Articles

Best Diving in Indonesia - Top 10

Looking for the best diving in Indonesia? We've dived around the country and picked our favorites. Here is our list of top 10 dive areas in Indonesia!

Catch the Wave - Liveaboard Deals!

Don’t miss out on our liveaboard and resort specials! Whether you’re planning a spontaneous dive trip or searching for the ultimate scuba escape, we’ve gathered the hottest deals across the Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Fiji. Exclusive savings and limited availability make these offers impossible to ignore—scroll down now to claim your dream dive vacation!

10 Best Snorkeling Destinations in the World

Exploring the underwater world doesn't always require scuba certification or bulky gear as snorkeling provides a simple and equally stunning way to experience marine life in its natural environment. Snorkeling travel is booming in 2025, with high demand for liveaboard snorkel options in the Maldives and Raja Ampat. We've added more itinerary flexibility to help travellers access remote reefs with shallow, clear-water drop-offs.

The Vision: Luxury Diving Adventures in Oman

Discover Oman’s stunning fjords and coral-rich reefs aboard The Vision, a boutique liveaboard for just 12 guests. Enjoy luxury cabins, exceptional diving, and warm hospitality—now with 30% off select trips through February 2026 for an unforgettable Arabian dive adventure.

Oman Liveaboard Diving: Explore the Musandam with The Vision

Discover Oman’s hidden diving gem, where unspoiled reefs, abundant marine life, and historic wrecks meet the comfort of The Vision liveaboard. Enjoy drift dives, whale shark encounters, and luxury relaxation,perfect for divers seeking adventure away from crowded destinations.

Bluewater Travel is a 2025 Award-Winning Dive Travel Agency

We're thrilled to announce that Bluewater Travel has been recognized as one of the Best Dive Travel Agencies in Scuba Diving Magazine's 2025 Reader's Choice Awards. This award celebrates our commitment to providing divers unforgettable experiences, from tropical coral reefs to frigid polar diving. We owe this honor to our wonderful clients, who voted for us based on our dedication to serving them with the utmost expertise and passion.

Top 20 Dive Sites in the World

Discover the Bluewater team's favorite dive sites around the world. From remote corners of Asia and Micronesia to our own doorstep, we've chosen our top 20 dive sites that keep us coming back again and again .

Destinations That Rival Raja: 3 Alternatives to Raja Ampat for World-Class Diving

Looking for world-class diving without the crowds of Raja Ampat? This article highlights three standout alternatives — North Sulawesi, Alor, and Halmahera — each offering vibrant reefs, rich biodiversity, and unique underwater experiences. From muck diving in Lembeh to untouched reefs in Halmahera, discover where to go next for your ultimate dive adventure.

Best Scuba Diving in the World in 2025/26

Our travel advisors and trip leaders are always on the move, exploring the underwater world! Using their firsthand experience and feedback from our valued guests, we've curated a list that showcases the best diving in the world in 2025. Learn when to go, where to stay, top dive sites, and more. 

The World's Best Places to Swim with Whales

There are only a few places in the world where you can safely swim and snorkel with whales. Learn where, and when to go for guaranteed whale sightings!

North Sulawesi Passport to Paradise

Explore three top North Sulawesi dive destinations in 1 trip—Bunaken, Bangka, and Lembeh Strait—with seamless dive boat transfers, world-class resorts, and unparalleled underwater experiences.

Why Group Trips are Ideal Scuba Diving Holidays for Singles

Our Travel with Bluewater Group Trips and Photo Workshops are increasingly popular, especially as scuba diving holidays for solo travelers. You can even meet fellow divers who become lifelong friends, like Lynn and Lisa, who bonded during our recent Photo Workshop in Anilao!

Zanzibar Diving & Tanzania Safari Trip Report 2024

Explore Zanzibar’s turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, and macro marine life before venturing into Tanzania’s iconic wildlife parks. Starting with dives near Mnemba Island, highlights included sightings of ghost pipefish, mantis shrimps, and a stunning orange frogfish. Afterward, the adventure shifted to Pemba Island for more underwater exploration. The journey continued on a 10-day safari through Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti. Guests encountered elephants, lions, and a rare leopard during thrilling game drives. Luxurious accommodations, from glamping tents to colonial-style lodges, provided perfect retreats. A blend of diving and safari adventures made this trip unforgettable.

Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginner Scuba Divers

Liveaboards can seem daunting if you've never been on one, and even more so to newer divers. We've rounded up the best liveaboard destinations suitable for beginner scuba divers, with options ranging from the nearby Caribbean to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Read on to find the best liveaboard destination for you!

Best Diving in Indonesia - Top 10

Looking for the best diving in Indonesia? We've dived around the country and picked our favorites. Here is our list of top 10 dive areas in Indonesia!

Beginner’s Guide to Swimming with Whales & Whale Sharks

Swimming with whales or whale sharks is a breathtaking, bucket-list experience—and yes, it's accessible even to beginners! This guide will prepare you with everything you need to know before jumping in.

10 Best Snorkeling Destinations in the World

Exploring the underwater world doesn't always require scuba certification or bulky gear as snorkeling provides a simple and equally stunning way to experience marine life in its natural environment. Snorkeling travel is booming in 2025, with high demand for liveaboard snorkel options in the Maldives and Raja Ampat. We've added more itinerary flexibility to help travellers access remote reefs with shallow, clear-water drop-offs.

Beginner Dive Sites in the Caribbean

Looking to start your scuba diving journey in the Caribbean? This guide highlights the region’s best beginner-friendly dive sites—calm waters, vibrant marine life, and easy access make them perfect for first-time divers.

Best Places to Swim or Dive with Whale Sharks: Our Top 6

Welcome to the World of Liveaboard Diving

Discover the magic of liveaboard diving, where you can enjoy sensational, remote scenery. Live the "dive, eat, sleep, repeat" lifestyle as you explore dive sites off the beaten path.

Top 20 Dive Sites in the World

Discover the Bluewater team's favorite dive sites around the world. From remote corners of Asia and Micronesia to our own doorstep, we've chosen our top 20 dive sites that keep us coming back again and again .

Best Dive Resorts in the World - Staff Picks

Here at Bluewater Travel, our team has extensive knowledge and first-hand experience of some of the best dive resorts in the world. Here are our top picks.

Top Remote & Off The Beaten Track Dive Destinations

Our travel experts' favorite picks for the top remote and off the beaten track dive destinations in the world. Learn what to see, the best time to dive and more!

Top 4 Places to Dive with Hammerhead Sharks

Discover where you can experience the magic of diving with schools of hammerhead sharks. These remarkable sharks are known to congregate in certain areas year-round or seasonally, offering you the best chance to dive with not just one or two, but unfathomable numbers.

The World's Best Places to Shark Cage Dive

We've traveled around the world and picked the best places for shark cage diving. Learn what to see, where to stay and much more!

Solo Dive Travel Guide: Best Liveaboards & Dive Resorts

Solo dive travel has many benefits, including flexibility, independence, personal growth, and meeting new people. However, divers traveling solo often face a difficult choice: to pay a substantial single supplement or share their rooms/cabins with strangers. As seasoned divers with plenty of experience traveling solo, the experts at Bluewater Travel have put together a guide of liveaboards and dive resorts with single-friendly policies.

Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World

We've traveled around the world and picked the best places for scuba diving via liveaboard. Learn what to see, where to stay, and much more!

Best Wreck Diving in the World - Top 10

We've traveled around the world and picked the best shipwrecks to scuba dive. Learn what to see, where to stay and much more!

Best Coral Reefs in the World - Top 6

We've traveled the world and picked our top 6 locations with the best coral reefs. Scuba diving or snorkeling, this article will help you plan your next vacation!

Scuba Diving Bucket List: Top 5 Experiences

Bluewater's Bucket List line of trips and destinations. Special once-in-a-lifetime experiences that every world traveler should do at least once.

Top 6 Diving Destinations for Macro Photography

Discover Bluewater's six favorite destinations for macro photography: Anilao, Lembeh, Dumaguete, Sea of Cortez, Bali, and Raja Ampat. Achieve your "perfect shot" at a dive site known for exceptional macro life, including bucket list critters such as stargazers, paper nautilus, bobbit worms, and the tiniest nudibranchs imaginablee.

Best Diving in the Caribbean - Top 12

Wondering where the best scuba diving in the Caribbean is? It really depends on what you like! Here are our top 12 picks.

Liveaboard Dive Packing List (2025 Edition)

Planning a liveaboard dive trip? This ultimate 2025 packing list covers everything you’ll need – from must-have dive gear and personal items to handy extras that make life onboard smoother. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned diver, this checklist helps you dive in fully prepared.

Beginner Dive Sites in the Caribbean

Looking to start your scuba diving journey in the Caribbean? This guide highlights the region’s best beginner-friendly dive sites—calm waters, vibrant marine life, and easy access make them perfect for first-time divers.

Cozumel Trip Report 2025

Bluewater Travel’s 2025 Cozumel Photo Workshop at Iberostar featured vibrant reefs, warm water, and expert photo instruction, with highlights including splendid toadfish, turtles, and sharks.

Fakarava Grouper Spawning Trip Report 2025

Read about Bluewater's unforgettable Summer 2025 Fakarava Grouper Spawn Trip—an exhilarating adventure featuring shark-filled drifts, rare grouper spawning events, and pristine Polynesian reef diving led by Mark B. Hatter!

South Australia Great White Shark Trip Recap 2025

Read all about Tim Yeo’s unforgettable South Australia expedition with Bluewater aboard the Rodney Fox, featuring great white sharks, sea lions, leafy sea dragons, and the world’s largest cuttlefish aggregation.

Dumaguete Trip Report 2025

Read about Bluewater Travel's 7-day underwater photo workshop to Dumaguete, highlighting vibrant marine life, standout dive sites, and memorable underwater photography experiences.

Raja Ampat Trip Report

Bluewater Travel Advisor & Trip Leader Katie Yonker boarded the beautiful Amira for an amazing Raja Ampat dive trip.

Papua New Guinea Trip Report - Oct/Nov 2019

Papua New Guinea Trip Report - 2019

Maldives Trip Recap

I imagine that when people think of the Maldives, a view of tranquil turquoise seas and complete bliss comes to mind. They are not wrong.

Liveaboard Dive Packing List (2025 Edition)

Planning a liveaboard dive trip? This ultimate 2025 packing list covers everything you’ll need – from must-have dive gear and personal items to handy extras that make life onboard smoother. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned diver, this checklist helps you dive in fully prepared.

Belize Dive Resorts vs Liveaboards

Belize is one of the Caribbean’s best dive destinations — but should you explore its reefs from a shore-based resort or a liveaboard? This guide compares both options to help you choose the perfect dive holiday in Belize.

Raja Ampat Dive Season Explained

When is the best time to dive Raja Ampat? This Indonesian paradise offers world-class diving year-round, but conditions can vary depending on the season. From manta ray migrations to peak visibility and quiet off-season months, this guide breaks down what to expect month by month — so you can plan your perfect trip to Raja Ampat.

Maldives Dive Resorts vs Liveaboards

Thinking of diving the Maldives but not sure whether to stay at a luxury resort or book a liveaboard? With its warm waters, vibrant coral reefs, and world-famous marine life — from manta rays to whale sharks — the Maldives offers some of the best diving on Earth. But how you experience it can vary hugely depending on your choice of accommodation. This guide compares Maldives dive resorts and liveaboards to help you decide which is best for your dive style, travel preferences, and budget.

Anilao Spring 2025 Underwater Photoworkshop Trip Report

Read about Bluewater's epic Spring 2025 Anilao Underwater Photoworkshop, 17 days of world-class critter diving, hands-on instruction, blackwater adventures, and creative photography led by Nirupam Nigam!

Red Sea 2025 Trip Recap

Our dive experts just spent 3 weeks exploring Egypt’s Red Sea—from famous northern wrecks to Elba Reef’s pristine southern sites. Get firsthand tips on top liveaboards, best dive seasons, and must-see spots like the Thistlegorm and spinner dolphins.

Raja Ampat 2025 Trip Report

This unforgettable 12-day journey took us through world-renowned sites like Blue Magic, Melissa’s Garden, and the Four Kings. We explored coral-covered reefs, swam with manta rays, and encountered uncommon animals like walking sharks and pygmy seahorses. It was the dive trip of a lifetime, complete with professional guides, first-rate service, and constant marine life action!

Antarctica Trip Recap March 2025

Bluewater’s March 2025 Antarctica expedition took travelers from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia before embarking on the M/V Ortelius. Highlights included diving in the Beagle Channel, exploring iceberg-filled waters, and witnessing wildlife like penguins, whales, and leopard seals. The group crossed the Antarctic Circle, explored a sunken whaling ship, and dove into Deception Island's volcanic caldera. This unforgettable journey offered once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from breathtaking underwater sights to rare encounters with Antarctica’s wildlife.

Socorro 2025 Trip Report

Join trip leader Nirupam Nigam on an unforgettable February 2025 photo workshop in Socorro, featuring giant mantas, sharks, and expert underwater photography guidance aboard Rocio del Mar.

Oman Explorer Trip Recap 2025

Explore Oman’s surprisingly vibrant reefs and macro life with Bluewater Travelaboard the Oman Explorer—the only liveaboard in the country.

Baja Ultimate Whale Safari 2025 Trip Report

Read about our unforgettable trip to interact with Pacific gray whales in Baja, Mexico, in February 2025. We experienced the incredible bonding experience of petting mothers and calves as they approached our boat to seek affection.

Raja Ampat Trip Report December 2024

Bluewater Travel's Raja Ampat Photo Workshop aboard MV Ambai in December 2024 was a 12-day diving adventure to remember. Clients explored the biodiverse waters of southern, central and northern Raja Ampat, completing 36 dives and capturing stunning underwater images. Highlights included close encounters with manta rays, wobbegong sharks and the shy walking shark. Night dives and daily photography workshops were part of the experience. As well as diving, the tourists enjoyed scenic tours, a beach barbecue and even an unplanned engagement. The trip concluded with a photo competition and a celebration of the beautiful marine life and friendship experienced aboard MV Ambai.

Best Diving in Indonesia - Top 10

Looking for the best diving in Indonesia? We've dived around the country and picked our favorites. Here is our list of top 10 dive areas in Indonesia!

Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginner Scuba Divers

Liveaboards can seem daunting if you've never been on one, and even more so to newer divers. We've rounded up the best liveaboard destinations suitable for beginner scuba divers, with options ranging from the nearby Caribbean to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Read on to find the best liveaboard destination for you!

Bluewater Travel's 50 Amazing Adventures

Join us as we explore unique destinations around the world. Each video showcases a recent dive adventure with a Bluewater team member, customer, or a Travel with Bluewater group in an exotic location!

Oman Liveaboard Diving: Explore the Musandam with The Vision

Discover Oman’s hidden diving gem, where unspoiled reefs, abundant marine life, and historic wrecks meet the comfort of The Vision liveaboard. Enjoy drift dives, whale shark encounters, and luxury relaxation,perfect for divers seeking adventure away from crowded destinations.

Beginner Dive Sites in the Caribbean

Looking to start your scuba diving journey in the Caribbean? This guide highlights the region’s best beginner-friendly dive sites—calm waters, vibrant marine life, and easy access make them perfect for first-time divers.

Best Places to Swim or Dive with Whale Sharks: Our Top 6

Fakarava Grouper Spawning Trip Report 2025

Read about Bluewater's unforgettable Summer 2025 Fakarava Grouper Spawn Trip—an exhilarating adventure featuring shark-filled drifts, rare grouper spawning events, and pristine Polynesian reef diving led by Mark B. Hatter!

Cozumel Trip Report 2025

Bluewater Travel’s 2025 Cozumel Photo Workshop at Iberostar featured vibrant reefs, warm water, and expert photo instruction, with highlights including splendid toadfish, turtles, and sharks.

South Australia Great White Shark Trip Recap 2025

Read all about Tim Yeo’s unforgettable South Australia expedition with Bluewater aboard the Rodney Fox, featuring great white sharks, sea lions, leafy sea dragons, and the world’s largest cuttlefish aggregation.

Dumaguete Trip Report 2025

Read about Bluewater Travel's 7-day underwater photo workshop to Dumaguete, highlighting vibrant marine life, standout dive sites, and memorable underwater photography experiences.

The World's Best Places to Shark Cage Dive

We've traveled around the world and picked the best places for shark cage diving. Learn what to see, where to stay and much more!

Top Remote & Off The Beaten Track Dive Destinations

Our travel experts' favorite picks for the top remote and off the beaten track dive destinations in the world. Learn what to see, the best time to dive and more!

Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World

We've traveled around the world and picked the best places for scuba diving via liveaboard. Learn what to see, where to stay, and much more!

Top 20 Dive Sites in the World

Discover the Bluewater team's favorite dive sites around the world. From remote corners of Asia and Micronesia to our own doorstep, we've chosen our top 20 dive sites that keep us coming back again and again .

Top 4 Places to Dive with Hammerhead Sharks

Discover where you can experience the magic of diving with schools of hammerhead sharks. These remarkable sharks are known to congregate in certain areas year-round or seasonally, offering you the best chance to dive with not just one or two, but unfathomable numbers.

Best Dive Resorts in the World - Staff Picks

Here at Bluewater Travel, our team has extensive knowledge and first-hand experience of some of the best dive resorts in the world. Here are our top picks.

Best Wreck Diving in the World - Top 10

We've traveled around the world and picked the best shipwrecks to scuba dive. Learn what to see, where to stay and much more!

Best Coral Reefs in the World - Top 6

We've traveled the world and picked our top 6 locations with the best coral reefs. Scuba diving or snorkeling, this article will help you plan your next vacation!

Scuba Diving Bucket List: Top 5 Experiences

Bluewater's Bucket List line of trips and destinations. Special once-in-a-lifetime experiences that every world traveler should do at least once.

Maldives Trip Recap

I imagine that when people think of the Maldives, a view of tranquil turquoise seas and complete bliss comes to mind. They are not wrong.

Beginner’s Guide to Swimming with Whales & Whale Sharks

Swimming with whales or whale sharks is a breathtaking, bucket-list experience—and yes, it's accessible even to beginners! This guide will prepare you with everything you need to know before jumping in.

Liveaboard Seasickness Survival Guide

Embarking on a liveaboard dive trip offers unparalleled access to remote dive sites and extended underwater adventures. However, the motion of the boat can lead to seasickness for some divers. Understanding how to prevent and manage seasickness ensures a comfortable and enjoyable experience. This guide provides practical tips and remedies to help you stay steady on your feet.

Beginner Dive Sites in the Caribbean

Looking to start your scuba diving journey in the Caribbean? This guide highlights the region’s best beginner-friendly dive sites—calm waters, vibrant marine life, and easy access make them perfect for first-time divers.

Solo Dive Travel Guide: Best Liveaboards & Dive Resorts

Solo dive travel has many benefits, including flexibility, independence, personal growth, and meeting new people. However, divers traveling solo often face a difficult choice: to pay a substantial single supplement or share their rooms/cabins with strangers. As seasoned divers with plenty of experience traveling solo, the experts at Bluewater Travel have put together a guide of liveaboards and dive resorts with single-friendly policies.

Destinations That Rival Raja: 3 Alternatives to Raja Ampat for World-Class Diving

Looking for world-class diving without the crowds of Raja Ampat? This article highlights three standout alternatives — North Sulawesi, Alor, and Halmahera — each offering vibrant reefs, rich biodiversity, and unique underwater experiences. From muck diving in Lembeh to untouched reefs in Halmahera, discover where to go next for your ultimate dive adventure.

Liveaboard Dive Packing List (2025 Edition)

Planning a liveaboard dive trip? This ultimate 2025 packing list covers everything you’ll need – from must-have dive gear and personal items to handy extras that make life onboard smoother. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned diver, this checklist helps you dive in fully prepared.

Belize Dive Resorts vs Liveaboards

Belize is one of the Caribbean’s best dive destinations — but should you explore its reefs from a shore-based resort or a liveaboard? This guide compares both options to help you choose the perfect dive holiday in Belize.

Learn to Dive with Bluewater Travel

Want to explore the world's oceans and discover the amazing life beneath the waves?

How to Travel to Puerto Galera from Manila Using Public Transport

Domestic land and sea travel can be challenging and overwhelming, especially in a foreign country you aren't familiar with. It might seem scary to use public buses and ferries to reach your destination, and private transfers can be pricey. Tim took public transportation from Manila to Puerto Galera during a recent trip to the Philippines and documented the process to help you decide what transfer option is best for you.

Using a Smartphone for Underwater Photography

Over the past two decades, we have become accustomed to always having a camera on us in the form of a smartphone. So, it only makes sense that technology would develop to enable us to take these miniature supercomputers everywhere even underwater.

Raja Ampat Dive Season Explained

When is the best time to dive Raja Ampat? This Indonesian paradise offers world-class diving year-round, but conditions can vary depending on the season. From manta ray migrations to peak visibility and quiet off-season months, this guide breaks down what to expect month by month — so you can plan your perfect trip to Raja Ampat.

Maldives Dive Resorts vs Liveaboards

Thinking of diving the Maldives but not sure whether to stay at a luxury resort or book a liveaboard? With its warm waters, vibrant coral reefs, and world-famous marine life — from manta rays to whale sharks — the Maldives offers some of the best diving on Earth. But how you experience it can vary hugely depending on your choice of accommodation. This guide compares Maldives dive resorts and liveaboards to help you decide which is best for your dive style, travel preferences, and budget.

World’s Best Snorkeling Destinations for Beginners

Snorkeling is one of the most magical and beginner-friendly ways to connect with the ocean. Whether you're drifting over shallow coral gardens or meeting sea turtles face-to-face, you don’t need to be a scuba diver to witness the underwater world.

Essential Cabo Airport Arrival Guide

We've been through the Cabo Airport countless times on the way to lead our Travel with Bluewater group trips and have put together this guide so you'll know what to expect when you land, can navigate the airport with expert ease, and focus on your holiday ahead.

Packing Lists for Dive and Safari Trips

Reduce your travel stress with helpful packing lists from the experts at Bluewater Travel. Use our downloadable, printable checklists to ensure you pack everything you need and avoid overpacking.

Why Group Trips are Ideal Scuba Diving Holidays for Singles

Our Travel with Bluewater Group Trips and Photo Workshops are increasingly popular, especially as scuba diving holidays for solo travelers. You can even meet fellow divers who become lifelong friends, like Lynn and Lisa, who bonded during our recent Photo Workshop in Anilao!

Galapagos Travel Tips

Travel to the Galapagos is an exciting and once-in-a-lifetime experience for many scuba divers. While it may be easy to get caught up in the excitement of visiting such an awesome destination, it's important to consider some essential Galapagos travel tips to make your trip much more enjoyable!

How to Book Domestic Flights in Indonesia

Indonesia is renowned for its incredible diving in the heart of the Coral Triangle and holds a high spot on most divers bucket lists. The sprawling archipelago boasts expansive coastline and prolific and varied marine life. While major islands such as Bali and Java are easy destinations to reach via air, some of the more remote areas can present travel challenges particularly with domestic flight bookings.

Liveaboards in Egypt (Red Sea)

The Egyptian Red Sea is a world-class destination for liveaboard diving, offering a unique mix of stunning coral reefs, legendary wrecks, and big animal encounters—all in warm, clear water. Whether you're looking to explore WWII history beneath the waves or drift along vibrant reef walls teeming with life, Egypt's Red Sea delivers unforgettable experiences at a fraction of the cost of other global hotspots. In this guide, we explore the best regions, itineraries, dive conditions and boats—helping you plan the ultimate Red Sea liveaboard adventure.

Raja Ampat vs Komodo

Raja Ampat and Komodo National Park are two of Indonesia’s most iconic dive destinations, each offering a completely different underwater experience. Raja Ampat is known for its vibrant coral reefs, rare macro life, and unmatched biodiversity in the heart of the Coral Triangle. Komodo, on the other hand, is famous for its thrilling drift dives, manta rays, and big pelagic encounters. In this article, we compare the highlights, dive conditions, marine life, and travel logistics of each destination to help you decide which one best suits your diving style—or why both might deserve a spot on your bucket list.