Next Destination Suggestions, Ultimate Dest. - Reef Diving and Snorkeling/Free Diving

[MXGratefulDiver]

Considering how expensive it is to go there, I'd rank the Maldives pretty far down the list, actually. It's nice ... but I'd rank pretty much every place I've dived in Indonesia to be superior. I'd put Bonaire above the Maldives as well, given the qualifications for a nice house reef with good free diving ... the entire island of Bonaire could be considered a good house reef.

In Indonesia, certainly I'd rank Tulamben (Bali) very high. The Coral Gardens and USS Liberty are excellent dives, and easy for free divers to explore. The Drop Off is a bit further out for free diving, but easily reachable and also very nice.

I'd also recommend (very highly) Kunkungen Bay Resort in Lembeh Straits as a place that has a very nice house reef and some incredible boat diving nearby. Komodo has some amazing diving, but I did mine from a liveaboard, so I couldn't recommend any house reefs. And although I stayed in Bunaken at a resort, it didn't have a house reef. But the diving there is spectacular ... way better than anything I experienced in the Maldives.

If the Maldives is your standard of excellence, I'd say that there are a ton of places in the South Pacific that will reset that standard for you ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Glenn01]

For unspoiled beauty, the Malaysian Borneo islands of Sibuan and Sipidan will rank up there with the very best. We based ourselves out of Semporna and dove with Scuba Junkies. These reefs on these islands were a "peak life experience" for us.

 

[Deepdiver104]

For shore diving, you can't beat Bonaire, every site is a great site! Night diving off the Bari reef is a must.

 

[highdesert]

I have to vote for the house reef at Wakatobi. Shallow and "snorkelable" on top, and beautiful down past 40-50 feet. Often accompanied by a current, making for a great drift. The dinghy driver on duty will run your group upcurrent, you drop in wherever you want, and drift back to the resort. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.