
Where in the World?
Our guide to some of the top dive locations on the planet and the best time to be thereLooking for inspiration? Want to know where you should go diving to see the things on your bucket list? Look no further. Grab a coffee and take a look through our guide to some of the best dive locations on the planet and the best time to be there. Give us a call, or drop us an email, to get a detailed itinerary and cost for your next dream holiday.
1. FRENCH POLYNESIA
What to see: Humpback Whales and Sharks
When to go: All year round (driest Mar-Nov)
Why we like it: Stunningly beautiful islands and a diver’s paradise with pristine reefs and abundant marine life. Schooling sharks are common all year round but for humpback whales you need to be there from August to October.
See our French Polynesia page for more information.
2. GUADALUPE ISLAND
What to see: Great White Sharks
When to go: July to November
Why we like it: Best place in the world to see great white sharks in clear waters. July to August is the season for juvenile male great whites, joined by huge pregnant females from late August through to November.
See our Guadalupe Island page for more information.
3. SOCORRO ISLANDS
What to see: Mantas, Humpbacks & Hammerheads
When to go: November to July
Why we like it: Remote and adventurous, Socorro offers unforgettable encounters with majestic oceanic manta rays, schooling hammerheads, silkies and whale sharks. Best time for Humpback whales is between January and March.
See our Socorro Islands page for more information.
4. SEA OF CORTEZ
What to see: Bull Sharks, Whale Sharks & Sea Lions
When to go: All year round
Why we like it: This is a 700 mile body of water with something to offer everyone, including playful sea lions all year round, whale sharks at Bahia from July to October and diving with bull sharks at Cabo Pulmo from September to December.
See our Sea of Cortez page for more information.
5. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
What to see: Whale Sharks and hammerheads
When to go: All year round (driest Jan-May)
Why we like it: Darwin’s enchanted islands – see marine iguanas, sea lions and penguins in the central islands all year round. Head up to Darwin & Wolf during May to December for pregnant whale sharks and schooling hammerheads.
See our Galapagos Islands page for more information.
6. COCOS ISLAND
What to see: Silkies, Tiger Sharks & Hammerheads
When to go: All year round (driest Jan-May)
Why we like it: This is the shark diving capital of the world! A remote, isolated island surrounded by deep ocean and home to thousands of sharks. Fabulous all year round but best time for schooling hammerheads is June to December.
See our Cocos Island page for more information.
7. YUCATAN PENINSULAR
What to see: Cenotes Caves, Reefs & Whale Sharks
When to go: All year round (driest Nov-May)
Why we like it: Crystal clear water cave systems, illuminated by dappling sunbeams, are fabulous to dive all year, but Yucatan is great too for whale sharks (from June to September) and bull sharks (from December to March).
See our Yucatan page for more information.
8.BAHAMAS
What to see: Tiger Sharks & Great Hammerheads
When to go: All year round (driest Nov-Apr)
Why we like it: Shallow sandy banks and turquoise waters with pods of spotted dolphins all year round. Dive with tiger sharks at Grand Bahama between October and June, and head to Bimini for great hammerheads from December to April.
See our Bahamas page for more information.
9. ST. HELENA
What to see: Whale sharks
When to go: All year round (best Jan-Apr)
Why we like it: Incredibly remote and one of only a handful of known locations around the world where whale sharks gather to breed. Best time to see them is Jan-Apr. Also great for humpbacks here between Jun-Dec.
See our St. Helena page for more information.
10. SOUTH AFRICA
What to see: Shark Diving and the Sardine Run
When to go: All year round (regional variations)
Why we like it: Unrivalled destination for big animal diving. Breaching great whites in False Bay (Jun-Sep), tiger sharks on Aliwal Shoal (Nov-May), bull sharks at Protea Banks (all year) plus the adrenalin-fuelled Sardine Run (May-Jul).
See our South Africa page for more information.
11. MAFIA ISLAND
What to see: Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales
When to go: June to March
Why we like it: The sea around Mafia is rich in plankton, attracting large numbers of whale sharks from September to February. Humpbacks are also seen during August and September as they head for warmer waters to breed and calf.
See our Mafia Island page for more information.
12. MADAGASCAR
What to see: Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales
When to go: All year round (driest May-Oct)
Why we like it: The rainforests and topside wildlife of Madagascar are well-known to all, but less known is the great diving to be had here. Head to Nosy Be for humpback whales from Jul-Sep and whale sharks from Sep-Nov.
See our Madagascar page for more information.
13. MALDIVES
What to see: Whale Sharks and Manta Rays
When to go: All year round (driest Jan-Apr)
Why we like it: A unique chain of coral atolls offering superb diving on reefs that teem with life. Whale sharks and manta rays can be found all year round as they migrate around the islands with the change of seasons.
See our Maldives page for more information.
14. SIMILAN ISLANDS
What to see: Whale Sharks and Manta Rays
When to go: November to April
Why we like it: A chain of stunning granite outcrops, the Similan Islands offer varied reef diving, with leopard sharks, turtles and shovel-nose rays. Best time for whale sharks and manta rays is from late January to May.
See our Thailand page for more information.
15. KOMODO NATIONAL PARK
What to see: Critters, Mantas and Dragons
When to go: All year round (best Jun-Oct)
Why we like it: Komodo offers colourful reef walls harbouring exotic marine life, critter diving in remote black sand bays and huge black manta rays in Manta Alley. Topside scenery is equally stunning, with walks to see Komodo Dragons.
See our Komodo page for more information.
16. PHILIPPINES
What to see: Threshers, WWII Wrecks & Critters
When to go: All year round (wettest May-Oct)
Why we like it: For World War II wrecks visit Coron and for reef walls try Tubbataha Park (May-June only). For a fantastic mix of reefs and critters choose Anilao, Dumaguete, Bohol or Malapascua, which also has resident thresher sharks.
See our Philippines page for more information.
17. BUNAKEN ISLANDS & LEMBEH STRAIT
What to see: Reef Walls and Incredible Critters
When to go: All year round (wettest Jan-Mar)
Why we like it: A superb combination holiday and much loved by divers with cameras. Combine the stunning reef walls of the Bunaken Islands with the thrill of seeking out rare and exotic critters in the bays of Lembeh Strait.
See our Manado page for more information.
18. RAJA AMPAT
What to see: Pristine Reefs, Pygmies and Mantas
When to go: October to April
Why we like it: Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat boasts the highest number of marine species on Earth. Expect superb diving here with everything from pygmy seahorses and critters to sharks and manta rays.
See our Raja Ampat page for more information.
19. PALAU
What to see: Blue Holes, WWII Wrecks and Sharks
When to go: All year round (driest Feb-Apr)
Why we like it: Palau has everything to offer, from steep drop-offs and Blue Holes to World War II wrecks. Manta rays and sharks mate during April and May and incredible mass spawning events occur each Full and New Moon.
See our Palau page for more information.
20. YAP
What to see: Manta Rays and Sharks
When to go: All year round (driest Nov-May)
Why we like it: One of the most well-known destinations to observe manta rays visiting cleaning stations. But Yap is not just about mantas – this is also a superb place to see large schools of sharks patrolling the outer reefs.
See our Yap page for more information.
21. TRUK LAGOON
What to see: World War II Wrecks
When to go: All year round
Why we like it: The most famous destination for historic World War II wrecks. There are over 55 wrecks, including ships and planes, scattered throughout the calm waters of Truk Lagoon. Average dive depths are between 25m-45m.
See our Truk Lagoon page for more information.
22. PAPUA NEW GUINEA
What to see: Critters, Wrecks & Remote Reefs
When to go: All year round (best May-Nov)
Why we like it: Wild and largely unchartered, PNG is the epitomy of adventurous travel. Pristine reefs with abundant marine life, World War II wrecks and dazzling critters makes this one of the top dive destinations on the planet.
See our Papua New Guinea page for more information.
23. FIJI
What to see: Sharks and Rainbow Coloured Reefs
When to go: All year round (best Apr-Oct)
Why we like it: Fiji’s island archipelago offers a variety of diving with dazzling soft corals in Somosomo Strait, bull and tiger sharks in Beqa Lagoon, channels and pelagics in Bligh Water plus the remarkable Namena Marine Reserve.
See our Fiji page for more information.
24. TONGA
What to see: Swimming with Humpback Whales
When to go: All year round (driest May-Nov)
Why we like it: One of the few places in the world where you can legally and responsibly snorkel with humpback whales. These beautiful creatures gather in Tongan waters to breed and calf during the months of July to October.
See our Tonga page for more information.
Ready for your next adventure?
Great Escapes Diving Holidays Ltd
Combs Tannery
Tannery Road
Combs
Stowmarket
Suffolk
IP14 2EN
United Kingdom
Office hours: Mondays to Fridays, 9am - 5pm
Tel: 01449 535010
Email: info@greatescapesdiving.com

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLcertificate



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