Protected7 sites5 countries

Dive sites: Protected

Protected dive sites — depth, conditions, and required training level.

Egypt

reef

Dolphin House (Sha'ab Samadai)

Marsa Alam · Red Sea · Egypt

Protected horseshoe reef with a resident spinner dolphin pod. Regulated access to protect the dolphins.

Hurghada Small Giftun Island

Hurghada · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt

The protected reef system around Small Giftun Island in the Hurghada Marine Park, where strict access controls have allowed coral recovery and marine life to flourish beyond what is found on the mainland reefs, making it the area's premium dive destination.

Greece

reef

Marathonisi Turtle Island

Zakynthos Town · Ionian Islands · Greece

A small uninhabited island in Laganas Bay on Zakynthos's south coast, situated within the National Marine Park of Zakynthos where loggerhead sea turtles nest and Mediterranean reef life thrives in protected waters.

Alonissos National Marine Park

Patitiri, Alonissos · Northern Sporades · Greece

Greece's first national marine park, protecting pristine Aegean reefs, Mediterranean monk seal habitat, and ancient shipwrecks across a vast archipelago of uninhabited islands.

Maldives

reef

Fish Head (Mushimasmingili Thila)

Ari Atoll · North Ari Atoll · Maldives

Protected marine area with dense grey reef shark population. Overhang shelters and feeding action.

Philippines

reef

Hilutungan Island Marine Sanctuary

Lapu-Lapu City · Central Visayas · Philippines

A heavily protected marine sanctuary off Mactan Island where two decades of no-take enforcement have produced a reef bursting with fish biomass, making it Cebu's most reliable site for dense schooling fish encounters in shallow water.

Thailand

reef

Ang Thong Marine Park

Koh Samui · Surat Thani · Thailand

A protected archipelago of 42 limestone islands west of Koh Samui where sheltered reefs between dramatic karst formations harbour healthy coral gardens, reef sharks, and sea turtles in the Gulf of Thailand's most scenic marine park.