Diving in Anilao offers the chance to see some elusive nudibranchs, such as the Hypselodoris apolegma, nicknamed the Bubblegum Worm due to its purple colour. Look out for the tiny, coloured spines of the Flabellina exoptata, the spotted dorid (Goniobranchus hintuanensis) and plenty of ribboned nudibranch eggs. Feeling a little daring? Why not also try a blackwater dive while you're here?

Nudi Falls is a must when diving in the Lembeh Strait. This site does have stronger currents, but you're rewarded with soft coral gardens, walls of sponges and sea whips housing an array of nudis. Pantai Parigi offers a different backdrop for underwater photographers, with white sand, rubble and reef, as well as the Strait's densest hard coral cover. Then there's Police Pier, which, as the name suggests, lies under the jetty used by the local police station, and Hairball and Teluk Kambahu, both of which are known for their black sand slopes.

The broken coral bed of the Lembeh Strait, alongside the sloping reefs, make the perfect dwelling for over 200 species of nudibranchs. Macro photographers will be snapping away at the photogenic Chromodoris elisabethina, the unusual Halgerdra batangas and brightly coloured Aegires minor.

Chloe Bay is in the heart of the protected Mafia Island Marine Park and is a biodiversity hotspot that will have you losing count of the nudis that you see. Dive the aptly named Nudi City, a reef in shallow waters of only nine metres, or head to Frogfish Town (no prizes for what you can expect here) for nudis alongside frogfish. Milimani, meanwhile, is known for its hard and soft corals, so look carefully for camouflaged nudis here.

Spy some colourful characters such as the Ceratophyllidia africana, Goniobranchus alius and Hypselodoris yarae alongside marine favourites, including turtles, rays, and, at the right time of year, whale sharks. If you fancy some time with the singers of the ocean, humpback whales, head to Mafia between August and September.

One of the best things about diving in Dumaguete is that most of the sites are just a few minutes by boat from the shore. San Miguel is great for beginners, with nudibranchs often found in as little as five metres of water. Meanwhile, Poblacion has a maximum depth of around 28m, and once a few macro critters are pointed out, you'll quickly notice the seafloor coming to life with an array of characters. Bonnet's Corner and Secret Corner are also excellent sites, while Masaplod Norte offers the chance to see yellow 'banana' nudibranchs.

Dumaguete is home to some of our favourite nudibranchs, including the bumpy Mexichromis (Mexichromis multituberculata), the Pokemon-looking Nembrotha kubaryana and the spotted ornate Stiliger (Stiliger ornatus). You'll also find rare marvels such as the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish and more frogfish that you can keep track of. Afterall, Dumaguete is known to be the 'frogfish capital of the world', so if you want to spy some of these then head here between February and June. And from the small to the big, take a day trip from Oslob for a chance to snorkel with some whale sharks (season dependent).

The best dive sites for critter lovers are around Kalabahi Bay, a macro photographer's paradise. The dive sites here are all muck sites with black sand shores, but can plunge to depths of 200 metres, so you may be lucky enough to spot whales patrolling the depths. For the colour lovers, head to the Pantar Strait, where the underwater landscape is a kaleidoscope of colour and buzzing reef life.

Here you'll find all sorts of nudibranchs, from the minuscule ringed favorinus (Favorinus tsuruganus) to the large Spanish Dancer. Alongside the nudis, you can spy schooling hammerheads, and for something truly special on land, opt for a Bubu Fisherman experience.

If you're a history buff, head to the wreck of Muscoota in Discovery Bay to spy colourful nudis among the sponges and corals that decorate this sunken British Royal Navy Clipper. Elsewhere, on the north coast, there is Lauadi, an iconic muck dive site where you'll spy critters in water as shallow as two to 15 metres. Deacon's Reef offers the chance to swim over cabbage coral gardens, but be sure to go slow so that you can look out for dragon-esque Cyerce nigra or the fluorescent yellow Notodoris minor.

Milne Bay is the original Papua New Guinea diving location. For the muck lovers, it's all about Dinah's Beach, the birthday place of muck diving. Lying in the path of ripping currents, diving around here offers exhilarating drift dives at sites such as the iconic Washing Machine. The critters around the Island of Samaria have turned the dilapidated jetty into their own shelter, so be sure to have your identification card ready to tick off as many species as you can. For those who also love manta rays, head over to the site known as Giants at Home, one of the most reliable sites for manta ray interactions. And if whale sharks are your thing, then check out Wahoo Point between June and October.

Nudibranchs can be found all around Tofo. Known for its coral-rich boulders, Praia da Rocha is an excellent site for critter searching, and macro photographers will love the sandy ledges of Estrada. Swim under some arches to look for nudis clinging to rocks at Marble Arch or spy a sleeping green turtle at Salon. Away from nudibranchs, head to Clown Fish Reef to spot a Nemo (or a hundred) among anemones, or if you're more experienced and looking for the big boys, head to the Amazon, a site that reaches up to 30 metres deep and is home to white tip and leopard sharks catching a few winks on the sandy bed.

From the big to the small, Tofo is home to it all. In these waters, you can spot a Spanish dancer moving through the waters, along with Hypselodoris regina, Halgerda wasinensis or Chromodoris Africana, as well as the bigger beauties. Humpback whales pass by on their way through the Mozambique Channel from the Antarctic, zebra sharks are a docile delight to encounter, and the list goes on, with (deep breath) whale sharks, manta rays, moray eels, huge schools of kingfish, giant lobsters, schooling banner fish, Moorish idols, barred sweetlips and many, many more all found in in the waters around Tofo.