When you imagine the most beautiful scuba diving spots, the Caribbean, Sharm el-Sheikh, the coast of Israel, Hawaii usually come to mind… but perhaps you haven’t considered one small factor: diving isn’t just about admiring underwater nature. Beneath the sea, there are infinite worlds to explore, including sunken shipwrecks and even the archaeological remains of ancient cities! And many of these underwater worlds are located in Europe.
It’s not easy to list the top 5 diving locations, as there are hundreds of thousands of sites. But here we want to guide you through five unique places that anyone with a passion for the seabed must see. Travel is no problem! Thanks to Transfeero’s customized transportation, reaching the dive ports and the nearest airports is a breeze.
Baia Underwater Park
In Italy, in the splendid Gulf of Naples (Naples Airport – NAP), lies the coast of Baia, which holds a fascinating secret: the Underwater Archaeological Park.
Located between Bacoli and Pozzuoli, it has been a protected area since 2002, aiming to protect not only the local marine flora and fauna but, above all, the ruins of the ancient Roman city, now submerged.The unique nature of the Neapolitan coast is linked to the volcanic phenomena of the Phlegraean Fields, and this area in particular has always been subject to bradyseism. Bradyseism causes vertical movements of the land, resulting from the rising of magma from depths. Depending on the duration of these phenomena, some parts of the coast have literally slipped beneath the sea over the centuries.
The Baia Underwater Park includes the Nymphaeum of Punta Epitaffio, the Villa Pisoni, the Lacus Baths, the remains of Port Julius, and the Secca Fumosa (smoky shallows). Among columns, statues, perfectly preserved mosaic floors, decorated pools and altars, you shall literally swim through history. Only the most experienced, however, will be able to reach the Smoky Shallows (12 meters deep) to admire natural features of rare beauty.
Malta’s Blue Hole in Dwejra
Before exploring the Blue Hole of Dwejra, spend a few days traveling around Malta, an island worth visiting for its rich history and culture. Places such as Valletta, Mdina, Rabat, and the Three Cities can be reached easily and without much effort from Malta Airport (MLA). The same transfer will take you to the ferry pier from where ferries to Gozo, the nearby sister island, do depart.
The Blue Hole of Dwejra opens beneath a natural pool located on the western coast of Gozo. It was once overlooked by a large rocky arch, known as the “Azure Window”, which unfortunately collapsed in 2017. The submerged well is 50 meters deep and is home to an incredible variety of marine flora and fauna (pink coralline algae, hornfish, moray eels, crabs, squid, sea urchins). A paradise for underwater photographers, you can also enter it through a submerged archway, the result of one of the limestone collapses.
When diving there, it’s always good to rely on expert guides, as the danger of rockfall – even underwater – is constant … especially after storm surges.
Dive between two continents in Iceland
This is the dive all enthusiasts should try at least once. Because Silfra, or rather the Silfra Fissure, is a sea still in its infancy!
The “fissure” was created by a series of seismic shocks that, in the heart of Iceland, caused the European and American continental plates to begin moving apart. Iceland is slowly splitting in two as the two continents separate at a rate of 2 cm per year, and since the 18th century seawater and groundwater have been flooding the fissure. Today, diving in Silfra involves descending into this long, narrow shaft. The Silfra Fissure is located in Thingvellir National Park and is a true paradise for divers and naturalists from around the world. While diving, you’ll admire seaweed, rock formations and fish that—with the proper (and very expensive) permits—you can even catch.
Make arrangements with the dedicated guides who run the tours and are based in Reykjavik, the Icelandic capital, where you’ll land at Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
The Spanish islands of Medas
Landing at Barcelona Airport (BCN) in Spain, with a convenient transfer that will take you to the small port of Estartit in two hours, you can admire one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe and, if you like, even take a special dive in the seabed of the Medas Islands.
They are certainly not the Canary Islands, which are much more spectacular, but they are closer and cheaper for an almost identical spectacle. Diving at the seven Medas Islands offers the option of departing from multiple locations, with or without a guide (an expert is required only if exploring the deep caves), and discovering enormous dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus), barracudas, moray eels, and incredibly colorful marine animals that populate forests of seaweed and fascinating coral.
Ios island in Greece
The island of Ios (also known as Xios or Chio) is one of the most beautiful pearls of the Aegean Sea and one of the best places in Greece for diving. With its own regional airport, it can be reached by domestic flights from Athens or by ferry after landing at Mykonos (JMK) or Samos (SMI) airports.
The journey here is worth it to admire the wonders of the seabed that make this island a top diving destination. Ancient shipwrecks, volcanic rock formations, vibrant coral reefs teeming with colorful fish, moray eels and octopuses are a fascinating journey for divers. Adventure lovers can also explore, with the help of authorized guides, the many underwater caves and tunnels inhabited by extraordinary biodiversity. The ideal diving locations in Chios are Karfas, Mesta, Agia Fotini, and Komi.
