Scuba diving vacations

Scuba Diving Vacations

Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving and allows divers to stay underwater for long periods of time thanks to the scuba set of compressed air that they carry with them. There is a wide variety of scuba diving vacations available for absolute beginners as well as experienced divers. Red Sea diving vacations are very popular as the Red Sea is regarded as one of the best dive locations in the world and is noted for its marine life and corals. Red Sea diving vacations will reveal diverse aquatic sea life in abundance, including more than 1200 species of fish and 2,000km of reef extending along the coastline.

Many people go on Egypt scuba diving vacations to access the Red Sea. A well-liked Egypt diving destination is Dahab, which is a small town on the southeast coast of Egypt and has many dive centres. Dahab diving has gained worldwide fame and enjoys large numbers of tourists. You can go Dahab diving any time of year as it has pleasant weather all year round.

Dahab is characterised by shore diving, with depths for all levels amongst the maze of coral islands. Dahab diving can suit all levels - there are gentle reef slopes and coral gardens for beginners and some more challenging sites such as the Blue Hole or the Canyon for the more advanced. As well as diving in Egypt, other popular diving locations include diving in Lanzarote, Arctic diving, Antarctica diving, Sardinia diving vacations and scuba diving in Italy.

Dive Courses

If you want to learn to dive, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is the worlds largest recreational diving membership and training organisation which offers several diving courses, ranging from the entry levels of‘scuba diver’ and ‘open water diver’ to the ‘advanced open water diver’ and ‘master scuba diver (divemaster)’. PADI courses are performance-based dive programs and emphasise practical knowledge and safety, dive physics and chemistry.

The Open Water Diver (OWD) entry-level certification is one of the most popular courses and consists of knowledge development, confined water dives, and open water dives. The Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) focuses on refining the skills learned in the OWD, allowing the diver to explore a broader variety of diving to a maximum of 30 metres including deep diving, drift diving and night diving.

The Divemaster qualification is generally used by a diver who has overall responsibility for a group of divers. During Divemaster training, candidates learn dive leadership skills through classroom and independent study, completing water skills and stamina exercises, as well as training exercises. PADI members include dive centres, resorts and educational facilities all over the world and teach the majority of the world’s recreational divers so you can learn to dive on a diving vacation in a gorgeous location such as Greece, Egypt, Mexico or Indonesia.

Wreck Diving

There is something quite ghostly about exploring a sunken shipwreck which is teeming with the life of a coral reef. Most divers can’t resist exploring sunken vessels, aeroplanes and automobiles which soon become a safe haven for thousands of species and corals. Wreck diving is specialist but is accessible to divers of all abilities – some are available from the shore and can be enjoyed by beginners. Regions such as Micronesia, the Caribbean and Pacific have so many wrecks that they can be the focus of an entire diving vacation.

Whale Shark Diving

Whale shark diving is very popular as the Whale Shark is the biggest fish in the sea, reaching up to 18m in length, and is usually found in warm, tropical waters. There is little known about this graceful creature, which is supposed to have originated 60 million years ago. Many people go on whale shark scuba diving vacations which contribute to its conservation as it is currently listed as a vulnerable species and is frequently targeted by commercial fisheries.

Great white shark diving vacations are also sought after by those looking for the ultimate thrill. The Great White Shark is a predator, preying mainly on seals, and is found in the coastal surface waters in all major oceans. Great White Shark diving involves cage diving which offers you the unforgettable experience of having Great Whites swim around and above you.

Liveaboards

Liveaboard diving vacations are a great option for those wishing to access remote areas and maximise the number of dives they can experience – up to four or five a day. Single travelers will find that liveaboard diving vacations offer a great opportunity for socialising and people who want to go diving with children will also benefit, as the facilities are all close to hand. You can choose a liveaboard diving vacation pretty much anywhere including the Polar Regions, the Americas, Asia, Australasia and the Caribbean.

Want to know more about scuba diving vacations before you go?

Find out more about diving by reading these scuba diving articles.

Make sure your dive doesn’t destroy what you’ve come to see. It's a privilege to be able to enter and experience the magical underwater world. However coral reefs around the world are under extreme threat, and if we want to ensure that our kids can enjoy the same wonderful experiences then we need to dive responsibly. Read Justin's top tips in this responsible scuba diving article.

New to scuba diving? Find out more about learning to scuba dive from Helena who learn to dive in the Red Sea in 2007. Read her advice in this learn to scuba dive article.

Our friends at Coral Cay Conservation have put together the following tips and guidelines to help travelers be more responsible divers. By taking these simple steps when visiting areas with coral reefs, you are helping protect the health of coral reefs and the marine life that depend on them for survival. Read their advice in this guidelines for scuba diving article.