5 Asian Countries Where You Can Get Your PADI License For Beginners

Some of us have bucket lists written somewhere just waiting to be ticked. Whether diving’s always been a part of your life or just recently written on your bucket list, you’ll have to look for the best dive spots 🐠 to make this experience worthwhile. 

The reefs, wrecks, walls, and more are just some of the things to consider to crown the best dive sites in the world. And although the term “best dive spots” can still be contested based on your personal preference, there’s no doubt that Asia is one of the best continents in the world that offers rich and wild marine life 🌊. Also, it’s not that difficult to reach these best dive spots in Asia so you might want to consider these islands for your next diving adventure 🐠.

Thailand is known for a lot of things and that includes being one of the best diving sites 🤿 in the world. Thailand is filled with tropical beaches perfect for diving, ancient temples, and ruins. So whether you’re meters deep down the ocean 🌊 or touring around the city, you’ll be left with good memories. The best dive spots in Thailand 🇹🇭 would be Similan Islands, Surin Island, Koh Tao, and Koh Lanta. 

The marine life in Thailand is mostly inhabited by large leopard sharks, manta rays, turtles, and sting rays. So if you love to see sharks, consider diving in Thailand. Besides, divers who are still at a beginner level can start their open water training here.

To make your diving experience more convenient, Klook also offers classes perfect for beginners and experienced divers. When going to Koh Tao, you can avail a Scuba Diving Class, 3-Day PADI Open Water Dive, 2-Day PADI Advance Open Water Dive, Fun Dives, or a Refresher Dive taught by professional instructors. This Klook-exclusive class is also inclusive of boat and land transfers to and from the diving sites so all you have to do is focus on diving!

Indonesia is home to many of the best diving spots in Asia such as Raja Ampat, Lembongan in Bali, and Komodo National Park to name a few. The USS Liberty Shipwreck is just one of the famous dive sites in Indonesia so enthusiasts of underwater photography usually flock to Bali as well. If Thailand’s marine life is mostly all about sharks, Indonesia’s marine life is rich in coral reefs 🪸, manta rays, reef sharks, and more.

If you want to see the USS Liberty Shipwreck with its colourful corals and unique sea creatures like Pygmy Seahorses and Ghost Pipe Fishes, Klook has an experience for you! Welcome to beginners, you get to dive and explore the shipwreck accompanied by professional PADI divers. There's even an Indonesian lunch with a breathtaking view of Bali after diving! 🪸🦈

While you’re at it, Malaysia also has some of the best diving spots in Asia that are just waiting to be discovered. Whether you choose to explore Sabah or Peninsular Malaysia, they offer great sites for those who love muck diving or underwater photography. The marine life in the islands of Malaysia is full of manta rays, reef sharks, and even lively coral reefs 🪸. Diving in Semporna Island Park (a.k.a. Tun Sakaran Marine Park) on the east coast of Sabah will let you get a close look at their powdery white sand and thousands of fish 🐠, sharks 🦈, seahorses, turtles 🐢, and more. 

With more than 7,000 islands to discover, there’s no doubt that the Philippines is one of the best dive sites in the world. The country is brimming with beautiful islands like Malapascua Island, Palawan, Boracay, and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. The latter managed to protect and maintain its ‘’pristine coral reef with lagoons and two coral islands” since it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The marine life in the Philippines is abundant and full of thresher sharks, coral reefs 🪸, and schools of fish 🐠 to name a few. If you want to dive 🤿 like a pro, you can also train with licensed scuba divers in Boracay and know the basics of diving.

Another country that has one of the best dive spots in Asia is Japan. Although Japan is famous for its anime, cherry blossoms, and theme parks, Okinawa in Japan is just one of the go-to destinations for those who love diving 🤿. In Okinawa, you’ll get to see the best dive sites in the world like the Yonaguni Monument and the Kerama Islands National Park. When in Okinawa, you can explore the cerulean beauty of the Blue Cave when diving. What’s best about exploring the Blue Cave is that you can easily arrange that trip on Klook!