2012 Top 100 Readers' Choice Awards

It stands to reason that the best underwater photo ops — whether you’re looking for macro weirdness, big animals or colorful reefs — are where the best diving is. A top-five vote-getter in seven of the 15 categories, Indonesia is indisputably one of the best ­destinations in the world. It’s not tough to imagine why: With more than 13,000 islands, Indonesia has an incredible diversity of photo opportunities for pro shooters and those just getting the bug: great macro in Lembeh Strait, breathtaking reefs in Raja Ampat, big animals in Manado, and even knock-your-fins-off rusted metal like Bali’s Liberty wreck.

2012 Top 100 Readers' Choice Awards - Pasific and Indian Ocean Region

Best Destination Overall (diving, topside adventure, nightlife, etc.)
1. Hawaii
2. Indonesia
3. TIE: Philippines and Thailand
5. Galapagos

Best Destination Overall For Diving
1. TIE: Philippines and Malaysia
3. Galapagos
4. Indonesia
5. French Polynesia

Best Marine Life
1. TIE: Maldives and Malaysia
3. Philippines
4. Thailand
5. Indonesia

Healthiest Marine Environment
1. TIE: Australia and Galapagos
3. Micronesia
4. Philippines
5. Malaysia

Best Big Animals
1. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
2. Galapagos
3. Maldives
4. French Polynesia
5. Hawaii

Best Macro
1. Indonesia
2. Philippines
3. Papua New Guinea
4. Malaysia
5. Micronesia

Best Wreck Diving
1. Truk, Micronesia
2. Oahu, Hawaii
3. Palau
4. Red Sea (Egypt)
5. Philippines

Best Wall Diving
1. Palau
2. Malaysia
3. Thailand
4. French Polynesia
5. Red Sea (Egypt)

Best Shore Diving
1. Red Sea (Egypt)
2. Philippines
3. Hawaii
4. Papua New Guinea
5. Indonesia

Best Beginner Diving
1. Maui, Hawaii
2. Red Sea (Egypt)
3. TIE: Australia, French Polynesia and Hawaii

Best Advanced Diving
1. Papua New Guinea
2. Galapagos
3. French Polynesia
4. Maldives
5. Indonesia

Best Underwater Photography
1. Indonesia
2. Maldives
3. Malaysia
4. Papua New Guinea
5. Thailand

Best Visibility
1. TIE: Maldives and Red Sea (Egypt)
3. French Polynesia
4. Thailand
5. Micronesia

Best Value
1. Malaysia
2. TIE: Australia and Thailand
4. Galapagos
5. Hawaii

Best Snorkeling
1. Australia
2. Malaysia
3. Red Sea (Egypt)
4. Thailand
5. Hawaii (Big Island)

Source: scubadiving.com