Top 9 Dive Spots for Beginners

Becoming a traveler is easy. Visit new countries and discover new cities — and there you are, an experienced wanderer. But the main thing is not to stop only on land. Thanks to the invention of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan, humans are able to travel underwater. Diving underwater is comparable to a miracle. A person simultaneously hovers above the ground and is below its level, breathes where it’s impossible to breathe, and sees a life completely unlike anything else. The feelings that overwhelm you during your first dive remain in your memory forever. They cannot be compared to a first motorcycle ride or a parachute jump. Underwater, light, sound, and perception change, and there is an immersion into serenity. Discovering new places of sunken ships or coral reefs makes you want to dive again and again. It’s a pity the air tank supply is limited. Beginner divers are often advised to start with lessons in a pool. This way, swimming in a wetsuit with scuba gear is better mastered. But it’s not mandatory: there are instructors who conduct lessons for beginners directly in lakes or at sea. Diving is not only a fun hobby but also a beneficial activity. Constant swimming strengthens and tones muscles, burning excess fat. Underwater excursions are also an excellent remedy for insomnia. If a dive takes a long time, fatigue accumulates, and drowsiness overcomes you. You return to base and immediately fall into a healthy, deep sleep. The best diving spots are those untouched corners you discover yourself. But there are also wonderful popular places that every diver must explore. We have prepared a top 9 list of “You can’t not dive here!” spots.

• Great Barrier Reef, Australia

One of the most popular spots for both professionals and beginners. The diving capital and main gathering place is Heron Island, where various diving schools exist. Over 350 different types of corals, parrotfish, clownfish, giant rays, and huge sea turtles will inspire you to dive again and again.

• Eilat, Israel

Israel is a country with over 10,000 divers, and this number grows every year. The most popular city for beginner dives is Eilat. There you can choose almost any equipment to your liking. One of the main underwater attractions is a 500-meter coral wall with a multi-tiered structure, named in honor of Japanese gardens, known for their intricate and elegant compositions.

• Green Lake (Grüner See) in Austria. Underwater Park

Green Lake got its name from the emerald hue of its water. The water there is quite cold—between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius—but it is crystal clear. In winter, you can see benches and a park there, but by spring, it submerges underwater, revealing wonderful views of the same park, but from a new perspective. A beautiful and safe place for beginner divers.

• Sipadan Island, Malaysia

A place with crystal clear water and its own special magnetism. Sipadan is known among divers for its barracuda tornadoes. Fish gather in schools and begin to circle mesmerizingly. For beginners, there are several schools offering dives. The main thing to know is that a special permit is required for diving, which can be obtained at the hotel where you are staying. Dives on the island are permitted from 6:00 to 15:00.

• Azul Cenote, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The most unusual place to try diving and fall in love with it forever. Scuba divers plunge into unremarkable, lily-pad-covered ponds, like Alice down a rabbit hole, and find themselves in a strange realm of underground palaces whose vaults rest on elegant stalagmites. For diving in most caves, no special training is required — an experienced instructor is sufficient.

• Similan Islands, Thailand

Thailand is an ideal place for a first journey into the underwater world. Quite a few organizations offer their diving services, but be sure to pay attention to the presence of CMAS or PADI certificates. Beginner divers are recommended to first familiarize themselves and decide on a location to avoid large crowds of tourists.

• Maldives

Few people remember now that the first tourists in the Maldives were divers. Since the Maldives consist of several coral islands, you can explore the underwater world from any island, or even directly from your bungalow’s balcony. Diving schools are located in almost every hotel. The underwater world is famous for its well-known Maldivian triggerfish, huge starfish, and, we warn beginner divers, sharks.

• Tulamben, Bali

It is in Bali that beginner divers will discover ancient sunken Buddhist temples, as well as the huge sunken ship USAT Liberty. The ship can be reached independently, just by taking a mask and fins, as it is quite close to the shore; for other underwater wonders, it is recommended to go with an instructor. If you are just snorkeling, be prepared to hold your breath — the ship lies at a depth of 5 to 6 meters. Some schools offer underwater photography as an additional service.

• Cayman Islands

Islands recommended to all beginner divers. Over 20 different schools and experienced instructors will quickly teach you to feel as if you’ve been diving your whole life. Underwater travelers are offered the chance to admire famous coral pillars and observe huge rays, of which there are simply enormous numbers here.