"A remote archipelago with exceptional visibility, polychromatic reefs, coral gardens, and nearly 20 dive sites—including cleaning stations for mantas near Barren Island. Diving is best from November to May (monsoon season runs June to October), and local accommodations such as Big Tree Cottages (a five-star PADI dive resort in Chidiyatapu) offer jungle-embedded stays with access to regional sites." - Stephanie Vermillion Stephanie Vermillion Stephanie Vermillion is a travel journalist and photographer covering culture and adventure for Travel + Leisure Outside, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines