Where to go For a Diving Holiday?
Scuba Diving Holidays
Scuba diving holidays for beginners – and vacations for advanced, PADI certified divers – are readily available worldwide and the perfect choice for an unforgettable adventure.
What you need to keep in mind though, is that there’s a world of difference between leisure diving opportunities within holiday resorts, and specialist holidays for scuba diving. This is not just in terms of the experiences on offer, but also the quality of tuition and ‘take-homes’ you will enjoy. To be honest, one of the biggest factors in booking a diving holiday or excursion is finding an operator with flawless safety standards! Booking a day dive with a local company can leave you at the mercy of ‘conveyor belt’ providers, whose adherence to basic diving protocols is at best ‘loose’!
That’s not to say you can’t book safe and exciting diving experiences on cheap holidays. Just make sure you check the credentials and track record of operators, including asking for proof they are PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified. Better still, plan your scuba diving on holiday before you leave home, to be sure of maximum adventure and professional support.
Diving Trips or a Whole Diving Holiday?
If you want an unforgettable diving holiday, then it’s wise to pick the best scuba diving destinations, as they offer a choice of established operators with long lists of positive testimonials.
This could be a specialist diving holiday company, who puts together travel packages revolving entirely around scuba diving coaching and excursions.
Or, you could book luxury holidays at resorts which have pre-screened and vetted local providers. This gives you recommended dive operators who go to the best locations. They will be highly professional, using only reliable, well-tested equipment.
Some holiday deals in exotic places come with diving tuition as part of the holiday package, from qualified professionals employed by the hotel. These would also be the sort of luxury resorts that offer other complimentary water sports and professional coaching.
Locations for excellent holiday diving
The best starting point for booking travel packages that include diving – either day trips or scuba diving courses – is finding the best nautical locations!
Here are three of the best places for novice diving adventures, or for seasoned underwater explorers.
Thailand – Koh Tao
Thailand – Koh Tao
Turtle Island (Koh Tao) features tempting holiday resorts on dry land, but it’s what lies in the azure seas that make it the perfect place for diving, attracting scuba divers from across the globe. Expect to see teeming exotic marine life and stunningly beautiful coral formations, in crystal clear water. You may even come up against some harmless sharks!
Are you looking for a great place to learn to dive on holiday? Koh Tao, Thailand has beginner PADI instructed classes, especially around Mae Haad. This is also a great location for intensive courses for anyone who wants challenging dives, possibly earning an Open Water Diver qualification.
Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives is a superb choice for both day trip scuba dives and anyone who wants to find dedicated diving holidays.
This is, of course, a world-famous luxury holiday destination, with a choice of beguiling award-winning holiday resorts. However, as the richly fascinating Indian Ocean laps on its stunning beaches – many of the best hotels in the Maldives have scuba diving instructors on their staff. Or, they have favourable deals with well qualified and reliable PADI certified companies nearby.
Just like Thailand, on the days you want to stay above water for a rest or alternative adventures, booking a holiday in the Maldives will leave you spoilt for choice. Or, just plain spoilt by abundant pampering!
The Caribbean
The Caribbean
No list of the top diving locations in the world would be complete without mentioning the glorious waters around the West Indies.
Holidays to the islands of the Caribbean have many options for diving novices or advanced scuba divers, including some of the top shipwreck sites to explore on holiday.
You get to see historically significant dive sites, and majestic vessels in their watery graves, alongside the abundant sea creatures who’ve made the reefs and shipwrecks their home.
Guaranteed safe, exciting diving holidays
For the ultimate diving holiday, you should consider booking an all-inclusive holiday deal to the Caribbean, Thailand or the Maldives. Select a resort with diving excursions or diving tuition built-in. You can then jet off on your adventure holiday in the sun, safe in the knowledge that the whole experience will be exciting, but also safe and luxurious.
