From Scotland to Greece, the old continent is such an underrated scuba diving destination. The best diving in Europe is all about quirky dive sites: historical shipwrecks from WWII, submerged ancient villages from the Antiquity or the Middle Age. An extensive program of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) has allowed the development of fabulous dive sites in Southern Europe where fish populations thrive such as in France, Italy and Greece in the Mediterranean Sea. But Southern Europe is not the only place where you can enjoy incredible marine fauna. In the colder waters of the British Isles, you can even dive with dolphins, seals and basking sharks. The destinations from my “Best diving in Europe” list are also featured on myWorld Dive Map.
Special note: You can find my personal favourites with the ♥ symbol
Iceland
Diving in Iceland is one of the best in Europe with famous shore diving spots such as Thingvellir National Park and famous dives such as theSilfra Fissure. Iceland is a great destination for scuba divers who love cavern diving. A little less known, you can also give it a try at diving inStrytan geothermal lake.
It’s the right place to go forexperienced divers mainly. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a drysuit. Don’t forget youneed a dry suit certificationto scuba dive in Silfra. The best time of the year is often fromMarch to October, but if you want to have a chance to see the northern lights, you can give it a try in winter too.
Best diving in Iceland
- Silfra Fissure♥
- Strytan Lake
Scotland
Diving in Scotland is one of the best in Europe with famous diving spots such as Orkney and famous dives such asScapa Flow shipwrecks from WWI and WWII. Scotland is a great destination for scuba divers who lovewreck divingandbasking sharks. A little less known, you can also give it a try at diving in the Sound of Mull on the west coast of Scotland where you can swim with basking sharks in the summer.
The marine life in Scotland is mostly about grey seals, dogfish, sun starfish or dahlia anemones. It’s the right place to go forexperienced divers mainly. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in adry suit. The best time of the year is often fromMay to August. The best Scottish dive sites can be reached either by boat or from the shore.
Best diving in Scotland
- Scapa Flow
- Sound of Mull♥
- St Abbs
- Farne Islands♥
France
Diving in France is one of the best in Europe with famous diving spots such as thePort-Cros and Calanques National Parksand famous shipwrecks such asthe Grec and the Rubis.France is a great destination for scuba divers who love wreck diving and groupers, especially in the Var Prefecture, between Toulon and Cavalaire. A little less known, you can also give a try at diving inThau Lagoon.
The marine life in France is mostly about groupers, octopuses, barracudas, moray eel, seahorses and nudibranchs. It’s the right place to go forexperienced divers mainly. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a7 mm wetsuit. The best time of the year is often fromJuly to September.
Best diving in France:
- Port-Cros & Porquerolles National Park♥
- Golfe-Juan
- Thau Lagoon
Switzerland
Thanks to famous dive sites such as theVerzasca River, Switzerland is more than worth diving in Europe. Switzerland is a great destination for scuba divers who loveriver divingandice diving. A little less known, you can also give a try at diving from Geneva or Lausanne in Leman Lake.
It’s the right place to go forexperienced divers mainly, especially those eager to train in ice diving and altitude diving. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in adry suit. The best time of the year is often fromMarch to October.The best Swiss dive sites can be reached from the shore.
Best diving in Switzerland
- Verzasca River♥
- Lake Lioson (in winter)
Spain
Diving in Spain is one of the best in Europe with famous diving spots such as theCanary Islands, but also the Costa Brava,from Barcelona to Cadaquès, and its famous Medes Islands marine reserve. A little less known, you can also give a try at diving in Costa Calida, in the province of Murcia, or the Balearic Islands.
The marine life in Spain is mostly about groupers, octopuses, barracudas, moray eels and nudibranchs. It’s the right place to go forboth beginners and experienced divers. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a7 mm wetsuit. The best time of the year is often fromJuly to September,but the Canary Islands can be dived year-round.
Best diving in Spain
- Costa Brava
- Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, El Hierro – Canary Islands ♥
Italy
Diving in Italy is one of the best in Europe with famous diving spots such asPortofino marine reserveand famous dives such asBaia underwater archaeological park. Italy is a great destination for scuba divers who lovearchaeological diving. A little less known, you can also give a try at diving in Sardinia or Sicilia islands, especially the marine reserve of Ustica Island.
The marine life in Italy is mostly about groupers, octopuses, barracudas, moray eels and nudibranchs. It’s the right place to go forboth beginners and experienced divers. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a7 mm wetsuit. The best time of the year is often fromJuly to October.
Best diving in Italy:
- Portofino National Park
- Baia Underwater Archaeological Park
- Capo d’Acqua♥
Malta
Diving in Malta is maybe the number one in Europe with famous diving spots all over the Maltese Islands including Gozo and its famous Blue Hole. Malta is a great destination for scuba divers who lovewreck divingandshore diving. A little less known, you can also give a try at wreck diving in the capital city of Valletta, right down its walls.
The marine life in Malta is mostly about scorpionfish, moray eels, seabreams, fireworms and nudibranchs. It’s the right place to go forboth beginners and experienced divers. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a5 mm wetsuit. The best time of the year is often fromJuly to October, but the Maltese islands can be dived year-round.
Best diving in Malta
- Gozo Blue Hole♥
- UM el-Faroud shipwreck
Croatia
Diving in Croatia is one of the best in Europe with famous diving spots such as theKornati and Mljet National Parks. Although the Blue Cave of Bisevo Island, orModra Spilja, brought fame to the destination, you are not even allowed to swim there anymore today. Croatia is a great destination for scuba divers who lovedeep wreck diving,especially from Vis Island. A little less known, you can also give a try at diving inHvar Island.
The marine life in Croatia is mostly about eagle rays, octopus, scorpionfish, spiny lobsters and nudibranchs. It’s the right place to go forexperienced divers mainly. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a7 mm wetsuit. The best time of the year is often fromJuly to September.
Best diving in Croatia
- Vis & Bisevo Islands
Greece
Greece is surprisingly one of the latest diving destinations in Europe. But word of mouth is working, theAlonissos National Parksand its ancientPeristera shipwreckis not so confidential anymore. Greece is a great destination for scuba divers who lovearchaeological diving. A little less known, you can also give it a try at diving in the Greek islands of the Cyclades or Zakynthos and its marine national park.
The marine life in Greece is mostly about monk seals, turtles, scorpionfish, cuttlefish and nudibranchs. It’s the right place to go forboth beginners and advanced divers. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a5 mm wetsuit. The best time of the year is often fromJuly to September.
Best diving in Greece
- Alonissos National Park ♥
- Zakynthos National Park
Are you looking for the best diving destinations all over the world? You should check these other articles:
- Best diving in Asia-Pacific
- Best diving in the South Pacific
If you enjoyed this page,subscribe to WAD Newsletterto receive the latest posts directly into your inbox.
PIN IT FOR LATER
