1. Komodo National Park, Indonesia
The only place in the world where you can encounter dragons in their natural habitat - Komodo Dragons, that is, the world’s largest living lizards! Komodo is a mini archipelago of volcanic islands just west of Flores in the heart of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands chain. Besides its dragons, Komodo is an oasis for divers, though not for beginners - the currents are intense. But that’s what makes these waters so nutrient rich, sustaining magical underwater ecosystems filled with reefs & hundreds of marine species. A must on the serious diver’s bucket list. Period.
2. Coron Island, Palawan, Philippines
Coron Island rears steeply out of electric blue waters, a jagged limestone island drenched in bright vegetation. the surrounding seascape is a rich blend of mangrove forests, lagoons, coral gardens and bone white beaches. It’s a world class dive destination, famous for its World War II wrecks; in fact Forbes Traveler Magazine named it among the world’s Top 10 scuba diving sites. Also great for snorkelling, island hopping and birdwatching.
3. Rabaul Caldera, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Rabaul was once the bustling provincial capital of New Britain province, but a massive volcanic eruption in 1994 caused most of the township's buildings to collapse and showered the whole place in ash. Sitting as it does on the edge of the volcano's caldera, there's constant risk of future eruptions from it's smoldering neighbor. Once popular with tourists who came for the otherworldly lansdscapes and the diving, it's now seldom visited though a few dive operations have sprung up in recent years.
4. Semporna, Malaysian Borneo
The Semporna coast in Malaysian Borneo's Sabah province is a breathtaking tapestry of rich coral reefs, tropical islands, pristine beaches and lagoons. World famous Sipadan Island, widely regarded among the very best dive destinations on earth, is found here- a haven for hammerheads a, huge schools do barracuda, turtles and reef sharks. The province is also home to large numbers of Badjao Laut, marine nomads who live in stilt villages built on shallow reefs - some still live on wooden boats as they have done for centuries.
5. Wayag, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
The Wayag archipelago has the epic feel of a genuine marine frontier. A collection of towering, jungle clad limestone karsts bisecting a cobalt lagoon, Wayag is set in the northern reaches of Raja Ampat, an Indonesian island province off the coast of New Guinea. Besides a ranger station established to prevent illegal fishing, there are no human settlements here - the few visitors that do make it arrive on live aboard dive boats touring the region. It's possible to climb the karsts to really take advantage of the exhilarating panorama.
6. Western Province, Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands is among the least well known and poorest of the Pacific Island groups - it had a brief moment in the limelight during the Second World War thanks to the famous Battle of Guadalcanal that took place there. But the islands are a fascinating mix of ethnic groups, cultures and languages - and jaw dropping seascapes. Western Province is incredibly pretty, epitomizing the Pacific archetype of cerulean seas, palm studded islands, coral reefs, lagoons and volcanos. It's also home to the biggest uninhabited island in the Pacific - Tetepare, which has been given over entirely to nature.
7. Dili, Timor Leste
The world’s youngest nation, Timor Leste gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 after 25 years of occupation. Located in the Timor Sea above Australia’s Northern Territoy, it is the most easterly island of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain. The island boasts incredible natural assets. It is punctuated by dramatic mountains and a rugged coastline that gives way to perfect white beaches. The indigo waters surrounding Timor Leste harbour coral reefs teeming with life. Still a seldom visited frontier for tourists, it won’t stay that way for long.
