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Top 12 Dive Destinations in Oceania – Part 1
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Encompassing over 8 million square kilometers of clear blue waters, Oceania hosts some of the world’s most sought-after dive destinations. There are remote, untouched reefs and wreck diving meccas, countless forest-draped islands, and volcanic landscapes with rich black sands full of critters. With abundant marine megafauna as well, including mantas, whales, dolphins, seals, sharks, and tens of thousands of sea turtles, Oceania is a paradise for every diver. Read on for part I of our round-up of 12 great places to go diving in Oceania.
Australia
Drop a pin on a map of Australia’s vast coastline and you will likely land close to some epic scuba diving. There are dozens of places to experience the best of Australia’s rich and varied dive scene.
In the remote northern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef, you can dive Raine Island, a famous coral cay and sea turtle nesting area that hosts more than 60,000 green turtles each nesting season.
A little further south at Cairns, there is classic Great Barrier Reef scuba diving, including shark diving, snorkeling with dwarf minke whales, and numerous offshore reefs. It is also one of the best places to get your diving license.
The southern Great Barrier Reef hosts Australia’s best-known manta ray hotspots, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island. As well hosting over 100 mantas, the southern Great Barrier Reef also hosts one of the world’s best-preserved wrecks, the SS Yongala.
There is also excellent diving close to many of Australia’s coastal towns and cities. You can go diving with beautiful weedy sea dragons near Melbourne, go cage diving with great white sharks off Port Lincoln, or hang out with enormous stingrays in Port Philip Bay.
With Ningaloo Reef’s many whale sharks, remote coral atoll diving at Rowley Shoals, and diving with nurse sharks at Fish Rock Cave as well, you’ll be spoiled for choice wherever you go.
New Zealand
New Zealand may be a lot smaller than Australia, but it packs a punch when it comes to scuba diving. With over 600 islands, 44 marine reserves, and the 9th longest coastline in the world, diving in New Zealand is diverse and fascinating.
Sun-soaked Northland is the best place to start your diving trip and features the colorful Rainbow Warrior and HMNZS Canterbury wrecks and the Poor Knights Islands. These unique islands were rated as one of the world’s top ten dives by Jacques Cousteau and offer sub-tropical diving with both temperate species and tropical visitors.
Further south, the Mercury and Aldermen Islands are dotted with white sand beaches and have fantastic warm-water diving. There are enough submerged caves, pinnacles and drop-offs to keep any diver busy. Seasonal visitors include whales, bronze whaler sharks, makos and marlin.
If you love wreck diving, make sure you dive the Mikhael Lermontov in the Marlborough Sounds. This 155-meter-long cruise ship is one of the largest modern diving wrecks and has many of its original furnishings.
Make sure you drive south to Kaikoura if you love whales and sea birds. Kaikoura is one of the only places in the world with a resident population of sperm whales, plus visiting orcas, humpback whales and numerous albatrosses. You can also swim with seals and dolphins there.
Last but by no means least, visit Fiordland – a jaw-dropping 2.6 million hectare UNESCO World Heritage Site. This vast wilderness area hosts spectacular multi-day hikes and has excellent cold-water diving and rare black corals in Milford Sound.
Fiji
Fiji is a classic dive destination in Oceania, offering a wealth of palm-fringed islands and dive highlights worthy of any bucket list. If you’re looking for a destination that has something for every dive experience level, and plenty for non-divers too, Fiji could be for you.
Viti Levu, the main tourism hub, is famous for its shark dives with bull, tiger and reef sharks. There are also beautiful coral reefs just offshore. Go island hopping from Viti Levu and you’ll be immersed in a world of vibrant soft coral landscapes, with manta ray cleaning stations, thrilling drift dives and fast-paced pelagic action.
If you like laid-back diving, you could easily while away your days drifting over Fiji’s many shallow coral gardens. That said, it pays to go deep and experience Fiji’s famously colorful Great White Wall and Purple Wall dive sites.
On your non-diving days, be sure to explore topside. The friendly Fijian welcome, excellent jungle hikes, lush rainforests and waterfalls are not to be missed.
The Federated States of Micronesia
Micronesia is high on the wish list for many divers and is a tropical paradise destination with over 600 islands. It is best-known as a wreck diving mecca, with dozens of World War II wrecks.
The wrecks of Chuuk Lagoon are renowned among divers as some of the best in the world. This calm, warm lagoon was the site of a fierce battle in World War II that resulted in hundreds of ships, planes and submarines sinking. Today, around 50 of the wrecks can be dived and they are covered in rainbow-hued corals. Diving among the tanks, trucks and airplanes of the lagoon brings history to life in the most vivid way.
Micronesia’s rich waters also host countless shallow reefs, famous manta ray diving at Yap, exciting walls, caverns and drop-offs. If you’re prepared to go off the beaten path, Kosrae has some of the most pristine diving in the world.
Palau
Palau is ideal for divers who like to experience a range of dive styles in one trip and encounter marine life large and small.
This picture-perfect destination has diverse underwater highlights, including diving at a natural corner in the ocean, plunging walls, World War II wrecks, and famous manta ray dives. There is also excellent cave diving, and you can swim with millions of harmless jellyfish.
Wherever you dive, you can tick off some of Palau’s 1300 fish species and 700 coral species. Dugongs, Napoleon wrasse and giant clams are some of the more unusual big marine species to find and you can spot rare mandarinfish at Chandelier Caves. Being the world’s first shark sanctuary, Palau’s waters are also busy with sharks.
Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for SSI (Scuba Schools International), wrote this article.
News
Pro Dive International Announces New Openings in Mexico
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The dive company will open new centres in Southern Cozumel Marina Park, at Sunscape Sabor Cozumel and Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa.
Pro Dive International, a leading name in the diving industry and a multi-award-winning PADI Five Star Dive Center, is thrilled to announce its new facilities at two of Cozumel’s premier resorts: Sunscape Sabor Cozumel and Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa. This expansion marks another milestone in Pro Dive International’s mission to deliver world-class diving experiences in the Caribbean.
Unparalleled Diving Experiences in Cozumel
Cozumel is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life, making it a top destination for divers worldwide. With the addition of these new concessions, Pro Dive International will offer guests at Sunscape Sabor Cozumel and Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa exclusive access to:
- Guided reef dives at world-famous sites like Palancar Reef and Santa Rosa Wall.
- PADI certification courses for beginners and advanced divers alike.
- Specialty dives, including night dives, drift dives, and underwater photography excursions.
- Eco-friendly diving practices aligned with Pro Dive International’s commitment to marine conservation.
A Legacy of Excellence
Founded in 2003, Pro Dive International has grown from a small dive center in Puerto Aventuras to a Caribbean diving powerhouse with 16 locations across Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The company’s dedication to safety, quality, and environmental stewardship has earned it numerous accolades, including the PADI Green Star Award, (former) National Geographic awards, and recognition from Scuba Diving Magazine as best overall dive center in the Caribbean and Atlantic, among others.
“We are excited to bring our expertise and passion for diving to the guests of Sunscape Sabor Cozumel and Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa,” said Markus Fleischmann, President and Founder of Pro Dive International. “Cozumel is a diver’s paradise, and we look forward to sharing its underwater wonders with even more adventurers.”
About Sunscape Sabor Cozumel and Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa
- Sunscape Sabor Cozumel: A family-friendly, all-inclusive resort located on the pristine shores of Cozumel, offering a blend of relaxation and adventure.
- Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa: A luxurious, adults-only retreat known for its stunning ocean views, world-class amenities, and serene atmosphere.
Both resorts now feature Pro Dive International’s services directly on site, ensuring guests have seamless access to unforgettable underwater experiences.
Commitment to Sustainability
Pro Dive International continues to lead the way in sustainable diving practices. The company actively participates in reef conservation initiatives, marine life protection programs, and eco-friendly diving operations. Guests diving with Pro Dive International can feel confident that their adventures are contributing to the preservation of Cozumel’s marine ecosystems.
Book Your Dive Today
Diving enthusiasts and first-time explorers are invited to book their underwater adventures, including hotel accommodation, with Pro Dive International at Sunscape Sabor Cozumel and Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa. For more information, visit www.prodiveinternational.com, email info@prodiveinternational.com, through whatsapp +52 984 745 0763, or contact the dive centers directly at the resorts.
About Pro Dive International
Pro Dive International is a PADI Five Star Dive Center operating in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Founded in 2003, the company is known for its commitment to quality, safety, and environmental conservation, with currently 16 locations at coveted 4-5* RESORTS along the RIVIERA MAYA & COZUMEL/ MEXICO, and in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. With it´s team of multilingual professionals, Pro Dive International offers unforgettable diving experiences for adventurers of all levels, such as CENOTES diving, diving with BULL SHARKS, diving wrecks and famous walls at COZUMEL, as well as Snorkeling Safaris with WHALE SHARKS & SAILFISH.
Pro Dive International has a multilingual team available to take reservations for diving, hotel accommodation, transfers and cultural tours, provides services to international travel agencies, an equipment maintenance department, excursions team and own competitive transportation system available to provide airport and hotel shuttles.
Also, Pro Dive offers FREE NITROX at all of its locations (based on availability).
News
Go Diving Show 2025 Main Stage Speaker: Dr. Timmy Gambin
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Prof Timmy Gambin is an Associate Professor in Maritime Archaeology at the Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta, and he has been at the forefront of expeditions to undiscovered wrecks and ancient sites for many years – he will be taking you on a trip behind the scenes of some of the latest research on the Main Stage at the GO Diving Show in March.
Prof Gambin graduated in History from this University and went on to attain his Masters in Maritime Archaeology and History from the University of Bristol, where he also got his doctorate in Maritime Archaeology. He has been involved in numerous collaborative research projects, and has also co-directed numerous offshore underwater surveys in various parts of the Mediterranean.
The Virtual Museum
Timmy is the initiator and director of the The Virtual Museum – Underwater Malta. Underwater cultural heritage sites are out of sight and more often than not out of mind. The reason for this situation is simple – the physical barrier created by the sea itself. To date, only divers or people in submarines are able to visit these historic time capsules. There still exist limitations brought about by depth, remoteness and legislation.
In fact, one of the central principles of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage is that ‘State Parties shall promote public awareness regarding the value and importance of underwater cultural heritage’, a principle that is fully endorsed by The Virtual Museum – Underwater Malta. This online platform brings underwater cultural heritage to the surface and into the homes of the general public.
Using 3D, virtual reality and other media, the aim of this website is to provide access to and share Malta’s unique underwater cultural heritage with all members of the public.
The Phoenician Shipwreck Project
In 2007, during an offshore remote sensing survey aimed at mapping Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage, a small anomaly was noted in the sonar data.
Since then, the University of Malta, in collaboration with a number of international partners, have been studying what turned out to be one of the most intriguing recent underwater archaeological discoveries.
Situated at a depth of 110m off Xlendi Bay in Gozo, the Phoenician shipwreck consists of an intact and well-preserved mixed cargo datable to the 7th century BC. The mixed contents of stone and ceramic objects are shedding light on the economic history and trade networks of the Central Mediterranean during the Archaic period.
In addition to the archaeological benefits – including the study of hitherto unknown ceramic typologies as well as a wide variety of scientific tests in the post-excavation phases – this site presents other challenges and opportunities regards methodologies and access, as well as the communication of such a site.
You can find out more on the Phoenician Shipwreck Project here, and the The Virtual Museum here.
Go Diving Show 2025 takes place at the NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on the 1st -2nd March.
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