Where to Dive in Europe This Summer
July 12, 2024
Europe boasts some stunning dive sites, offering everything from dramatic underwater caves to vibrant coral reefs and historic wrecks. Whether you are a seasoned diver or a beginner, Europe has something to offer every underwater explorer. Here are nine top places to dive in Europe and consider for your underwater summer adventure.
Check Out These Top 9 Places to Dive in Europe:
1. Gozo, Malta
Diving in Gozo offers clear, warm waters with visibility up to 30 meters (100 feet) and temperatures ranging from 18-26°C (64-79°F). Gozo is a perfect place to dive in Europe whatever your experience level. Open Water Diver is sufficient and an Advanced Open Water Diver certification is enough to explore Gozo’s top deep diving sites.
When you dive into Gozo’s clear blue waters you can expect to see octopuses, parrotfish, moray eels, and seahorses, along with stunning underwater topography.
How to Get There: Fly into Malta International Airport (MLA) and take a ferry to Gozo.
Recommended Dive Site: Most divers are excited to dive the famous Gozo Blue Hole, which features a dramatic underwater archway leading to a network of caves and tunnels.
2. Silfra Fissure, Iceland
If you are willing to embrace the chill, Silfra offers an incredible diving experience in cold waters with temperatures around 2-4°C (35-39°F) and visibility exceeding 100 meters (328 feet)!
This remarkable dive site requires you to be a Dry Suit Diver due to the chilly water conditions, as well as an Advanced Open Water Diver with a certain number of logged dives (check with your preferred dive center).
Whilst there is minimal marine life in Silfra Fissure, this top place to dive in Europe is renowned for its stunning geological formations and the experience of diving between two continental plates!
How to Get There: Fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF) and travel to Thingvellir National Park.
Recommended Dive Site: Silfra Fissure is known for its crystal-clear waters and the surreal experience of diving between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
3. Lofoten Islands, Norway
Have you heard of the Lofoten Islands? These jaw-dropping islands have been featured in many glossy travel magazines and are a sought-after destination in Norway. The Lofoten Islands offer diving in temperatures between 4-14°C (39-57°F) and visibility up to 20 meters (65 feet).
An Advanced Open Water Diver certification is recommended to go diving at these beautiful islands, especially for the deeper and more challenging sites in the area. You can encounter an array of big marine life during your dives, including orcas and humpback whales, as well as smaller highlights such as sea urchins and colorful anemones.
How to Get There: Fly into Harstad/Narvik Airport (EVE) and travel to the islands.
Recommended Dive Site: Saltstraumen is famous for its strong tidal currents and abundant marine life, including large schools of fish.
4. Medes Islands, Spain
The Medes Islands offer some of the best diving in Spain, with warm waters with temperatures ranging from 16-26°C (60-79°F) and visibility up to 25 meters (82 feet).
You can dive at these idyllic islands as an Open Water Diver is adequate, though Advanced is beneficial for exploring deeper sites. Either way, you can explore waters rich in marine biodiversity with groupers, barracudas, moray eels, and large gorgonians.
How to Get There: Fly into Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) and travel to L’Estartit.
Recommended Dive Site: Tascó Petit features impressive underwater rock formations and vibrant marine life.
5. Scapa Flow, Scotland
Scapa Flow is a world-famous wreck diving mecca in Orkney that features an array of WWI wrecks; in 1919, 52 German ships were scuttled at Scapa Flow within just five hours. If you are looking for a top place to dive in Europe that offers enviable wreck diving, this could be the place for you.
The waters are cool at Scapa Flow, between 4 and 14°C (39-57°F), and the visibility is around 10 to 20 meters (33-65 feet). It is advisable to be an experienced diver when you go diving at Scapa Flow as the diving can be challenging - but incredibly rewarding. You can encounter seals, lobsters, crabs, and a variety of fish species amidst historic shipwrecks.
How to Get There: Fly into Kirkwall Airport (KOI) on the Orkney Islands.
Recommended Dive Site: SMS Markgraf is a famous wreck dive, one of the vessels in the scuttled German fleet from WWI, providing a fascinating underwater history lesson.
6. Blue Grotto, Italy
Italy offers some of the best places to dive in Europe, including the Blue Grotto in Capri. With warm waters ranging from 18-26°C (64-79°F) and visibility up to 30 meters (100 feet), this is a fantastic place to dive and enjoy the many highlights Italy has to offer.
Open Water Diver is sufficient for most diving in Italy, including at the Blue Grotto. There you can spot octopuses, scorpionfish, and colorful coral formations.
How to Get There: Fly into Naples International Airport (NAP) and take a ferry to Capri.
Recommended Dive Site: Grotta Azzurra offers stunning blue water and fascinating cave formations.
7. El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain
El Hierro is a hidden gem of diving in the Canary Islands and boasts warm waters with temperatures between 18-25°C (64-77°F) and visibility often exceeding 30 meters (100 feet). This beautiful island is home to La Restinga Marine Reserve and a volcanic underwater landscape that is rich in marine life.
An Open Water Diver certification is sufficient, but Advanced is beneficial for deeper sites. Either way, you will discover a destination with laid-back charm and famous for its crystal-clear waters.
Here you can encounter groupers, rays, barracudas, and the occasional dolphin or even a whale shark.
How to Get There: Fly into Tenerife North Airport (TFN) and take a connecting flight or ferry to El Hierro.
Recommended Dive Site: El Bajón features dramatic underwater pinnacles and a variety of marine life.
8. Azores, Portugal
The Azores are famous worldwide for their big marine life and impressive volcanic landscapes. Go diving in bright blue waters with temperatures ranging from 16-24°C (60-75°F) and visibility up to 30 meters (100 feet).
Open Water Diver is sufficient for diving in the Azores, though Advanced is recommended for exploring deeper sites. You can also explore the Azores as a snorkeler.
These islands offer a rich biodiversity including numerous blue sharks, large pelagic fish, schooling devil rays, whales, and dolphins.
How to Get There: Fly into João Paulo II Airport (PDL) on São Miguel Island.
Recommended Dive Site: Princess Alice Bank is a must-visit for its pelagic species, including manta rays and large schools of fish.
9. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik boasts a warm Mediterranean climate with water temperatures between 18-25°C (64-77°F) and visibility up to 30 meters (100 feet). This is one of the best places to dive in Europe off the main tourist trail and explore Croatia’s rich history.
Open Water Diver is sufficient for most diving in Croatia. In these warm, clear waters you can spot seahorses, octopuses, and a variety of Mediterranean fish.
How to Get There: Fly into Dubrovnik Airport (DBV).
Recommended Dive Site: Taranto Wreck is a popular site with a well-preserved Italian cargo ship and abundant marine life.
Europe’s diverse underwater landscapes make it a prime destination for scuba diving. From the geothermal wonders of Iceland’s Silfra Fissure to the wrecks of Scotland, each location offers unique experiences. Whether you are looking for the thrill of diving between tectonic plates or exploring colorful coral reefs, our top places to dive in Europe promise unforgettable dives this summer.
Ready to explore all that diving in Europe has to offer?
Click on the link below to plan your perfect summer adventure today.