A whole new world awaits the traveller under the sea. Here's your guide to diving in and making the most of it...
Diving and snorkelling immerses you into a floaty, contemplative world filled with mystery and colour – and often heaving with quirky marine life.
Snorkelling is an easy first step to take towards under-water diving. It is best enjoyed with at least one ‘buddy’, although it doesn’t have to be limited to just one other person – whole families can snorkel together.
Once confident snorkellers, many people want to learn to dive. One popular way to become proficient is on a specialised learn-to-dive holiday. Wherever land meets sea, you will find a diving school, which can train you to a high level of competency. Organisations such as the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), Scuba Schools International (SSI), and The British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) have training schools teaching diving fundamentals.
A whole new world awaits. Dive in and discover it.
Damsel fish swimming in shallow water off Palau (Shutterstock)In many parts of the world there's an underwater wonderland just off shore. All you have to do is grab a mask and dive in. To help you out, Paul Bloomfield reveals the 10 best places in the world to go snorkelling.
Keen to go a little deeper? Then you need to learn to dive. Our online community clubbed together to list the best places to do just that. Liz Edwards has also written a piece about why she thinks Dominica is the best place to earn your fins.
With your new found skills comes new found responsibilities. The ocean is one of the world's most fragile habitats. Lauren Arthur suggests her 6 tips on diving sustainably. And Toby Shergold explains how you can combine snorkelling and conservation in the Bay Islands in Honduras.
– Paul Bloomfield
The best places to learn to dive – Wanderlust community
Learn to dive and dry off in Dominica – Liz Edwards
6 tips on how to dive sustainably – Lauren Arthur
Snorkelling and conservation in the Bay Islands, Honduras – Toby Shergold
Diving on the Great Barrier Reef (Shutterstock)When it comes to diving destinations, the world is your oyster. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is obviously an option: Monty Halls has put together a complete guide to diving there. And Ben Southall reveals 10 of its secrets. With the second longest barrier reef in the world, Belize is another firm favourite too.
Looking for somewhere even more exotic to go diving? Sarah Barrell recommends Islas del Rosario off the Colombian coast. Mark Stratton reckons you can't beat the Philippines – with 7,114 islands you're spoiled for choice. And how about South Africa? The Wanderlust team have listed the 5 top dive sites there.
– Monty Halls
Great Barrier Reef: Top 10 secrets – Ben Southall
Discover little-visited Belize – Alex Robinson
Philippines in the sea: 12 watery adventures – Mark Stratton
Islas del Rosario: diving off Colombia's coast – Sarah Barrell
South Africa's top 5 diving locations – Wanderlust Team
Diving amongst Great White sharks (Shutterstock)When it comes to wildlife encounters, the world's oceans are right up there with the plains of Africa and the jungles of Borneo for excitement and variety. The Wanderlust team have put together a list of their favourite underwater wildlife encounters – from the Maldives and the Galapagos islands to the rather chilly East Antarctic Peninsula.
Need more specific suggestions? If you want to swim with turtles, Tim Ecott says you need to head to Sipadan in Malaysian Borneo. Jessica Kleiner prefers Turtle Town in Hawaii.
Whale sharks? Then you need to head to Western Australia says David McGonigal. Basking Sharks? Mark Carwardine suggests Scotland. Great White Sharks? Mark has advice on diving with those too.
William Gray, on the other hand, reckons you can't beat swimming with rays in Tenerife. While James Stewart recommends popping over to the Cayman Islands and checking out the wildlife both on and off shore.
– Wanderlust Team
Underwater safari: swim with turtles at Sipadan, Borneo, Malaysia – Tim Ecott
Your guide to snorkelling Hawaii's famous Turtle Town – Jessica Kleiner
Underwater safari: snorkel with whale sharks in Western Australia – David McGonigal
Diving with basking sharks – Mark Carwardine
Great white expectations – Mark Carwardine
Catching rays in Tenerife – William Gray
Caymen Islands: Wildlife on and off shore – James Stewart
Cave diving (Shutterstock)Once you've had your fill of technicolour fish swimming in clear tropical waters, a number of more extreme and downright weird dive experiences await. Graihagh Jackson lists five of them, above tectonic plates, below three-metres of sea ice and along what could be the underwater remains of an ancient civilisation.
Monty Halls went in search of the world's greatest underwater mysteries and explains how you can too. Graeme Green dives Japan's Atlantis of the East. And we list the world's 5 coolest underwater hotels and weirdest underwater postboxes.
– Graihagh Jackson
Monty Halls on great underwater mysteries – Peter Moore
Discover Japan's Atlantis of the East – Graeme Green
The world's 5 coolest underwater hotels – Wanderlust Team
The world's weirdest underwater postboxes – Wanderlust Team
Woman snorkelling in tropical waters (Shutterstock)With some of the most stunning dive sites in the world, chances are that at some point you’re going to try and capture the awesome world you’ll encounter under the sea.
There is more to underwater photography than keeping your camera dry. Steve Davey lists all the tricks, from under exposing your shots through to getting the white balance right in his top tips for underwater photography.
If it's inspiration you're after, make sure you check out the photos taken by our readers on their diving and snorkelling adventures.
– Steve Davey
Readers' diving and snorkelling photos
Snorkelling near over-water villas (Shutterstock)Ready to start planning your trip? Our Diving and Snorkelling Guide is the place to start. Make sure you drop by the Diving and Snorkelling Recommendations page as well, for a quick summary of the top dive spots around the world. And we’ve rounded up the latest travel news about diving and snorkelling too.
If you have a particular question about diving and snorkelling, pop over to the myWanderlust Forum where our knowledgeable community are ready to spring into action and share all that they know. Or check out the questions that have already been asked about diving and snorkelling. The answer to yours might already be there.
– Wanderlust Team
Diving and snorkelling recommendations – Wanderlust Team
Latest news about snorkelling and diving
Forum posts about diving and snorkelling
Community content about diving and snorkelling
Snorkelling at sunrise (Shutterstock)
Here's a selection of fantastic tours offered by our partners. From diving tours with a marine conservation component as well, to liveaboard, island-hopping boat adventures, there's something to suit every taste and budget.
