5 Places to Go for the Best Muck Diving in the World

Muck diving is often found in volcanic regions or near river mouths, and it takes a keen eye to find some species. Patient divers may be rewarded with sightings of otherworldly creatures, such as the elusive mimic octopus, psychedelic frogfish, and the enigmatic flamboyant cuttlefish (yes, that’s really what it’s called). Muck diving hotspots are scattered across the globe, with particular concentrations in the Indo-Pacific region, where biodiversity reaches its zenith.

Much of the appeal of muck diving lies in the thrill of discovery, kind of like going on safari. It attracts photographers who appreciate the challenge of spotting and shooting images of some of the ocean’s most bizarre and beautiful inhabitants. Unlike traditional reef diving, muck dives often involve slow, methodical exploration of small areas, with divers hovering just above the bottom, their eyes scanning for the slightest movement or hint of camouflage. Good buoyancy is key so as to not stir up silty bottoms.

We’ve recommended below some of the most popular and most convenient places to stay (mostly dive resorts) in each destination. Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.

Anilao, Philippines

• Can’t-miss sites: Sombrero Island, Secret Bay
• Where to stay: Solitude Acacia Resort caters to muck divers and has an on-site shop
• Recommended operators: Bauan Divers Sanctuary
• Best season: November to May

Anilao has earned a reputation as one of the world’s premier muck diving destinations. This coastal region just a few hours from Manila has an incredible diversity of cryptic species that thrive in its sediment-rich waters. Lucky divers may be able to spot elusive mimic octopuses or vibrantly colored nudibranchs. The area is particularly renowned for its nudibranch populations (it’s known as the “nudibranch capital of the world”), with hundreds of species documented during annual surveys. Any dive resort is bound to be packed with photographers looking for colorful creatures like the Ceratosoma alleni or Batangas sea slug.

Dive sites range from shallow, silty bays to deeper, rubble-strewn slopes, each offering unique encounters with rare and unusual marine life. Night dives are especially rewarding, as many creatures emerge under the cover of darkness. You can even dive through underwater steam vents, swimming through bathtub-warm bubbles rising from thermal vents beneath the seabed.

Ambon Bay, Indonesia

• Can’t-miss sites: Anywhere on Laha Reef
• Where to stay: Ambon Dive Resort is always packed with frogfish enthusiasts
• Recommended operators: Laha Dive Packer
• Best season: October to May

Ambon Bay is one of the most unique diving environments in the world, and has long drawn muck diving enthusiasts with its extraordinary marine life. It’s 14-mile-long, five-mile-wide bay with a sandy, silty bottom that’s home to an array of unusual species. The bay’s claim to fame is the elusive psychedelic frogfish (Histiophryne psychedelica), discovered there in 2008 and now considered the holy grail of underwater macro photography. It’s exceedingly rare and spotted typically only once or twice a year in the area, making sightings a coveted experience (and talking point) for divers.

Beyond the psychedelic frogfish, Ambon Bay has an impressive diversity of other frogfish species, as well as ghost pipefish, rhinopias, and the newly discovered Bryozoan goby. The bay’s unique ecosystem, as well as sunken natural debris and dead coral, is a haven for these bizarre and beautiful creatures, cementing Ambon’s status as a world-class muck diving destination. Many dive operators and shops in the area rent underwater camera gear, like GoPros with housings.

Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

• Can’t-miss sites: Critter Hunt, Teluk Kembahu
• Where to stay: Thalassa Dive Resort Lembeh is a mid-priced boutique hotel with an on-site dive shop
• Recommended operators: Two Fish Divers
• Best season: Year-round

Muck diving in Lembeh Strait is a chance to dive with bizarre and elusive marine creatures, set against a backdrop of black volcanic sand slopes and nutrient-rich waters. If Anilao is the nudibranch capital of the world, Lembeh is the critter capital of the world, where patient explorers are rewarded with sightings of otherworldly species. It’s in Lembeh that the mimic octopus was discovered, known for its ability to impersonate other marine species as a defense mechanism.

The strait’s warm waters typically range from about 79 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and depths as shallow at 15 feet make many sites suitable for beginner divers.

St. Vincent, SVG

• Can’t-miss sites: Layou Wall, The Bat Cave (advanced)
• Where to stay: Petit St. Vincent is a luxe resort with an on-site dive shop
• Recommended operators: Serenity Dive offers guided dives and dive packages in partnership with boutique hotels
• Best season: December to April

Unlike the bright coral reefs typically associated with the region, St. Vincent’s underwater terrain is a mix of soft sediment, scattered rubble, and seagrass beds — perfect conditions for elusive critters. Because it’s a volcanic island, it has black sand above and below the water, making for stunning backdrops on macro photos. There’s also not as much tourism on St. Vincent as there is on nearby islands, which helps marine creatures thrive with less human disturbance.

Divers with keen eyes may encounter frogfish in an array of colors, cryptic pipefish, flamboyant nudibranchs, and even the rare donkey dung sea cucumber (yep, that’s the real name for that one, too). Juvenile scorpionfish and flying gurnards may be hiding in the sand, while octopuses and decorator crabs may be just below you, blending seamlessly into the debris. St. Vincent’s muck sites may not have as much name recognition as other destinations, but for macro lovers, they offer some of the richest biodiversity in the Caribbean.

Vancouver Island, Canada

• Can’t-miss sites: Argonaut Wharf, or around Nanoose Bay
• Where to stay: Coast Bastion Hotel in Nanaimo is next to the lively Harbourfront Walkway
• Recommended operators: OceanFix near Campbell River, Nanaimo Dive Outfitters around Nanaimo
• Best season: November to February

Vancouver Island is renowned for its rugged coastline, temperate rainforests, and excellent tidepooling — which explains why the large island’s muck diving is so good, too. Some of the most sought-after species include the Pacific spiny lumpsucker and the grunt sculpin, a small, camouflaged fish that resembles a walking pinecone. There are also all kinds of nudibranch (including the intricate and colorful decorated warbonnet), plus seahorse-like pipefish and, of course, the giant Pacific octopus.

Water temperatures around Vancouver Island remain relatively cold throughout the year, usually between 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry suits are all but mandatory. Peak visibility is in the winter, from October to February. It usually drops in late February through mid-March, when the annual herring spawn significantly reduces visibility for about three weeks. However, since you don’t need exceptional visibility for muck diving, there’s no reason not to give it a try if you’re an enthusiastic diver, no matter what time of year you’re on the island.

Other well-known muck diving sites around the world

Most parts of the world will have some level of muck, so to speak, or at least an area with a silty bottom known for critters. Aside from the muck diving destinations above, you’ll also find muck diving around the world at specific sites well-known for the type of ocean critters that live in mucky environments. That includes Dauin in the Philippines, with volcanic black sand and abundant macro life like blue-ringed octopuses, and Alor (near Komodo), with rare species like the rhinopias scorpionfish, Coleman shrimp, and zebra crabs. Mabul Island in Malaysia, Maumere Bay in Indonesia, and Dumaguete in the Philippines — the list goes on. Talk to your dive shop before your trip if you’re interested in a detail-oriented muck dive, and they may know the perfect spot to take you.

Read more about the best little-known dive sites in Southeast Asia, or where to find pygmy seahorses and blue-ringed octopuses, and remind your non-certified friends that they can come on trips, too, since lots of muck diving sites are also near excellent snorkeling sites.