Top Dive Resorts & Liveaboards for 2025, as Chosen by you

Planning your diving adventure for 2025? Look no further! Based on glowing feedback from our clients in 2024, we’ve compiled a list of the top-rated dive resorts, dive centres, and liveaboards that offer the perfect base for an unforgettable underwater trip. Whether you're seeking tranquillity, exciting marine encounters, or eco-friendly luxury, we've got you covered.

Read the full list below, or scroll down to see the recommended dive resorts, liveaboards and dive centres.

Dive Resorts

Siladen Resort & Spa

Image by Maximillian Schwarz

Based on the tranquil Indonesian island of Palau Siladen in the heart of Bunaken National Park, Siladen Resort & Spa offers an ideal retreat for divers and snorkellers seeking a peaceful getaway. 

Diving in the region is world-renowned, with Bunaken National Marine Park offering wall and drift dives across 22 dive sites, whilst the nearby Lembeh Strait is one of the finest destinations in the world for macro and photography enthusiasts. 

With its exceptional food, welcoming atmosphere and stunning location it’s no wonder this resort is a favourite amongst our clients. 

“Siladen was excellent, very comfortable and of a high standard. The food options were really good and we never got bored of trying new things and eating the local cuisine and delicacies. Of course, what really makes these places is the people and all of them were so friendly and helpful. They really couldn’t do enough for you!” – Allan F.

Vilamendhoo Island Resort

Image by A.Shuau

Nestled on the idyllic island of Vilamendhoo in the Maldives, Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa offers guests an incredible tropical escape. As the island’s only resort, it boasts long stretches of white sandy beach, creating the perfect setting for both relaxation and adventure.

The resort’s house reef is excellent with several shallow caves and overhangs, and twice a day three to four boats operate to a variety of the 40+ dive sites within a 60-minute trip of Vilamendhoo. Snorkelling off the island is also some of the best in the Maldives, and the dive centre has won awards for its service, making this a diver’s paradise. 

“Vilamendhoo was great. We especially loved the spa and the house reef.” – Alison W. 

Dive into Lembeh

Designed with divers in mind, Dive into Lembeh Resort is located at the northern end of the Lembeh Strait and provides guests with a personal and intimate experience. With just nine private bungalows, each with a sea view, and three budget longhouse rooms, the resort has been likened to a comfortable ‘land-based liveaboard’ —combining the best of both worlds in a tranquil setting.

Famous for its muck diving on the black volcanic sand reefs of the Strait, Dive into Lembeh Resort provides opportunities to spot some weird and wonderful underwater critters. The surrounding waters are home to two of the most famous dive sites in Lembeh, ‘hairball’ and ‘aw shucks’, offering fantastic diving on the resort’s house reef. 

“We chose a sea view bungalow which was very quiet and comfortable and we enjoyed having hot tubs on the balcony and air conditioning inside.” – Ian D.

Siddhartha Ocean Front Resort & Spa

Combining the best of Balinese and Western design, Siddhartha Ocean Front Resort & Spa is a luxurious resort situated directly on the beach in the small village of Kubu. The atmosphere at the resort is informal and relaxed - ideal for those seeking an authentic escape to relax and rejuvenate.

This fantastic dive resort has access to an impressive house reef and dive centre on-site, plus guests can explore over 30 diverse dive sites that can be reached from the island. These range from the current-swept sites off Menjangan island where sightings of Napoleon wrasse, greater barracuda and sharks are common, through to the calm waters of Secret Bay, where macro enthusiasts can encounter seahorses, ghost pipefish, dragonet and many more. The USS Liberty wreck at Tulamben which is beautifully colonised with marine life is another must-see dive spot nearby. 

Camel Dive Hotel

Camel Dive Club & Hotel is an award-winning divers’ hotel in the heart of the picturesque Naama Bay, offering a blend of comfort, sustainability and adventure. As a proud Green Fins member, the hotel is committed to being environmentally friendly with the initiative focused on educating and empowering tourists to reduce pressures on coral reefs. 

The hotel has a well-known dive centre on-site, and Sharm El Sheikh offers a spectacular range of dive sites that are amongst the best in the world. From the famous Ras Mohammed Marine Park which attracts legions of experienced divers each year, to many easily accessible coral gardens that offer safe, shallow waters and excellent visibility perfect for beginners, the region caters to all diving levels and abilities. 

“We really enjoyed the breakfast, great roof bar and central location in Sharm” – Ian K. 

Breakers Divers & Surfers Lodge

The Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge is Egypt’s first ‘water sports lifestyle’ hotel, perfectly situated just steps away from the water’s edge. The hotel is directly opposite the magnificent Soma Bay house reef and adjacent to the well-equipped Orca Dive Centre, making it ideally located for diving enthusiasts.

Soma Bay gives access to some of the best dive sites in the Red Sea, and the diverse marine life and vibrant corals are a delight for all experience levels. The sheltered lagoon at the front provides waters ideal for training, while more qualified divers can venture to the nearby Panorama Reef, a real highlight of the area.

Having won numerous prestigious awards including the TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award 2024, the Breakers Divers & Surfers Lodge offers an unbeatable blend of world-class diving and exceptional service.

“The room was very quiet and comfortable with good air-conditioning, and the shower was excellent!” – Maria J.

Papua ParadisE Eco Resort

Papua Paradise Eco Resort truly lives up to its name. Built with locally sourced, traditional materials, the resort has stilted overwater bungalows which appear to float above the sparkling waters of the island’s vibrant house reef. Guests can unwind on their private balconies and enjoy endless ocean views until the sun sets. 

The resort’s house reef offers fantastic snorkelling opportunities within the stunning archipelago of Raja Ampat, with the area famed for its rich diversity of reefs which are among Indonesia’s best. Suitable for more qualified and experienced divers, the area is a photographer’s dream where you can expect manta rays, wobbegong sharks, turtles, mackerel, a variety of colourful nudibranchs and more. 

Magic Island Dive Resort

With a prime location in the scenic coastal town of Moalboal, a stay at the Magic Island Resort provides exceptional diving experiences like no other and beckons scuba diving enthusiasts wishing to immerse themselves in the vibrant marine life of Moalboal. 

A scuba divers’ paradise, Moalboal has at least 25 stunning dive sites offering an array of thrilling underwater adventures. One of the main highlights is the remarkable coral reefs, and divers can explore the renowned Pescador Island—a marine sanctuary bursting with colourful coral formations and an impressive variety of marine species. The on-site dive centre also caters to divers of all levels, providing scuba diving courses and packages with diving starting at the house reef.

Liveaboards

Blue Melody Liveaboard

Accommodating up to 26 divers in a 38-metre, luxury custom-built liveaboard, Blue Melody is a spacious vessel offering ample room to relax in between dives on a variety of Red Sea itineraries. 

Choose from exciting options such as ‘Northern Wrecks & Reefs’, ideal for those new to the Red Sea to experience its world-famous wrecks and pristine reefs. Or for a slightly more challenging dive, the ‘Deep South’ route allows divers to experience a more ‘untouched’ Red Sea. Additionally, Blue Melody offers a variety of other Red Sea itineraries to suit your diving goals.

On board the ship, all cabins are en suite and the well-equipped dive deck boasts two Bauer Mariner compressors and Nitrox membrane systems to help optimise your dive. After a day exploring the underwater world, relax on one of the two large sun decks and soak up some sun in the peaceful surroundings.

“Blue Melody was very clean and the cabin was a lovely size. We really enjoyed the diving and it was all fantastic.” – Lisa C.

Carpe Vita Liveaboard

Based in the Maldives, M/V Carpe Vita offers another beautiful and spacious liveaboard experience for up to 20 guests, ensuring plenty of space to relax while you take in the beautiful colours of the Indian Ocean.

Operating a variety of itineraries in both South and North Male Atoll, Ari Atoll, Vaavu and more, trips on Carpe Vita typically provide divers with a mix of reef, wreck, channel and drift dives. You can expect warm waters, with the chance to see colourful corals as well as encounters with sharks and manta rays. 

Dives are carried out from the yacht’s dhoni and the well-equipped dive deck includes fresh water showers, a toilet and complimentary nitrox for qualified divers.

“The staff, food and accommodation were excellent. We definitely had no complaints about the accommodation.” – Peter S.

Seascape Liveaboard

Recently launched in 2023, Seascape is a state-of-the-art Maldives liveaboard that redefines luxury and sustainability. The vessel has high-end amenities including a hot tub and serene lounging area, and each cabin is designed for maximum comfort with air-conditioning, en suite bathrooms and breathtaking ocean vistas. 

The crew on board Seascape are very experienced with the Maldivian waters and their knowledge will significantly enrich your trip. They run a variety of itineraries throughout the year, with ‘Central Atolls’ and ‘Best of Maldives’ offering picture-perfect routes full of rich, colourful reefs and a ‘Deep South’ itinerary delivering shark dives.

The ship focuses on eco-friendly practices and includes energy-efficient technologies to ensure minimal environmental impact. Combined with luxurious comfort, Seascape offers an indulgent yet sustainable diving experience in the Maldives.

Oman Explorer

The spacious Oman Explorer offers a liveaboard diving adventure far away from the crowds. Comfortably accommodating 22 divers in ten twin cabins and one master cabin, the vessel ensures a relaxed experience.

Liveaboard itineraries switch during the year to offer the best diving in each region of Oman, with Northern itineraries running between June and November to sites such as the Daymaniyat Islands, offering flourishing coral reefs when water temperatures are at their warmest, and Southern itineraries offered during the winter months to the Hallaniyat Islands, providing more adventurous diving opportunities.

Diving is done directly off the vessel’s dive deck or from a RIB (dive site dependant), and Nitrox is available. On board, there’s a spacious sun deck and a large comfortable fly deck, as well as a separate area for relaxing in front of the wheel house giving guests plenty of options to unwind. 

“The standard of the boat was very good and the quality of the diving was excellent. The general condition of the dive sites was fantastic and we enjoyed seeing octopus, squid and whale sharks.” – David S

Dive Centres

Maltaqua Dive Centre

Image by Pete Bullen

With over 40 years’ of experience as a dive centre in the charming village of St Paul’s Bay in Malta, the family-run Maltaqua Dive Centre has a variety of scuba diving courses on offer, backed up by skilled and committed instructors and dive guides.

Maltaqua pride themselves on their ability to match instructor to student in terms of language, age and outlook as closely as possible, offering a complete range of introductory dives, PADI and BSAC courses and daily diving excursions around the three islands of Malta.

Divers staying at the Doubletree by Hilton Malta will be diving with Maltaqua Dive Centre, and additionally the dive centre also manages Sands Apartments—studio apartments purpose-built for divers, and Villa Michael—a newly refurbished villa offering comfortable accommodation in the sought-after seafront location of Qawra. 

Aquanauts Dive Centre GrenaDA

Aquanauts Grenada is a family-owned PADI 5-star dive centre with a great team of dive masters and instructors who have years of experience exploring reefs and wrecks. 

The dive centre strives to ensure divers have a great dive every dive and can see the best of Grenada’s underwater world. From wrecks to reefs to sculptures, Grenada has it all and Aquanauts diving courses range from introductory scuba diving to advanced specialities like adaptive and technical diving so whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver you can connect with the underwater world in a way that resonates with you. 

Aquanauts has two bases in Grenada: the beautifully designed and critically acclaimed True Blue Bay Boutique Resort and Spice Island Beach Resort which is considered to be one of the finest hotels in the Caribbean.

“Aquanauts Grenada were a joy to dive with. They were relaxed, professional and friendly even to the extent of being recognised from previous visits.” – Nicholas W.

Nautilus Diving Centre, Sardinia

Image by Apuzzo Vincenzo

Nautilus diving are Sardinia’s only PADI 5-star Gold Palm dive centre, and they’re also an accredited BSAC dive resort. The team at Nautilus pride themselves on catering for divers every need and ensuring they enjoy a truly relaxing diving holiday. 

Daily boat diving is offered to the 40 or so dive sites of this region from the dive centre’s two boats: a custom-built dive boat with dive platform, and a smaller Zodiac. For those looking to learn or improve their diving, a full range of courses are available from Open Water courses to PADI Tec diver training. 

Accommodation options close to the Nautilus Diving Centre include Hotel Piccada—a traditional Sardinian hotel located just a short walk from Palau port and marina, and La Vecchia Fonte Hotel—a 4-star contemporary hotel also situated close to Palau’s marina.

Orca Dive Club Coral Garden

Orca Dive Club, 22 kilometres south of Safaga, is based on-site at Coral Garden Resort, a simple divers’ lodge providing a relaxing stay with superb views over the bay and to the western mountains. 

The centre has its own compressor room and two drying rooms with fresh water rinse tanks, and both house reef and shore-based diving are offered. Additionally, the centre offers a range of dive courses and there’s a selection of rental equipment available to hire.

The serene coastal town of Safaga offers some exceptional diving and is still relatively undiscovered. It typically has a reputation for exciting wall diving, however, it’s also an ideal location for novice divers with its several sheltered spots. 

“The dive centre was run with precision and expertise. The guides were all very informative and accommodating and the vicinity of everything was so easy.” – Sally P.

To book your 2025 diving holiday, contact our expert dive team, browse our full range of resort and liveaboard holidays, or for more ideas, check out our holiday ideas and inspiration.