10 best places for scuba diving holidays around the world

If you want to experience the best diving in the world, you don’t have to travel far. With some of the best places for scuba diving hidden just metres from Spain’s top hotels, you can easily combine a one-off dive or a complete PADI course with a few days in the sun. If you fancy going further afield, daydream-worthy destinations such as the Maldives or Cape Verde offer secluded spots famous for diving. 

Those lucky enough to enjoy a holiday in the Maldives will want to take advantage of the best dive resorts for beginners. One such place is the exclusive 5* resort, the Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives, located on the South Ari Atoll. Its tranquil, gin-clear waters, paper-white sand and fairytale coral gardens make this an extraordinary place to learn how to dive. You may even be lucky and spot whale sharks and manta rays as well as over 700 types of fish while diving in the Indian Ocean. That being said, while the Maldives is a fabulous dive destination all year round, the month of April is excellent thanks to the amazing visibility and quality of light.

Add a splash of adventure to your holiday and explore key diving areas such as the Rangali Madivaru Manta Point. Here you are almost guaranteed to see manta rays as it is a known manta cleaning station (a designated spot where manta rays go to receive a regular hygiene check by parasitic copepods and a variety of small cleaner wrasse). With shallow waters no deeper than 10 metres, this is one of the best places for scuba diving in the Maldives. It is also worth noting that the resort is located close to the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) - a natural reserve and a haven for marine wildlife.

There is more to Zanzibar than its pristine beaches and untouched natural settings. It is also one of the best places for scuba diving thanks to its coral reefs home to over 500 varieties of fish. There are over 30 dive sites that range from reef, wall and wreck diving and with the strong Levan Bank currents, it is also a hotspot for big game fish like kingfish, whale sharks and tuna. 

If you are keen to enjoy a regenerative tourism experience, the Mnemba Atoll is a wonderful place to start. This conservation success story focuses on the 7km reef where turtles, whale sharks and dolphins can be seen from September to December. Just like in the Maldives, you can dive in Zanzibar all year round. The Indian Ocean remains at a constant 27ºC with approximately 30 metres of visibility to enjoy. If you are planning a scuba diving getaway, a holiday in Zanzibar is one of the best places to scuba dive in the world.

Boa Vista is a melting pot of tropical waters and strong Atlantic currents making it a wonderful place for divers of all levels. The rich variety of marine life and vibrant underwater environments make this one of the best places for scuba diving off the coast of Africa.

When you are on holiday in Boa Vista, head to one of the island's beaches such as Praia de Atalanta where you can find the famous Spanish cargo ship that ran aground here on September 1st 1968. Catch glimpses of colourful fish swimming in and out of the shipwreck and if you are lucky you may even see lobsters, scorpion fish, eels and nurse sharks.

If you are thinking about diving in Boa Vista, it is best to do so between April and November although you can enjoy diving excursions all year round. 

If you are looking for the best diving holidays, Egypt comes up trumps thanks to its Sharm el Sheikh coastline. Its prime location close to Ras Mohamed and the Straits of Tiran makes this one of the best places for scuba diving in North Africa thanks to the dramatic walls that drop hundreds of metres, famous shipwrecks from a bygone era and immaculate coral reefs that attract colourful fishes in their masses. There is so much to explore under the pristine waters of this popular tourist resort.

Book your stay at the Barceló Tiran Sharm, which has its own private beach on the Red Sea. The hotel has a diving centre which allows guests the chance to update their PADI qualifications, take a course or hire equipment for their adventure. Expect to see all kinds of tropical fish and if you are lucky you may even be able to get up close to whales, sharks and hammerhead sharks. 

The Spanish islands are the perfect place for beginners to learn the basics of scuba diving.  From the pristine paperwhite sand beaches in Menorca to the wild and rugged volcanic coastline in the Canary Islands, Spain’s scuba diving is as varied as it is fun.    

Tenerife boasts many incredible diving spots from the open water paradise of Los Chuchos (known for its stingrays) located off the coast of Las Galletas to the harbour of Los Abrigos or the beach of Abades. The year-round mild temperatures mean that divers can dive into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean all year round, yet for the best visibility and mild seas the summer months are ideal.

Pilot whales, dolphins, eagle and manta rays, turtles and octopuses are just a few of the incredible sea creatures you can expect to see in Tenerife’s ocean. During the summer divers can see seahorses too. Book into one of Tenerife’s top hotels and check out one of the local dive schools which will be able to offer you courses or equipment hire depending on your needs and level. 

There is something very meditative about scuba diving and the unadulterated landscapes of Menorca in the Balearic Islands will put divers into a trance with their beauty. Dive sites here are easy and suitable for all levels with the best diving to be found between May and October.

Check into one of the island’s top hotels and get ready to be blown away by the stunning marine life waiting for you under Menorca’s topaz waters. The North Minorcan Marine Reserve, created in 1999 to protect the island’s coastline and flora and fauna, is an ideal place to dive thanks to the arches, caves and crevices full of life. The Swiss Cheese is also another top Menorcan dive spot. This big rock is full of tunnels and caves that provide challenges for divers of all abilities.  

When talking about far-flung places to dive, the Caribbean is one of the best places for scuba diving thanks to the spectacular marine wildlife. If you are keen to explore the best Caribbean dive resorts, head to these destinations. 

Playa del Carmen is one of the best places to dive in the Caribbean thanks to its unique dive spots. If you are heading to this picturesque part of the world, check out the luxury resorts with dive centres such as the Royal Hideaway Playacar - Adults only - All Inclusive hotel. Here you can take a dive course, update your PADI certification or hire the necessary equipment to dive with a friend. 

What makes Playa del Carmen one of the best places for scuba diving in Mexico is the mystical cenotes - underground sinkholes that create watery caverns ideal for exploring. This unique geographical feature is a feast for the eyes and a great way for advanced divers to practise their skills. Cenote Angelita and Cenote Zapote are ideal spots for advanced divers. Not to mention you will be able to get up close to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, home to incredible diving spots such as the Palancar Gardens and the Santa Rosa Reef.

Cancún, just like Cozumel and Isla Mujeres is one of the best places for scuba diving in Mexico thanks to the array of underwater caves and cenotes to explore. You can dive all year round, yet between June and September whale sharks are more frequent in these waters offering divers a rare opportunity to get up close to these big fish.

If you are staying in the Resorts in Cancún be sure to book a diving excursion to MUSA Mexico, an underwater museum full of sculptures. Located on the Punta Nizuc reef, just a stone’s throw from Boulevard Kukulcán, this museum can also be visited via a glass bottom boat, ideal for snorkelling. 

Apart from being a paradisiacal beach destination, the sun drenched shores of Punta Cana are one of the best places for scuba diving if you are a beginner. Home to the Dominican Republic's longest reef, Punta Cana divers can enjoy swimming in caves, wrecks and underwater canyons.

Check into the Barceló Bavaro Beach where the hotel’s diving centre will teach you everything you need to know about diving into the depths of the Caribbean Ocean. Expect to see game fish, small sharks, and rays and at night you can even spot lobsters, morays and octopus. You may even be lucky and hear the call of the humpback whale while under the water.

The best time to dive on the southern coast of Punta Cana is between December and May when you are also more likely to hear the song of the humpback whales. Yet, it is worth noting that on the northern coast, the currents are stronger during this time.