Southeast Asia has nearly 100,000 sq. kilometers of coral reefs, almost 34 percent of the world's total and you don’t have to be a world class diver to appreciate them (although it helps). Here are City Weekend’s picks for the best reefs around and how to enjoy them.

Luxury in Paradise: Sipadan, Malaysia

The islands of Borneo are considered to be one of the world’s finest sites for diving and snorkeling—biodiversity, blue skies and white sand beaches add up to a slice of paradise. Of them, Sipadan is most famous for its fantastic wall reefs. Thanks to the Malaysian government’s commitment to conservation and human impact reduction, all diving operations were shut down and buildings removed from Sipadan in 2004. While many feared an end to diving altogether, measures to return the island to its pre-tourism state have made it one of the best diving and snorkeling destinations in Asia. What’s special? Sipadan’s waters teem with thousands of marine species, including manta rays, hammerhead sharks and, closer to the surface, a staggering number of sea turtles, the island’s top attraction.
CW Itinerary: Divers and snorkelers stay on Mabul or Kapalai, 10 minutes by boat from Sipadan. Warm up there with a few practice dives before hitting Sipadan’s strong currents and depths. Diving facilities on Mabul and Kapalai can arrange boat trips to Sipadan and other nearby diving sites, as well as spectacular night diving.

Travel Details

Stay at the Sipadan Water Village, located on Mabul. First fly to the Tawau airport, where reception staff will meet you and escort you via boat to Mabul. The resort, built on stilts along the beach, is composed of spacious luxury cottages, each featuring bathrooms and private, sea-view balconies. US$425 per night (including meals) www.swvresort.com

Honeymoon Heaven: The Maldives, Indian Ocean

The Maldives, a nation composed of 1,200 islands, is the stuff of legend for divers and snorkelers. While the area was damaged by warm sea temperatures during El Nino in 1998, the aquatic life remains spectacular and many corals have started to recover. Diver and snorkelers flock to the unique “Stingray City of the Indian Ocean.” The Maldivian government has taken many measures to control the impact of tourism and preserve the natural beauty of the region. Only a hundred islands accommodate tourist, and resorts are required to abide by strict environmental practices. Stunning beauty and relative isolation add up to a top destination for honeymooners. What’s Special? If over 600 species of tropical fish aren’t enough for you, try stingrays, eels and giant brain coral on for size.
CW Itinerary: The Maldives are great for more experienced divers, since currents can be quite heavy in winter. The best times to visit are late January to early May, and August through early November. Hire a boat to tour around the islands so you can pick and choose your sites.

Travel Details

The Maldives is home to an extensive list of luxurious romantic getaways. CW recommends the Taj Coral Reef Resort on the North Male Atoll, accessible by boat from Male International Airport. The five star resort features land and sea bungalows, stunning views, a diving and snorkeling center, a spa and a shipwreck perfect for both snorkeling and diving. US$380 per night www.tajhotels.com

Dive Hard, Party Harder: Koh Tao, Thailand

Koh Tao, or Turtle Island, has been a favorite with backpackers since the 1980’s, yet remains quieter and safer than crowded Phuket or the nearby party island, Phi Phi. If you’re not too tired after diving, snorkeling or sea kayaking, Koh Tao is a great place to dance the night away. It's easy to find a party or international DJ any night of the week, and there are scores of quiet places to relax and get a drink right on the beach. What’s Special? Sea turtles, Koh Tao’s namesake, are as not as common as they once were, but sightings are possible here and at neighboring islands. Other notable species include blue spotted sting rays, moral eels and scorpion fish. In March and April you can see whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean.
CW Itinerary: The island ranks second in the world for issuing PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certificates and is home to numerous diving centers, making it ideal for divers of all ability levels. While reefs right off Koh Tao are worth a visit, we recommend you use the island as a base and take boats to more remote dive sites in the area. Be sure to check out neighboring Koh Nang Yuan, famous for its connecting coral beaches.

Travel Details

From Bangkok fly to Koh Samui, then catch a boat for Koh Tao (daily departure). The island has tons of backpacker accommodations. Check out Simple Life, a beachfront budget resort with private bungalows, a pool and a well equipped dive shop and instruction center. As an added bonus, those who enroll in a diving course receive discounts on their accommodation. Sai Thong www.saithong-resort.com also boasts a great beachfront location, as well as diving and snorkeling equipment rental and a spa. It's the quieter option. US$5 per night. www.simplelifedivers.com

Untouched Beauty: Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar

For a location totally unspoiled by human development, you can’t beat Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago. This collection of over 800 islands, closed to foreigners for over 50 years, provides an ideal “frontier diving” experience—most of the area's inhabitants are nomadic sea gypsies. Today, the isolated island chain boasts amazing biodiversity both underwater and on land. Interestingly, tourism impact has done much to protect this natural treasure: Vigilance of tourist boats has actually resulted in the end of illegal logging and crackdowns on dynamite fishing and illegal shark fishing. What's Special? The Mergui islands are home to elephants, monkeys, tigers, crocodiles and rhinoceros. Below water find manta rays, tiger sharks, dolphins, seahorses and stone fish—the most poisonous fish in the world!
CW Itinerary: The best way to see the Mergui Archipelago is from a live-aboard dive boat, which gives you flexibility to explore the islands. While certainly dive-focused, the tours are worthwhile for non-divers, too, since these boats also make stops on the islands, where you can experience Myanmar’s above-water wealth of plant and animal species and go hiking in virgin rainforests.

Travel Details

Sign on to a live-aboard tour run out of small Thai towns closer to Myanmar. We recommend SEAL (South East Asia Live-aboard) for their commitment to environmental conservation and contribution to the local community. Week-long packages start at US$1,500. www.seal-asia.com

Family-Friendly: Sihanoukville, Cambodia

While often overlooked as a diving and snorkeling destination, Cambodia is home to gorgeous underwater sites whose shallow waters and easy accessibility make them great places to introduce your family to the wonders of undersea life. Visitors stay in Sihanoukville, Cambodia’s third largest metropolis, which provides access to over a dozen islands via boat trips that can be arranged at hotels and dive shops. What's Special? The reefs around Sihanoukville are home to many hard and soft corals, sponges, anemones and an abundance of fish, including sting rays, moray eels, dolphins and whales.
CW Itinerary: Especially notable are the beautiful Koh Rong and Koh Rong Salaam islands, best visited between December and June and well suited to snorkeling thanks to shallow waters and coral reefs.

Travel Details

Fly into Phnom Penh, then hire a taxi for the four hour trek to Sihanoukville. Families should steer clear of Weather Station Hill, the center of the city’s nightlife, for something closer the beach. We recommend the Sokha Beach Resort. It was voted the best new hotel in the world by Conde Nast Traveler in 2005, and features suites, a dive shop, a playground, children’s pool and special activities to keep the kids entertained. Best of all, guests under 12 years old stay for free. Big people pay US$113 per night www.sokhahotels.com/old/sihanoukville

by Sienna Parulis-Cook