9 Idyllic Dive Destinations for New Divers

December 17, 2019 As a novice diver, there’s nothing more exciting than discovering new dive destinations that offer easy diving and incredible marine life just perfect for your experience level. Whether you want to go swimming with whale sharks and mantas, sail around paradise islands or explore UNESCO World Heritage sites, there are some fantastic liveaboard diving options for new divers. Here is our pick of the 9 best dive destinations for new (and experienced) divers to try:

Here are the 9 idyllic dive destinations:

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Stretching for over 2300km along the rainforest-draped Queensland coast, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best known dive destinations for new divers; offering sunshine, clear waters and diverse diving. This UNESCO World Heritage site has over 2,900 individual reefs and abundant marine life, including vibrant reef fish, huge potato cod, sharks, sea turtles and passing pelagics. With a variety of liveaboards to suit all budgets and trip lengths, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Top Great Barrier Reef Experiences:

Dive the outer reefs to experience the healthiest coral reef systems

Snorkel with numerous inquisitive dwarf minke whales during Spoilsport dwarf minke whale dive safaris (June to July)

Visit in August for the chance to see migrating humpback whales

Enjoy a low level flight over the Great Barrier Reef for an entirely different perspective. Available during fly-dive safaris

The Bahamas

If you’re keen to try shark diving, the dive destinations Bahamas is a great place to start as a new diver. This idyllic destination offers easy, consistent dive conditions and shallow shark dives with numerous sharks. You can also enjoy almost guaranteed encounters with resident dolphins while you’re there. Whilst some liveaboards require more experience, the Bahamas Aggressor has no minimum logged dive requirement for its Tiger Beach safaris.

Top Bahamas Dive Experiences:

Dive with numerous tiger sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, lemon sharks and more at Tiger Beach

Swim with Atlantic Spotted dolphins during their afternoon play and socialisation time

Experience sapphire waters, untouched beaches and easy reef dives at the stunning Exuma Cays

Egypt’s Red Sea

Classic dive destinations for new divers, Egypt offers easy reef dives and world-class wrecks with striking desert landscapes and azure blue waters just about everywhere. The reefs are crammed with vibrant soft corals and healthy hard corals; all surrounded by hundreds of colourful reef fish, sea turtles and passing reef sharks. It’s understandably a mecca for European divers that people return to time and again. Just remember to dive the Northern Red Sea for easier dive conditions and visit the wild Southern Red Sea dive sites once you have more dives under your belt.

Top Egypt Dive Experiences:

Dive the enormous Thistlegorm wreck. It’s suitable for new and experienced divers

Go in search of resident spinner dolphins and dugong at Marsa Alam

Try your hand at drift diving at Shark and Yolanda reef

Maldives

You’d be forgiven for thinking the Maldives was only suitable for experienced divers, with its thrilling drift dives and deep channels, but this quintessential tropical dive destination has plenty of options for new divers. As well as offering remote atolls scattered across turquoise waters and sunsets you won’t want to take your eyes off, Maldives scuba diving is phenomenal. You can dive with manta rays, whale sharks, schooling pelagics and abundant macro treasures. Just make sure you choose atolls that suit your experience level or opt for a liveaboard safari with minimal logged dives required. The luxurious Scubaspa Fleet offers affordable spa and diving safaris, with a focus on fine food and wine. With no minimum logged dives, this fleet is ideal for new divers.

Top Maldives Dive Experiences:

Swim with hundreds of feeding mantas at world-famous Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll (May to November)

Try gentle drift diving and meet mantas year-round at North Ari Atoll

Surround yourself with abundant macro life and learn underwater photography at peaceful Laamu Atoll

Dive with numerous mobula rays and explore an almost solid barrier reef at Meemu Atoll

Thailand

Thailand has always been known as a great place to learn to dive, thanks to its affordability, calm waters and abundant marine life. With dive sites ranging from reefs, walls and wrecks to dramatic pinnacles surrounded by schooling pelagics, there’s something for every diver. Whilst you can choose from an array of dive sites as a new diver, bear in mind some sites are best appreciated as an advanced diver. Stick to the Southern Andaman Sea for easier diving, which has just as impressive marine life as the North.

Top Thailand Dive Experiences:

Get your dive certification at Phuket or Phi Phi before hopping on a short liveaboard

Submerge at Koh Phi Phi’s coral gardens and limestone slopes, hosting everything from seahorses to sharks

Experience the Surin Islands’ pristine reefs and incredible array of marine life, including mantas and whale sharks

Seychelles

For relaxed dive vacations, the Seychelles is hard to beat thanks to its combination of easy diving, dive-sail safaris and water sports. With 115 islands to choose from, there are plenty of dive sites and a diverse selection of reef life; from octopi, moray eels and reef fish to whale sharks. Dive the Inner Islands for easy dive conditions and return to explore the remote Outer Islands once you’re more experienced.

Top Seychelles Dive Experiences:

Swim with whale sharks off Mahé during October or November each year

Experience diving from a modern yacht or traditional schooner as you cruise the islands

Fiji

This soft coral capital of the world rarely disappoints with its colourful coral reefs and friendly locals. With so many paradise islands to choose from, there are Fiji scuba diving options for all experience levels. The Yasawa Islands are a great choice for new divers and the Reef Endeavour offers diving and non-diving cruises there. Marine life highlights include passing humpback whales, manta rays and sea turtles through to seemingly endless numbers of reef fish and critters - perfect dive destinations!

Top Fiji Dive Experiences:

Discover some of Fiji’s best coral gardens and numerous mantas at Barefoot Manta Island

Dive over huge cabbage corals and spot well-hidden ghost pipefish at the Cabbage Patch, Tavewa

Snorkel the coral lagoon and palm-fringed shores of Nanuya Lailai Island; famous as the setting for the Blue Lagoon movies.

Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Ningaloo Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Western Australia, supports an abundance of marine life, including numerous whale sharks. Attracted by seasonal plankton blooms and coral spawning, hundreds of whale sharks congregate at Ningaloo reef from March to June each year. The small Shore Thing catamaran offers Ningaloo dive safaris, during which you can swim with these spotty giants to your heart’s content. Just remember to check out Ningaloo reef and the surrounding coastline. As well as having over 500 fish species, you can spot mantas, dugong and sea turtles.

Top Ningaloo Reef Dive Experiences:

Visit during February or March to dive with hatchling sea turtles

Witness mass coral spawning during whale shark season

Swim with migrating humpback whales that visit the area to breed and calve (July to November)

Cuba

Cuba’s healthy and unspoilt marine reserves are renowned for their lack of crowds and unparalleled diversity of life. With over 700 species of fish, including 100 shark species, and mangroves hosting resident manatees, you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied as you enjoy easy diving there. As the Cuban government only allows a certain number of people to dive Cuba each year, these pristine areas should remain that way for many years to come.