7 Best Places to go Diving in July
July 11, 2022
Summer is well underway in the northern hemisphere and Europe has some of the best diving in July. There, you can go diving among wrecks from Roman times to WWII, explore beautiful reefs full of Mediterranean life, and dive in gin-clear alpine lakes.
In the southern hemisphere, the Great Barrier Reef is in the middle of whale season and Vanuatu has just opened its door to tourists. It is a great month to pack your bags and go on a dive vacation.
But where should you go? Whether you live in the north, the south, or somewhere in-between, we have got you covered. Get inspired with our top places to go diving in July and find the right destination for your next adventure here.
1. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Great Barrier Reef diving is at its finest during the Australian winter, with calm, clear waters and sunshine-filled days. It is a fantastic place to go diving in July and the presence of whales makes it even better!
Dwarf minke whales travel through the Great Barrier Reef every winter as part of their migration from Antarctica. They gather in large groups and congregate in the clear, blue waters around the Ribbon Reefs.
The Great Barrier Reef hosts the only known aggregation of dwarf minke whales in the world and you can snorkel and dive with these charismatic whales.
The name implies they are small, but dwarf minke whales are around 8 meters (26 feet) long and weigh up to 6000 kilograms.
They are an impressive sight in the water and are naturally curious, gliding in close, checking you out as they slowly pass by, with their huge eyes full of intelligence.
You can spend hours in the water with these remarkable whales and enjoy diving the Ribbons Reefs in between sightings.
This long reef system sits on the edge of the continental shelf of the northern Great Barrier Reef and offers easy diving among colorful reefs full of life.
Many of the dive sites are pinnacles that rise close to the surface, making them excellent for snorkelers and divers alike.
The dive sites host diverse corals and are home to many macro treasures, plus sea turtles, reef fish, and the famous giant potato cod of Cod Hole.
With so much on offer, the Great Barrier Reef deserves to be our top place to go diving in July.
2. Nusa Penida, Indonesia.
July marks the start of the ocean sunfish, or Mola mola, season at Nusa Penida in Indonesia. These strange fish are found in Bali all year, but usually in deep cold waters.
When cool nutrient-rich waters rise to the surface at this time of year, sunfish come up to shallower waters, and are seen at 18 to 40 meters (59 to 131 feet) deep.
Sunfish are one of the heaviest bony fish in the world and can weigh up to 2000 kilograms.
In July and August, these fish are seen frequently around Nusa Penida, including at the famous Crystal Bay dive site.
This world-famous dive site is one of the top places to go diving in Bali and a great reason to go diving in July.
Sunfish are quite shy, but if you stay quiet in the water, you can watch them getting tended to by cleaner fish or swimming past in the blue.
3. Germany.
Germany is not well known for diving, but it offers countless dive opportunities for new and experience divers alike.
There is an array of shallow dive sites, including accessible wrecks and clear alpine lakes, plus old quarries, deep lakes, and dark tunnels for more experienced divers.
July is one of the best times to go diving in Germany and explore this fascinating country during the long, dry days of summer.
In Northern Germany, you can explore the Baltic Sea and its countless wrecks, many of which can be dived from shore.
At Sundhäuser See, you can dive among a sunken village with houses, a church, and a cemetery.
Lake Stechlin offers diving within a beautiful nature reserve that has endless opportunities for hiking, biking, swimming, and family adventures.
Central Germany boasts an interesting mix of WWII history and diverse dive sites, ranging from sparkling lakes surrounded by lush green forests, to challenging flooded tunnels, and massive caves.
Geiseltal See, the largest artificial lake in Germany, covers 18 square kilometers and has numerous dive sites in calm, clear waters.
There you can explore by boat or from shore and take in the many wonders of this lake, including sunken forests and canyons.
Southern Germany hosts some of the best diving in Europe, in beautiful lakes teeming with fish and surrounded by charming resort towns, wine estates, and views to the Alps.
- Visit Schweriner See to dive the wreck of a MiG-17 aircraft from the Russian occupation and an impressive 100-year-old cargo glider, the Lastensegler.
- Drift over summer seagrass meadows at Sorpesee and dive a steep wall that plunges down to 34 meters (112 feet) deep.
- Go diving in Tauchsee Horka to explore an underwater forest and try dive geocaching.
- Dive the Jura,one of the oldest paddlewheel steamers in the world and one of world’s best freshwater wrecks.
4. Cocos Island, Costa Rica.
Scalloped hammerhead sharks are found in vast numbers around Cocos Island all year, but especially during June to October.
At this time of year, they are found more often in shallow waters, socializing and visiting cleaning stations.
Diving among schools of hammerhead sharks at Cocos Island is a life-changing experience that needs to be on your wish list.
As well as numerous hammerheads, the protected waters of Cocos host a large biomass of fish, from small species right through to large sharks.
There are dozens of whitetip reef sharks, huge schools of pelagic fish, dolphins, tiger sharks, mantas, silky and silvertip sharks, plus occasional passing whale sharks.
It is a paradise for diving with big animals and is undoubtedly one of the best shark diving destinations in the world.
5. Isla Mujeres, Mexico.
Isla Mujeres is an idyllic island in the Caribbean Sea, surrounded by soft, white sands and warm, turquoise waters.
It is just off the coast of Cancun and hosts one of the world’s most reliable whale shark aggregations.
Isla Mujeres hosts hundreds of whale sharks from June to September each year.
You can go snorkeling with the whale sharks and explore numerous shallow reefs and wrecks in almost no current. There is also excellent diving in the surrounding area.
- Dive the ‘Cave of the Sleeping Sharks’, a series of caves east of Isla Mujeres that host nurse sharks.
- Visit MUSA – the Cancun Underwater Museum of Art, made up of over 400 different sculptures.
- Go cenote diving from Cancun and explore these mystical ancient sinkholes.
6. Vanuatu.
The Vanuatu Tourism Office has announced that Vanuatu will open its borders to fully-vaccinated travelers from 1st July 2022, with no quarantine on arrival.
It is an exciting time to visit this world-class dive destination and get away from the rigors of daily life.
Vanuatu is a nation made up of around 80 islands dotted over 1,300 kilometers of the South Pacific Ocean. Above water, Vanuatu is a land of untouched rainforests and mountainous landscapes surrounded by white-sand beaches.
Below the waterline, you will find healthy coral reefs and diverse underwater landscapes, including plunging cliffs, caverns, overhangs, and interconnecting lava tunnels.
Vanuatu diving boasts some of the most sought-after wreck dives in the South Pacific and thriving coral reefs. Many of which can easily be reached from shore.
- Dive the famous SS President Coolidge, a WWII troop carrier that attracts divers from around the world.
- Explore Million Dollar Point,a US army dump full of machinery and equipment from WWII – including coral-covered jeeps, bulldozers, trucks and tractors.
7. Italy.
Known for its mouth-watering food, vibrant cities, and ancient history, Italy is one of Europe’s most popular vacation spots. This incredible country is full of life above and below water and is a must for any keen scuba diver.
There is something for every diver in Italy, from sheer pinnacles, caves, and walls, to thriving reefs and wrecks.
Summer is the best time to go diving in Italy for warm, calm waters and abundant marine life.
You can explore wrecks from Roman times to WWII, dive a sunken city that was once a bustling resort town, or explore the may hidden bays and coves of Italy’s islands.
Italy’s dive sites host a wealth of life, including Mediterranean monk seals, eagle rays, tuna, swordfish, barracuda and numerous small fish species.
- Go diving in Sicily to explore Roman and WWI wrecks and dive among impressive basalt columns.
- Explore Sorrento’s caves, caverns, and drop-offs in deep, blue waters.
- Visit Elba Island in Tuscany to search for seahorses and eagle rays.
- Dive among the remains of ancient villas, mosaics, spas, paved roads, and fallen columns at the sunken city of Baia.
Are you ready to go diving in July?
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