The World’s Top 8 Diving Destinations for Yacht Charter

There is a whole world beneath the ocean’s surface, covering over 70% of our planet. Yet it remains largely unexplored, so diving below is truly your chance to experience once-in-a-lifetime adventures. And the best way to do so is from a yacht. A yacht charter is the perfect platform for scuba diving, offering access to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations.

A yacht charter also allows total flexibility and a completely personalized experience, where you aren’t bound by a dive school’s schedule or locations. Be sure to check that the yacht you charter either has scuba diving instructors and equipment on board, or offers rendezvous diving—where a local operator brings guides and equipment to the yacht.

From the Mediterranean and Caribbean to the South Pacific, here are eight of the world’s best scuba diving spots to enjoy on your next yacht charter:

Galapagos Islands 

A UNESCO marine reserve located 100 kilometers off Ecuador’s coastline, the Galapagos Islands are home to countless endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Situated at the crossroads of major ocean currents, the nutrient-rich waters welcome abundant marine life and provide incredible underwater conditions. The peak diving season runs from May to November, coinciding with whale migrations and optimal visibility.

From a yacht, you can reach the archipelago’s most remote and protected dive sites, including those surrounding Darwin and Wolf Islands. These sites, accessible only by yacht, rank among the best diving spots in the world. Scuba diving from a yacht charter in the Galapagos offers encounters with massive schools of hammerhead and Galapagos sharks, manta and eagle rays, whale sharks, turtles, and playful sea lions.

Because of strict protections and permits throughout the islands, you’ll likely dive with certified local guides to comply with regulations. Between dives, relax on board or head ashore to explore the equally wild landscapes, where you might meet giant tortoises, Galapagos penguins, and marine iguanas.

Rangiroa, The Tuamotos

A yacht charter in French Polynesia is the ultimate tropical escape, with every backdrop as postcard-perfect as the next. And underwater, it’s just as—if not more—impressive. Comprising around 80 islands, the Tuamotus are home to some of the world’s best diving, alongside idyllic beaches for unwinding afterward. One of the most famous is Rangiroa, the largest atoll in the archipelago and the second-largest in the world, renowned for its bucket-list diving experiences.

The most popular dive sites are the Tiputa and Avatoru Passes, where drift diving lets you glide alongside abundant marine life, including numerous shark species. November through February is the best time to visit, especially in Tiputa Pass, where you may see hundreds of hammerheads and eagle rays. Being on a yacht here makes it easy to access dives despite shifting tides and to explore untouched reefs few others reach.

Baja California 

The Baja California Peninsula stretches along Mexico’s west coast, bordered by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other. This region was famously dubbed “the aquarium of the world” by Jacques Cousteau, co-inventor of the scuba apparatus. The best time to dive here is from May to November, when the waters are calm and warm.

Diving in Baja offers encounters with incredible biodiversity, including nearly 1,000 fish species and about 36 marine mammal species. UNESCO-protected areas such as Cabo Pulmo, Bahia de Loreto, and the waters off La Paz consistently rank among the world’s best dive sites.

For a unique experience, you can even begin your dive in one sea and end in another at Land’s End, near the iconic Cabo San Lucas Arch. The region also offers fascinating wreck diving, such as the Fang Ming, a former cargo ship turned artificial reef now home to turtles, octopus, angelfish, and more.

The Red Sea

In recent years, the Red Sea has surged in popularity for yacht charters, thanks to vast investments in infrastructure. A major highlight is Sindalah Island, part of Saudi Arabia’s visionary NEOM project, which offers a luxury marina and facilities for yachts.

A Red Sea charter itinerary can include hundreds of dive sites across both Egypt’s coastline and Saudi Arabia’s emerging yachting scene. Conditions are excellent, with crystal-clear warm waters ideal for divers of all levels. In Egypt, Ras Mohammed National Park dazzles with dramatic underwater cliffs, vibrant reefs, and abundant marine life. The region also boasts world-class wrecks such as the WWII S.S. Thistlegorm, best accessed early from a yacht to avoid dive school crowds. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, offers untouched reefs just beginning to gain recognition. The best time for diving here is October through May, when visibility peaks.

The Maldives 

Home to 26 atolls and over 1,000 low-lying islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is one of the ultimate scuba diving destinations to access by yacht. Its gin-clear waters are teeming with marine life and famous for their “thilas”—underwater pinnacles.

In the North Ari Atoll, Maaya Thila offers top-notch diving for all skill levels, including night dives among sharks and vibrant marine life. In Baa Atoll, Hanifaru Bay (May–November) is the place to witness manta rays feeding and cleaning, while whale sharks can be seen year-round in South Ari Atoll. 

The Bahamas 

With over 700 islands and cays, a yacht charter in the Bahamas offers endless opportunities for exploration—and equally endless dive options. Both beginners and experienced divers will find plenty to love here. Diving is possible year-round, though December through April is best for sharks, while May through September is ideal for wreck diving thanks to calmer seas.

The Bahamas’ dive experiences include wrecks, reefs, steep drop-offs, and iconic blue holes. Shark lovers will encounter tigers, hammerheads, and Caribbean reef sharks, particularly at Tiger Beach (Grand Bahama) and off Bimini.

In the Exumas, Jeep Reef and other sites within the protected marine park brim with corals and aquatic life. Andros, the largest Bahamian island, is renowned for its extensive blue hole system—popular with advanced divers and freedivers alike.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia 

For those seeking a true off-the-beaten-track yacht charter, look no further than Raja Ampat, on Indonesia’s eastern edge.

This remote region is home to untouched reefs, dense marine life, and calm lagoons accessible only by yacht. Biodiversity here is staggering, with more than 600 species of coral and over 1,500 reef fish. From pygmy seahorses and reef sharks to manta rays, turtles, and dazzling coral gardens, the underwater world is astonishingly rich.

Cape Kri is one of the area’s most famous sites, boasting record-breaking fish counts, while Boo Windows (off Misool Island) is beloved for its dramatic corals. Goa Farondi, also in Misool, offers thrilling cave diving with excellent visibility. The best time to dive here is October through April, when conditions are calmest. Above water, the region offers jungle hikes, birdwatching, and pristine beaches.

Greek Islands 

With its vast coastline and island-hopping potential, Greece is one of the Mediterranean’s top yacht charter destinations. While tropical waters often overshadow the region, Greece offers dramatic underwater landscapes, caves, wrecks, and abundant marine life.

From a yacht, you can dive off islands like Chios, where volcanic formations create impressive underwater scenery and fish-rich reefs. Santorini and Crete also boast volcanic seascapes and cave systems. Crete is especially known for its clear visibility, from the seagrass meadows off Plakias to the Elephant Cave in Chania.