# 10 Best Scuba Diving Spots in Asia > We've rounded up 10 spots in Asia with the richest underwater worlds: reefs, unique ecosystems and crystal-clear water. Find out where to go for the perfect dive. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/10-naikrashchykh-mists-dlia-daivinhu-v-azii/ - Language: en - Published: 2024-09-28 - Categories: Beaches, Tours, Indonesia, Surfing & Diving, Swimming, Seas & Oceans --- They say we know more about the Moon than we do about our own oceans. That's probably complete nonsense. And in any case, the Moon is about as interesting as a cold, hard ball of rock drifting through empty space. The oceans, on the other hand, can captivate even the most cynical of aesthetes. But they're fragile. Human activity such as overfishing and pollution threatens an estimated 95% of the coral reefs in Southeast Asia, according to the World Resources Institute. Climate change is taking its toll too. Thailand's authorities have even closed off popular dive sites to give them a chance to recover from coral bleaching. Here's a tour of the 10 most stunning underwater dive sites in Asia, home to sharks, whales, sunfish and much more, along with a look at some of the threats they face. ## 1. Pulau Sipadan, Malaysia ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-1-2024.jpg) Pulau Sipadan is Malaysia's only oceanic island, and until 2002 it was the subject of a fierce territorial dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia. Many diving magazines rate it as one of the best dive sites in the world. Malaysia's government recently had to take action against coral thieves operating along the country's coastline. Pulau Sipadan has also fallen victim to coral bleaching in the past, a process most often triggered by changes in sea temperature that kills the coral on reefs and leaves it looking white and "bleached." One of the island's unique features is the Turtle Tomb, an underwater limestone cave with a maze of narrow tunnels and chambers holding the remains of green sea turtles that got trapped and drowned. ## 2. Similan Islands, Thailand ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-2-2024.jpg) The clownfish, a frequent visitor to the Similan Islands, is familiar to younger divers as "Nemo." The white sandy beaches, striking boulders and shimmering waters of the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea are perfect for a getaway. Their remote location and marine life, including manta rays, whale sharks, turtles and a myriad of other fish species, also make them a world-class dive destination. The archipelago's 11 islands became a protected Thai national park in 1982 and are safeguarded by strict laws. The islands are closed from mid-May to mid-October each year during the monsoon season, when the weather makes visiting them dangerous. Despite the protection, the government reports that local fishermen fish illegally during the monsoon season, damaging the fragile coral reefs. ## 3. Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan, Indonesia ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-3-2024.jpg) Stingless jellyfish are among the most unusual creatures you'll find in the seas around the Derawan Islands, which consist of four inhabited islands and two uninhabited ones off the east coast of Borneo. The jellyfish pictured here feed in Kakaban Lake on Kakaban Island. With no natural predators, the jellyfish have lost their defensive systems over thousands of years of evolution. As an enclosed environment, though, life in Kakaban Lake is under threat from excessive human activity, such as the use of outboard motors. ## 4. Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-4-2024.jpg) Made up of around 800 islands, the Mergui Archipelago is a largely uninhabited stretch of land hidden away from the rest of the world. Popular with adventurous divers, it offers massive boulders, caves, tunnels and steep drop-offs. Alongside sharks and manta rays, divers might encounter the red lionfish (pictured). Its showy frills conceal venomous spines along its back. The spines are used purely for defense. When hunting, lionfish rely on their quick reflexes to swallow their prey whole. While the Andaman Sea has escaped much of the overdevelopment, bleaching and nutrient loading that have affected other places around the world, trawling, longlining and blast fishing have taken a toll on the fish populations here. ## 5. Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-5-2024.jpg) Off the northwestern tip of Indonesia's West Papua province, the Raja Ampat Islands boast the highest recorded diversity of fish and coral on Earth. According to the Nature Conservancy, you can find an astonishing 537 coral species and 1,074 fish species here. To date, the islands have proven relatively resistant to coral bleaching and disease. They're believed to replenish other reefs with coral larvae. But overfishing, pollution and coastal urbanization threaten the reefs. The local government is working with agencies to protect the marine ecology while also supporting local livelihoods. The photo shows fusiliers, a common sight around Raja Ampat. These sleek fish move in sweeping zigzags at high speed and, seemingly, in perfect unison, making them a truly wonderful spectacle. ## 6. Andaman Islands, India ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-6-2024.jpg) The elusive ribbon eel is one of the colorful residents of the Andaman Islands. These fish can grow up to 50 centimeters long. They live alone in deep waters and feed on crabs, shrimp and sea snails. Feeding is helped by their vivid coloring, which camouflages them among the coral. To protect marine life, which includes large game fish such as black marlin and sailfish, India's government has banned commercial fishing around the 572 islands that make up the Andamans. ## 7. Komodo Island, Indonesia ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-7-2024.jpg) The diversity of marine life around Komodo Island ranges from sunfish, manta rays, dolphins and eagle rays to remarkable pygmy seahorses, delicate ghost pipefish and blue-ringed octopuses, making it one of the most varied and vibrant dive spots on the planet. In years past, dynamite fishing and an invasion of crown-of-thorns starfish severely damaged the reef system, and artificial electric reefs were introduced to help the coral recover. ## 8. Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-8-2024.jpg) The small fishing village of Tulamben is home to one of Bali's most popular dive sites. During World War II, a Japanese torpedo sank the USAT Liberty, a U.S. Army transport ship. The 120-meter wreck is now home to a variety of fish, such as batfish, angelfish, pufferfish and hawkfish. Fishing is banned in the area around Tulamben, and some resorts have voluntarily adopted environmental initiatives, but the number of visitors to the site, up to 100 divers a day at peak times, poses a potential threat. ## 9. Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-9-2024.jpg) The Kerama Islands are home to 76 dive sites and are relatively well protected thanks to a local community that has embraced both its natural ocean ecosystems and tourism. The Akajima Marine Science Laboratory on Akajima Island (population 300) was founded in 1988 and provides data and recommendations for all of Japan on the condition of its reef systems and the best ways to protect them. Cuttlefish (pictured) are among the many marine species you can spot around the islands, alongside larger creatures such as humpback whales and manta rays. Despite the name, cuttlefish aren't fish at all but mollusks, and they can change color quickly to camouflage themselves when danger is near. ## 10. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-99-10-2024.jpg) Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in the Philippines teems with marine life. Sharks, turtles and reef fish often gather around the atoll. The UN describes the area as a "pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-meter perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands." Because of shipping, marine pollution and oil exploration attempts that disrupt natural habitats, many species here are endangered. The hope is that a "buffer zone" around the most sensitive parts of the reef, along with more effective enforcement of laws against marine pollution, will improve the longevity of many of these threatened species.