7 of the best places to dive in the Indian Ocean

With year-round warm waters, clear visibility and super-sized marine life, the Indian Ocean is one of our favourites for underwater adventures.

There’s more to diving in the Indian Ocean than spotting shoals of psychedelic fish darting through its glistening waters. Here’s where you can discover mysterious mantas, Sri Lankan shipwrecks and other thrills of the deep.

Best for manta rays and whale sharks

Baa Atoll, Maldives

Diving in the Maldives is world class and when it comes to marine life, it doesn’t get much better than watching in awe as gentle ocean giants glide by. This is just one of the reasons why we love the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve of the Baa Atoll – Hanifaru Bay is possibly the best place on earth to drift alongside mystical manta rays and whale sharks. While diving is not permitted in this marine-protected area, the snorkelling is so incredible that it tops many diving expeditions. Visit during the monsoon season (June to October) for the best chance of sightings, when the lagoon fills with plankton and becomes the perfect feeding ground.

Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives is located in this corner of the Maldives and has top diving sites just a short boat ride or even a swim away. Drift the channels and you might spot hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays and mantas. Alternatively, head to the South Ari Atoll and stay at LUX* South Ari Atoll, another fantastic spot known for its vibrant marine life and excellent opportunities to encounter whale sharks.

Best for wreck diving

East Coast Sri Lanka

Diving in Sri Lanka may not seem like an obvious choice, but there are some rare gems here. The British Naval ship HMS Hermes was the world’s first purpose-built aircraft carrier. During WWII, she was attacked and sank off the east coast of Sri Lanka and for 60 years lay undiscovered, 50 metres beneath the surface. Today the only passengers are the likes of tuna and grouper and it’s one of the world’s most fascinating wreck dives, visited by just a handful of expert technical divers. The access point is from Batticaloa, close to Uga Bay in Passikudah.

Best for beginners

Blue Bay Marine Park, South Coast, Mauritius 

It might be best known for glass-bottom boat trips, but with clear lagoon waters offering visibility of up to 50 metres, depths starting at just six metres and over 50 species of coral from brain coral to cabbage coral, Mauritius’ protected Blue Bay Marine Park offers a gentle introduction to diving in the Indian Ocean. If you’re looking for an accessible alternative to diving in the shallow waters that surround the Maldivian islands, this could be one to consider. Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas is on the doorstep to this aquatic wonderland.

Best for diving atmosphere

Sandies Bathala, Maldives

Most resorts in the Maldives offer excellent diving, but some have a real divers vibe, where it’s less about luxurious rooms and more about living and breathing underwater life.

Bathala Island has been a legendary diver’s site for over 25 years, now thriving as the renamed Sandies Bathala. The breathtaking house reef features magnificent coral gardens teeming with fish and attracts megafauna like nurse sharks and rays. Nestled near the North Ari Atoll’s outer reef, you’re just a short trip away from some of the Maldives’ top dive sites, including Maaya Thila, famous for its grey reef shark sightings.

Sandies Bathala, Maldives

Best for turtles

Silhouette & La Digue Islands, Seychelles

Something is calming – almost therapeutic – about diving with turtles and watching them gracefully swim to the surface for air. While the Seychelles’ giant Aldabra tortoises often steal the show on land, turtles nest here and inhabit the surrounding waters. The screensaver-worthy coral reefs around Silhouette Island are a designated national marine park. At Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, you might spot turtles laying eggs on the sandy shores or see rays gliding in the shallow lagoon waters. Over at Le Repaire Boutique Hotel on La Digue, you can snorkel right off the beach or head out on a snorkelling trip to Coco and Félicité Islands, where the crystal-clear waters are a haven for hawksbill turtles.

Best for dolphins and gentle giants

Australia's Coral Coast

You might be surprised to learn that Western Australia’s coastline meets the Indian Ocean, making it a prime spot for divers. The Coral Coast is home to the magnificent Ningaloo Reef, one of the largest fringing reefs in the world. At RAC Monkey Mia Resort, you can swim with dolphins every day of the year, offering unforgettable, up-close encounters with these playful pods. And from March to August, whale sharks roam the waters of Ningaloo Reef. Join a guided tour from Exmouth or Coral Bay, and you’ll have the chance to swim alongside these ocean giants in their natural habitat.

Best for cave diving

West Coast, Mauritius 

La Cathédrale is a huge beautifully shaped cave that lies 18 metres underwater, where the light pours through from above to give the impression of a majestic cathedral. It’s popular with underwater photographers charmed by the caverns and overhangs, excellent visibility and shoals of angel and clown fish. Dolphins have even been spotted here. Flic-en-Flac is the closest town to La Cathédrale, but many of our handpicked resorts around the island will be able to organise a dive trip here for you.

Inspired?

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If you’re inspired to discover the Indian Ocean’s underwater world for yourself, our range of beach holidays includes the Maldives, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka.

Explore the Indian Ocean

This article was updated on 31st July 2024