How Far Would You Go to Dive with Whale Sharks?
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- Travelogues
The biggest fish on the planet, genial monsters of the deep blue sea lazing in cool open waters – and, to a very special few, whale sharks are dive buddies.
Diving feels like visiting another planet. The creatures, plants, terrain, and giant monsters seem so terribly alien at first, and then, slowly, lazing weightless in magical blue, if feels like home. With endless coastlines and tens of thousands of islands, there is nowhere like Asia to see the watery parts of the world.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines fall within the Coral Triangle, where the South China Sea meets the Pacific and Indian Oceans, a junction of inimitable biodiversity. Here divers have access to a truly staggering array of sea life, with nearly 4,000 species of tropical fish and over 590 varieties of coral amid the polychromatic hues of the reefs.
In Thailand and Cambodia – to accompany with the pristine, white-sand beaches – divers can chase dugongs off Koh Rong and perhaps even spot a whale shark off Koh Phangan. To this day, much of the Mergui Archipelago of Myanmar remains untouched, one of the few remaining coral rich areas waiting to be explored.
Even inland divers can hit the cold waters of Siberia’s Lake Baikal or hunt for the Great Wall of China under the Panjiakou Reservoir. Cold or warm, deep or shallow, wreck or turtles – there is no end to the options for intrepid divers in Asia; just look for blue on the map and make the leap.
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The biggest fish on the planet, genial monsters of the deep blue sea lazing in cool open waters – and, to a very special few, whale sharks are dive buddies.
Indonesia hosts all manner of tropical creatures beneath its waves, including every member of the aquatic Big Five: the whale shark, manta ray, mola mola, hammerhead shark, and the tiny pygmy seahorse.
Thailand’s Similan Islands are located in the Andaman Sea, just a few hours by boat off the coast of Phuket…
Spend 14 luxurious days languidly sailing the exquisite Indonesian archipelago from Maumere to Ambon. You’ll meet local tribespeople and learn about their daily lives, bathe in natural hotsprings, tour ancient forts, and hike through lush jungles, aboard your lush, air-conditioned, fully-equipped private schooner.
Some of Indonesia’s most spectacular, untouched scenery awaits on this eight-day cruise around the eastern equatorial islands. As well as time on the boat, a big emphasis here is on the time in the water, with ample opportunity to dive, snorkel, kayak or just swim around the dozens of islands making up this memorable part of the world.
Spend six days cruising around Komodo Islands, exploring uninhabited islets, prehistoric caves and trekking the jungles. Of course, the main attraction here are those slithery dragons, which roam the island along with lots of other wildlife. There’s plenty of time to snorkel or dive around the gorgeous reefs and pristine beaches too.
Divers and snorkelers alike will delight in this 17-day two-part luxurious holiday in the Philippines. The first half is spent exploring the Filipino culture, natural features and history. The second half is spent exploring the active corals, several dive sites and lush white-sand beaches from a lush cruise charter.
Explore Borneo’s incredible underwater world on this enchanting 7-day diving adventure in some of the world’s best dive sites, Sipidan and Mabul. You’ll make friends with lively underwater creatures like hawksbill, greenback turtles, manta rays, and whale sharks, while staying at a luxury floating dive resort.
Spend 5 days discovering the stunning hidden treasure that is the Mergui archipelago and this luxury Myanmar trip. You’ll dive at one of the world’s best dive sites, while staying on a luxurious private liveaboard boat, enjoying fun beachside activities, and meeting members of the Sea Gypsy clan.
Scuba dive alongside incredible whale sharks, trek through dense jungles and watch as locals mingle with fearful-yet-fascinating crocodiles on this 12-day Papua New Guinea luxury journey. This one-of-a-kind adventure takes place in August during the wild Crocodile Festival in the Sepik Region.
In Singapore for business, the Grand Prix, a wedding, reunion, or another event? While in the Lion City, take advantage of this major airline hub and turn your trip into a vacation with these quick and easy add-on getaways.
Leave the bustling city of Singapore behind for the blue waters and wildlife of Komodo National Park. This quick and easy 5-day getaway to Komodo National Park will take you around this UNESCO-designated marine reserve in a private schooner.
Spend 6 luxurious days on a secluded Maldives island in Baa Atoll. You’ll explore the island’s surroundings by kayak, dive into its crystal waters and parasail above them, plant coral with a marine biologist, and spend time relaxing on the white-sand beach, while staying at the iconic Soneva Fushi.
Unwind and explore the shores of the Mergui Archipelago, an idyllic island chain and adventure lover’s dream. Enjoy days at two luxury resorts, Wa Ale and Awei Pila, that both offer an abundance of private tours and activities. Venture along the treeline and spot rare, exotic birds, witness the local Moken people practicing their customs, or merely relax on the white sand beach and enjoy marine wildlife spotting – all these experiences and more await on this seven-day trip.
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