The best diving spots in Europe

Gozo Island in Malta

Europe is not only known for its shore destinations, but also for its diving spots. The European Best Destinations website which promotes European culture and tourism has selected the best places to take your eyes under the sea! To your fins and snorkels, let's go! And above all, don't hesitate to share with us your essentials...

Gozo Island, Malta

The island of Gozo is one of 21 islands in the Maltese archipelago, in the heart of the Mediterranean. Benefiting from a Mediterranean climate, temperatures oscillate between 15 and 25 °C for the air and 15 to 26 °C for the sea. Even if summer is the best season to enjoy the clear waters of the island, the mild water temperature allows diving in any season. In addition to its diving spots, the island is also known for its remains of Neolithic temples G?antija, its hiking trails or its beaches.

In Gozo, you can explore the 3 bridges of the 58 m ferry, MV Karwela, sunk in 2006 to become an artificial reef. Don't miss the most famous diving spot, the Arche Reef overlaps a rocky promontory cut by two large arches, or the Blue Hole, a kind of pool that looks like an outdoor pool and that via an arch allows access to the Azure Window, a 60 m deep wall. Nearby, a long tunnel of 80 m from the Gozzo tunnel is to be explored. Finally the Reqqa reef is home to a large concentration of barracuda and large groupers.

Tenerife, Spain

Tenerife is the largest island in the Spanish Canary Islands. Located on the same latitude as southern Morocco, it enjoys a tropical climate and an average temperature of 28.5 °C. Summers are much wetter than summers and March is the warmest month with a temperature around 29°. The sea temperature varies from 19 to 24°. The island is known for its famous volcano, the Teide, the highest peak in Spain, but also for its sandy beaches (yellow to black) or volcanic rocks, its surf and kitesurf spots as well as its many seaside resorts. There is a varied fauna and flora.

The place to find the best diving spots is in the south of the island in the cities of Las Galletas and Costa Adeje, with about 30 dive sites, easily accessible from the coast. The opportunity to discover turtles, rays, whales, dolphins and even killer whales.

Brown Hughes

Losinj, Croatia

Losinj Island is located in Kvarner Gulf, north of the Adriatic Sea. Before it formed only one island with its Crès twin, but they are now separated by a channel dug by man. The island is known to harbour one of the largest populations of Adriatic dolphins, which have made their home in the Kvarner Gulf. The climate is warm and temperate with an average annual temperature of 14.2 °C. The warmest months are the summer months with an average of 21.5 °C. An ideal place to dive, rest, enjoy the beaches and small fishing ports, or stroll along the coastal paths.

Guadeloupe, France

Guadeloupe is an overseas territory and an island archipelago in the southern Caribbean Sea. The best known are Grande-Terre and Basse Terre, separated by the salty river and whose shape recalls that of a butterfly. You can discover waterfalls, the volcano of the Great Souffrière or many white sandy beaches and turquoise waters populated with fish. The average air temperature is 27 °C and the sea temperature between 26 and 28 °C... Swimming all year round.

The reserve Cousteau is the spot impossible to circumvent to dive in Guadeloupe. Located between the Ilets Pigeon, the Bourg De Bouillante and the entrance to Pointe Noire, this triangle houses at least 15 different sites such as La Piscine, the Jardin de Corail or the Aquarium. Many other spots around the island are worth visiting.

Capri, Italy

Capri is an Italian island in the bay of Naples famous for its rugged landscapes and its upscale shops and hotels. One of its most famous natural tourist places is the blue cave ( Grotta Azzurra) A dark cave where the sea is electric blue because of the sunlight passing through an underwater cave. Very touristy, the island is taken by storm in summer and attracts many boaters who come to enjoy the surrounding islands. Both the air and the water are much warmer in summer with an average water temperature of 25.25° C from June to September (14° at the coldest between February and March) and an average year-round outside temperature of 21.6°C.

Known as one of the most beautiful islands of the Mediterranean, Capri is famous for its sea with its numerous caves and its numerous rocky islets of various shapes that emerge towards the sky. The spots that cannot be ignored are Punta Carena and its famous"pylon" (a 62 m deep wall) and the jump of Tiberius.

Stephen Harper

Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom

County Pembroke is situated in south-west Wales, on the shores of the Irish Sea. Pembrokeshire (or Pembroke) is the name of the former county capital of the same name. The town is famous for its castle, but also for its coastal national park, the small fishing port of Tenby. Diving in the UK might be a strange idea, but with the only coastal park in the UK, the place has beautiful beaches to explore the many wrecks that populate its seabed. Further offshore, Grassholm Island is a superb diving site, also known to harbour a large population of madmen. Finally, The Smalls lighthouse, which is even further offshore, requires a calm sea to access it, but is worth a detour, especially thanks to the many seals that inhabit the area.

Pembrokeshire is known for its underwater wealth. Blue sharks, dolphins, moonfish, rays, octopuses, lobsters or starfish are some of the fauna frequently encountered. Cover yourself well, summers are cool and windy and winters long, all year round clouds are very present and the temperature varies from 4 to 19° C.

Murcia, Spain

Murcia is situated in the south-east of Spain, known for its Cardinal Belluga Plaza and its Gothic and Baroque cathedral of Murcia or for its colourful 18th century episcopal palace contrasting with the modern annex town hall designed by the architect Rafael Moneo in the 1990s. With a pleasant climate all year round and transparent waters, but especially at 20°C on average, the coastline is particularly recommended for diving

The areas of Cabo de Palos - Islas Hormigas - Isla Grosa, Mazarrón and Águilas are exceptional places for diving. There are beautiful seabed with a varied fauna and flora, but also many wrecks.

Mark

Brac, Croatia

Brac is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, well known for its white pebble beach at Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape), a favourite spot for windsurfing enthusiasts, elected 3rd most beautiful beach of the year 2016 . The island is also known for its beaches of Punta Rata or Supetar, and its horseshoe shape. As in Losjin, the temperature is mild all year round.

The best diving spots? Babi?a stine with the remains of a Roman villa and its mosaics, or its rich underwater fauna (octopuses, gobies, groupers...). Golubinja spilja with many underwater rocks and a small cave.

Genoa, Italy

Genoa is a port city, but also the capital of Liguria, a region in northwest Italy. Very famous for its maritime trade, it shelters on land the Romanesque cathedral San Lorenzo, which boasts a black and white striped facade and a frescoed interior. What characterizes it is also a multitude of small narrow streets and forming a maze of streets or its square Piazza Ferrari.

With a water temperature that varies from 13 to 26 °C, the Mediterranean Sea is home to a varied fauna at accessible depths. The opportunity to meet groupers, barracudas, or turtles.

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