diving

If we ask a diver what attracts him/her most to his/her favorite sport, he/she will probably answer that it is the thrill of the unknown. And every dive is and unique. Experienced divers and beginners will find a wealth of dive destinations at Barceló hotels, with a total of 48 locations worldwide. Choosing scuba diving is the best way to make a beach vacation round.

The Caribbean Sea is a great diving destination and Aruba is a favorite place for beginners. This island has warm seas with gentle waves, making it easy to breathe from a tank and swim comfortably underwater. Continuing on to Mexico, the Mesoamerican coral reef extends from southern Yucatan to Honduras. Divers can explore this vast system thanks to Barceló's dive hotels, which are located along the Riviera Maya, Cancun and Cozumel Island. The schools of bright fish and colorful coral reefs dotted with purple and orange sponges are a sight to behold. Sea turtles are abundant thanks to conservation efforts, and it is also possible to see manatees, also known as sea cows. The reef is home to the world's largest population of these slow, chubby and friendly mammals.

Palancar Reef, in Cozumel, attracts experienced divers from all over the world and beginners due to its diversity. The coral beds give way to deep crevices that harbor huge reef fish. On the Pacific coast, Banderas Bay is a world-class diving destination, and the Barceló hotels in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta are ideal starting points. Experts can carry out two-tank expeditions at sea. For their part, beginners usually head to Los Arcos, where the ocean has carved arches and caves in the granite that house octopuses and eels.

The Spanish Canary Islands, off the coast of Morocco, attract divers who want to explore fantastic seascapes formed when volcanoes erupted and lava reached the sea. Located in the Atlantic Ocean , these warm islands are caressed by ocean currents that maintain a mild climate. On the island of Fuerteventura, the Barceló Fuerteventura Thalasso Spa hotel has partnered with Deep Blue Diving School to offer dives for beginners and experts. It is possible to see schools of zebrafish and barracuda. Some divers bring sardines to feed the nearly two-meter manta rays, which sometimes come close enough to touch them. 

Travelers can try a night dive for an incredible experience. The lantern lights reveal amazing sea creatures that come out to hunt in the dark. Exploring a shipwreck is every diver's dream, and the Mediterranean Sea has been full of sunken ships since ancient times. Beginners will dive next to wrecks in the caves of the bay of Palma, while experts will be able to enter some of them. To discover one of the best shipwrecks in the world, divers go to Red Sea. The Barcelo Tiran Sharm hotel is located at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Nearby is the Thistlegorm, a British ship sunk by German bombs in 1941. As it is at a shallow depth, it is accessible to divers of all levels.