10 Best Diving Spots in Europe
October 10, 2022
Whether you love wreck diving, spotting large marine life, or want to dive in a lake that offers crystal clear visibility, Europe can deliver all of these experiences and more.
Europe has some of the most diverse diving in the world, so depending on what you are into, there is something for every scuba diver.
We have put together a list of our favorite scuba diving spots in Europe to help you decide where to go.
1.Plansee, Austria
Picture a lake in the Alps that offers near-perfect visibility, depths of up to 84m, and sunken boats and carriages to explore… Need more? Okay, Plansee lake is also surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lush green trees, and you might spot eels, trout, and crabs underwater.
You might not think of Austria when you are planning a dive vacation in Europe, but if you enjoy cold water diving and want to be surrounded by stunning views, it is definitely worth considering Plansee lake in the Reutte district.
In German, Lake Lucerne is "Vierwaldstättersee", which translates to "lake of the four forested settlements". The fourth largest lake in the country, at a whopping 214m deep, Lake Lucerne offers divers both boat and shore dives that are suitable for beginner and more advanced divers.
The lake is 434m above sea level, so altitude dive tables are needed. When diving in Lake Lucerne you will be keeping an eye out for perch, pike, crayfish, and more. The lake is surrounded by a postcard-worthy landscape of snowy mountains that will take your breath away. This has to be one of the most beautiful dive sites in Europe.
3. Silfra, Iceland
When it comes to diving in Europe, you cannot get much better than Silfra; A fissure filled with glacial meltwater, between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. You can find it in Thingvellir National Park which is 49km East of Iceland’s capital Reykjavík.
The fissure boasts the clearest waters on the planet, but it remains around 2°C – 4°C year-round. A mix of deep cracks and shallow lagoons can be explored, and although there is not much life to see in the fissure, divers will be surrounded by beautiful, bright green algae.
4. Gozo, Malta
Gozo is a small island just north of Malta that is considered to be one of the best scuba locations in the Mediterranean. Boasting turquoise waters, drop-offs, and extensive caves, as well as a rocky landscape with vast marine life, Gozo could be the perfect diving spot in Europe.
Cathedral Cave is a must-dive spot that has a shallow cave to explore, and the famous Gozo Blue Hole must be visited; A natural rock formation with a sheltered entry point and a maximum depth of 16m, once out of the blue hole, unlimited depth is available on the other side.
The Zenobia shipwreck sits on the bottom of the ocean just one mile from the shore of Larnaca in the southeast of Cyprus. Offering an incredible 172m of length to explore, the Zenobia wreck is considered one of the best in the world.
The maximum depth for this wreck dive is 42m, but most divers stick to between 18-30m. Highlights include diving through the cafeteria, around the bow and the bridge, and seeing the two huge propellers.
6. Lofoten Islands, Norway
The Lofoten Islands of Norway are famous for their beautiful scenery both above and below the water. Offering wreck dives, anemone-covered walls, kelp forests, arctic flora and fauna, and beautifully clear visibility, diving around the Lofoten Islands will not disappoint.
Fjords is considered the best spot to go diving, which includes mostly boat diving to see a submerged underwater world with endemic marine life. You are likely to spot unique sightings including lumpfish, nudibranchs, sculpins, and shoals of pollock.
Warm weather and stunning nature is what awaits you on a diving trip to Brac in Croatia. In the heart of the Dalmatian Islands, Brac boasts gorgeous beaches and interesting historical attractions.
Not only is the island stunning, but it delivers some quality scuba diving, too. Lucice Bay is our favorite dive site, home to its famous cave, which is an unspoiled natural environment. You can enter the cave via two entrances and descend down to a depth of 25m. Technical divers can explore further still.
8. Portofino, Italy
In the northwest of Italy sits the picturesque city of Portofino; nicknamed the "Italian Riviera" and very popular with yachties. Scuba divers, however, visit for its twenty-plus available dive sites that all hold unique beauty.
Portofino’s submerged statue of "Christ The Abyss" is definitely worth diving to see, it sits at a depth of 15m and is 2.5m tall. The statue was submerged in remembrance of Dario Gonzetti (the first Italian scuba diver) who sadly died during a dive in the area back in 1950.
9. Cornwall, United Kingdom
Cornwall is one of the most beautiful spots in the UK. With rolling grassy hills, sandy beaches, and fantastic wildlife both on land and in the water.
When scuba diving in Cornwall you will find shipwrecks, gullies, and kelp forests. Marine life including jellyfish,octopus, pipefish, and seals can all be found, and if you are very lucky you might even see a porpoise, dolphin, or basking shark.
A remote archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Azores is famous for its stunning scenery of waterfalls, meddows, and lakes. As well as beautiful birds, reptiles, and marine species.
Sperm, humpback, blue, orca, and fin whales all frequent the area, as well as various species of dolphin including bottlenose, common, atlantic spotted, and Risso’s. Blue and makosharks can also be seen while scuba diving, and even mobula rays. The Azores certainly has to be one of the best diving spots in Europe.
Scuba diving in Europe offers some unique and special experiences. Which location will you head to first?