The Black Sea – Image courtesy of Torben Lonne
When people are asked what they could expect from traveling to Europe, they often think about three things: historical places, architecture, and art. This is fairly understandable, as these are the most important highlights of any trip to Europe. But these aren’t the only things you can do there. There’s also scuba diving, cave diving, and wreck diving. If you love scuba diving, then this East guide to diving in Europe should help you get started.
Here are some of the less explored dive destinations where you can experience wonderfully good diving.
Top Diving Spots in Eastern Europe
Bulgaria
The great thing about scuba diving in Bulgaria is that you get to do it in a sea known for its historic reputation – the Black Sea. As you plunge into its depths, you will have the chance to see not just underwater reefs, caves, and marine life, but also wrecks of military aircraft! Diving spots in Bulgaria are also known for having a few endangered species of maritime flora and fauna.
Croatia
In this archipelagic country, you shouldn’t be surprised to find many beautiful coastlines and diving locations. In fact, Croatia’s underwater territory boasts a wide array of colorful reefs and aquatic life, which surrounds more than 1,000 islands. That’s too many dive sites to mention here, however, some of its diving spots are remote and require trips to secluded islands. But that’s exactly what makes Croatia a must-visit in our east guide to diving in Europe.
Czech Republic
Diving in Czech Republic is quite different from the conventional, as the diving there is limited to lakes, dams, and quarries. That said, if you are new to diving and would like to learn, it’s a good place to start. Diving schools abound here.
Lithuania
Lithuania is notorious for its cave diving experience, setting it apart from other Eastern Europe countries. One of the top diving spots in Lithuania for this activity is Pasvalys. Another good place for diving there is Lake Plateliai, which is more geared towards exploring local freshwater marine life.
Poland
Any east guide to diving in Europe will recommend wreck diving in this country. With diving concentrated on the Baltic Sea, you can expect hundreds of wrecks from the 17th century to World War II. Many of which haven’t been discovered yet! Wrecks in the Baltic Sea are between the depths of 2 and 90 meters. For beginners who don’t want to go too deep, there’s The Kujawiak. Due to the low saline levels and oxygen levels in the sea, many wooden wrecks in Poland are still well-preserved and these dive sites are a real treat for the avid scuba diver. This might be a dive for a summer season unless you are into full drysuit diving.
Slovenia
Slovenia may be at the geographical heart of Europe, but that doesn’t stop it from offering diving activities to visiting tourists. There’s Fiesa Reef and the Punta Reefs, all teeming with Baltic Sea marine life.
Eastern Europe may not be part of the top Europe dive destinations, but the area certainly offers tons of underwater surprises that any scuba diver hopes to find. Next time you have a trip to this region, don’t forget to include scuba diving, cave diving, and wreck diving in your itinerary!
