See full version: Best Diving Destinations in Europe: 8 Best Scuba Diving Sites in Europe
Diving is a divine and enriching experience and after a visit to these popular scuba diving sites in Europe you will surely fall in love with the natural beauty that we do not usually get to see. Do embark upon this life-changing experience.
Not only is this place breathtakingly beautiful but it also has offered the opportunity to dive into the waters and enjoy the landscape of the seabeds. Nature has carefully preserved here by the authorities, the pristine beaches and the comfortable weather make it a must visit for all who are interested in deep sea diving.
This part of France is not popular as its capital Paris but by no means is it less beautiful. Located near Venezuela this region has a unique feature. You can enjoy both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Scuba diving is a popular activity in the clean clear and see-through water around here. here
This Italian island has much to offer in terms of a clear diving environment and fantastic weather which will be very comfortable for you whenever you visit. As one of the wonderful diving spots in Europe, this place has huge fan following among enthusiastic divers from all over the world. [links]
Among the best destinations to dive in Europe, Tenerife in Spain is a must mention. The comfortable sun beams down upon all visitors as they get to spend a significant amount of time by the beach. more
The clean and crystal clear waters of Gozo Island make it one of the best diving destinations in Europe. The underwater world of the Mediterranean will fascinate you when you go scuba diving in this part of Europe in Malta.
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Europe, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service. [links]
Countries like Croatia and Italy, which have their fair share of islands ashore, have a few diving cruises, but mostly adventure cruises. For example, Croatia’s Liveaboard boats are mostly adventure cruises that are snorkeling friendly. As for liveaboards in Italy, there is the Norseman, which explores and dives the Tuscan archipelago.
Thinking to travel in Europe mostly brings forth images of wine, cheese, gourmet pastries, various stunning architectural sights, castles, and scenic lakes. Yes, we can feel you! That being said, Europe is also a wonderful place to scuba dive. Indeed, there’s plenty of opportunities to try different types of diving. Between the warmer climate of Malta and the sharp edges of Scotland, there are many amazing dives sites to discover!
Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Europe Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Europe.
Globally, the best time to scuba dive in Europe are the months of June, July, and August. Indeed, just like for many outdoor activities done in the northern hemisphere, summer is the go-to season. Of course, this means it’s peak tourist season for land attraction, but the diving in Europe is not the main draw and so it rarely gets “too crowded”.
WHEN TO GO Year-round; water temps range from 68 ̊F to 75 ̊F
DIVE NOW elcardumen.com here
The second-largest fish in the ocean — only the whale shark is bigger — basking sharks are filter feeders. [links]
Each winter in the Norwegian Arctic, hundreds of killer whales and humpbacks chase a vast herring migration, pushing them to shallower waters where the hunting is easier. To witness the action on the surface from a boat is quite easy, but to get close encounters underwater is another story: It’s absolutely up to the animals to decide if they will permit human contact. Operators use fast RIBs to drop divers in front of the hunting whales, but you most likely will get only a brief interaction. You need good physical fitness to hop in and out of the water many, many times. Even then, it is challenging to get a decent shot. more
Basking sharks often feed close to shore, and their huge dorsal fins often shock people swimming nearby. These sharks are tough photographic subjects. If you swim in too fast, they’ll close their mouths and you’ll miss the classic gaping-jaws photo. We heard on marine radio that basking sharks had been spotted near St. Michael’s. I used a huge 23-inch dome port, which has 10 pounds of lead attached to it, just to sink it to halfway so I could shoot clean split levels. Both halves of this image — a digital composite — were taken on the same day, in the same area, with the same camera. [links]
LOCATION Posse, Verzasca River
PHOTOGRAPHER Marc Henauer here
Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal here
Nuno Sa/NPL/Minden Pictures [links]
Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain more
Teeming with marine life, the island of Santa Maria is one of the most interesting and diverse in the world. Diving at this location means stunning visibility in summer season and devil rays, groupers, snappers, huge stingrays, moray eels, invertebrates, crustaceans and schools of fishes. When you add the chance of finding sea turtles, varied species of dolphin, whale sharks, the elusive oceanic sunfish or the giant oceanic manta ray, this adventure becomes a visual feast and a truly unforgettable experience. Baixa do Ambrosio, located only a couple of miles from the coast of Santa Maria, belongs to a marine-reserve area and is a must-dive location for encounters with devil rays and, for the more experienced divers, large schools of barracuda and amberjacks. Groups of devil rays 20 to 30 strong are quite common; they swim in circular directions, coming close to underwater photographers, and are not afraid of bubbles or the lights of the underwater strobes. — Sabrina Belloni [links]
A wonderful immersion with so much life, Playa Chica is one of the most frequented diving sites in the Canary Islands. With easy access directly from the beach, this site has something for every type of diver, from the vertical walls hiding marine life all the way down to the deep white sand bed — there’s even a small wreck. Once you start the dive, you’ll find all sorts of friendly ocean life, from groupers and frogfish to beautiful orange corals and enormous barracuda, and Playa Chica is a perfect candidate for night diving when conditions are right. — Francis Pérez here