Europe boasts some world class diving, with great visibility and masses of underwater life. Plus, of course, wreck diving galore. According to divers, 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. Blockship Tabarka, Scapa Flow, Scotland
This shallow 18 m dive is a real beauty. One of the block ships scuttled to prevent submarine attack during WW2. Covered in marine life, worth the trip and the one of surprises of Scapa.
The Tabarka was built in Rotterdam in 1909 and seized by the British Admiralty in 1940. When she sank she tipped over and is now completely upside down. Divers can explore inside the ship on several levels as all the wooden decking has disappeared.
Photo credit: Joe Ryan
Read more about diving Scapa Flow
2. 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.
Image: Deposit PhotosImage: Deposit PhotosRead more about diving the Zenobia
3. 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 abundance of sea life: barracuda, morays, octopus, cuttlefish and even dolphins.
Read more about diving Malta
4. Silfra, Thingvellir, Iceland
An extraordinary dive in a narrow crack between the American and the European continental shelves, in astonishingly clear water. The clarity of the water gives the diver the feeling of flying above the bottom and on sunny days, when there are slight waves on the surface, the light breaks into a rainbow of colours. With temperatures of just 2-4 oC you need a dry suit. The Silfra crack is about 5 to 10 meters wide and 200 meters long. Average depth is about 20 meters but there is a dropoff down to 40 meters.
Read more about diving Silfra
5. 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
6. 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.
Read more about diving in Ustica
7. 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. See cost to dive the Fortunal.
Read more about diving Croatia
8. 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.
Read more about diving Chios and Greece
9. 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
10. Eddystone Reef, England
12 miles off Plymouth, England. The reef is from 8 to over 40 m. Encrusted with jewel anemones, dead mens’ fingers, sponges plus with the remains of ancient wrecks, including a large 17th century anchor. Visibility is usually very clear. A stunning dive.
Read more about diving the UK
Image credits:
- sacoglossan sea slug med: Depositphotos
- Grouper & divers on the Zenobia: Deposit Photos