For some ocean lovers (or ocean loving couples), choosing between a surf trip and a dive holiday can be a difficult decision. Fortunately, some of the world’s best tropical destinations offer both world-class waves and spectacular underwater experiences.
From remote Pacific islands to legendary Indonesian breaks, these five destinations deliver unforgettable adventures above and below the surface.
1. Pohnpei, Micronesia
Perfect for: Powerful reef breaks and pristine coral reefs
Hidden away in the Federated States of Micronesia, Pohnpei is one of the Pacific’s best-kept secrets. While divers have long appreciated its healthy reefs and dramatic walls, surfers know it as home to one of the world’s most famous left-hand reef breaks.
Palikir Pass is legendary. Breaking over a shallow coral reef, this long, fast, hollow left can produce rides of more than 300 metres when the north swell arrives. Nearby P-Pass and other lesser-known breaks provide options for experienced surfers, with uncrowded line-ups a hallmark of the destination.
Pohnpei Surf Club provides guided boat access to the island’s best breaks, with local knowledge ensuring guests are in the right place as tides, winds and swells change.
The underwater world is equally rewarding. The reefs surrounding Pohnpei are remarkably healthy, with colourful hard corals, steep walls, channels alive with sharks and schools of pelagic fish, and excellent macro life. Manta rays, turtles and reef sharks are regular encounters, while visibility is typically outstanding.
Getting There: United Airlines operates an ‘Island Hopper’ for many of the smaller Micronesian destinations, with flights to Pohnpei via Guam and Truk.
2. Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
Perfect for: Bucket-list surfing and exceptional reef diving
The Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra are home to one of the greatest concentrations of perfect reef breaks on the planet.
Staying at Awera Resort with guided surfing from Surfland places guests within easy reach of famous breaks including Rifles, Kandui, Bankvaults, Burgerworld and Nipussi. Depending on conditions, surfers can access everything from playful walls to heavy barrels, with boats allowing flexibility to chase the best waves each day.
While the Mentawais are better known for surfing than diving, the underwater scenery is equally impressive. Healthy coral gardens, dramatic pinnacles and colourful reef systems support turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays and vast schools of tropical fish. The region’s light diving traffic means reefs remain in excellent condition, offering photographers and marine life enthusiasts a rewarding experience between surf sessions.
Getting There: The closest international airport is Padang, a 55-minute flight from Kuala Lumpur and 2-hour flight from Jakarta. From Padang, Awera Resort provides an escorted transfer service, utilising the public ferry which departs at 7 am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and at 6 am on Mondays. Due to the early morning departure, it’s necessary to arrive in Padang at least one day before the ferry departs.
3. Gizo, Solomon Islands
Perfect for: Empty waves and untouched reefs
The Western Province of the Solomon Islands combines authentic island hospitality with uncrowded surf and exceptional diving.
Based at family-run Oravae Cottage, surfers enjoy easy access to world-class reef breaks just 20 minutes from Gizo. Guided by Jeremy, President of the Western Solomons Surfing Association, guests are taken to renowned breaks including Tatiana and Palonggi, along with a selection of lesser-known reef passes known only to locals. Boat transfers allow surfers to follow the best Pacific swells according to wind and tide, often sharing the waves only with their travelling companions.
Below the surface, the Solomons offer some of the South Pacific’s most underrated diving. Coral-covered reefs teem with marine life, while dramatic walls, caverns and WWII wrecks provide incredible variety. Divers regularly encounter reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays and enormous schools of fish, with colourful soft corals adding spectacular colour to every dive.
Getting there: Solomon Airlines operate direct flights to nearby Munda International Airport in the Solomons’ Western Province and there are also daily flights from the capital Honiara.
4. Fiji
Perfect for: Iconic reef breaks and shark diving
Few destinations combine surfing and diving as effortlessly as Fiji. Located on Fiji’s Coral Coast, Waidroka Bay Resort caters equally well to surfers and divers, making it one of the country’s premier multi-activity resorts.
Surfers have access to legendary waves including Frigates Passage—widely regarded as Fiji’s finest left-hand reef break, as well as numerous other reef breaks, chosen according to varying conditions and experience levels. Resort boats make it easy to select the best break each day.
Experienced surfers may also want to extend and relocate north to Momi Bay or the Mamanuca Islands to surf the legendary Cloudbreak. Accommodation options here range from budget surf camps on the mainland, to 5-star luxury at Tavarua and Namotu Island resorts.
Diving is equally spectacular. Waidroka provides access to Beqa Lagoon, one of the world’s premier shark diving destinations, where bull sharks, tiger sharks, lemon sharks and reef sharks can all be encountered. The surrounding reefs are equally rewarding, featuring colourful soft corals, pinnacles, swim-throughs and abundant tropical fish.
Getting there: Multiple daily flights operate from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Nadi. Waidroka Bay Resort provide road transfers to the resort.
5. Tahiti Iti & the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia
Perfect for: Legendary waves and world-famous drift diving
French Polynesia offers one of the world’s most iconic surf experiences, centred around Tahiti Iti.
Teahupo’o is famous as one of the heaviest and most perfect waves on Earth. Its powerful, hollow left-hand barrel has become the benchmark for elite big-wave surfing and hosted the surfing competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Nearby reef breaks offer additional options for experienced surfers, while beginners can find gentler waves elsewhere around Tahiti.
After surfing, head to the Tuamotu Archipelago for some of the finest diving anywhere in the Pacific.
While the diving in Tahiti Iti is excellent, experienced divers will want to head to the atolls of Rangiroa and Fakarava, renowned for exhilarating drift dives through narrow passes where tidal currents attract extraordinary concentrations of marine life. In Fakarava, grey reef sharks gather in huge numbers, while manta rays, dolphins, Napoleon wrasse, turtles and vast schools of barracuda, jacks and snapper are common sightings. Crystal-clear water and healthy coral ecosystems make every dive memorable, while seasonal encounters with dolphins and spawning aggregations further elevate the experience.
Getting There: Twice-weekly direct flights from Sydney to Papeete commence in December 2026. Tahiti Iti is approximately two hours’ drive from the international airport, while domestic flights to the Tuamotu’s operate daily, taking around one hour.
The Best of Both Worlds
Whether you’re carving through the barrels of Teahupo’o, surfing empty reef breaks in the Solomon Islands, drifting alongside sharks in the Tuamotus or exploring the coral reefs of Micronesia, these destinations prove you don’t have to choose between waves and reefs.
For travellers who love every aspect of the ocean, combining surfing and diving creates one unforgettable adventure.
