| Sri Lanka Dive Operators |
Taprobane Divers
No. 344/2 Weeranagaraya
Trincomalee
31000 Sri Lanka
Telephone: +94 (0) 712576821
taprobane.divers@gmail.com
Taprobane Divers offer fun diving for certified divers and a range of PADI courses from complete beginner to advanced technical diving. Their equipment, imported from the United Kingdom, comprises Scubapro, Aqualung and Cressi as well as Hollis and OMS for technical diving.
Taprobane Divers
69/1 Porutota Road (aka Beach Road)
Daluwakotuwa
Negombo
11500
Telephone: +94 (0) 712576821
taprobane.divers@gmail.com
| Further Reading |
| Pakistan Dive Sites |
Charna
Reviews:
"It's an Island which is a great diving spot for divers who would like to see different species of corals and well as marina line such as Green Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, Barracuda and many more. Each dive spot around the Island is different and the landscape is beautiful. Some of the life that had been found is White sharks, Barracuda, Swordfish, Sailfish, Great Hammerhead Shark, Black Marlin, Green Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, Dolphins as well as Blind River Dolphins and many many more. It's a great place to dive, but if one wants to dive the window of opportunity is from end of September till the end of March. In the off season the dive site can not be accessed as the sea get very rough and the viz becomes nill. "
Aatif Malik, Indus Scuba
| Pakistan Dive Operators |
Indus Scuba
C-23
Small Bokhari Commercial Street 5
Off Saba Avenue
Phase 6
DHA, Karachi
Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35243153
Fax: +92-21-35243163
E-mail: aatif@indusscuba.com
| Further Reading |
Coral Reef Fishes, Indo-Pacific and Caribbean , by Ewald Lieske and Robert Myers
For more on diving India please see our new India Diving Section.
| India Dive Operators |
Lacadives, Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep
India
Tel: +91 22 66627381/2
E-mail: lacadives@gmail.com
lacadives.com/
| Dive Sites |
Taiwan Dive Sites | Taiwan Dive Operators | Further Reading
| Dive Sites |
Green Island
Reviews:
"Green Island rivals any dive site in the Asia area. A bit of a secret."
John Boo
"Schooling Scalloped hammerhead sharks during winter and 30m vis + a couple of great wrecks"
Andy Gray, Owner, Taiwan Dive.
Orchid Island
Reviews:
"Orchid Island down from Green Island is just like Green Island."
John Boo
"40 m vis all year round with abundant marine life, outstanding corals and a great wreck dive."
Andy Gray, Owner, Taiwan Dive.
Kenting
"Kenting in the south has over 40 shore and boat dives"
Andy Gray, Owner, Taiwan Dive.
Flower Garden Kenting
Reviews:
"Beautiful site filled with an abundance of soft corals in very good shape."
John Boo
NE Coast
"Has excellent diving including an U/W volcano [near Hualien], one of only 2 sites in the world."
Andy Gray, Owner, Taiwan Dive.
| Taiwan Dive Operators |
Fu-dog
Reviews:
232 Nanwan Rd, Kenting.
"Price is very competetive." John Boo
U-Dive Scuba Taiwan
Baisha, Kenting, Taiwan. Tel: 0913388065. E-mail: john@udive.com.tw
Taiwan Scuba
Taichung City, Tel: 0923818469. E-mail: joe@taiwanscuba.com
English speaking guides and instructors. Regular PADI dive courses and fun diving trips into Southern Taiwan. Equipment sales and information.
Taiwan Dive
Tel: 0916 130 288 or 07 226 8854. E-mail: divingintaiwan@yahoo.com.tw
Run by English diver Andy Gray.
Green Island Diving
Green Island, off the south east coast of Taiwan.
E-mail: greenislandreservations@yahoo.com
Formosa Diving
Tel: 0956 300 103,
Skype: travellingziv, Mobile: +886-956-300103.
E-mail: dive@zivberin.com
"
I reside in Taipei city and run my dive training out of a club in Long
Tung - northeast - about 45minutes away from the city. I train OW through DM and have been doing so for 10 years with over 300
certified students. Am a trimix diver as well as a free diver.
Ziv Berin
| Japan Dive Sites |
Bonin Islands
Reviews:
"Some really remote island outside of Japan. Almost no non-japanese people do go there and that was good for me. Really unspoiled so far and so beautiful! "
Malin Olofsson, Sweden, 2011
| Further Reading |
Coral Reef Fishes, Indo-Pacific and Caribbean , by Ewald Lieske and Robert Myers
| Further Reading |
Taiwan (Lonely Planet Regional Guides S.)
We endeavour to keep this site as informative and current as possible. If you would like to recommend, or warn about, a particular dive or diving location we'd love to hear from you.
