@simcoediver @scubadada Fair question. Before I give you the answer, I'll give you the reasons as eveyone's experience is relative
I attained my OW in El Gouna Egypt (30km North of Hurghada) in 2007, and was in wonder and amazement. However this was my first experience underwater so of course it would be.
My local diving is a place called the Mussandam Pennisular in Oman
I have nothing to do with this video - it give you some idea of the area, but we see a lot more sea life than on here
As you can see we get Mola Mola, and whale sharks. The former is rare the latter I see most months. What we don't get is great vis
It takes 15 hrs to get from Dubai to Hurghada indeed it would take the same time and less money to go via the UK. Last year we took a live-aboard. No complaints. We had some lovely dives which were pretty, but the majority were mediocre. The main reason was for the most part the corals were bleached or very beige and the sea life was lacking. yes we saw a tom of juvenile fish but schooling fish - even parrot fish were missing. We went south from Port Ghalib.
The same year we visited the Philippines - Cebu and Malaspacu again on a live aboard, again not wonderful - mostly muck diving but that might be because we needed to stay close to shore as the boats compressor had packed up
Thailand also not wonderful and very sparse life in the Similans and Surins compared to what we are used to at "home"
My top spots.
The Maldives were great - lots of coral bleaching but a tom of life. the vis wasn't as I had imagined (my fault) but loved it and would go back. Of course it's only a 4 hr trip from here.
Top destination by a mile is Misool in Southern Raja Ampat. We visited in feb this year.More oceanic than muck. So much life and the coral is beautiful - it was worth every penny and more as well as the long travel time. Can't wait to save up and go back
Next off to Komodo for Mantas, then Bali and somewhere else my wife hasn't revealed for 25 days of diving in July. Friends whom I dive with all rave about it so high expectations (although it can't beat Misool)
So short answer Indonesia - but then as I say it's all relative. I'd love to dive the Cocos islands but its around 80 hrs travel time from here. Likewise the Galapagos.
As
@BDSC states there are much better places than the Red sea, but again that all depends upon what your previous experience has been, your expectations, travel distance and money to spend..