Best beginner diving destinations worldwide
Takata Experience | May 2025
Choosing the right place is key if you’re ready to take your first how-to dive. Calm waters, excellent visibility, and certified dive instructors can make your first dive unforgettable. If you’re looking for the best beginner diving destinations, you’re in the right place.
Here are the best diving destinations for beginners:
1. Mexico – Top Caribbean destination for new divers
Scuba diving in Mexico is perfect for beginners. With warm waters and access to the world’s second-largest reef system, the country is full of stunning dive sites and professional dive centers. The Caribbean coast is perfect for calm conditions and amazing visibility, making your first dive easier and more fun!
Beginner Hotspots:
- Cozumel: Famous for its clear waters and abundant marine life.
- Puerto Morelos: Offers tranquil diving conditions with rich coral reefs.
- Cancún: Known for its underwater museum and accessible dive sites.
- Mahahual: A serene town offering wonderful diving experiences away from the crowds.
Best Time to Dive: during the whole year, since the seas are always warm and calm.
Why Mahahual is perfect for your first dive
Mahahual is a tranquil town located on the Costa Maya, and it’s becoming a favorite for those looking to escape crowded tourist hubs like Cancún.
- Dive Conditions: Shallow reefs, minimal currents, and water temperatures ranging from 25–30°C (77–86°F).
- Marine Life: Divers can meet colorful coral gardens, nurse sharks, sea turtles and stingrays.
- Unique Feature: Proximity to Banco Chinchorro, a UNESCO-protected coral atoll renowned for its pristine reefs and historic shipwrecks.
At TAKATA Experience, we offer a variety of courses for beginners, ensuring a safe introduction to the diving world ⬇︎
2. Egypt – Dive into the magic of the Red Sea
The Red Sea is legendary among divers, and for good reason: it’s clear, warm, and full of marine life. Top spots to dive as a beginner:
- Sharm El Sheikh – Home to colorful coral reefs and calm, sandy-bottomed bays.
- Dahab – Famous for the relaxed vibe and shore diving options.
What makes Egypt great for beginners:
- Visibility often exceeds 20–30 meters.
- You’ll encounter lionfish, rays, clownfish, reef sharks, and vibrant soft corals.
- Numerous dive schools offer affordable Open Water certifications.
This region is also ideal for underwater photography thanks to the clarity and color of the seascape.
3. Thailand – A global hub for affordable diving education
Thailand’s islands are not only tropical getaways, but also some of the most popular places in the world to learn to dive.
Best beginner location:
- Koh Tao – Known as the “certification capital of Asia,” it’s packed with dive centers, easy conditions, and low costs.
Why it’s great for new divers:
- Warm water year-round (28–30°C).
- Great visibility and shallow reef dives close to the shore.
- Marine life includes sea turtles, parrotfish, triggerfish, and clownfish.
You’ll also enjoy the social vibe: it’s a great place to meet other beginner divers.
4. Indonesia – Easy access to the coral triangle
Indonesia is a biodiversity hotspot and a diver’s dream. While many of its top sites are for advanced divers, areas like Baliand the Gili Islands offer plenty for beginners.
Where to start:
- Padang Bai and Amed in Bali – Calm bays with reef slopes and sandy bottoms.
- Gili Trawangan – Excellent for sea turtle spotting and drift dives.
What makes it special:
- Incredible marine biodiversity — you may see nudibranchs, octopus, frogfish, seahorses, and even reef sharks.
- The underwater landscapes are colorful and diverse, with coral gardens, volcanic sand, and small wrecks.
It’s a great mix of beginner comfort and exceptional biodiversity.
5. Maldives – Diving in paradise
The Maldives isn’t just for honeymooners, it’s also one of the best places to start your diving journey. Many resorts offer PADI courses with easy access to amazing reefs.
Why beginners love it:
- Calm lagoons and shallow reefs are ideal for skills practice.
- Consistently warm water and 30 m+ visibility.
- Plenty of marine megafauna, including manta rays, turtles, reef sharks, and batfish.
You can even complete your entire Open Water certification without ever boarding a dive boat.
6. Belize – Western Caribbean wonder
Belize offers a relaxed, friendly atmosphere for new divers and access to part of the Mesoamerican Reef.
Top beginner areas:
- Ambergris Caye – A laid-back island with great training spots.
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve – Famous for shallow reefs and lots of marine life.
Marine highlights:
- Encounters with nurse sharks, eagle rays, turtles, and barracudas are common.
- Guided snorkeling and beginner dive tours make it easy to test the waters before getting certified.
The local dive culture is very supportive, making Belize a great place to ease into the sport.
Your first dive should be unforgettable!
Whether you’re attracted to the shallow reefs of the Caribbean, the coral gardens of the Red Sea, or the tropical waters of Southeast Asia, the best diving destinations for beginners all offer the same things: safety, simplicity, and underwater beauty.
You can explore more beginner diving destinations in this PADI travel guide, featuring top spots for first-time divers around the world.
But if you’re looking for a destination that combines eco-conscious diving, small groups, and access to the world’s second-largest reef, then Mahahual, Mexico, is an incomparable choice. It’s peaceful, affordable, and home to some of the best beginner-friendly dive sites anywhere in the world.
Ready to take your first dive in paradise? Contact us to get started, or check out our Discover Scuba Diving and Open Water certification courses at Takata Experience.
