Southeast Asia is known as a paradise for nature lovers. One of its wonders is the stunning underwater beauty. This archipelago boasts many of fascinating marine parks with extraordinary biodiversity.
Beneath the sea, hidden wonderful underwater world. There are colorful coral reefs, remarkable marine life, and views that are hard to forget.
At least five beaches in Southeast Asia are listed among the world's 50 best beaches. The survey, conducted by the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, was released in early August 2024. The beaches are from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Philippines. While the best diving spots are also in these countries.
The list was arranged by travel experts based on criteria such as wildlife, panoramic views, atmospheric areas, luxury hotels, quiet corners, family-friendly stretches of sand, and many more.
Read also: Two Rare Sea Slug Species Found in Indonesia’s Biodiversity Hotspot
Dive into Paradise
Southeast Asia offers some of the world's best dive sites for macro photography, and showcasing the incredible diversity of creatures. From pygmy seahorses, colorful nudibranchs to crustaceans, rare frogfish, even historic shipwrecks.
With warm water, clear visibility, and vast marine biodiversity, these locations are a dream for divers who pay attention to the details of the underwater world. The islands of Southeast Asia also remain a top choice for divers of all levels. Whether you're a newly certified diver or a seasoned explorer, these ten islands offer unique scuba diving destinations that combine natural beauty with modern eco-friendliness.
Here are some of the most beautiful diving spots in Southeast Asia that you can visit.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines
The Philippines provides a variety of diving experiences, but there is one most famous destination, Tubbataha. This premier scuba diving destination is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and incredible marine biodiversity. Tubbataha Reef National Park is home to over 360 coral species, and in 1993, it became UNESCO World Heritage Site, ensuring its protection from industrial fleets.
Tubbataha Reef is located around two lagoons and a giant atoll, formed by an extinct volcano. The remaining seascape is an endless sea wall, dotted with soft corals swaying with the currents.
Its location in the open ocean means that calm to strong currents common, and the deep walls can be challenging for inexperienced explorers. This island is only accessible for short periods due to its short diving season.
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Located in eastern Indonesia, Raja Ampat means "Four Kings." It is also considered as the crown jewel of the diving world, Raja Ampat offers crystal-clear waters, untouched coral reefs, and an incredible variety of marine life.
No wonder that Raja Ampat has been dubbed the world's center of coral reef diversity by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). This archipelago boasts over 1,300 species of fish and 530 coral reefs. Visibility is excellent, but the currents are not uncommon and strong, so Raja Ampat is best explored by more advanced divers with experience in drift diving.
Indonesia offers the most diverse diving itineraries. Divers can visit Indonesia multiple times but still discover something new in their trip.
Similan Island National Marine Park, Thailand
Thailand offers some exciting dive sites, but the routes aren't as extensive as those in Indonesia and the Philippines. Thailand offers a unique blend of rich cultural experiences and world-class diving.
The Similan Islands are an archipelago renowned for their massive granite rock formations, visible both above and below the water, bordered by white sandy beaches. The underwater topography differs on both sides of the islands; the eastern side boasts gently sloping hard coral reefs, while western side is home to giant submerged granite boulders that have formed channels and swimming lanes.
The archipelago consists of nine small islands west of Phuket, most of which are uninhabited but offer stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters teeming with tropical fish.
Read also: Hidden Wealth of Southeast Asia: How Its Unique Biodiversity Shapes Lives and Landscapes
Today’s Action, Tomorrow’s Legacy
Coastal and marine ecosystems in Southeast Asian countries are closely interconnected. Marine species often depend on diverse habitats across national borders throughout their life cycles.
This ecological connectivity is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity and resilience, enabling marine populations to survive environmental changes and the impacts of human activities.
However, with accelerating climate change, overfishing accelerating the decline of fish stocks, and habitat destruction weakening the foundations of ecosystems, the need for a coordinated, regional-scale approach to marine conservation is increasingly urgent.
We can still save the ocean, even if it's small. Let's find out what we can do.
- Reduce waste and plastic use
- Do not indiscriminately catch marine life
- Do not touch or take coral reefs
- Volunteer in marine conservation and preservation
Protecting the ocean is everyone's responsibility. After reading this article, are you interested to visit Southeast Asia’s Island?
References:
Laut Sehat. (n.d). Yang Bisa Kamu Lakukan untuk Menyelamatkan Laut Indonesia. https://lautsehat.id/gaya-hidup/ilham/yang-bisa-kamu-lakukan-untuk-menyelamatkan-laut-indonesia/
Dive Booker (n.d). Where is The Best Diving in Southeast Asia? Indonesia, Philippines, or Thailand? https://divebooker.com/blog/where-is-the-best-diving-in-southeast-asia-indonesia-philippines-or-thailand/
Dive-In (2025). 10 Lokasi dan Destinasi Selam Terbaik di Asia Tenggara pada Tahun 2025. https://www-divein-com.translate.goog/diving/destination/southeast-asia/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=id&_x_tr_hl=id&_x_tr_pto=tc
Trip Zilla (2025).10 Best Scuba Diving Spots in Southeas Asia. https://www.tripzilla.com/best-scuba-diving-spots-in-southeast-asia-2025/22902
