| This article describes some of the better | | | | white beaches and turquoise blue water. This |
| dive sites in South East Asia. As a scuba | | | | area is a protected national park. Below the |
| diver, you will probably know that scuba | | | | water lie a sprawling underwater garden of |
| diving in South East Asia has always been | | | | deep canyons, coral gardens, huge granite |
| very popular because of its vast species of | | | | boulders, caves and walls. Liveaboard scuba |
| marine life and rich diversity of colorful | | | | diving is the norm here. Sipadan Island in |
| corals. As a matter of fact, there are many | | | | Malaysia was made famous by Jacques |
| world class dive sites in this region and | | | | Cousteau's documentary entitled Ghost Of The |
| with its excellent underwater visibility, | | | | Sea Turtles. This is an oceanic island which |
| South East Asia is indeed a scuba diver's | | | | is not connected to any continental shelf |
| haven. So, here are some of the top dive | | | | that rises about 2000 ft on an awesome |
| sites in South East Asia many of which I have | | | | limestone pinnacle and mushrooms out at the |
| dived in several times. We shall start with | | | | surface. Many dive magazines have named |
| Indonesia and of course, the island of Bali | | | | Sipadan as one of the best dive sites in the |
| cannot be left out. Perhaps the most dived | | | | world and reported to have the largest |
| site in Bali is the Liberty wreck. The wreck | | | | variety of soft corals in the world. At |
| was a US army logistic ship sunk by Japanese | | | | Sipadan, scuba divers will encounter exciting |
| submarine torpedoes during the last world | | | | drift dives, fascinating coral formations, |
| war. Liberty wreck lies in the depth of about | | | | turtles, lobsters, barracudas and even |
| 10m (32ft) to 30m (100ft) over 120m (385ft) | | | | various species of sharks. Manado, northen |
| of the sea bed. Divers can see guns, toilets, | | | | Sulawesi, Indonesia is the gateway to world |
| ship anchor chain among other things of a | | | | class dive spots in the Bunaken National |
| typical shipwreck. The wreck is heavily | | | | Park. Muck diving, meaning diving for little |
| encrusted with corals and brightly decorated | | | | critters on the seabed in Manado bay is the |
| with gorgonian sea fans and sea anemones. | | | | norm here. In this part of Indonesia, you |
| Scuba divers will also encounter large | | | | will encounter exhilarating wall dives, drop |
| schools of trevally and more than 400 species | | | | offs, huge napoleon wrasse, reef sharks and |
| of marine fishes and even exotic colonies of | | | | also another shipwreck. Layang Layang in |
| elusive garden eels. Similan island in | | | | Malaysia is a breathtaking atoll. It is part |
| Thailand is another interesting dive site. | | | | of a shoal group in the South China Sea known |
| Similan is located off the coast of Khao Lak | | | | as the Spratly islands. Here, massive numbers |
| which was hit badly by a Tsunami 2006. Nine | | | | of barracuda roams the water, large pelagic |
| granite islands made up the Similan islands. | | | | fishes and sharks make this place home. Do |
| These islands are covered by luxuriant | | | | not be surprised if you are investigated by a |
| tropical rainforests surrounded by pristine | | | | school of hammerhead sharks. |