In this edition of "Ask a Travel Expert," dive travel writer Terry Ward helps you book ahead of the crowd, plan a couple dive getaway and find great newbie liveaboards.

Q: What are some destinations to dive now, before divers begin to return in pre-pandemic travel levels?


A: There’s a lot of talk of “revenge travel” of late. And while I don’t love the term (doesn’t carpe diem travel have a nicer ring to it, anyway?), I do understand the concept. With travel steadily trending upward, a few places come to mind for planning a dive trip before the crowds descend in before-times droves.

In December, I couldn’t wait to get back to the islands of French Polynesia, where spots like Tikehau and Manihi in the Tuamotu Archipelago see even less dive traffic than better-known atolls like Fakarava and Rangiroa.

Fiji, another epic South Pacific getaway, reopened to fully vaccinated international visitors December 1, 2021. “Fiji is a great destination for anyone looking for something off the beaten path,” says PADI Travel expert Jenna Rushton, pointing to Beqa Lagoon for shark lovers and Taveuni’s Great White Wall of soft corals among the must-hit dives.

The Red Sea beckons divers’ return too. “The chance to dive the world-renowned SS Thistlegorm before the area gets back to pre-pandemic popularity cannot be missed,” says PADI Travel expert Beth Sanders.

Q: Where can I go for excellent diving that also ticks the box for a romantic Valentine’s Day getaway?


A: Palm trees and clear seas always spell romance for me—and when you throw in adventures like white-water rafting and hiking, Grenada springs to mind as a top Caribbean destination for starry eyes and great dives.

In Mexico, Cancun’s many luxury resorts and spas (Gem Spa at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun is a personal favorite) smoothly meld dive time with couples fun. And a day trip to Isla Mujeres to dive or tour the island by golf cart is always a fun couples day out, too.

PADI Travel expert Kelly Hicks points to Hawaii for romance and diving that’s easy to get to for North American travelers, with flights leaving daily from the U.S. mainland. “In addition to crystal-clear waters and a sweet summer breeze, couples can also enjoy massages; secluded beaches; easy, relaxing hiking; and lots of dining or exploring quaint small towns around the islands,” she says.

And for a European dive trip that can also masquerade as a couples escape, consider Greece for island-hopping, candle-lit seafood meals alfresco, and diving caves, tunnels and wrecks in translucent Aegean waters (the island of Chios is a good place to start).

Q: What liveaboard destinations are best for a new diver with relatively few logged dives?


A: Embarking on a liveaboard trip is a great way to rack up a lot of different types of dives over the span of a week, and can really help build your confidence as a new diver. I asked Wayne B. Brown, owner and CEO of Aggressor Adventures, for some of the liveaboard destinations he’d recommend to divers who are just starting out.

Brown says high visibility is a major factor in how quickly a new diver gets comfortable underwater, so looking for destinations with zero current and great viz is the best place to start. “Any of the Caribbean destinations we have are great for new divers,” Brown says. And destinations with good wall dives—including Belize, Turks and Caicos, and Roatan—can be particularly well suited for new divers fine-tuning their buoyancy.