Marine Adventures: Where to whale-watch, swim with sharks & more in Asia

8 Best destinations in Asia for whale-watching, diving with sharks & more

Shelina Assomull

19 Feb 2018

updated the 20 February 2018 à 14:43

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Dolphins at Lovina Beach, Bali
Lovina is extremely well known for their abundance of spinner, spotted and bottle-nose dolphins. As if you needed another reason to visit Bali? Choose the sunrise tours to catch these guys when they are getting up for the day ahead.

Photos: Bali Holiday Tours
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Whales at Mirissa, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's huge population of blue whales and sperm whales, as well as adorable bottle-nose dolphins, make for a jaw-dripping wildlife experience. These huge and harmless mammals pervade the waters in Mirissa, where you can view them on whale watching trips. Trincomalee is also a great stop for deep sea diving and potential whale encounters.

Photos: Whale Watching Mirissa
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Thresher Sharks at Malapascua, Philippines
Malapascua in Cebu is one of the most frequented diving spots in the Philippines. Aside from an abundance in marine wildlife, there is a plethora of thrasher sharks to see. These creatures can grow up to 6 metres in length and are nocturnal, so divers are advised to go see them in the very early hours of the morning.

Photos: Island of the Philippines
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Whale Sharks at Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar
Whale shark diving can be done in Thailand and the Philippines too, however we love how undiscovered whale shark diving in Myanmar is. Whale shark diving here is certainly off the beaten track. Be prepared for whale sharks as well as leopard sharks and manta rays.

Photos: Dive the World
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Dolphin spotting in the Maldives
Okay, dolphins come twice, just because they are so cute! The majority of young girls at some point unexplainably LOVED dolphins. The Maldives might be the ultimate place to see them. With populations of hundreds and thousands surrounding the waters of the Maldives, many travellers claim to spot them just by hanging out or looking our their balconies.

Photos: tgimaldives
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Sharks in Beqa Lagoon, Fiji
If sharks are your thing - god forbid - this is the place for you. Although Fiji isn't really Asia, it's close enough that we had to squeeze it in! This diving terrain is made for the brave. Expect Reef Sharks, Grey reef shark, Silver-tip Sharks, Tawny Sharks, Bull sharks and tiger sharks!

Photos: Adventure Sports
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Turtles in Sipadan Island, Sabah, Borneo
Literally, there is no where better to go if you want to see green turtles up close and personal. These slow and friendly giants are in abundance here and promise a safe and unforgettable experience seeing them under the sea.

Photos: Journey Malaysia
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Manta Rays at Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Everyone knows about the Komodo Dragon, native to Indonesia's Komodo Island, however, what people don't know is that Komodo National Park is also a hub for Manta Rays. Diver can swim in a sea of hundreds of these and right next to them too.

Photos: Cruising Indonesia

Love the thrill of seeing marine mammals in their natural habitat? You need to visit these Asia gems!

For all the animal lovers out there, you’ll find that you’re always “sold” on a holiday when you hear the destination is home to interesting wildlife. After all, nothing beats the thrill of seeing an animal you are fascinated by, up close and personal. There are so many of these experiences up for grab these days, that you can have your pick in many locations you venture to.

Marine experience in Asia are some of our favourites because of the accessibility of the water. When on this side of the ocean, temperatures don’t need to plummet very low for you to enjoy a diving experience. Coming across dolphins, sharks, whales and more during diving experience is what often makes them a dive you will never forget.

To help you pick out your next marine encounter trip, we’ve collected our favourite spots in Asia to enjoy marine encounters – check them out above!

Shelina Assomull

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