The Palolo Deep Marine Reserve is one of the best places for scuba diving in Samoa. This scuba diving place, located just outside of Apia on the island of Upolu, is a gorgeous natural aquarium that offers some of the greatest diving in Samoa. The earth dips away as you swim across the shallow reef, forming a natural aquarium. This underwater paradise is surrounded by walls of vibrantly colored coral, which is home to a diverse range of marine life, including sea turtles, reef sharks, and an abundance of tropical fish.

Snorkeling, scuba diving, and free diving are the main draws in Palolo Deep (if you don't have your own equipment, snorkels and fins can be rented in the hamlet). Spot the rare clown triggerfish or float over the stunning coral carpets. The neighboring reefs form azure lagoons that are ideal for diving. When you're done, return to the food hut for a well-deserved smoothie, or bring a picnic to eat in the reserve gardens!

Make your visit during high tide, when there is more room to maneuver over the reef without injuring it (or yourself!). The reserve is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Because the drop-off is around 100 meters from the shore, it is only suggested for experienced swimmers. You may still swim and snorkel around the reef's edges—closer to the beach, the coral has been damaged by the 2009 tsunami and cyclones, but it is still eerily beautiful.

Location: Apia, Samoa

The Rock is ranked second on the list of the best places for scuba diving in Samoa. This diving spot, located on Upolu, is a stunning dive destination known for its hard coral and gigantic clams in Samoa. The plateau drops between 12 and 18 meters, and visibility is often excellent. Lionfish, lobsters, and shrimp can be found beneath the coral tables and in the reef caves, as well as the bigger marine species associated with longer dives.

This location is also well known for the huge deep-sea fish schools of napoleon, barracuda, and tuna, as well as trevally and wrasse, as well as the frequently occurring green turtles relaxing in the calm swells of the Samoan waters. It is not uncommon to observe a variety of rays and sharks sharing the waters with you as you progress deeper; eagles, stingrays, white tip, and grey reef sharks are typical sightings.

Location: Upolu, Samoa

Apolima Gardens ranks 3rd on the list of the best places to scuba dive in Samoa. This dive location is a technicolor coral garden located just 70 meters off Apolima Island. The Apolima Gardens, which start at 8 meters and plummet to 40 meters, are home to lobsters, unicornfish, reef sharks, bluefin trevally, and marine turtles.

This dive site is home to a plethora of beautiful corals and rugged reefs, as well as a plethora of healthy reef fish, including big schools of butterflies, parrots, and sweetlips darting beside you, and many clownfish defensively guarding their anemones. Besides, you can also paddle over architectural coral bommies, keeping a lookout for green turtles and rays, which are frequently observed here. Those with a keen eye can quickly spot nudibranchs, anemone shrimps, and coral crabs attempting to blend into their surroundings due to the coral diversity.

Diving the Juno Wreck with turtles in Samoa was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's fantastic to be up close and personal with underwater creatures like this. Juno, located on the island of Savai'i, is an excellent novice dive location that is only 5 minutes from the shore. This location is home to an extraordinary wreck that was once a working three-masted missionary sailing ship. In 1881, the ship went down in Lelepa Bay. The wreck is now teeming with coral and marine life. Parts of the masts and deck are still visible and are now home to vibrant coral gardens and even more vibrant reef species such as parrotfish and yellowtail snapper.