Essential Europe
You might have preconceived notions about diving in Europe. It’s too cold. The waters are murky. There’s nothing but wrecks. But the truth is Europe has a vibrant diving scene –– with some of the most devoted divers on the planet –– and is home to world-class destinations featuring warm waters, good visibility and pulsating coral reefs, all off the shores of some of the most culturally rich countries in the world. The diving is so good, in fact, that maybe the Europeans want to keep it a secret from the rest of us. From the massive wrecks off Scotland’s Orkney Islands to the brightly colored reefs in Sardinia, what lies beneath the water here are the true gems most tourists miss.
Croatia
This Central European country occupies a generous swath of the Adriatic Sea’s eastern shore, where more than 1,000 islands draw visitors from around the world with dramatic landscapes and towns that have persisted since the Greek Empire. Continue reading »
Malta/Gozo
Malta, and its neighboring islands of Gozo and Comino, is the Bonaire of the Mediterranean, boasting dozens of accessible shore dives all around its rocky shores. Continue reading »
Cyprus
The entirety of diving on Cyprus is eclipsed by one site: the Zenobia ferry wreck. This 580-foot roll-on/off vehicle ferry sank off Larnaca in 1980 with more than 100 semi trucks loaded onto its massive decks. Continue reading »
Sardinia & Ustica
Dark, handsome strangers and some of the best food on the planet make mainland Italy an appealing tourist destination; venture off the boot, to the islands of Sardinia and Ustica, for some of the Mediterranean’s most enticing spots. Continue reading »
Canary Islands
The biggest dilemma for divers when planning a trip to geopolitically challenged Canary Islands (they belong to Spain but are geographically closer to Morocco) is deciding which island to visit. Continue reading »
Norway
The land of the Vikings and the endless summer sun, Norway is a place of pristine fjords and glacial valleys. Continue reading »
Medes Islands
Spain’s Medes Islands boast soft-coral reefs that feature one of the region’s healthiest and most diverse collections of marine life, the result of more than 20 years of marine-preserve status. Continue reading »
Scotland
In June 1919, when Rear Adm. Ludwig von Reuter gave the orders to scuttle, or deliberately sink, the 74 remaining ships of his own German High Seas Fleet, the idea was to keep the vessels from falling permanently into the hands of the victorious Allies. Continue reading »
You might have preconceived notions about diving in Europe. It’s too cold. The waters are murky. There’s nothing but wrecks. But the truth is Europe has a vibrant diving scene –– with some of the most devoted divers on the planet –– and is home to world-class destinations featuring warm waters, good visibility and pulsating coral reefs, all off the shores of some of the most culturally rich countries in the world. The diving is so good, in fact, that maybe the Europeans want to keep it a secret from the rest of us. From the massive wrecks off Scotland’s Orkney Islands to the brightly colored reefs in Sardinia, what lies beneath the water here are the true gems most tourists miss.
Croatia
This Central European country occupies a generous swath of the Adriatic Sea’s eastern shore, where more than 1,000 islands draw visitors from around the world with dramatic landscapes and towns that have persisted since the Greek Empire. Continue reading »
Malta/Gozo
Malta, and its neighboring islands of Gozo and Comino, is the Bonaire of the Mediterranean, boasting dozens of accessible shore dives all around its rocky shores. Continue reading »
Cyprus
The entirety of diving on Cyprus is eclipsed by one site: the Zenobia ferry wreck. This 580-foot roll-on/off vehicle ferry sank off Larnaca in 1980 with more than 100 semi trucks loaded onto its massive decks. Continue reading »
Sardinia & Ustica
Dark, handsome strangers and some of the best food on the planet make mainland Italy an appealing tourist destination; venture off the boot, to the islands of Sardinia and Ustica, for some of the Mediterranean’s most enticing spots. Continue reading »
Canary Islands
The biggest dilemma for divers when planning a trip to geopolitically challenged Canary Islands (they belong to Spain but are geographically closer to Morocco) is deciding which island to visit. Continue reading »
Norway
The land of the Vikings and the endless summer sun, Norway is a place of pristine fjords and glacial valleys. Continue reading »
Medes Islands
Spain’s Medes Islands boast soft-coral reefs that feature one of the region’s healthiest and most diverse collections of marine life, the result of more than 20 years of marine-preserve status. Continue reading »
Scotland
In June 1919, when Rear Adm. Ludwig von Reuter gave the orders to scuttle, or deliberately sink, the 74 remaining ships of his own German High Seas Fleet, the idea was to keep the vessels from falling permanently into the hands of the victorious Allies. Continue reading »
