Where to dive in April
Tubbataha is my April pick for coral walls, reef sharks and schooling fish. The crossing is usually calmer at this time of year. Malpelo offers a more demanding shark trip; Wakatobi and Sipadan are alternatives for resort-based diving.
Tubbataha
Protected reefs with sharks and schooling fish. The best time to dive here is April.
Read the Tubbataha guide →4 destinations for April
Listed in overall rank order.
Tubbataha
Protected reefs with sharks and schooling fish.
Tubbataha has hard-coral walls, large sea fans and plenty of fish. Grey reef sharks are a regular sight, alongside jacks and dogtooth tuna. You may also see mantas, whale sharks or hammerheads during the short liveaboard season.
- Best months
- April
- Go for
- Coral walls · Grey reef sharks · Dogtooth tuna
Malpelo
A demanding trip for schooling sharks.
Malpelo is an isolated rock in the eastern Pacific. The draws are scalloped hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, silkies and large morays. Expect negative entries, deep dives and strong current. Check the operator’s experience requirements before booking.
- Best months
- January — April
- Go for
- Hammerhead schools · Galápagos sharks · Silkies
Wakatobi
Long dives on coral-covered walls.
Wakatobi suits divers who want to spend time on the reef, looking at coral and small marine life. Sharks and large pelagics are less common here. Its lower position reflects this list’s preference for big animals, rather than poor reef diving.
- Best months
- April — May · October — November
- Go for
- Coral walls · Turtles · Macro life
Sipadan
Sharks, turtles and dense schools of fish.
Sipadan has grey and whitetip reef sharks, barracuda, jacks, turtles and bumphead parrotfish. Permits limit how many days you can dive there. Confirm your Sipadan days with the operator before booking; nearby Mabul and Kapalai offer different diving.
- Best months
- March — May
- Go for
- Reef sharks · Barracuda and jacks · Bumphead parrotfish