5 Favorite Luxury Dive Resorts

Sometimes, it's what's below the water that's most important. But there are also those dive vacations where our time on the surface isn't just about off-gassing and prepping for the next submersion. For anyone looking to plan a \vacation that combines exceptional diving with an equally stellar resort experience, we offer these five unapologetic luxurious dive resorts.

If you've ever read a travel magazine or watched a television travel show, you've seen Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain. These sister properties rise above St. Lucia's green shores to deliver stunning views of the iconic Piton Peaks from accommodations that redefine the meaning of “room with a view.” The 600-acre grounds of Anse Chastanet include two soft sand beaches and miles of nature trails, where just 49 guest rooms are set in an oceanfront garden or on the adjacent hillside overlooking the Caribbean and the Pitons. These rooms take full advantage of the setting, with open-air terraces and sweeping views from bedrooms. The resort features three of St. Lucia's premier restaurants, with unique dining venues that include private dining at the water's edge. Divers can make a short swim to discover one of the best shore dives in the Caribbean, or enjoy daily boat service to the premier sites within the Soufriere Marine Reserve. The resort is also home to the award-winning Kai Belté spa, where relaxing treatments can take place in an open-air cabana overlooking the Caribbean. For an even more incredible experience, divers can move up to Jade Mountain. This stunning property sits high above the Caribbean to deliver a resort experience that blurs the line between indoors and outdoors. Bedrooms with open fourth walls become stage settings for panoramic views of the pitons and the Caribbean, all framed through features such as private plunge pools that hang on the edge of space. Guests have dining and resort privileges at Anse Chastanet, along with exclusive access to a boutique spa and fitness studio and Jade Mountain Club featuring the culinary offerings of a James Beard Award-winning chef.

Given its unrivaled combination of stunning scenery and five-star service, it's no surprise that Namale Resort & Spa is a favorite with A-listers and Fortune 500 members. But you don't have to be rich or famous to enjoy this oasis of tropical relaxation. Namale is also a top choice for divers looking to combine world-class reefs with all-inclusive luxuries. The resort is set in in 525 acres of lush tropical rainforests on the shores of Fiji’s northern island of Vanua Levu, convenient to Fiji's top dive sites in the Namena Marine Preserve, Somosomo Straits, and the Rainbow Reef. With just 19 luxury traditional Fijian bures and villas set among oceanfront palm gardens, guests enjoy a boutique all-inclusive experience that includes not only meals and libations but also a wide range of amenities and activities. Mix diving with kayak and paddleboarding, take a wakeboard lesson or a sunset cruise. Ashore, there's horseback rides on the beach, trails leading to a private waterfall, indulgences at the Valeni Sasauni Spa Sanctuary, and less-expected activities such as a private nine-hole golf course and a sports center with indoor basketballs and a bowling alley. Meals are elevated to a fine art, with Indo-Fijian cuisines that showcase produce, herbs, and vegetables from the resort's organic farm. Equally memorable as the menus are the venues where they can be enjoyed, which include private oceanfront decks, waterfall overlooks and a cozy candle-lit grotto.

Some have called a visit to Wakatobi the trip of a lifetime. But often, it's not a once in a lifetime experience, as many make a habit of returning to this Indonesian jewel as often as possible. There are several reasons why this Wakatobi Dive Resort remains at the top of many travelers’ bucket list. Chief among these are the pristine reefs and diverse marine life found within Wakatobi's private marine preserve. Equally appealing is the idyllic beachfront setting, and the personalized five-star service that every guest receives. And then, there's the food, which consistently earns rave mentions. Founded as a remote diving lodge on a small island in central Indonesia's Banda Sea, Wakatobi has since evolved into a world-class resort, where a collection of luxury bungalows and waterfront villas are set in an oceanfront palm grove. A fleet of 70-foot custom-built dive boats make daily trips to more than 40 sites within the reserve, and divers and snorkelers have 24-hour access to the House Reef, which has been named the world's best shore dive. Among the numerous additional services offered are spa visits and in-room massages, personal dive and snorkel guides, private boats, photo coaching, private beachfront dining. Though remote, Wakatobi is easily reached by direct charter flights from Bali, where an airport concierge staff assists with all details of transfers and extended layovers.

Of all the waterfront resorts on the Cozumel, the Presidente InterContinental Resort & Spa delivers the best combination of bottom time, beach time, service and easy access to all of the island's attractions. The property faces a half-mile of white-sand beach and is flanked by one of the island's only two sheltered marinas. This puts guests outside the more crowded shores of the primary hotel zone but keeps them within easy range of the shops, restaurants and activities of downtown San Miguel. Guest rooms and suites are fresh from a recent property-wide renovation, and feature Egyptian cotton duvets, flat-screen TVs, WiFi and furnished balconies and terraces with ocean, pool, or garden views.  The Presidente is the long-time home of Scuba Du, which is a PADI Five-Star facility, and one of Cozumel's premier dive operators, with a fleet of five custom dive boats based at the marina. For relaxation, there are two pools, a beach club, 24-hour fitness center, and the 6,500 square-foot Mandara Spa, which provides a wide range of services and treatments in oceanfront settings. Families are welcome at the Presidente, and the grounds include an expansive lawn with a playground and the Chiqui Club for kids. Couples can indulge with in-room massages, beachfront cabanas and private seaside diving venues at Le Cap Beach Club.

The Dumaguete region is home to some of the best diving in the western Pacific, including world-class macro life and convenient access to the stunning walls and reefs of Apo Island. This coastline is also the site of Atmosphere Resorts and Spa, which has been named the best luxury boutique resort in the Philippines. Here. Verdant gardens surround a collection of premium rooms, suites and apartments, all featuring amenities such as California king size beds with luxurious linens, solar heated water, eco-friendly cosmetics, energy reduction air-conditioners, flat screen televisions and rain showers. The resort's aquatics center offers up to five divers per day, with complimentary nitrox and small groups of four or fewer divers per guide. When not diving, active guests have access to the warrior gym facility or go for a guided mountain bike ride. Atmosphere is perhaps best known for the top-ranked Sanctuary Spa, which provides a full range of treatments and services that promote both physical well-being and mental relaxation. These can include specific detox spa treatments and full detox programs, yoga, meditation and life coaching. The dining experience at Atmosphere can be an indulgence, a therapy, or a combination of both.   Whether dining on the beach, poolside or at the resort's unique treehouse, menus choices can range from fine dining dishes to traditional favorites and guilt-free organic options.

If you are ready to indulge in a luxurious dive vacation, we can make it happen. We have created special packages with each of these resorts and we'll take care of all the details of scheduling and travel. To learn more, talk to our dive travel specialists at 800-330-6611 or send a note to sales@caradonna.com.