Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea, and Indonesia is one of the best countries on earth to meet them. From West Papua to Sumbawa, several bays host these gentle giants around traditional fishing platforms. Here is where to go, when to visit, and how to do it right.

Sangeang is a smoking volcanic island just north of Komodo National Park. Divers come for black sand, warm bubble streams rising from the seafloor, and some of Indonesia's best macro life.

The Togian Islands sit in the calm heart of the Gulf of Tomini in Central Sulawesi. Divers come for untouched reefs, the barracuda school at Una Una and a WWII bomber wreck. Getting there takes effort, and that effort keeps the islands blissfully quiet.

Ambon diving means muck diving. On the black rubble slopes of Ambon Bay, divers find the psychedelic frogfish, ghost pipefish and other strange critters that made this Maluku island one of Indonesia's top macro photography destinations. Here's what to know before you go.

Triton Bay sits in one of Indonesia's richest and least-dived corners of the ocean, tucked inside West Papua's Kaimana Marine Protected Area. Its soft coral reefs and nutrient-rich water pack in giant groupers, walking sharks and even visiting whale sharks. Here's what to know before you dive this remote soft coral paradise.

Cenderawasih Bay is home to one of Indonesia's most unusual whale shark encounters. In this remote corner of West Papua, resident whale sharks gather beside traditional fishing platforms, drawn by baitfish rather than a seasonal migration. Here's what to know before you go.

The Derawan Islands sit off the coast of East Kalimantan, in Indonesian Borneo, far from the usual Bali and Komodo dive routes. Four main islands cover manta ray cleaning stations, a jellyfish lake and current-swept channels with big fish. Here is what each island offers and how to plan the trip.

Wakatobi sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle in Southeast Sulawesi, one of Indonesia's most remote and best protected reef systems. Four islands, more than 40 dive sites and famously clear water make it a serious pick for divers who already have a few Indonesia trips behind them. Here is what to expect and how to plan the trip.

The Banda Sea sits in remote eastern Indonesia, reached by liveaboard from Ambon. Divers come for scalloped hammerheads, banded sea kraits and coral growing on an old lava flow. Here is when to go, what you will see and what the diving asks of you.

Alor sits at Indonesia's eastern edge, where the Pantar Strait pulls in strong currents and big pelagic fish. Kalabahi Bay does the opposite, hiding rare macro life in black sand. This guide covers the sites, the season and how to get there.

Blackwater diving drops you into open ocean at night, over water hundreds of metres deep. A line of lights hangs from the boat, and larval fish, baby squid and transparent jellies drift past it. Here is how the dive works in Indonesia and what you need before you try it.

Indonesia has more pygmy seahorse species than anywhere else on earth, and most are under 2.5 cm long. This guide covers the five species you can realistically see, the regions that hold them, and how to spot one without stressing the animal.

Indonesia is the best place on earth to hunt for nudibranchs.

This guide covers the species you can find, the dive sites that hold them, and when to go.

It also explains how to spot the small ones and photograph them without doing damage.

North Sulawesi packs three very different kinds of diving into one small region. Bunaken has coral walls, Bangka has soft coral pinnacles, and Lembeh has the world's best muck diving.

Here is how to pick the right base for your trip.

Bali is one of the easiest places in the world to learn to dive. This guide explains how scuba certification in Bali works, from PADI and SSI Open Water courses to what a school should include, so you can pick the right course with confidence.

Belongas Bay diving is the wildest thing you can do underwater in Lombok. Offshore pinnacles on the island's south coast draw schooling hammerhead sharks between the middle of the year and November. The diving is cold, surging and current-swept, so it suits experienced divers only.

A Raja Ampat liveaboard moves between remote dive regions while you sleep. A resort keeps you in one place with day boats to nearby reefs.

Here is how the two compare on cost, dive sites, schedule and comfort, so you can pick the trip that fits how you like to travel.

The Dampier Strait is the heart of Raja Ampat diving. Strong currents feed reefs that hold world record fish life, from Cape Kri to Manta Sandy. Here are the best dive sites, the conditions and the best months to go.

Misool sits at the far southern tip of Raja Ampat, protected by one of Indonesia's oldest no-take marine reserves. Expect walls thick with soft coral, oceanic mantas at cleaning stations, and some of the richest muck and macro life in the Coral Triangle.

A Komodo liveaboard puts you at the park's best dive sites for days at a stretch, instead of squeezing into one day trip from Labuan Bajo. This guide covers the north and south routes, the best months to sail, and what to check before you book a boat.

Every year between July and October, giant ocean sunfish rise from deep water to visit shallow reefs near Bali. Here is when to go, where to dive, and what a mola mola encounter in Nusa Penida is really like.

Nusa Lembongan sits a short boat ride off Bali's east coast, with calm harbor access and dive sites for every level. Expect drift-swept coral walls, mangrove-lined channels and regular manta ray encounters nearby. This guide covers the best sites, when to go and how to get there.

Padang Bai is Bali's most varied dive base, a short boat ride from Blue Lagoon's calm reefs, the Jetty's macro life, and the current-swept walls of Gili Tepekong. This guide covers every site, the best season to visit, and where to book your trip.

Menjangan Island sits inside West Bali National Park, known for calm water and long visibility. Steep coral walls ring the island, a short boat ride from the harbor. This guide covers the best dive sites, the marine life, and when to go.

Amed is a string of quiet fishing villages on Bali's northeast coast, where shore diving replaces boat rides and black volcanic sand replaces white beaches. The water stays calm most of the year. That makes Amed diving an easy, unhurried alternative to Bali's busier dive spots.

The USAT Liberty is Bali's most famous wreck dive. This WWII cargo ship sank just metres from a black-sand beach in Tulamben. Decades of coral growth have turned its hull into a thriving reef, home to jackfish, pygmy seahorses, and nudibranchs. Because you dive it straight from shore, it's one of the easiest wreck dives anywhere in the world.

At the far western tip of Indonesia, off the coast of Aceh in Sumatra, the small volcanic island of Pulau Weh offers something increasingly rare: excellent diving without the crowds.

Think current-swept pinnacles, reefs crowded with moray eels, deep wrecks, and sleepy beach villages where diving still feels like an adventure.

Indonesia stretches more than 5,000 kilometers across the equator, and there is world-class diving somewhere in the archipelago every single month of the year. The key is knowing which region to visit when.

This guide breaks down Indonesia's diving seasons region by region, so you can time your trip for mantas, mola mola, whale sharks, or simply the calmest seas.

The Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi is widely considered the best muck diving destination on the planet. Its dark volcanic sand hides an astonishing density of rare critters, from mimic octopus to hairy frogfish.

Here is everything you need to know to plan a Lembeh diving trip, from the top dive sites to the best season for critter spotting.

Bunaken National Marine Park is one of Indonesia's oldest marine reserves and one of the best wall diving destinations in Asia. Vertical coral walls plunge into deep blue water, and green turtles are so common that divers stop counting.

This guide covers Bunaken's top dive sites, the best time to visit, and how to combine it with nearby Lembeh.

Just a short boat ride from Bali, Nusa Penida offers some of the most thrilling scuba diving in Indonesia: reliable manta ray encounters, seasonal mola mola sightings, and vibrant drift dives along steep coral slopes.

This guide covers the island's best dive sites, when to visit, what conditions to expect, and how to plan your trip.

Discover the best places to dive with hammerhead sharks in Indonesia.

Discover the reef after dark: nocturnal creatures, coral polyps in bloom, and bioluminescence await

Your complete guide to scuba diving in Siargao Island, Philippines

Everything you need to know before diving the Gilis, from turtle-packed shallows to Shark Point and beyond.

A curated guide to the most unforgettable underwater experiences across SEA.

A practical guide to finding safe, reputable dive operators across the region.

Your essential guide to planning a dive trip to Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Southeast Asia is diveable year-round, but timing your trip right makes all the difference.

Everything about diving Raja Ampat -- from logistics and costs to what is underwater.

From your first breath underwater to your PADI certification card, here is everything you need to know.

A complete guide to the best manta ray dive sites and seasons across the region.

Practical advice for capturing Southeast Asia's marine life, from gear to technique.

Southeast Asia is one of the most popular scuba diving destinations in the world, offering crystal-clear waters, diverse marine life, and unforgettable underwater landscapes.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced diver, the region has something for everyone. In this guide, we’ll highlight the top dive sites in Southeast Asia and why they should be on your bucket list.

If you love diving, Bali should be on your list. I have dived many places in Bali, and each spot offers something special. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, Bali’s clear waters and amazing sea life will impress you.