Secret Getaways to Add to Your Scuba Diving Bucket List

There’s something truly magical about plunging below the surface of the water and entering secret getaways teeming with life. Scuba diving gives you a chance to see vibrant coral, schools of shimmering fish, and even graceful creatures such as manta rays, sea turtles, and whale sharks.

If you love to scuba dive, these are some of the coolest destinations and secret getaways around the world that should be on your diving bucket list.

Secret Getaways for Scuba Divers

Cozumel, Mexico

Diving on the west coast of Cozumel, Mexico makes for an exciting adventure. The strong flowing current means that you can drift along while spotting turtles, parrotfish, blue tangs, moray eels and more incredible underwater creatures.

One of the best places to dive is Horseshoe on Palancar Reef. You’ll drop down approximately 35 feet into an amphitheater of coral where turtles and eagle rays glide. At the end of a fantastic dive, you can relax on the beach with a cold cerveza in hand.

The Isle of Man, UK

If you associate the UK with cold and murky waters, think again. The Isle of Man is actually one of the top diving destinations in the world, known for its abundance of dolphins, porpoises, and migrating basking sharks. Also, you are likely to see orcas and whales passing through these waters as well.

One of the most interesting scuba diving attractions here is the Sugarloaf Caves. They are accessible only via boat, from either Port St. Mary or Port Erin. Bring your torches with you and you will be able to see the walls covered in anemones, sponges, and hydroids. The covering is so thick that the sponges and barnacles often sit on top of each other, fighting for room.

If you head towards the Cave of the Birds you are likely to spot a few friendly seals who are often spotted around there and are known for following divers all the way back to their boat.

Ras Mohammed National Park, Red Sea, Egypt

The best kept national park in Egypt, Ras Mohammed is home to an incredible number of fish species. You’ll have a chance to see almost every type of fish that lives within the Red Sea, swirling around you in a dazzling cloud.

It has been protected since 1983 and it is one of the few tourist diving areas in the world that doesn’t have any effluent discharge into the waters – so the sea is wonderfully clean and clear. This pristine area can only be reached via a resort or a liveaboard diving cruise.

Divers can glide overtop some truly remarkable wreck dives, including Yolanda Reef and the SS Thistlegorm – watching the brightly hued fish weaving in and out of the ship’s skeletons.

The Bahamas

A country of 3,000 islands, the Bahamas is one of the most idyllic secret getaways for scuba divers. Head to the Out Islands, where you will find walls packed with colorful reefs. In Nassau you will be able to dive with sharks and explore several fascinating wrecks, or even take an expedition farther into the sea to spot oceanic whitetips.

If you visit Tiger Beach on Grand Bahama, you’ll be able to dive with tiger sharks – one of the top predators in the ocean. Plus, you’ll get to see many other shark species, including nurse sharks, lemon sharks and even hammerheads.

Slovakia

“Slovakia? But it’s a landlocked country in central Europe?”

Yes, that may be true. However, Slovakia is one of the best secret getaways for scuba diving and it is home to one of the most fascinating dive sites you will visit on your travels – a 1000-year-old opal mine.

An underwater museum, the Slovak Opal Mine in Dubnik is a truly spectacular place for a dive. The first mining of opals here dates back to the 11th century.

At this location, many miles of tunnels were excavated for opal mining and you will have to hike downstairs and into the tunnel to access the entry points. Make sure that you have special training in cave diving before you venture into this labyrinthine mine and that you have the guidance of an experienced dive master.

When you are making your way through the underwater tunnels you’ll see the opals in the walls refracting the light and shimmering with all of the colors of the rainbow – blue, pink, red, orange, purple.

Where’s your ideal diving destination? We would love to hear about your favorite secret getaways for scuba divers, so let us know in the comments!