Where do you go if you really don't want to run into any other divers?
How special is it to descend along a reef and not see a single other bubble during the entire dive? Just you, your buddy, and an underwater world teeming with life. No other dive boats on the surface and no groups of divers following the same route.
Although many diving destinations are rightly popular, there are still places where tranquility is the norm. Destinations so remote that only a handful of divers visit them. Sometimes because the trip there takes a little longer, sometimes because there’s only one resort, or because only a few dive boats operate in the area.
We’ve put together a list of six of our favorite destinations where you have a good chance of having the reef practically all to yourself.
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Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
The Bazaruto Archipelago off the coast of Mozambique is a destination where tranquility is still a given. During this diving vacation, you’ll stay at BCSS (Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies) on the island of Benguerra. This research center is located in the heart of a protected nature reserve and is the only accommodation in the area. Aside from your travel companions and the BCSS team, there’s virtually no one else here.
BCSS is a small-scale, sustainable research center that runs entirely on solar power and uses local materials. There is room for up to 10 guests in single and double rooms. You’ll share the facilities with other divers and nature lovers, which keeps the atmosphere personal and relaxed.
Even underwater, you immediately notice just how remote this place is. The dive sites around the archipelago are rarely visited, and you often feel as though the reef is all yours. Expect colorful coral reefs, large schools of fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, and frequent encounters with manta rays and other large marine creatures.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is one of the most unspoiled diving destinations in the world. While countries like Indonesia are becoming increasingly popular among divers, Papua New Guinea remains a destination where tourism has stayed on a small scale.
One of the best places to experience this is Walindi Plantation Resort in West New Britain. From here, you can dive on the reefs surrounding Kimbe Bay, an area known for its immense biodiversity. What makes this special is that Walindi partners with the resort’s two in-house liveaboards. These boats operate out of the same region and are the only liveaboards active here. This makes them the sole dive operator in the entire province.
You’ll share the reefs, walls, and underwater landscapes only with your own small group. Underwater, you’ll find an enormous variety of marine life: from colorful coral gardens and schools of barracuda to reef sharks, sea turtles, and unique macro species.
Pemba, Tanzania
Many travelers are familiar with Zanzibar, but to the north lies Pemba. This island is much less developed for tourism, and that’s precisely why it has a completely different character. Here, you won’t find crowded beaches lined with hotels, but rather a peaceful island destination where nature still takes center stage.
Underwater, Pemba is one of the most beautiful diving destinations in East Africa. The steep walls surrounding the island are covered with soft corals, fan sponges, and an enormous variety of reef life. During your dives, you may encounter sea turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, and large schools of fish, among other creatures.
Since very few divers travel to Pemba, the dive sites are often exceptionally quiet. There are no lines of dive boats and no groups of divers following the same route one after another. You descend and have plenty of time to explore the reef at your own pace.
Northern Maldives
The Maldives are known as a tropical diving destination, but not all atolls are the same. Most liveaboards focus on the well-known central areas, where the most popular dive sites are located.
If you travel further north, you’ll discover a completely different side of the Maldives. The northern atolls are more remote, less frequently visited, and have far fewer divers. Here, you can still go diving without encountering many other boats.
The reefs are teeming with life and offer everything the Maldives are known for: sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, colorful corals, and large schools of fish. Precisely because fewer divers come here, every dive feels special. Not only do you have a stunning underwater landscape before you, but you also have the peace and quiet to truly experience it.
Metita, Indonesia
Far from Indonesia’s well-known diving destinations lies Metita, a small coral island in the North Moluccas. While destinations like Raja Ampat and Komodo are becoming increasingly popular, Metita is still a place where you’ll find peace and quiet above all else.
The island is quite small and has only one resort. Because of this, it feels like you’re truly away from the rest of the world. No crowded beaches, no multiple dive boats at the same site, and no large groups of divers visiting the reef. The dive sites around the island are used exclusively by the resort’s guests.
Underwater, Metita shows why the North Moluccas are so special. The island is surrounded by healthy coral reefs teeming with a vast variety of marine life. You can encounter colorful reef fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, and various types of macro life. Photography enthusiasts will also find plenty to enjoy here, including nudibranchs, shrimp, and unique small reef inhabitants.
Hallaniyat Islands, Oman
Off the southern coast of Oman lie the remote Hallaniyat Islands. This archipelago is still relatively unknown among international divers and combines rugged natural beauty with unique diving experiences.
Underwater, you’ll find colorful coral gardens, large schools of fish, and historic shipwrecks, including the wreck of the City of Winchester, which is about 300 years old. You may also have the chance to encounter spinner dolphins and, during the right season, even humpback whales.
One of the greatest advantages of the Hallaniyat Islands is the tranquility. Very few dive boats operate in this area, so there’s a good chance you’ll share the dive sites with only a small number of other divers. That tranquility continues above water. The islands are located far from the bustling coastal towns and offer a unique combination with a visit to the Incense Routes and the desert landscapes surrounding Salalah.
These destinations are also wonderfully peaceful
Of course, there are other destinations where you’ll hardly encounter any other divers. Think, for example, of the Galápagos, Socorro, and Cocos Island. These remote islands are accessible only by liveaboard, and the number of boats allowed to operate there at any one time is limited. That’s exactly why it feels as if you’re all alone in the middle of the ocean here, too.
Indonesia actually deserves its own list. In Raja Ampat alone, there are several small private islands with just one dive resort, which means you often share the surrounding dive sites only with the resort’s guests. And we haven’t even mentioned destinations like Alor, Banda, or the North Moluccas yet. Since there are so many unique and peaceful places, we’ll be dedicating a separate blog post to them soon.
On a diving vacation with EWDR
At EWDR, you’ll find diving trips and liveaboards to various destinations where you can enjoy some peace and quiet—and sometimes even have an entire dive site all to yourself. Our travel specialists are happy to help you choose the destination that best suits your preferences, experience, and diving style.
