The Best Places to Learn to Scuba Dive While on Vacation

Learning to scuba dive can be a life-changing event as it provides access to a world that many others will never see. The ocean is home to coral reefs, shipwrecks and countless marine species. Opportunities exist all over the world where you can learn to dive while on vacation. Many facilities also offer the option of completing diving theory online before you come, so you do not have to sacrifice as much of your vacation to the classroom.

  1. Phuket, Thailand

    • Thailand,"The Land of Smiles," has one of the busiest scuba industries around the world. The best diving in Thailand runs from the island of Phuket, where visitors find fantastic coral reefs, with countless marine species including manta rays and whale sharks. Here you can earn PADI Open Water diver certification with Scuba Cat Diving based in Patong Beach. Complete courses in English, German, Danish, French, Thai and Spanish. The dives during the course are performed at sheltered dive sites with low currents and spectacular marine life, with the opportunity to dive the Similan Islands National Park, which is considered one of the world's top 10 diving destinations.

      Scuba Cat Diving

      94 Thaweewong Rd.

      Patong Beach, Phuket 83150

      66-76-293-120

      66-76-293-122

      scubacat.com

    Cozumel, Mexico

    • The island of Cozumel off the Mexican Yucatan coast has some of the best diving in the world. Its location off the Meso American barrier reef, the world's second largest reef, means that it features a massive array of marine life from small clown fish to giant manta rays. The waters are exceptionally clear, inspiring confidence in the beginner diver, and dive courses can be conducted in English or Spanish. Pro Dive Mexico, situated in the Allegro Cozumel hotel, offers the PADI Open Water diver course over three or four days, including four dives on the local Palancar reef.

      Pro Dive Mexico

      Hotel Allegro Cozumel

      Km 16.5 Carretera Sur San Francisco

      Palancar, Cozumel, ROO 77600

      52-984-802-8387

      52-984-802-8387

      prodivemexico.com

    The Bahamas

    • The high visibility offered in Bahamian waters helps to put new divers at ease when taking their first scuba diving course. The range of diving activities in the Bahamas includes coral reefs, shipwrecks, dolphin encounters and shark feeding, which draws divers from all over the world and makes it a good place to learn. This plethora of diving activities is accompanied by the beautiful scenery and friendly culture of the island nation, making it a vacation to remember. Stuart Cove's Dive company offers the PADI Open Water diver course over a four-day period, with dives taking place at some of the Bahamas' suitable training sites with calm conditions and shallow depths.

      Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas

      South, West Bay St.

      Po Box Cb 13137 Nassau

      800-879-9832

      242-362-5568

      stuartcove.com