You’ve got your dive certification and the underwater world awaits you, but where do you dive first?
Whether you want to try coral reef diving, shark dives, wrecks or walls, we’ve got you covered. Read on for our top 9 liveaboard destinations for new divers.
With colourful soft coral gardens teeming with reef fish and warm blue waters, Sharm el Sheikh is ideal for new divers wanting to discover the joys of coral reef diving.
There’s a variety of underwater landscapes covered in healthy hard corals, plus diverse reef life including blue-spotted stingrays, sea turtles, sharks and seasonal manta rays.
As well as the marine life on offer, many of Sharm el Sheikh’s dive sites have little or no current to contend with.
You can also keep your dives shallow without compromising on what you’ll see, thanks to the excellent water visibility there.
Whilst
Marsa Alam diving is better suited to advanced divers, there are some great easy dive spots in the area, where you can swim with spinner and bottlenose dolphins.
Marsa Alam’s main highlight is
Abu Dabbab Bay, where you can swim with endangered dugong.
Liveaboard top pick: The
Red Sea Blue Force 2 offers reef and wreck safaris with no minimum logged dives requirement.
- Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
Phi Phi Islands diving is great for new divers who want to experience a diverse selection of underwater landscapes within a small area.
As well as having huge limestone walls above water, the islands host fringing coral gardens, caverns, caves and swim-throughs.
Whilst not every dive is suitable for new divers, you can enjoy plenty of shallow dives teeming with tropical reef life.
Being affordable, Thailand is also a great place to get your dive certification then hop on a short liveaboard to discover some of the world’s best diving.
Liveaboard top pick: The
Giamani offers 2-6 night Thailand liveaboard safaris, including to Phi Phi.
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Stretching for over 2300 kilometres along the coast of Queensland and containing over 2900 individual reefs, the Great Barrier Reef is incredible.
Diving is possible all year and the marine life is abundant and diverse; with hundreds of fish species, numerous sea turtles, plenty of tiny critters and ocean giants.
If you visit in the Australian winter you have the chance to see humpback whales and swim with curious dwarf minke whales.
The Great Barrier Reef also offers a good introduction to
Australian liveaboard diving, with numerous liveaboards to choose from that don’t require a minimum number of dives.
Liveaboard top pick: The
Pro Dive Cairns fleet offer short Outer Great Barrier Reef safaris ideal for new divers.
The Bahamas is a classic shark and reef diving destination no matter your experience level.
Go there as a beginner and you can choose from tiger shark diving at
Tiger Beach or head to the beautiful Exuma Cays.
This chain of 365 islands and untouched beaches has abundant fish life, as well as eagle rays, dolphins and seasonal highlights including hammerheads and humpback whales.
With plenty of untouched reefs to dive at multiple levels, it’s ideal for new and advanced divers alike.
You can also dive the famous
Austin Smith Wreck whilst you’re there.
Lying at 18m depth, it is possible to access the wreck as a new diver - though we recommend an advanced certification to make the most of this wreck diving experience.
Liveaboard top pick: Try the small
Phoenix catamaran for sailing and diving with just 8 other guests.
The Bay Islands are known for their lush fringing and barrier reefs teeming with fish and critters, plus visiting manta rays and even whale sharks.
There are plenty of shallow dive sites, as well as exciting deep walls for experienced divers.
Year-round warm waters and exceptional visibility make it easy for new divers to explore the reefs and the currents are gentle at many of
Roatan’s dive sites.
Liveaboard top pick: The
Roatan Aggressor explores Roatan and Utila’s best dives and doesn’t require a minimum number of logged dives.
The famously laid-back Gili Islands have no motorised transport, meaning you can truly switch off from daily life and embrace peaceful island time.
Gili Islands diving is popular thanks to the pristine reefs and there are dive sites suitable for new to experienced divers, as well as freedivers and Tec divers.
The reefs are home to a stunning variety of corals and fish, plus numerous sea turtles and reef sharks.
Try Gili Trawangan diving for a good selection of easy dives and see where the sunshine-filled days take you.
With unique underwater lava landscapes and abundant endemic fish, Hawaii is a fascinating dive destination.
Kona is especially good for new divers, offering a warm dry climate and a variety of easy dives.
As well as spotting fish you won’t find anywhere else in the world, you can dive with three different dolphin species, plus Hawaiian green sea turtles, mantas and more.
Turtle Pinnacle at just 12m depth is an easy dive where you’ll find numerous sea turtles at their cleaning stations.
Discover shallow pinnacle diving and numerous eels at
Paradise Pinnacle, as well as plenty of macro treasures.
Liveaboard top pick: The
Kona Aggressor II offers dive safaris with no minimum logged dives and visits the best dive Kona dive spots.
If you want to enjoy a mixture of coral reef and wreck diving as a new diver, don’t miss
British Virgin Islands diving.
The reefs are full of life and you’ll have the chance to find goliath grouper and nurse sharks there.
As well as having numerous reefs and sheltered coastlines for easy diving, you can dive the
RMS Rhone.
Many areas of the wreck are still intact, including a huge 4.5m propeller.
Liveaboard top pick: Try the gorgeous
Cuan Law trimaran for Virgin Islands dive, snorkel and sail safaris with no set itinerary.
- Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
To build your confidence in the water, try Cayman Islands diving. This much-loved dive destination has some of the best wall diving in the world.
Whilst the deeper walls are too challenging for new divers, there are shallower wall dive sites off Grand Cayman you can try.
Make sure you keep an eye on your depth and enjoy the sheer diversity of life around you.
Liveaboard top pick: The popular
Cayman Aggressor V has no minimum logged dives requirement and dives all areas of Grand Cayman and surrounds.
This article was written by divers and writers at LiveAboard.com
Written by
LiveAboard
Date
27th January 2020
