Destination Field Guide
Water conditions, marine life, and must-dive sites — everything you need to plan your next expedition.
Egypt
3 dive archives · El Gouna, Marsa Alam, Hurghada, Sataya Reef, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Marsa Nakari, Sataya Reef
Water Conditions
22–30°C depending on season; summer visibility exceeds 30m; winter brings thermoclines at depth
Marine Life
Oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerheads, grey reef sharks, spinner dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, hawksbill turtles
Must Dive
Elphinstone Reef (oceanic whitetips), Sataya dolphin reef, Daedalus seamount, SS Thistlegorm wreck
Tanzania
2 dive archives · Zanzibar, Stone Town, Mafia Island, Pemba, Nungwi, Mnemba Atoll
Water Conditions
25–29°C year-round; southeast monsoon (Jun–Oct) brings best visibility (20–30m) on the protected west coast
Marine Life
Whale sharks, hawksbill and green turtles, spinner dolphins, humphead parrotfish, manta rays, humpback whales (Aug–Sep)
Must Dive
Mnemba Atoll no-take zone, Mafia Island whale shark aggregation, Pemba Channel walls, Chole Bay
Indonesia
3 dive archives · Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida, Sanur, Labuan Bajo, Komodo Island, Rinca, Bali, Labuan Bajo, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Banda Sea
Water Conditions
26–30°C in most regions; Komodo runs cold (20–24°C) due to Indian Ocean upwelling; Raja Ampat 28–30°C year-round
Marine Life
Oceanic and reef manta rays, wobbegong sharks, whale sharks, pygmy seahorses, walking sharks, nudibranchs — the highest marine biodiversity on the planet
Must Dive
Raja Ampat's Misool and Dampier Strait, Komodo's Castle Rock and Manta Point, Banda Sea's pinnacles, Lembeh Strait for macro
The Maldives
3 dive archives · Omadhoo, South Ari Atoll, Fuvahmulah, Huvadhoo Atoll, Addu Atoll, Malé, Baa Atoll, Ari Atoll, Fuvahmulah
Water Conditions
28–30°C year-round, 15–40m visibility; northeast monsoon (Nov–Apr) brings the best diving conditions
Marine Life
Reef and oceanic manta rays, whale sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads, grey reef sharks, eagle rays, hawksbill turtles
Must Dive
Hanifaru Bay (mantas), Fuvahmulah (tiger sharks), Rasdhoo Atoll (hammerheads at dawn), Fish Head channel
The Philippines
3 dive archives · Dauin, Apo Island, Dumaguete, Malapascua, Kalanggaman Island, Cebu, Malapascua, Tubbataha, Coron, Cebu, Palawan
Water Conditions
26–30°C year-round; Malapascua thermoclines at depth; Tubbataha 25–28°C with 30–40m visibility in season
Marine Life
Pelagic thresher sharks, whale sharks, hammerheads, pygmy seahorses, mandarin fish, sea turtles, manta rays
Must Dive
Monad Shoal (threshers), Tubbataha Reef (UNESCO), Barracuda Lake in Coron, Apo Island marine sanctuary
Bonaire
4 dive archives · Lac Bay, Sorobon, Nikiboko, Kralendijk, Klein Bonaire, Lac Bay, Kralendijk, Washington Slagbaai, Karpata, Kralendijk, Klein Bonaire, Washington Slagbaai, Lac Bay
Water Conditions
27°C year-round, 25–40m visibility, minimal current — ideal for unlimited shore diving
Marine Life
Seahorses, frogfish, turtles, spotted eagle rays, and dense schools of blue tang
Must Dive
1000 Steps, Klein Bonaire's Hands Off, and the STINAPA coral restoration nursery at 8m
Curaçao
2 dive archives · Willemstad, Westpunt, Jan Thiel, Playa Lagun, Willemstad, Westpunt, Playa Lagun
Water Conditions
26–28°C year-round, 20–35m visibility — one of the most consistent dive climates in the Caribbean
Marine Life
Green and hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, seahorses, frogfish, and dense reef fish on every wall
Must Dive
Blue Room sea cave near Westpunt, the Mushroom Forest west of Willemstad, the Tugboat wreck at 5m, and any wall on the leeward coast after sunset
Italy
2 dive archives · Portofino, San Fruttuoso, Camogli, Portofino, San Fruttuoso, Camogli
Water Conditions
22–26°C in summer, 10–20m visibility, thermocline below 20m — typical clear Ligurian conditions
Marine Life
Giant grouper, conger eels, octopus, scorpionfish, sea bream, nudibranchs, and Corallium rubrum colonies
Must Dive
Il Cristo degli Abissi at San Fruttuoso, the red coral walls of Secca dell'Isola, and the Dry Dock wreck
Malta
3 dive archives · Victoria, Dwejra, Marsalforn, Valletta, Gozo, Comino, Dwejra, Valletta, Gozo, Comino
Water Conditions
16–27°C seasonal range; summer (Jul–Sep) peaks at 26–27°C with 30–40m visibility; thermoclines below 20m in spring
Marine Life
Barracuda, amberjack, grouper, moray eels, octopus, nudibranchs, Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
Must Dive
Blue Hole and Inland Sea at Dwejra, Um El Faroud wreck, HMS Stubborn, Comino's Cathedral Cave
Jordan
2 dive archives · Aqaba, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Aqaba, South Beach, Japanese Garden
Aqaba Diving
27km of Red Sea coast, intact reef from shore, Cedar Pride wreck at 25m, military wrecks — virtually no crowds
Wadi Rum & Petra
Rose-red city carved from sandstone cliffs, vast desert valley of pink rock and sand — both within a day's drive of Aqaba
Dead Sea
430 metres below sea level, the lowest point on earth — the salt concentration makes swimming impossible and floating effortless