Discovery

Scuba-diving, like many activities seems to have a language all of its own, with confusing concepts, technical terminology and an ocean of jargon to decipher.

To help newcomers break through this barrier we've developed a dummies guide to scuba diving, so that you can get to grips with what divers are talking about. Find out what SCUBA stands for, what PADI is, what it is to be narked, and so much more.

Asia has a huge number of dive spots that have perfect conditions for learning to dive. It has so many in fact, that you may be having a hard time choosing where you should go.

If you are an avid underwater photographer or a lover of the weird and wonderful, then the seas of Asia hold a treasure trove of delights.

Originally pioneered in Papua New Guinea, muck-diving is now all the rage, and incredibly addictive. As the epicentre of the world's marine biodiversity, there are exceptional opportunities throughout South-east Asia.

There's no other thrill that quite compares to an encounter with an apex predator or gentle giant. For some, diving with Sharks is the ultimate bucket list experience. For others, it is swimming with Manta Rays.

From Myanmar in the west to PNG in the east, South-east Asia cannot fail to disappoint lovers of majestic pelagic species looking for that ultimate diving encounter.

Asia is caught between two huge oceans, the Indian Ocean to the west and the Pacific to the east. In between is a complex geography of land & water that has given rise to some of the most fascinating & species rich seas on our planet.

All the equipment involved in diving can seem a little intimidating to a newcomer. You are likely to be wondering what on earth a Regulator is, what BCD stands for, what a split fin might be & how many millimetres your wetsuit needs to be.

There's no need to feel intimidated though. Our beginner's guide to dive equipment will take you through the basics and help you feel a little more at home with some of the terminology.

Asia is blessed with all the ingredients any budding underwater photographer could ever wish for.

It has an enormous variety of dive sites, incredible diversity, an almost limitless choice of subjects and many highly professional dive centres to choose from.

But where are some of the very best spots for underwater photography & video? Our quick guide gives you the lowdown... 

Do you want to do some great diving but don't have much money to spare? Don't despair!

Asia is still one of the cheapest places in the world to dive. In the right place, just a few dollars can be your ticket to a really cheap diving trip.

To point you in the right direction, our guide will talk you through a few of the best dive destinations in Asia for those on a shoe-string budget...

With so much coastline and so many seas, it is no wonder that South-east Asia has some of the best wreck diving in the world.

Many of the region's wrecks are not only great for their level of preservation & fascinating history, but also for the amount of marine life that now calls them home.

So if you want to experience some world-class wreck diving, click on a hotspot below...