Strap on your scuba set and grab that underwater camera – we’re about to plunge into the top dive sites on the planet.

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Yongala, Queensland, Australia

The best wreck dive on Earth sank and took 124 lives to the bottom of the Coral Sea off the coast of Ayr in 1911 after a tropical cyclone.

Where to stay: Grand Hotel Townsville

Townsville City Guide

Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

The epitome of shipwreck bliss resides halfway between Cairns and Honolulu in the wee Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea

The “Fertile Triangle” that links the the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea is flush with rare marine diversity. PNG and capital Port Moresby, let alone dive capital New Britain Island, is not the most accessible spot in the world but once there, the sky, scuba-wise, is the limit.

Perpendicular Wall, Christmas Island, Australia

With a depth of 50 m and a singular abundance of marine life, “The Perp” of Christmas Island is a once-in-a-lifetime spot for divers with confidence and hours of practice.

Tubbataha, Palawan, Philippines

Palawan is the pristine eco-jewel of the Philippines. No surprise then that the 12,189 km² island is a haven for avid underwater habitués. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one for the bucket list.

Where to stay: El Nido Resort Miniloc Island Palawan

Palawan Island Guide

North Horn, Osprey Reef, Australia

Osprey Reef is a popular underwater atoll for divers and, notably, sharks. The site off Queensland is accessible from the luxe Lizard Island Resort.

Middle Arch, Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand

The subtropical underwater gardens of Poor Knights Islands, 23 km off of Northland, lure scores from Whangarei to admire orange clown nudibranches, scorpion fish and Lord Howe coralfish.

Tiputa Pass, Rangiroa, Tuamotu Islands, Polynesia

Polynesia is a bona fide playland for fish and divers alike. No site is without charm but Tiputa Pass, a narrow channel that joins Rangiroa lagoon to the open ocean, is magnificent.

Discover more on French Polynesia holidays.

Wakatobi Archipelago, Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Maldives

The ultimate tropical island target has waters so aquamarine and iridescent it almost looks like a Weta Workshop special effect. It matters not at all which atoll you choose – from North Male to South Ari, conditions are rarely less than optimal in the Maldives.

Surin and Similan Islands, Thailand

The Surin and Similan Islands of Andaman Thailand serve up gems like Shark Fin Reef, Deep Six and Elephant Head Rock, where black tip, white tip and leopard sharks lurk in caves.

Liberty, Bali, Indonesia

The wreck of United States Army World War II Transport ship Liberty has made the tiny village of Tulamben a dive mecca in Bali.

Where to stay: Ocean View Dive Resort Tulamben Karangasem

Bali Island Guide

Cod Hole, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Enjoy the Great Barrier Reef while it lasts. Superlative, legendary dive sites like Cod Hole may yet vanish from the UNESCO World Heritage Site and foremost natural world wonder.

SS President Coolidge, Vanuatu

The luxury ocean liner and military ship SS President Coolidge was sunk by mines close to Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu in 1942. Divers who take the shallow plunge can navigate a largely intact vessel steps from the beach and see moray eels, lionfish, sea turtles and barracuda.

Yonaguni, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Thanks to a massive and unusual underwater rock formation discovered in the 1980s, Yonaguni Island, some 108 km from Taiwan, is a relatively new star in the dive world. Is the site natural or human-made? Nobody can tell with certainty … so far.

Where to stay: Ailand Resort Yonaguni

Grand Central Station, Gizo, Solomon Islands

Gizo, the capital of the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, features a dive site with a ferocious current, a depth of 50 m and, happily, a peerless concentration of fish.

Where do you like to dive in the world? Share your spots with us below!