Best Scuba Diving Locations in Asia for 2026: Six Must-Dive Destinations

1) Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Spread across a sprawling archipelago off West Papua, Raja Ampat is often synonymous with biodiversity. Nutrient-rich currents funnel through channels to feed hard and soft coral gardens teeming with reef fish. Expect everything from pygmy seahorses hiding in sea fans to swirling fusilier schools and frequent reef shark patrols. What sets Raja apart is the density and variety of life across short distances: a gentle slope one dive, a current-swept pass the next, and a sheer wall after that.

• Signature experiences: Current-kissed drifts through channels, bommie-hopping for schooling fish, and macro hunts for rare nudibranchs.
• When to go: Generally best from October to May, though diving is possible year-round with shifting conditions.
• Good to know: Many marquee sites are easiest to access by liveaboard. Intermediate comfort with currents is a plus.

2) Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock, Thailand

Thailand’s Andaman coast blends ease of travel with memorable underwater topography. The Similan Islands deliver granite boulder mazes, swim-throughs, and reefs with excellent visibility in season. Nearby, Richelieu Rock rises from deep water as a horseshoe-shaped pinnacle famous for schooling fish and regular pelagic cameos. The variety here makes it a superb choice for mixed-experience groups, with plenty of gentle sites as well as more advanced drifts.

• Signature experiences: Boulder gardens, vibrant soft corals, schooling trevally and barracuda, and occasional manta or whale shark sightings.
• When to go: Peak conditions typically November through April; marine parks usually close during the monsoon.
• Good to know: Day boats, overnight trips, and liveaboards all operate here—choose based on how deeply you want to explore.

3) Sipadan, Malaysia

Perched on a volcanic seamount off Sabah, Sipadan is legendary for its vertical wall dives and biomass: turtles glide past in numbers, barracuda form living tornadoes, and bumphead parrotfish thunder through at dawn. Sites transition quickly from shallow reef to steep drop-offs, giving that “blue water” feeling even a few fin kicks from the boat. Strict permitting keeps daily diver numbers limited, preserving the experience.

• Signature experiences: Wall dives with vertigo-inducing blue, turtle traffic on most immersions, and schooling pelagics.
• When to go: Generally strongest in late spring through early summer for calm seas and clear water.
• Good to know: Permits are limited—book accommodations and dive slots well in advance.

4) Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Komodo’s famed dragons share the limelight with some of Indonesia’s most action-packed diving. Where cool and warm currents collide, reefs explode with life: manta trains circle cleaning stations, reef sharks cruise the edges, and mackerel and trevally blitz baitballs in the passes. In a single itinerary you can tick off adrenaline drifts, protected coral gardens for macro, and sea mounts that fire when the tide flips.

• Signature experiences: Manta cleaning stations, brisk channel drifts, sea mounts, and hard coral fields.
• When to go: Largely March to November, with seasonal shifts dictating which sector shines brightest.
• Good to know: Some sites feature strong, variable currents; a reef hook and excellent buoyancy control are invaluable.

5) Okinawa & the Kerama Islands, Japan

South of Japan’s main islands, Okinawa and the nearby Kerama group offer crystalline water, healthy reefs, and distinctive volcanic topography—arches, caverns, and steep walls draped in pastel soft corals. You’ll find a different species mix than equatorial Southeast Asia, plus seasonal spectacles. Winter brings passing humpbacks offshore; summer often sees manta activity around favored cleaning zones, alongside turtles and schooling reef fish.

• Signature experiences: Caverns and swim-throughs, high-viz reefs, turtles on shallow ledges, and seasonal manta encounters.
• When to go: Late spring through early autumn for warmest seas; humpbacks pass in winter months.
• Good to know: Water can be cooler than tropical Southeast Asia—pack appropriate exposure protection.

6) Bohol (Panglao, Balicasag, Pamilacan), Philippines

Bohol slots perfectly into an Asian dive itinerary thanks to reliable conditions, a convenient airport on Panglao, and a spectrum of sites suited to both new and seasoned divers. The diving in the Philippines is spectacular. Balicasag’s steep walls brim with schooling jackfish and turtles, while nearby reefs deliver macro treasures like flamboyant cuttlefish, shrimp gobies, and decorator crabs. Pamilacan’s reefs and channels add chances for rays and passing pelagics when currents line up.

• Signature experiences: Wall dives with schooling jackfish, turtle encounters, and vibrant macro on sheltered reefs and muck patches.
• When to go: Diving is possible year-round, with visibility and sea state improving outside peak monsoon periods.
• Good to know: Mix easy morning reefs with afternoon walls and a night dive to sample Bohol’s full range in a short stay.

How to Choose Among These Six for 2026

Each destination above earns its place on a best-of list for different reasons. If you’re chasing the highest biodiversity per dive, Raja Ampat is hard to beat. For a blend of accessibility and big-name sites, Thailand’s Similans and Richelieu Rock are ideal. Sipadan offers that bucket-list wall-dive drama and schooling pelagics; Komodo brings raw current energy and manta encounters; Okinawa/Kerama injects geological variety and a distinctive species cast; and Bohol provides a balanced portfolio with top-tier walls, macro, and easy logistics.

• Skill level & currents: Raja Ampat and Komodo reward confident drift divers, though both have protected sites. Sipadan’s walls are straightforward but can be deep; plan your profiles. Bohol and the Similans have ample beginner-friendly options, and Okinawa operators cater well to a range of experience.
• Trip style: Liveaboards excel in Raja Ampat and Komodo for range and flexibility. Land-based hubs shine in Bohol, Okinawa/Kerama, and Thailand, and can be paired with short overnighters to reach farther sites. Sipadan typically involves staying on nearby islands with day trips to the park.
• Seasonality: The Similans are strongly seasonal (dry-season prime). Raja Ampat peaks when transitional winds calm the seas. Komodo’s highlights migrate with monsoon patterns. Bohol and Okinawa/Kerama offer broader windows but with local weather nuances. Build your itinerary around these rhythms first, then layer in goals like mantas, macro, or walls.
• Permits & protection: Sipadan limits daily permits; book early. Marine parks across Asia enforce rules that protect reefs—study operator guidance and keep your dive group streamlined and low-impact.

A Sample 2026 Itinerary Threading the Highlights

Start north and work south, or vice versa, to catch the best seasons. One example: open in Okinawa/Kerama for high-viz reefs and dramatic rock formations; hop down to Sipadan for iconic walls and turtle traffic; swing east to Komodo for current-charged manta action; continue to Raja Ampat for the biodiversity crescendo; head west to Thailand for the Similans and Richelieu Rock’s photogenic pinnacle; and close out in the Philippines on Bohol’s walls and macro playgrounds. This zigzag balances big-animal highs with macro meanders and keeps transfer legs reasonable if you plan smartly.

Practical Planning Tips for Asia Diving in 2026

• Book core permits and liveaboards early: Sipadan permits and popular Raja/Komodo itineraries sell out months ahead.
• Pack for currents: Reef hooks, SMBs, and audible signaling devices are prudent in drift-heavy areas.
• Mind your exposure protection: Tropical waters vary; Okinawa can be cooler, and thermoclines pop up even in Indonesia.
• Balance macro and wide-angle: Bring both lens options or plan rental gear; you’ll want flexibility from Balicasag’s schools to Komodo’s mantas to Raja’s critters.
• Build in rest days: Allow buffer for weather, off-gassing before flights, and the occasional non-diving excursion—dragon trekking in Komodo, island-hopping in Bohol, or beaches in the Similans.

With timing, permits, and training dialed in, these six destinations can deliver a year’s worth of underwater memories in one trip. Choose the blend that matches your style—walls and pelagics, macro and muck, caverns and coral gardens—and 2026 will be your best dive year yet.