Top Destinations: Scuba Diving Holiday

Cairns

The warm waters off of the North Queensland coast offer some of the best diving in the world with thousands of brilliantly coloured species of marine life including 1500 types of fish, 4000 types of molluscs, 350 types of echinoderms and 350 types of corals. This diversity creates a kaleidoscope of colour for divers and snorkelers alike, and a scuba diving holiday in Cairns is an unforgettable experience.

When deciding which company to book with, it is not worth choosing on price alone. The Great Barrier Reef is a long way off shore, and therefore it is advisable for visitors to check carefully what is on offer — large vessels (such as those operated by Great Adventures and Quicksilver) carry 300-400 passengers on each run, so these trips are more noisy and crowded during the peak season.

An Environmental Management Charge (ECM) is required by the Australian Government for all adults and children four years and over entering the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area. Expect to pay from A per person per day, to a maximum of A2 for the ECM fee.
 

South Africa

Scuba diving Holiday in South Africa

Whether you want to dive with sharks and wrecks on rugged wild coasts, or simply relax with whales and dolphins and enjoy pristine coral reefs and abundant wildlife, scuba diving in South Africa is fast growing in popularity. All major organization's qualifications are recognized and good quality scuba dive gear is easily hired and foreign divers are welcomed with typical South African hospitality and are without exception made to feel at home.

South Africa is one of the cheapest and most popular places in the world to get an internationally recognised open-water scuba diving certificate, with courses at all the coastal cities as well as a number of other resorts. The most rewarding scuba diving is along the St Lucia Marine Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal coast, where 100,000 dives go under every year for its rays, sharks, wrecks, whales, dolphins, coral reefs and fluorescent fish. The Cape Province, with its huge number of sunken vessels, makes wreck diving and great white shark diving popular activities among both locals and visitors. You can also encounter the swaying rhythms of giant kelp forests.
 

Tahiti

Tahiti is a perfect holiday destination for Scuba Diving. The huge arrays of diving sites around the island are ideal for beginning and advanced divers alike. The range of oceanic areas includes clear shallow waters, sunken ships and areas of luminous coral. The multitude of marine life is mesmerising, as you can swim with Manta Rays and Dolphins in the South Pacific’s warm waters. There are around 8 dive sites located in Tahiti that cater for every diver.

‘The Aquarium’ is a lagoon and is the most popular dive site, while for more experienced divers, ‘The Wrecks’ dive tour shows you the remains of a large cargo ship and a Catalina flying boat airplane. For even more oceanic experiences whilst on your holiday, dive into the ‘Lagoon Hole’ where you can wonder at rare aquatic species such as leopard rays, triggerfish and reef shark. On a diving holiday in Tahiti, you will indeed have an unforgettable marine adventure.
 

Cancun

Cancun is famous for its scuba diving because of its shallow reefs with the dazzling colours. The Great Mesoamerican Reef is the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest coral reef in the world. The reef stretches from Punta Nizuc, which it at the tip of the Cancun Hotel area to the Bay of Islands in Honduras that is 450 miles of coral reef. Clear waters and warm temperatures makes scuba diving here perfect .The Reef harbors nearly 100 species of coral, 72 species of micro-algae from the plant kingdom and other microscopic animals and 30 species of sponges. 164 species of reef dwelling fish have been identified here, an underwater world is the Quintana Roo’s Cenotes. Scuba diving is a must if you are going to Cancun.
 

Indonesia

The Indonesian archipelago has a distinguished reputation for offering the best scuba diving experiences in the world. The warm, clear waters and exotic coral reefs are the ideal home for a wide range of colourful tropical marine life. Tour operators offering scuba diving expeditions are all over Indonesia and with literally thousands of fascinating beauty spots perfect for discovering all kinds of aquatic life from tropical fish and colourful corals a scuba diving holiday in Indonesia is sure to be a breathtaking experience. There are trips for all skill levels and beginners courses for first timers as well as PADI diving centres. Some tour operators offer scuba diving boats that take you out to the surrounding islands and with very cheap prices, you be hard pushed to find anywhere in the world that offers scuba diving of this quality.

Maldives

The Maldives offer one of the best scuba diving locations in the world. With their shallow house reefs just metres off the beach, snorkelling and scuba diving are available without even boarding a dive boat. Scuba diving in the Maldives house reefs offers a world of underwater beauty where you will see many varieties of fish, including the amusing parrot fish grinding up coral with it’s powerful teeth and the bright yellow coloured sweet lips fish.

The abundant brightly coloured stripy wrasse are forever at your side, literally pecking at your scuba gear! And you may even see small reef sharks and turtles in the shallows. But scuba diving in the Maldives isn’t complete without a trip off shore into the deep ocean, where you may encounter giant wrasse, eel and even a whale shark if you’re really lucky! For a wonderful scuba diving holiday you will be hard beat to find a better destination than the Maldives.

Costa Rica

Scuba diving holidays in Costa Rica present you with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get closer to some of the rarest aquatic life in the world. Scuba diving and snorkelling is popular and is sometimes bundled with boat tours and/or cruises where a personal instructor dictates proceedings. In more dangerous waters, you will most likely have a personal instructor taking you all the way through it, to ensure that your Costa Rican scuba dive isn’t your last! You can sign up for scuba diving either through expedition companies (advertised in tourist facilities or your hotel) or by visiting the coastal areas. Scuba diving in Costa Rica is a unique and fulfilling experience.

Sharm el Sheikh

Sharm el Sheikh offers some of the best diving in the world and as such, it’s a massively popular destination for diving holidays. The incredible diving in Sharm el Sheikh, lively nightlife, year round sunshine and warm water means it’s an ideal destination for a short or long dive holiday at any time of the year. Many companies offer dive courses in Sharm el Sheikh for beginners and refresher courses for those who’ve dived before.

If you have time on your hands, there are plenty of opportunities to gain your Padi dive licence here. Some of the dive centres in Sharm el Sheikh are more experienced and professional than others, so shop around before committing. One of the most popular destinations in the area for diving is the Ras Mohammed National park. This is a marine reserve where you’ll find over 200 types of coral, 1,000 specials of fish, and the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm.

The best times for a dive holiday in Sharm el Sheikh are winter or summer when visibility in the Red Sea around Sharm el Sheikh is good.
 

Sri Lanka

A wide coral reef surrounds Sri Lanka’s coast at intervals, from north to south, providing excellent sites for scuba-diving - perfect for holidaymakers looking to have a exciting holiday amongst some of nature‘s most fascinating beauty in its deep blue sea. The discovery of the natural beauty of the underwater world in Sri Lanka is sure to fascinate and keep one spellbound. The turquoise and aquamarine waters are home to a burgeoning populace of magical and mysterious world of coral reef, shells and vibrant shoals of fish. The adventure of scuba diving can be combined with activities ranging from underwater photography, to the study of the varied types of ocean life. The coral world is inhabited by a profound number of beautiful species such as rays, eels, clown fish, porcupine, moorish idol, unicorn and moorish angel to name a few. The common species belonging to the families of Aroporidae (Staghorn Corals), Poritidae (Donnie Corals), Mussidae (Brain Corals), faviidae (Ster Corals) and Pocelloporidae (Flower Corals).

"Sri Lanka's spectacular scenic beauty is rivalled only by the wonders of her underwater world," an apt saying as the sea surrounding the pearl of the Indian Ocean holds many treasures; The multi-hued coral reef which encompasses the south and east coast is illuminated by the rays of the sun creating a magical effect along with the vibrant tropical fish, and the submerged shipwrecks offer ample opportunity for underwater archaeologists, photographers and adventure seekers alike. Some of the diving hot spots are Ambalangoda, Hikkaduwa, Dondra, Tangalle and many more in the south and south -east coast; Negombo, Bentota and Beruwala in the West and Pigeon Island, Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Passekudah, Kattankudy on the east coast. The above areas are a mere handful compared to the plethora of cities which are equipped to give a memorable diving experience.

Conveniently rostered monsoons ensure that one half of the island's coastal waters remain in season for aquatic pursuits. The west coast from December through March and the north and east coast from March to September. Underwater visibilty is good and range from 50 to 100 feet. Apart from treasures of coral and fish, the reefs and sea-beds off shore offer an exciting attraction to skilled divers. Submerged wrecks are strewn off the thousand mile-long coastal waters, a legacy of more than twenty centuries of maritime trade and sea-faring. A few treasures have been salvaged and are in view at the maritime museums in Sri Lanka and a 15 kilogram mass, containing exactly one thousand of these coins, still in the shape of their original bag is now on display in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.

Diving in Sri Lanka holds endless possibilities, worth experiencing. There are many water sports centres around the Island enabling the visitor to rent diving equipment inclusive of photographic material. Exceptional dive -tour packages and underwater safaris are arranged by dedicated agencies and travel agents who employ professional diving guides and instructors.
 

Bermuda

The waters around Bermuda are one of the best places to go scuba diving in the world making Bermuda a great place for a scuba diving holiday. With its eerie shipwrecks teeming with sea life and its coral reefs, Bermuda is an underwater playground for diving enthusiasts. You’ll find that all of the outfitters offer excursions to many of the main diving sites in Bermuda. If you’ve never done scuba diving but are keen to learn you’ll find several diving centres in Bermuda where you try your hand at this wonderful underwater sport and gain diving certification. If you want to try diving but don’t want to enrol in lessons you should consider a helmet dive in Bermuda. With helmet diving participants go out in a boat to a dive site which is about three meters deep. Once they are in position a helmet is placed on the diver’s head. The helmet is connected to a compressor on the boat and delivers air to the diver. The diver and guide then walk around the diving site to get a close-up look at the marine life there. Helmet dives usually last for half an hour. Whether you are new to diving or a seasoned pro a scuba diving holiday in Bermuda has something for everyone.

Bahamas

The Bahamas are one of the top scuba diving holiday destinations on the planet and offer a variety of reef, wreck, wall, drift, night and shark dives for beginner and advanced divers alike. Popular scuba holiday spots in the Bahamas are located in the Biminis, on Grand Bahama, Andros Island, Long Island, and the Exumas, with convenient departures from Nassau. Diving can also be combined with a beach, cruise or sailing holiday. Stewart’s Coves on Paradise Island offers a variety of options including SUB (Scenic Underwater Bubbles) and underwater scooters. Blackbeard’s cruises offer weekly holiday diving packages departing from Freeport for under 650€ (plus additional fees).

British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands has a distinguished reputation for offering the best scuba diving experiences in the world. The warm, clear waters and exotic coral reefs are the ideal home for a wide range of colourful tropical marine life. Tour operators offering scuba diving expeditions are all over the BVI archipelago and with literally hundreds of fascinating beauty spots perfect for discovering all kinds of aquatic life from tropical fish and colourful corals. There are trips for all skill levels and beginners courses for first timers as well as PADI diving centres.

Lanzarote

For the more energetic sea worshipper, Lanzarote has a great deal of cheap water sports to try out and the favourite amongst holidaymakers seems to be scuba diving, where experts are on-hand to show you the ropes if you haven’t tried it before.

There are over 90 beaches on this wonderful island and if you aren’t the type to lie back on a sunlounger and read a book then a scuba diving holiday in Lanzarote could well be the best way to appreciate the warm turquoise waters that edge the coastline. There are independent tour operators who arrange a full week’s diving itinerary, where you can explore reefs and underwater caves and for less than £300, which includes basic accommodation, it is a fair price. Just spend a little time shopping around before you book a scuba diving holiday in Lanzarote as bargains can always be found in the Canaries.
 

Larnaca

Larnaca is a fantastic location to discover the depths of the Mediterranean Ocean. The Mediterranean is warm all year round with sea temperatures ranging from 18°C (64°F) in the winter months and rise to 27°C (81°F) in the summer, so it is advised to wear a dry suit in the winter and a thin wet suit in the summer months. Specialist dive holidays are also available where you live on the boat and have regular day and night dives.

Larnaca’s coast houses one of the most impressive wrecks in the world, The Zenobia shipwreck is in easy reach of the Larnaca’s St Raphael Marina, and divers travel from around the world to visit this underwater site. Other wrecks include the HMS Cricket and Helicopter Diving sites. Two Compression chambers are available at Larnaca hospital and Nitrox is often sold at Larnaca’s selection of dive centres. A scuba diving holiday in Larnaca is the perfect place to witness first hand the Mediterranean’s mesmeric marine world.
 

Kenya

There can be few better places to learn how to dive than the turquoise waters and coral reefs of the Indian Ocean,to give you a superb scuba diving holiday in Kenya. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) offer courses between US $300 – 500 at most of the hotels. October to March are the best months for a scuba diving holiday in Kenya, and the best sites are the underwater cliffs at Shimoni,the 28 km of coral reefs off Wasini Island on the south coast and the Watamu Marine National Park on the north coast.

Tanzania

Scuba diving in Tanzania is world-class. Colourful marine life and many excellent diving spots can be found around Tanzania's coastline. Pemba and Zanzibar are considered among the best diving sites in the world. The coral covered walls, coral strewn reef slopes, and enormous, healthy bommies are surrounded by reef fish. There are schools of chevron barracuda, yellow fin tuna, Jacks and snapper to be seen as well as giant groupers who sit territorially on Pemba's reefs and most sites have a resident Maori wrasse. Ribbon eels, fire dartfish and leaf-fish can be found on many of the reefs. Whatever your budget and level of diving experience, dives can be arranged for an incredible diving holiday in Tanzania.

Caribbean

The Caribbean is one of the finest scuba diving destinations in the world. It has islands that have stretches of reef teeming with tropical fish, and walls that drop from six to 6000 metres very quickly.  The Caribbean has wrecks and caves to explore, and coral-clad pinnacles and underwater fumaroles that bubble volcanic gases making you feel as though you are diving into champagne. In the Bahamas, you even have the option to dive with sharks or dolphins.  Most of the islands of the Caribbean hve dive shops, and if you are not currently a diver there is a 'resort course' which will allow you to dive while on island, and the qualification lasts for the duration of your stay.   If you wish to set aside the time you can also gain a longer lasting qualification. 'Referral diving', is an option which lets you do much of the theory at home, thereby not wasting time while you are abroad.

Bali

A scuba diving holiday in Bali is a truly memorable experience thanks to the island boasting many impressive diving sites. The best time of year for diving as the sea tends to be calmer, is the dry season which lasts from April to October. Many of the dive sites are close to the islands shores and there is a myriad of tropical fish and corals to explore, and divers will see marine life such as dolphins, rays, turtles, sperm and blue whales, or sea snakes. The main diving areas in Bali on the east coast are at Padang Bai and Candi Dasa and further north at Tulamben and Amed. One of the most popular sites is the wreck of the US Liberty warship at Tulamben. The hull is encrusted with coral and the fish have become relatively tame due to the large numbers of divers here.

Thailand

The warm, clear waters surrounding Thailand make it an ideal home for a wide range of exotic marine life and a great destination for a Scuba Diving holiday. Tour operators offering scuba diving expeditions in Thailand can be found in abundance and there are literally hundreds of fascinating beauty spots that are perfect for scuba diving.

Many parts of Thailand's surrounding seas attract all kinds of aquatic life from tropical fish and colourful corals to turtles and non-aggressive sharks. There are trips for all skill levels and beginners courses for first timers as well as PADI diving centres. Some tour operators offer scuba diving boats that take you out to the surrounding islands that are renowned for the breathtaking scuba diving experience such Kho Phi Phi, Similans and Surin Islands. At very reasonable prices in one of the most exotic locations on the planet, places to scuba dive don't come much better than Thailand.