The UNESCO World Heritage site of Tubbataha in the Sulu Sea might ring a bell with well-traveled divers, but the Philippines are one of the least visited yet one of the most worthy dive destinations in the world. Located north of Malaysian Borneo and Indonesia, the 7,107 islands in the Philippine archipelago offer a number of top-rated dive areas in addition to Tubbataha, which is only accessible between March and June, including other remote areas such as Apo Reef and Coron, which are only accessible by live-aboard. There is plenty of excellent land-based diving, such as Apo Island which is accessible from Dumaguete and is where shoals of jacks and giant parrotfish are often seen in addition to large pelagics.
Sri Lanka is an island nation south of India in the Indian Ocean. Its diverse landscapes range from rainforest and arid plains to highlands and sandy beaches.
Dive sites in the Forgotten Islands are in the Banda Sea and are particularly noticeable for the crystal clear blue sea, deep walls and huge sponges. The stunning walls of the Banda Sea are beautiful and healthy due to the isolation of these areas.
Located at the crossroads of the Equatorial Counter current and the colder Humbolt Current, the waters surrounding Galapagos island are rich with nutrients that attract whales, sharks, dolphins, sea lions and numerous other big animals.
Papua New Guinea's epic diving in the areas including Milne Bay, Kimbe Bay and the Solomon Sea offer divers a diversity of diving experiences that few, if any, other destinations can match.
