10 Bucket-List Dive Sites You Need to Visit Before You Die
For divers, wanderlust is fueled by the pull of the unknown beneath the surface—reefs teeming with life, ancient wrecks, pelagic giants, and the sheer serenity of the deep. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned underwater explorer, this is your ultimate hit list.
These aren’t just great dive spots. They’re life-altering underwater adventures.
Let’s dive in…
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1. Raja Ampat, Indonesia
📍 West Papua, Indonesia
🐟 Biodiversity hotspot, healthy coral reefs, remote beauty
If the underwater world had a crown jewel, it would be Raja Ampat. Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, this remote paradise boasts over 1,500 species of fish and 500+ species of coral.
Why it’s special:
Pristine reefs untouched by mass tourism
Frequent manta ray encounters
Vibrant soft corals, pygmy seahorses, walking sharks (!)
Pro tip: A liveaboard is the best way to experience Raja’s far-flung sites like Misool, Dampier Strait, and Wayag.
2. The Great Blue Hole, Belize
📍 Lighthouse Reef Atoll
🌪️ Massive underwater sinkhole, deep dive lovers
A surreal sight from above and below, the Great Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole made famous by Jacques Cousteau.
Expect:
A descent into the abyss, complete with eerie stalactites at 130 ft
Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the depths
Pristine visibility and other-worldly vibes
Caution: This one’s for advanced divers due to depth and limited bottom time.
Silfra
3. Silfra Fissure, Iceland
📍 Þingvellir National Park
🧊 Dive between tectonic plates in crystal-clear glacier water
Forget coral and clownfish—this dive is pure geological magic. Silfra is the only place on Earth where you can dive between two continental plates—North American and Eurasian.
Why it’s unforgettable:
Unreal visibility: often over 100 meters
The water is meltwater from a glacier—filtered for 30+ years
It’s cold, but drysuits make it comfortable
Fun fact: You can literally touch two continents at once.
4. SS Thistlegorm, Egypt
📍 Red Sea, near Sharm El-Sheikh
⚓ Iconic WWII wreck, packed with history
The SS Thistlegorm is one of the most famous wreck dives in the world. A British cargo ship sunk by German bombers in 1941, it now rests at 100 ft, frozen in time.
What you’ll see:
WWII-era motorcycles, rifles, trucks, even a railway carriage
Massive schools of snapper and batfish
Penetration-friendly passages for wreck-certified divers
Tip: Combine with Red Sea reef dives like Ras Mohammed or Tiran Island.
5. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
📍 550 km off the Pacific coast
🦈 Pelagic heaven with hammerheads, whales & manta rays
Known as the “Little Galápagos,” Cocos Island is an absolute mecca for big-animal divers. Getting there requires commitment—over 30 hours by boat—but the payoff is unreal.
Expect:
Huge schools of scalloped hammerheads
Whale sharks, mantas, tiger sharks
Steep drop-offs and volcanic rock formations
Note: It’s a liveaboard-only destination, and for intermediate-to-advanced divers.
Great Barrier Reef
6. Yongala Wreck, Australia
📍 Queensland, Great Barrier Reef
🚢 Ghostly wreck with megafauna surprises
The SS Yongala sank in 1911, claiming 122 lives. Today, it’s one of the best-preserved wrecks in warm water, and a magnet for marine life.
Why divers love it:
Giant groupers the size of small cars
Turtles, sea snakes, and eagle rays
All the drama of a ghost story with the beauty of a reef
It’s a protected site, so no penetration diving—but there’s plenty to see outside.
7. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
📍 Wolf and Darwin Islands
🧬 Biodiversity above and below the waves
The Galápagos needs no introduction. Above water: blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises. Below: marine iguanas, penguins, hammerheads, and even mola mola (sunfish).
Top dive spots:
Darwin's Arch for hammerheads, dolphins, and whale sharks
Punta Vicente Roca for sea lions and macro critters
Gordon Rocks for strong current training
Warning: Galápagos diving is current-heavy and wild—best for confident, experienced divers.
Image by Carriezhang from Pixabay
8. Barracuda Point, Sipadan, Malaysia
📍 Off the coast of Borneo
🌀 Wall dive with massive barracuda tornadoes
Sipadan is the stuff of scuba dreams. Protected since 2005, it’s teeming with life thanks to its strong conservation laws.
Highlights:
Walls that plunge into the abyss
Huge barracuda schools in tight formation
Turtles, bumphead parrotfish, reef sharks
Fun fact: Only 120 dive permits are issued per day—book early!
Photo by Mike Swigunski on Unsplash
9. The Maldives (Ari Atoll, Fuvahmulah)
📍 Indian Ocean
🐳 Luxury liveaboards, pelagic thrills & spa days
With calm atolls and channels brimming with pelagics, the Maldives offers everything from whale sharks and mantas to reef serenity.
Why it’s a favorite:
Night dives with nurse sharks and mantas
Fuvahmulah’s tiger shark hotspot
Coral restoration projects for eco-conscious divers
Best time to go: December to May for visibility and gentle currents.
10. Tubbataha Reefs, Philippines
📍 Middle of the Sulu Sea
🐠 UNESCO World Heritage Site, accessible only by liveaboard
Tubbataha is one of Asia’s most protected and pristine reef systems, only open a few months a year.
Why it’s a bucket-lister:
Massive reef walls with drop-offs over 1000 ft
Whales, sharks, rays, and hundreds of coral species
Super remote = super healthy ecosystem
Dive window: March to June only.
🌍 Honorable Mentions
Palau (Blue Corner, Jellyfish Lake)
Socorro Islands, Mexico (aka Revillagigedo)
Cenotes of Tulum, Mexico (for the cave-curious)
Fiji’s Rainbow Reef (aka the “Soft Coral Capital”)
💡 Tips for Building Your Dive Bucket List
Mix dream and doable: Plan a few that are within reach (like Cozumel or Bonaire), and one “epic” trip per year or two.
Consider your level: Some of these are best for advanced divers or require nitrox/wreck certifications.
Travel smart: Pair remote dive trips with local cultural stops to double your experience.
Respect the reef: Always practice good buoyancy, no touching, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
🌐 Let’s Hear From You
Have you been to any of these? Got a favorite we missed?
👉 Hit reply or drop us a comment on www.saltyreef.net and tell us your #1 bucket-list dive site.
Next week: We’ll be diving into macro vs. mega marine life lovers—which tribe are you?
Stay salty,
— Brian @ Salty Reef
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