Best Diving Spots in Asia for April

Asia is a diver’s paradise offering a wide array of locations with crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and awe-inspiring underwater landscapes. If you're planning a diving trip in April, Asia has plenty of top-tier destinations to consider, each with its own unique characteristics. With seasonal variations affecting visibility, water temperatures, and marine activity, picking the right destination can be the difference between a good dive and a life-changing one. But where exactly should you head for the best dive in Asia this April?

Let’s start with an intriguing option that most divers don’t consider first: Sipadan Island in Malaysia.

This remote island is a bucket list destination for divers across the globe, and April is one of the best months to experience its full beauty. Imagine descending into the blue abyss and being surrounded by hundreds of barracudas swirling in a vortex, as if dancing in a ballet orchestrated by nature itself. This spectacle, known as the Barracuda Point, is something you simply must witness in April when the water is warm (around 29°C) and visibility is excellent, often exceeding 30 meters. You’ll also encounter sea turtles, reef sharks, and an incredible variety of soft and hard corals that make every dive a discovery of new wonders.
But what truly sets Sipadan apart is the Drop Off—a wall dive that plunges down thousands of meters into the ocean’s depths, offering a dramatic view that’s both breathtaking and humbling. It’s not just the marine life that’s abundant, it’s the sheer scale of the underwater environment that makes Sipadan a must-visit.

From Malaysia, let’s hop over to Raja Ampat in Indonesia.

This is often called the most biodiverse marine region in the world, and April is smack in the middle of its optimal diving season. Picture yourself diving into a colorful tapestry of coral reefs that look like something out of a dream. Raja Ampat, located in Indonesia’s Papua region, boasts over 600 species of coral and more than 1,500 species of fish, making every dive here feel like an entirely new adventure. April offers calm seas and perfect visibility, letting you fully experience the magic of its underwater landscapes.

Raja Ampat isn’t just for seasoned divers. The archipelago has sites suited for all levels, from shallow coral gardens to exhilarating drift dives. Manta Sandy, one of the most famous dive spots in Raja Ampat, offers divers the chance to see majestic manta rays gliding gracefully through the water, their enormous wingspans casting shadows over the coral beds below. You’ll also get to encounter pygmy seahorses, wobbegong sharks, and an incredible array of nudibranchs.

Next, we move to Thailand’s Similan Islands.

Thailand is no stranger to divers, but few places are as captivating as the Similan Islands. This chain of islands, located off the western coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, is known for its dramatic underwater boulder formations, impressive swim-throughs, and white sand beaches. What makes the Similan Islands special is the mix of pelagic fish, macro creatures, and amazing coral gardens.
April is the perfect time to visit as the diving season is just about to end, making for less crowded dive sites and better visibility as the water begins to warm up. The famous Elephant Head Rock is a must-visit, with huge granite boulders stacked on top of each other, creating tunnels and caverns for divers to explore. You’ll often spot leopard sharks, tiger sharks, and even manta rays patrolling these waters. The coral reefs here are alive with thousands of colorful reef fish, anemones, and sea fans.

If wreck diving excites you, then Coron Bay in the Philippines is the place to be in April.

Coron is renowned for its collection of WWII shipwrecks, making it one of the top wreck diving destinations in the world. The wrecks here are well-preserved and covered in corals, making them both historical artifacts and thriving marine habitats. The Irako Maru, a Japanese refrigeration ship, is one of the most popular wrecks to explore. It sits upright at about 30 meters and offers penetration opportunities for more advanced divers. You’ll also find the Akitsushima, a Japanese seaplane tender, which is teeming with soft corals and schools of fish darting in and out of its rusting frame.
What makes April ideal for Coron is that the sea conditions are calm and visibility ranges between 20 to 25 meters, allowing you to fully appreciate the scale and beauty of these underwater relics.

Moving towards Japan, Okinawa offers some of the clearest waters and diverse marine life in Asia.

Diving in Okinawa during April is particularly appealing because of the pleasant weather and the beginning of the hammerhead shark season. You can head to Yonaguni, where you can experience diving with these incredible creatures. There’s also the enigmatic Yonaguni Monument, an underwater rock formation that some speculate might be the ruins of an ancient civilization.
Okinawa is also famous for its diverse coral reefs, including Kerama Islands, where vibrant coral gardens stretch as far as the eye can see. With manta rays, sea turtles, and schools of tropical fish populating these waters, Okinawa provides a spectacular diving experience for both novice and experienced divers.

Finally, let’s talk about the Maldives, a true diving paradise.

Although the Maldives is a popular destination year-round, April marks the transition between the northeast and southwest monsoon, making it a prime time for diving. The waters are calm, the visibility can stretch up to 40 meters, and the sea is warm at around 30°C. The Maldives offers a variety of dive experiences, from thrilling drift dives in strong currents to serene reef dives where you can take in the beauty of the underwater world at your own pace.
One of the standout sites is the Manta Point in Ari Atoll, where you can witness manta rays gracefully swooping in for cleaning at the coral cleaning stations. The Maaya Thila, also in the Ari Atoll, is a stunning dive site known for its nocturnal dives, where divers can spot whitetip reef sharks, moray eels, and a fascinating array of macro life.

Diving in Asia during April is a world of discovery. Whether it’s the large pelagic species of the Maldives, the historic wrecks of Coron, or the breathtaking biodiversity of Raja Ampat, every location offers something unique. With favorable sea conditions, warm water temperatures, and a chance to see some of the ocean’s most magnificent creatures, these diving spots in Asia stand out as top choices for any serious diver planning a trip in April.

So, pack your gear, book your flights, and get ready for an unforgettable underwater adventure in some of the best diving destinations Asia has to offer this April.