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Level up: where to dive next when you want more

Strong currents, deep walls, wrecks and caverns. 43 destinations ranked on their demanding dive sites, from our sourced data. Every challenge here asks for the right training first: extend your limits, don't push past them.
Photo: Karl Callwood on Unsplash

Destinations with the most demanding diving

  1. 1Puerto GaleraPhilippinesBest Dec–May11 sites for experienced divers4 technical dives8 strong-current sites4 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations7 wrecks beyond Open Water93/ 100
  2. 2Malta, Gozo & CominoMaltaBest Apr–Oct13 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive5 strong-current sites10 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations11 wrecks beyond Open Water91/ 100
  3. 3AzoresPortugalBest Jul–Oct8 sites for experienced divers9 strong-current sites3 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations2 wrecks beyond Open Water83/ 100
  4. 4Chuuk (Truk) LagoonMicronesiaBest Oct–Apr5 sites for experienced divers4 technical dives4 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations11 wrecks beyond Open Water65/ 100
  5. 5CozumelMexicoBest May–Aug5 sites for experienced divers11 strong-current sites3 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations65/ 100
  6. 6PalauBest Dec–Apr5 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive6 strong-current sites3 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations63/ 100
  7. 7MaldivesBest Dec–May5 sites for experienced divers6 strong-current sites3 wrecks beyond Open Water62/ 100
  8. 8Mactan (Cebu)PhilippinesBest Feb–May5 sites for experienced divers2 technical dives7 strong-current sites2 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations2 wrecks beyond Open Water61/ 100
  9. 9Sharm El Sheikh & Ras MohammedEgyptBest Sep–Nov3 sites for experienced divers8 strong-current sites3 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations3 wrecks beyond Open Water59/ 100
  10. 10CoronPhilippinesBest Dec–Apr3 sites for experienced divers7 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations10 wrecks beyond Open Water58/ 100
  11. 11Scapa Flow (Orkney)United KingdomBest Jun–Sep6 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive9 wrecks beyond Open Water57/ 100
  12. 12KomodoIndonesiaBest Apr–Oct5 sites for experienced divers13 strong-current sites53/ 100
  13. 13WakatobiIndonesiaBest Mar–Dec4 sites for experienced divers9 strong-current sites50/ 100
  14. 14BonaireBest Dec–Jun4 sites for experienced divers6 strong-current sites2 wrecks beyond Open Water49/ 100
  15. 15Gulen (Western Norway)NorwayDiveable all year5 sites for experienced divers2 technical dives7 wrecks beyond Open Water48/ 100
  16. 16Narvik & LofotenNorwayBest Jul–Aug5 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive7 wrecks beyond Open Water47/ 100
  17. 17Phuket & Koh LantaThailandBest Nov–Apr4 sites for experienced divers6 strong-current sites45/ 100
  18. 18Fakarava & RangiroaFrench PolynesiaBest Jun–Jul4 sites for experienced divers4 strong-current sites44/ 100
  19. 19Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesiaBest Apr–Oct3 sites for experienced divers15 strong-current sites44/ 100
  20. 20Sri Lanka West & South (Colombo to Unawatuna)Sri LankaBest Nov–Mar3 sites for experienced divers7 wrecks beyond Open Water43/ 100
  21. 21El NidoPhilippinesBest Nov–May2 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive3 strong-current sites4 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations43/ 100
  22. 22Finistère (Brest, Crozon & Glénan)FranceBest Jun–Sep2 sites for experienced divers3 strong-current sites5 wrecks beyond Open Water43/ 100
  23. 23GalápagosEcuadorBest Jun–Nov2 sites for experienced divers8 strong-current sites42/ 100
  24. 24GrenadaBest Dec–May3 sites for experienced divers3 strong-current sites3 wrecks beyond Open Water40/ 100
  25. 25Riviera Maya & CenotesMexicoBest Nov–Apr3 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive11 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations40/ 100
  26. 26Roatán & Bay IslandsHondurasBest Mar–Sep2 sites for experienced divers2 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations4 wrecks beyond Open Water40/ 100
  27. 27Conception Bay & Bell Island (Newfoundland)CanadaBest Jun–Sep3 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive3 wrecks beyond Open Water38/ 100
  28. 28Okinawa & YonaguniJapanBest Apr–May2 sites for experienced divers6 strong-current sites38/ 100
  29. 29Andaman Islands (Havelock & Neil)IndiaBest Dec–Mar3 sites for experienced divers4 strong-current sites36/ 100
  30. 30Poor Knights IslandsNew ZealandBest Dec–Apr4 sites for experienced divers34/ 100
  31. 31Subic BayPhilippinesBest Jan–Jun2 sites for experienced divers8 wrecks beyond Open Water34/ 100
  32. 32Port Hardy & God's PocketCanadaBest Apr–May, Sep–Oct2 sites for experienced divers33/ 100
  33. 33AnilaoPhilippinesBest Nov–Dec, Apr–May3 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive4 strong-current sites32/ 100
  34. 34Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippinesBest Jan–May3 sites for experienced divers31/ 100
  35. 35PondicherryIndiaBest Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov3 sites for experienced divers31/ 100
  36. 36Cocos IslandCosta RicaBest Jun–Nov2 sites for experienced divers31/ 100
  37. 37MalapascuaPhilippinesBest Dec–May2 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive2 wrecks beyond Open Water31/ 100
  38. 38TofoMozambiqueBest Apr–Nov3 sites for experienced divers30/ 100
  39. 39RomblonPhilippinesDiveable all year2 sites for experienced divers2 caverns, caves or wreck penetrations30/ 100
  40. 40SiquijorPhilippinesBest Feb–May2 sites for experienced divers3 strong-current sites30/ 100
  41. 41Southern Leyte (Sogod Bay)PhilippinesBest Apr–May, Oct2 sites for experienced divers29/ 100
  42. 42Cancún & Isla MujeresMexicoBest Nov–Feb, Jun–Sep2 sites for experienced divers2 wrecks beyond Open Water25/ 100
  43. 43Fernando de NoronhaBrazilBest Mar–Jul, Oct2 sites for experienced divers1 technical dive25/ 100

How the score works: number of sites rated Experienced or Technical (up to 35 points), share of the destination's sites beyond Open Water level (15), sites with strong current (15), caverns, caves and wreck penetrations (15) and wrecks beyond Open Water level (10). Only destinations with at least 2 Experienced or Technical sites and 6 sites beyond Open Water are ranked, plus small destinations (4 sites or more) where at least half of the sites are rated Experienced or Technical. Levels follow our safety-first rule: when sources disagree, we keep the more demanding one.

Train before you go

Deep dives, 30 to 40 mA deep certification (Deep Specialty, CMAS 3 stars, FFESSM N3 or equivalent), recent dives and a plan for narcosis and gas. Nitrox often helps for no-stop time at moderate depth.Strong current and driftsGood buoyancy, a deployed surface marker (SMB) every time, and a guide who knows the tides. A reef hook is useful on some sites. Start with mild drifts before the big channels.Caverns, caves and inside wrecksNever enter an overhead without the matching course (cavern, cave or wreck penetration) and the right equipment. An overhead means no direct way up: that is exactly what the training prepares you for.Technical divingBeyond 40 m, decompression stops, mixed gas or rebreathers: technical training with a dedicated instructor, and a local team that runs tec dives.

The local dive centre decides who dives where, on the day. Tell them your certification, your number of dives and your last dive date, and expect a check dive first.

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