Diving for Beginners

CARIBBEAN AND ATLANTIC 1. British Virgin Islands In the Caribbean, few destinations top the British Virgin Islands as “the perfect place” to kick off your diving adventures. Many of the dive sites in the BVI are shallow enough to be perfect for beginning divers, and with 100 dive spots to choose from divers are guaranteed a new experience every time they descend. Coral Gardens is one site that repeatedly tops the list as a good beginner site, with depths ranging from 20-50 feet, a cornucopia of marine life, and colorful coral bed. Diamond Reef, with its colony of garden eels and corals that stretch for as far as the eye can see, is also a great place to make your first night dive. Go Now » 2. Curacao » 3. Bermuda » PACIFIC 1. Hawaii If you’re a beginner diver and looking to get away, there aren’t many destinations better than Hawaii. The readers agree, too, that Hawaii’s easy access and shallow waters offer a great selection of places to start diving. Charters and dive companies offer introductory courses and there are also opportunities to get certified on any of the main islands. Sea life is abundant and the temperate waters will make the experience as comfortable as possible. And while Hawaii’s underwater geography ranges from deep waters to simple shore dives, they all offer amazing experiences that won’t disappoint and will ensure that new divers become experienced as they keep coming back for more. Go Now » 2. Red Sea » 3. Philippines » NORTH AMERICA 1. Florida/Florida Keys Florida is a hotspot for shallow, warm-water dives that feature everything from sandy bottoms to coral paradises, all of which makes it a logical choice to head the category of best beginner diving. The Florida Keys is a hub for reef dives that offer great opportunities for beginners, including Islamorada, Looe Key and Marathon to name just a few. Dive charters are a great place to start, but what makes Florida also such a great destination is the number of excellent beach dives. The east coast, aka the Treasure Coast, due to its plethora of 17th and 18th century Spanish galleon wrecks, is a great place to dive for buried fortunes; while the west coast boasts calm dives. Go Now » 2. Washington » 3. California »