The Best Pacific Islands for Scuba Diving
The Pacific Islands offer some of the best scuba diving in the world. The water is warm all year, wetsuits are optional in the summertime heat, and the coral and marine species thrive. From Fiji to Samoa, here are a few of the top Pacific islands for scuba diving on the planet.
Explore these Pacific diving spots by chartering a boat for the day through SamBoat, or book a week-long sailing adventure with Dream Yacht Charter.
1. Palau
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Divers from all over the world come to Palau, an archipelago with more than 200 pristine islands, for its variety of incredible scuba diving adventures. Palau boasts healthy reefs, great visibility, big schools of fish, World War II boat wrecks, more than 1,500 species of fish, and 700 species of coral and sea anemone.
2. Fiji
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3. French Polynesia
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For underwater biodiversity, French Polynesia ticks a lot of boxes. From shallow lagoons to steep coral walls, there are dozens of sites to explore. Mo’orea is one of the best places in the world to scuba dive with sharks; species living in these waters include lemon, tiger and gray reef sharks. Charter a boat through SamBoat, or book a week-long sailing trip with Dream Yacht Charter to explore the waters around Tahiti and Bora Bora.
4. Niue
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5. Vanuatu
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One of the major draws to Vanuatu is the chance to dive the SS President Coolidge. The vessel was originally an American luxury ocean liner, which was completed in 1931 and then served as a troopship from 1941-1942. The ship was wrecked when struck by mines, is now home to marine life, and different areas can be accessed depending on diver experience. Vanuatu has a number of other wrecks including the Star of Russia and Million Dollar Point.
6. Papua New Guinea
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7. Tonga
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Tonga is one of the few places in the world where you can scuba dive with humpback whales. Between July and October, these majestic creatures visit Tonga to mate and give birth, before leaving to feed in Arctic waters. Manta rays, tuna, barracuda and marlin are among the other marine species you’ll see here. Don’t miss visiting Hot Spring Cavern, entered at 25 metres (82ft) – inside you’ll find a spacious cave with its own hydrothermal vent.
8. Samoa
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Two main islands make up Samoa – Upolu and Savai’i – which are home to 200 coral and 900 fish species. Excellent visibility is characteristic of diving here. Most dives are walk-in shore dives. However, there are still opportunities to see towering underwater caverns and incredible wrecks (such as Juno off the coast of Savai’i).
Visit these scuba diving hotspots by hiring a day boat from SamBoat. Alternatively, Dream Yacht Charter organise multi-day sailing trips, allowing you to dive further afield.
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