Revealed: Top 10 Dives in the Med

Europe boasts some world class diving, with great visibility and masses of underwater life. Plus, of course, wreck diving galore. According to our readers, these are the ten best dives in Europe. Agree? Disagree? Cast your vote and tell us what you think is the best scuba diving in Europe.

1. The Zenobia, Cyprus

The wreck of a huge ferry. Lying on its port side, the wreck starts at about 15 m and descends to 42 m. Needs several dives to see anything like all of it. 104 lorries lie besides it. She sank on her maiden voyage in 1979. No lives were lost. Groupers have made the wreck their home and you will also see barracuda and nudibranch.

Read more about diving the Zenobia

2. Cirkewwa, Malta

This dive site includes the wreck of the Rozi MV as well as stunning underwater topography. Visibility is very good and there is an sabundance of sea life: barracuda, morays, octopus, cuttlefish and even dolphins.

Read more about diving Malta

3. Blue Hole, Gozo

A beautiful sharp drop off into the blue hole with what seems like limitless visibility and feels like you are on the very edge of the world.

Read more about diving Malta and Gozo

4. Chios island, Greece

Small undersea caves and paths between impressive rocks, colourful reefs and vertical walls. Shoals of salpas, tunnies and colourful wrasses, sarguses, curious combers and perches.
Angelo Giampiccolo/DepositPhotos

Read more about diving Chios and Greece

5. Fortunal, Vis Island, Croatia

The island of Vis is one of the furthest away from the Croatian mainland. The Fortunal is a wreck of a fishing boat which sunk in 1991. She lies at the bottom of a vertical wall. The wreck sits between 45 and 55 m. Besides the wreck itself the wall is full of life and extremely interesting. The visibility is excellent. The bottom is covered with pale sand which reflects the light. The dive site also features a cave at 40 m.

Read more about diving Croatia

6. Canyon, Kas, Turkey

The Canyon runs between two steep walls. It features a tunnel with loads of invertebrate life. You might even see a Mediterranean Monk Seal. After travelling through the Canyon you will come across the Dimitri wreck at between 30 and 40 m. (Although most often referred to as “Dimitri”, the ship was actually called the SS Dimitrios M.) She was built in 1948 and ran aground in 1968 on route from Turkey to Greece with a cargo of cotton.

Read more about diving Turkey

7. Secca della Columbara, Ustica, Italy

One of the best dives in the Med. It features a steep, beautifully-decorated, wall; large shoal of barracuda; grouper; giant amberjacks and a wreck.

Wreck at Secca della Columbara. Andrew Reay-Robinson

Read more about diving in Ustica

8. Dofi, Medes Islands

Named for the little dolphin statue, its a system of caves through one of the Medes Islands in the marine reserve, full of groupers and bream, with beautiful gorgonian corals and eagle rays cruising by.

Common Eagle Ray Myliobatis aquila. DepositPhotos

Read more about diving in the Medes Islands

9. La Vaca, Medes Islands

Another Medes Island dive, going as deep as 55 meters, but at 18 to 25m you meet the friendly groupers and feel like you’re swimming in an aquarium. Wonderful corals and rays here too plus vaca nudibranchs.

Vaca nudibranch, Peltodoris atromaculata. Tiziana Tambosso

Read more about diving in the Medes Islands

10. La Gabinière, Lavandou

Drifting dive surrounded by barracudas and huge groupers – a must. A marine reserve has protected this site for many years. The place to see all the underwater life the Med has to offer.

Further Reading

Ten Best Dive Sites in Europe, as voted for by divers