Beginner and advanced divers can experience the world’s richest reefs from remote sanctuaries in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Secret Retreats, a collection of nearly 100 independently owned boutique hotels, restaurants and cruises, invites intrepid travellers to explore Asia’s underwater world with properties and experiences in leading diving destinations including Indonesia’s ‘Coral Triangle’, the Similan Islands and more.
From scuba diving through Komodo on a liveaboard to being one of the few allowed to dive in a former shark finning camp, Secret Retreats’ dive discoveries of
Diving in Indonesia
Misool, an eco dive resort and conservation centre located on a private island in southern Raja Ampat, allows guests to discover some of the world’s richest reefs while also directly contributing to the region’s natural preservation. The resort, which features luxurious stilted water cottages and beach villas built from reclaimed wood, not only provides the perfect base for divers to explore the underwater wonders of Raja Ampat – known for the highest recorded marine biodiversity levels on the planet – but directly supports its own marine conservation charity, Misool Foundation, which patrols the resort’s 1,200-square-kilometre No-Take Zone.
Misool
Misool offers all-inclusive 7-, 9- and 12-night packages and was featured prominently in the IMAX 3D film ‘Journey to the South Pacific’. The resort was also a finalist in the National Geographic World Legacy Awards in 2017, as well as the prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow awards, and chosen by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world’s best eco lodges.
Silolona
For another one-of-a-kind experience, divers can board the Silolona, a hand crafted wooden sailing vessel journeys deep into Indonesia’s Komodo Archipelago, home to the famous ‘dragons’, hundreds of secluded beaches, crystal clear waters and colourful coral reefs. Featuring its own fully licensed PADI centre, instructors and equipment onboard, the vessel offers 5-day Komodo cruises in the summer and 7-day winter cruises through Raja Ampat. The 5-star experiences envelop guests in understated elegance while also offering world-class cuisine and personal stateroom cabin stewards. From bonfires on the beach to discovering underwater wonders like manta rays, whale sharks and sea turtles, no expense has been spared on Silolona’s voyages through Southeast Asia.
Silolona
Diving in Thailand
On Koh Phra Thong in Surin Islands National Park, Golden Buddha Beach Resort is situated along a 12-kilometre stretch of deserted beach in one of Thailand’s last pristine coastal areas. Thanks to the national park, the region has been protected from overfishing and mass tourism, fostering rich marine diversity and excellent reef conditions with hundred-year-old coral colonies.
Golden Buddha Beach Resort
With Golden Buddha Beach Resort as a base (only open from November to May), dive trips can be arranged to the Similan archipelago known for its clear shallow waters, striking rock formations and spectacular coral reefs. The nearby Richelieu Rock is considered one of Thailand's most iconic dive sites and often ranked among the ten best diving spots in the world, famous for finding barracuda, giant trevallies, dogtooth tuna and whale sharks.
Golden Buddha Beach Resort
Diving in Malaysia
Just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Manukan Island Resort is a private island resort in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Surrounded by a protected coral reef and white sand beaches, the oceanfront retreat offers beach suites and hillside villas, along with unparalleled watersport activities.
Manukan Island Resort
Diving is open year round with 50 dive sites located less than 15 minutes away from the resort featuring soft coral, tropical reef fish, turtles and black tip reef sharks. Additionally, the Kumaran Wreck just two minutes from Manukan is expected to soon open for divers to spot schools of barracudas, blue-spotted rays, puffer fish and lionfish, as well as occasional green and hawksbill turtles, cuttlefish, reef sharks and whale sharks.
Manukan Island Resort
Great place to go
ReplyDeleteExcellent choice for an escapade.
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