Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginner Scuba Divers
Thailand
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!
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!
Beginner’s Guide to Swimming with Whales & Whale Sharks
Worldwide
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.
Where are the best places to scuba dive in April? Its a popular time to travel but is considered shoulder season in many destinations, so you can still take advantage of lower prices and fewer crowds (aside from the busy Easter holidays, depending on when they fall on the calendar). There are plenty of places with great diving in April, and you should discuss with your travel advisor what best means to you; however, weve selected three destinations to inspire you while you plan a dive holiday in April.
Known for its vibrant coral reefs and varied marine life, Puerto Galera is one of our favorite places to scuba dive in April. Its one of the easiest destinations to reach in the Philippines: fly into Manila, take a two-hour car ride to the pier, and then a one-hour ferry. If youre on a budget, we even have a great guide on how to get from Manila to Puerto Galera using public transportation.
Expect to be rewarded with marine life encounters ranging from nudibranchs and frogfish to a variety of turtles, sharks, and rays. Thresher sharks have been regularly spotted around Puerto Galera in recent years, offering you the chance to check these striking animals off your bucket list. Verde Island is home to some of the most prolific marine biodiversity in the Philippines and is a must for experienced divers. Visit Verde Island on day trips from Puerto Galera for thrilling currents where huge schools of large fish congregate and spectacular coral walls.
Stay at one of Puerto Galeras dive resorts and enjoy daily dive trips to the surrounding dive sites. Combine your trip to Puerto Galera with Anilao a top macro destination a short one-hour boat ride away.
Another one of the best places to scuba dive in April is Sipadan, Malaysia. This strictly regulated marine park boasts one of the most impressive marine habitats in the world. Sipadan officials only issue 257 dive permits daily, and the island is closed to activities every November. With these restrictions, much of your diving will take place around nearby islands, and you may only have the chance to visit Sipadan once or twice, depending on the length of your stay.
Enjoy a great mix of stunning reef diving at Sipadan Island and muck diving around Mabul and Kapalai. At Sipadan, expect schools of fish, including barracuda, anthias, jackfish, and triggerfish in blue water, while marine life on the reefs includes octopus, nudibranchs, anemonefish, eels, and more. Mabul and Kapalai are home to unique macro life such as ghost pipefish, seahorses, mimic and blue-ringed octopus, leaf scorpionfish, frogfish, and nudibranchs.
While you cant stay on Sipadan Island, the neighboring islands (Mabul and Kapalai) offer dive resorts catering to different budgets and preferences. You can even stay on a decommissioned oil rig and dive directly from the platform!
Bluewater Tip: Book your Sipadan trip through Bluewater Travel and our experienced travel consultants will ensure you get to dive the maximum number of days at Sipadan Island.
Another great destination for scuba diving in April is the Bay Islands in Honduras. Located on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, divers flock to Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja to explore a variety of dive sites, including walls, wrecks, and caves. A laid-back diving hotspot, its an easy destination to reach from the US and offers easy conditions suitable for divers of all experience levels and snorkelers. April is a great time to dive Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja without the crowds of tourists that visit during peak holidays.
Dive Roatan and nearby Utila and Guanaja to see a range of corals, tropical fish, turtles, and macro critters. Expect huge sponges and sea fans, parrotfish, triggerfish, groupers, and eels. Encounter eagle rays, octopus, squid, pufferfish, barracuda, and nurse sharks at some dive sites. If youre lucky, you might even see a whale shark around Utila during the tail end of their migration.
Diving Honduras Bay Islands is predominantly land-based, but liveaboard enthusiasts can explore the area (including some underwater pinnacles not accessible from resorts) on the Roatan Aggressor. All three islands boast a range of accommodation options to suit different budgets and preferences. Roatan and Utila are busier and host more dining, shopping, and nightlife options. Guanaja is quieter and perfect for those seeking a getaway in a more natural setting.
While we recommend Puerto Galera, Sipadan, and Roatan, there are abundant other incredible destinations to dive in April, including Bali, Bonaire, Cozumel, and many more. We understand that best is subjective and divers have different preferences. Contact our travel advisors to discuss what the best means to you so we can customize your best dive trip.
Bluewater Travel can book you on a liveaboard or resort in Puerto Galera, Sipadan, Honduras, and 40+ other destinations in the world for the same cost or less than booking any other way. We know the diving, seasons, boats and cabins and when to go better than anyone else!
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.
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.
Best Places to Swim or Dive with Whale Sharks: Our Top 6
Socorro Islands
Swimming with whale sharks is one of the ocean’s most remarkable experiences. These gentle giants—reaching up to 12 m in length—are filter feeders and pose no threat to snorkellers. Whether you’re seeking a classic liveaboard expedition or a day-trip snorkel, this guide helps you choose the right destination, season, and operator for a safe and awe-inspiring encounter.
