Where we Recommend for your 2026 Diving Holidays

15 Oct 2025, Tamsyn J

diving holidays, 2026

We've curated a list of the top dive destinations for 2026. With a range of experiences for divers of all skill levels, there's something for everyone. Here are some of the best diving holidays in 2026, and the top dive sites to explore.

Indonesia

Indonesia has long been a favourite dive destination, and remains so in 2026. With exciting classics like Bunaken and Lembeh offering incredible muck dives, to the renowned Raja Ampat, home to the most biodiverse and colourful reefs on Earth, divers can experience everything from the smallest pygmy seahorses and colourful nudibranchs to sweeping eagle rays, mantas, dugongs and even orcas. You can also travel along Bali and Komodo for classic reef dives with vibrant corals alongside relaxing island stays.

However, don’t be fooled into thinking you’ve seen all that Indonesia has to offer just yet. If you hop aboard one of our liveaboard options, you can dive some true hidden gems. Halmahera offers exquisite reef and muck dives that easily compete with its island neighbours, but with half the crowds. Seasonal visits through the Banda Sea and Forgotten Islands reveal a treasure trove of hammerheads, schooling barracuda and even sea snakes, making this region a diver’s dream still waiting to be fully explored.

Explore the expanse of this scuba diving hotspot by resort or liveaboard and for specialist underwater photography trips, have a look at our small group holidays with Simon Rogerson and Saeed Rashid.

Philippines

With great value and even better diving on offer, the Philippines should be high on your list for unforgettable dive holidays in 2026. Discover elusive thresher sharks, colourful mandarin fish and pygmy seahorses alongside world-class wreck diving in the legendary waters of Malapascua. Or venture to Dumaguete and Dauin for dazzling corals and a vast variety of fish, crustaceans and nudibranchs. Schools of jacks can appear here, sometimes numbering over 2,000, making this a fantastic destination for both small critter enthusiasts and big fish lovers alike.

Continue your journey south to Anilao, where lush green hills and hidden coves meet pristine blue waters and some of the country’s best muck and reef diving in the Coral Triangle. Or travel further west to the Philippines’ last frontier, Palawan, where you’ll find yourself surrounded by spectacular scenery, from soaring limestone cliffs and thermal lakes to underwater caves and an array of epic wrecks off Coron.

Maldives

We’re currently developing a new and improved Maldives portfolio, with several exciting additions on the horizon. Perhaps one of the most famous dive destinations in the world, this stunning island nation is celebrated for its channels, or kandus in Dhivehi, where plankton-rich waters flow in and out of the atolls, sustaining one of the planet’s most vibrant marine ecosystems.

Liveaboard diving in the Maldives is world-class, and the region’s reputation as a premier liveaboard destination is well deserved. Stretching more than 800 kilometres from north to south, this dazzling chain of islands and atolls begins near the southern tip of India and extends almost to the equator, surrounded by the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.

Divers can embark directly from Malé or choose itineraries through the northern or southern atolls, while those seeking a slower pace can enjoy a resort-based holiday surrounded by white sands, turquoise lagoons and unforgettable diving right on their doorstep.

Bahamas

Soaring in popularity after the hit ITV series SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, the Bahamas has more than earned its reputation for exceptional shark encounters. Unlike the fleeting glimpses of sharks you might catch out in the blue in other dive destinations, in the Bahamas these encounters are typically up close and personal. You can find Caribbean reef sharks, lemon, nurse, bull, great hammerheads, tiger and even oceanic whitetip sharks. There are also several species of dolphin and whale you might encounter, as well as the Nassau grouper, proudly considered the national fish of these islands.

Beyond the shark dives, the sprawling 700 islands and cays – home to the third-largest barrier reef system in the world – guarantee a variety of excellent diving experiences, from wrecks, caves and blue holes to coral gardens, seemingly infinite walls and, of course, sharks.

Both resort and liveaboard options are exceptional ways to explore these crystal-clear waters.

Truk Lagoon

The mecca of wreck diving, Truk Lagoon is a haunting underwater graveyard of the Japanese WWII fleet, now resting at varying depths within this bucket-list destination. Our 7- and 10-night liveaboard itineraries allow you to explore not only its world-famous wrecks but also some superb reef dives. Numerous channels cut through the reefs, serving as prime hunting grounds for reef sharks and schooling pelagics, adding to the wonder of diving this extraordinary treasure trove.

You may encounter Maru (merchant) vessels with coral-encrusted anchors, or the remnants of anti-aircraft guns, tanks, torpedo shells, trucks, and road supplies. History comes alive in the smallest details: bottles, cooking utensils, and everyday artefacts now transformed into homes for corals, fish, and crustaceans on the ocean floor.

Egypt

Of course, we have to mention Egypt, our biggest and best selection of resorts and liveaboards, and very much our home away from home. The breathtaking azure waters of the Red Sea linger long in the memory for their irresistible combination of spectacular marine life, welcoming climate and stunning scenery. Only five hours from the UK, these waters are defined by their extraordinary variety and sheer volume of life.

Divers and snorkellers can expect an impressive spectrum of invertebrates, over 200 types of hard and soft corals, crustaceans, sponges, and hundreds of vibrant fish species. With crystal-clear visibility and an exhilarating range of underwater landscapes, from pristine reefs, dramatic walls and drop-offs to historic wrecks and deep blue canyons, the Red Sea never disappoints.

We’ve curated the very best Red Sea resorts and an exceptional range of liveaboards for those who want to explore its full breadth. Whether you’re diving the North, the South or everywhere in between, the choice is yours. And above the surface, your holiday can easily combine superb relaxation with cultural discovery, as this is, after all, the land of the great pyramids.

Oman

Situated on the south-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is just a seven hour flight from the UK and home to a remarkable wealth of natural wonders both above and below the surface. A breathtaking mountain range plunges directly into the Arabian Sea along the country’s 1,700 km of coastline, while its interior is adorned with sweeping sand dunes, vast deserts and historic forts steeped in culture.

Beneath the surface, divers can encounter sting, eagle and torpedo rays, reef and leopard sharks, and a variety of moray eels including honeycomb, pepper and yellowmouth. Green and rare hawksbill turtles glide past lobster, snake eels, nudibranchs, squid, cuttlefish, porcupinefish, lionfish and scorpionfish. Batfish, parrotfish, angelfish, trevally, snapper and barracuda school around reefs flushed with vibrant coral. In these nutrient-rich waters, lucky divers may even come across pilot whales or whale sharks. The sheer abundance of life and pristine reefs leave a lasting impression on all who dive this enigmatic nation.

From September to October, divers can also explore small kelp forests nourished by thermocline-rich waters. Whether you prefer a coastal resort stay or the freedom of a liveaboard adventure, Oman offers outstanding diving experiences along one of the most underrated coastlines in the world for your next diving holiday.

Socorro

Remote, wild and unforgettable, the Revillagigedo Islands – better known by the main island of Socorro – sit 400 kilometres south of Cabo San Lucas and rank among the world’s best destinations for BIG marine encounters. The archipelago includes San Benedicto, Roca Partida, Clarion and Socorro itself, the largest of the four.

Now marking its anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is famous for Giant Pacific manta rays that pass within metres of divers, schools of hammerheads gathering at cleaning stations, and whale sharks seen between November and December and again from late April to May. From January to March, humpback whales arrive to breed and calve, while pods of bottlenose dolphins, large yellowfin tuna, wahoo, jacks and several endemic reef species are frequent visitors.

Diving here is for experienced divers confident in open-ocean conditions. Those ready for the challenge can explore these world-class sites aboard one of our liveaboards, the best way to experience Socorro’s remarkable marine life.

Sardinia

Steeped in history and folklore, Sardinia continues to impress as one of Europe’s best short-haul dive escapes. Just a few hours from the UK, this rugged Italian island blends mountains, dazzling coastlines and centuries of culture.

Sardinia’s story stretches back to the Bronze Age and the Nuragic civilisation, with several UNESCO World Heritage Sites still standing today. Beneath the surface, its northern shores and the La Maddalena Archipelago deliver clear water, healthy reefs and diverse marine life. Protected as a national park since 1994, this group of islands and islets offers some of the finest diving in the Mediterranean. From here, it’s also easy to reach southern Corsica and the Lavezzi Marine Reserve, another area known for excellent visibility and vibrant underwater scenery.

With direct flights to Olbia from several UK airports, Sardinia makes an ideal long-weekend escape for divers looking for warm water, good visibility and a dose of Mediterranean charm.

Galapagos

Straddling the equator 965 kilometres off Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands are among the most extraordinary dive destinations on Earth. Isolated, volcanic and protected as a World Heritage Site, the archipelago supports marine life found nowhere else.

Here, powerful currents collide to create one of the richest ecosystems on the planet. Divers regularly encounter hammerheads, rays, turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas and, from May to November, some of the best whale shark encounters anywhere in the world. Between December and April, warmer water brings manta rays, mobulas and eagle rays. Darwin and Wolf Islands, 14 hours north by sea, are the highlights of any liveaboard itinerary, where dense schools of sharks and rays fill the blue.

With current exchange rates favouring UK travellers, Galápagos trips now offer better value than in recent years. Join one of our liveaboard expeditions to experience these waters at their best, then extend your stay to explore the islands’ volcanic landscapes and iconic wildlife.