13 Best Scuba Diving Places In The World

Scuba diving is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and explore underwater worlds brimming with fascinating creatures, coral reefs, and endless underwater beauty. Whether an experienced diver or a beginner just starting out on their underwater journey, there are many scuba diving hot spots around the world that cater to all levels of divers. From deep sea diving in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to exploring underwater wreckage off the coast of Egypt, here we present our pick of the 13 best scuba diving places in the world.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef

The largest living thing on Earth is located off the coast of Queensland in Australia – it’s none other than the spectacular Great Barrier Reef! A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the underwater splendour of the Great Barrier Reef is an underwater paradise. Home to a myriad of sea creatures and colourful coral reefs, this underwater oasis can be explored by scuba divers of all levels. From beginners looking to discover their underwater passion with a scuba diving course to experienced divers in search of new underwater exploration opportunities – there’s something for everyone here!

Cocos Island National Park

The remote Cocos Island National Park, located off the coast of Costa Rica, is a must-visit destination for any avid deep-sea diver. The park’s underwater scenery is simply breathtaking – from white-tip reef sharks and hammerhead sharks to manta rays and dolphins, underwater adventurers can expect to encounter a variety of underwater creatures. Experienced divers will also be rewarded with the chance to explore underwater UNESCO World Heritage Sites – such as the recently discovered underwater city off Cocos Island.

The Wall

For underwater explorers looking for an adventure, The Wall in Havelock Island is the perfect place to dive. With its steep underwater walls, clear visibility, and amazing underwater scenery, divers of all levels can marvel at the area’s underwater beauty. It may not be as well-known as some of the other underwater destinations around the world, but it is a must-see spot for any avid scuba diver. Plus, since Havelock Island is relatively untouched by mass tourism, you can enjoy your underwater exploration without crowds of people!

Lake Baikal

If you’re looking for an underwater adventure that’s a little different from the norm, then Lake Baikal in Siberia is the place to go. Located in one of Earth’s most remote regions, this lake is home to underwater creatures you won’t find anywhere else on the planet. As the oldest and most expansive freshwater lake in existence, Lake Baikal is a crescent-shaped denizen of Siberia that holds 20% of all unfrozen fresh water on Earth. It's an unparalleled destination for scuba divers drawn to its crystal-clear depths, making it perfect for those seeking deep sea and snorkelling adventures!

Red Sea

The Red Sea, located between Asia and Africa, is one of the most popular scuba diving destinations in the world. Boasting warm crystal-clear waters, unbeatable visibility, and an abundance of underwater life, it’s no wonder why this destination tops many divers’ bucket list. Beginners can relax in shallow coral gardens before taking their first plunge into deeper waters, while experienced divers can search for ancient shipwreck sites and explore underwater rock formations. Prices for scuba diving can vary depending on the trip you book but be prepared to pay anywhere from $50-$150 USD per dive.

Hudson River

The Hudson River in New York is a popular destination for underwater explorers due to its unique underwater environment. With its murky depths and interesting underwater wildlife, it’s the perfect place to go deep-sea diving and explore what lies below the river's surface. From prehistoric fossils and mysterious underwater structures to an abundance of fish, there’s no shortage of underwater wonders here! And thanks to its moderate temperatures, the Hudson River is suitable for all levels of divers year-round.

North Pole

The underwater North Pole in Alaska is a unique scuba diving destination – with its icy depths and mesmerizing underwater scenery, it’s the perfect place for experienced divers looking to explore a truly incredible underwater landscape. Here you can find everything from icebergs and submerged wrecks to schools of fish swimming through sun-dappled waters. With its chilly temperatures, this area is best explored during the summer when air and water temperatures are more pleasant.

White Sea

The White Sea in Russia is another popular underwater destination. Described as an underwater paradise, this secluded area offers breathtaking underwater scenery and an abundance of underwater life. From brilliant coral gardens to glacial fjords and mysterious underwater grottoes, there’s plenty here to explore. Plus, it's a great spot for beginner divers looking to hone their skills without having to travel too far – the White Sea is just a short flight away from Moscow!

U-352 Dive

For underwater explorers looking to explore a piece of history, the U-352 Dive in North Carolina is the perfect spot. Here you can find the remains of a German WWII submarine that famously attacked an American destroyer off the coast of Switzerland back in 1942. Now resting at depths of 90ft underwater, this area provides a unique underwater experience unlike any other – and it's only accessible by scuba diving! This 218-foot-long Type VII C German U-Boat is a remarkable find and one that underwater adventurers will never forget.

This spectacular dive site is approximately one hour and forty-five minutes away from the inlet. The conning tower of the sunken boat reaches a height of 90 feet, with its main body extending up to 100 feet into the depths below!

Bloody Bay Wall

Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman is another underwater wonder that should be on every scuba diver’s bucket list. Located on a tiny Caribbean island, this area features some of the most picturesque underwater scenery in the world, with its walls lined with colourful coral and sponges. Here you can explore underwater caves, tunnels, and grottoes filled with an array of underwater life – from turtles and sharks to schools of fish. This underwater paradise is one of the top dive sites in the Caribbean and offers divers an unforgettable experience.

Aliwal Shoal

Aliwal Shoal in South Africa is a dive site like no other. With its underwater caves and reefs, this area is home to some of the most beautiful underwater species – including sharks, turtles, dolphins, and rays. With a plethora of Grey Nurse sharks inhabiting the Shoal, it's no surprise that divers flock in such vast numbers to this location. There’s also an abundance of vibrant coral gardens here that make for great underwater photo opportunities!

This area is one of the best places to go scuba diving in the world – with its crystal-clear visibility and year-round temperate waters, it’s ideal for deep-sea divers looking to explore a truly majestic environment. Noteworthy for the two shipwrecks, it is primarily a paradise for recreational divers and is renowned as an authentic dive site.

Tiputa Pass Rangiroa

Tiputa Pass Rangiroa in Polynesia is one of the most sought-after underwater destinations in the world. Located off the coast of French Polynesia, this underwater paradise features some of the clearest visibility you’ll find anywhere on earth – with underwater visibility extending up to an incredible 200ft! Experienced divers will find numerous captivating scuba destinations in the same area, each requiring distinct techniques and skills to explore them. Popular sights like the Canyons, Run, Crossing, Windmill, Blue, and Angle are only a few of the many exciting places within this aquatic paradise that will surely leave an unforgettable impact on any diver. Explorers can revel in the thrill of diving 115 feet into The Shark's Cavern, where adventurers need both buoyancy control and instinct to ensure a safe journey.

Misool Boo Rocks

This area features an abundance of underwater rocks and canyons, providing divers with an incredibly diverse underwater landscape to explore. Divers who venture into this underwater paradise will be rewarded with sightings of colourful coral gardens filled with vibrant fish and manta rays gliding gracefully through the waters. From massive underwater boulders to narrow crevices full of intriguing marine life – this dive site has it all! With its crystal-clear visibility and many interesting rock formations, Misool Boo Rocks are sure to provide any scuba diver with a memorable underwater experience that they won’t soon forget.