How deep is your love for the big ‘ol blue? Scuba diving, they say, is one of the best ways to get as close as you possibly can with nature. As you silently drift along the underwater realm, you are nothing but a visitor in a world that is unfamiliar, unpredictable yet truly magical. Some can capture these almost spiritual moments on camera, while most prefer to let these memories stay locked in their minds for future enjoyment.

While I (like most scuba diving enthusiasts who can write a few paragraphs) capture everything that I know and everything that I have learned about scuba diving through the written word.

So, today, since I’m in the mood for celebrating my love for scuba diving, I’d like to talk about the three best scuba diving destinations in Southeast Asia. Two of these are my dream destinations – yep, I’m still saving up for these places, while the third one, I’ve had the pleasure to experience.

And of course, I’m going to start with my homeland, the Philippines. As you know, we have around 7,000 – 7,500 islands, depending on the tides, depending on who you believe and depending on your grade-school Social Studies teacher, but yes, it is a universal fact that the Philippines is an archipelago with thousands of islands that’s simply packed the world’s best scuba diving spots. Along with its beautiful, tropical weather and clear waters, scuba divers from the world over always make sure they tick off the Philippines from their diving checklists.

As I’m a Cebuana, I’ve had the pleasure to experience some truly world-class diving in Cebu but now, let’s go beyond my hometown and let’s explore Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. The isolated location of Tubbataha Reef makes getting there an adventure in itself as it is actually an underwater nature reserve located at the heart of the Coral Triangle in the Sulu Seas which is in the westernmost province of the Philippines, Palawan. Recently ranked as one of the 8th best dive site in the world, it is my dream to be able to dive these waters. 

Declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1993, the Tubbataha Reefs is officially a protected marine sanctuary. A huge diversity of marine life exists in Tubbataha, a vast majority already in the list of endangered species. Within the two main atolls, the North and South Atolls, exists hundreds and hundreds of coral species, fish species and not to mention regular sightings of manta rays, hawksbill turtles, lionfish and sharks.

The only way to get to Tubbataha Reefs is through liveaboard vessels only and it is only open for business for 3 months every year, from Mid-March to mid-June.

Now let’s head off to the Maldives. The coconut palm tree and yellow fin tuna are symbols of the Maldives which can tell you immediately what this nation is all about. With over a thousand beautiful islands grouped into 26 low atolls in the Indian Ocean, only 300 of these islands are inhabited. The Maldives also plays host to the finest liveaboard vessels and home to the word’s most luxurious resorts. A helicopter ride from the Male International Airport will bring you to the five-star resort of your choice, all of which have fully-equipped dive centers, where seasoned staff will welcome you.

Of course, to enjoy everything that the Maldives has to offer, a working-class hero like me should save up for well, at least a year, as all five-star resorts will charge accordingly for the experience.

In 2012, my cousin worked as a bartender in one of the premier resorts in Male and told me that, indeed, the Maldives is an underwater photographer’s dream as well as an ideal destination for drift diving. What with vivid coral reefs and spectacular marine life, it’s truly a place I aspire travel to. Soon, I hope.

And lastly, let’s head off to amazing Thailand. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Phuket, Thailand. Originally a family trip, my parents ended up having to cancel their tickets due to a medical emergency but my brother, his girlfriend and a cousin fresh from Perth, Australia decided to go ahead with our plans. All of us avid scuba divers, we could not wait to experience one of Thailand’s most popular diving destinations, the Similan and Surin Islands. Located just less than 100kms away from the hustle and bustle of touristy Phuket, this chain of protected islands is a topographic treat that’s simply breathtaking. 

The islands have a chock-full of about 30 chartered dive spots and we enjoyed diving in a few of these spots through a 4-day liveaboard package, 2 days of which were dedicated to scuba diving and snorkeling. On board the tenders (the liveaboard’s dinghies), we were able to dive and explore a number of dive sites: East of Eden,  Deep Six, Elephant Head Rock, Shark Fin Reef, North Point, and Three Trees before heading north via Ko Bon, Ko Tachai, and Richelieu Rock, where whale sharks often congregate and sure enough, we were able to spot a few of them as well as the Thailand regular, the leopard shark.

A photographer’s dream, the Similan Islands is also ideal for snorkeling. All in all, the islands offer great beaches, excellent corals, and the coolest, most sensational underwater rock formations with the most crystal-clear blue waters. 

I hope to someday experience all Asia’s great dive spots as there are simply countless ways to enjoy scuba diving in Asia.  For now, I’ll treasure every memory I’ve had at the Similan Islands and continue dreaming of (and preparing) for a future trip to Tubbataha Reef and the Maldives.