Diving in Europe

Not really too sure where to put this, so feel free to move.

My girlfriend is planning a diving trip for the two of us for my thirtieth birthday in August. A few lads on here have mentioned their diving experiences before and was looking for some advice on potential locations. I have dived in South East Asia and Australia and would love to go back, but the cash just ain't there. So, is there anywhere in Europe that someone has dived that they would definitely recommend? Just as important, are there any places that someone has dived that they would certainly not recommend?
Thanks in advance,
Lorcan

My son is big into diving and was in Malta a couple of years ago and said the diving was very good!!

What level and experience are you?
I have dived a few spots in Europe,not too many though,and there is a lot of diving I want to do in Europe,but can't really comment on those yet.
There is some good stuff around Ireland,ScubaDiveWest in Connemarra have some grteat sites,and Aquaholics up North,I did some lovely wrecks off Rathlin Island with them.But guess for a 30th you want something a bit more exotic.
I've dived a few times in Crete,and Cyprus(including the Zenobia(great penetration)).I find the Med diving is ok,it's warm,it's good vis,but there is low levels of life,and dives can be a bit hit and miss.Several dives I've thought I was only out there so the centre could get my money,nothing to see.The Med is dead,as they say.There's always exceptions though.
Best diving I've done in Europe is at El Hierro,with Shane Gray.He does week packages,and they're brilliant.We flew into Tenergrief,got ferry next morning to El Hierro,and did the few days diving,then back on the ferry for another night in Tenerife.It's an unspoilt little island,with sod all tourism,mainly just walkers,divers,and fishermen.La Restinga is a lovely little town,with great local restaurants and bars.If you like discos and sitting in Nationally themed pubs watching Corrie and footie,and going down the local Spar for a breakfast roll,then don't go here,you won't find it.But,the diving is fantastic,amazing topography and marine life.
For something a little different,a few I want to try are Scapa Flow,Iceland,Narvik,and the S57 wreck near Dubrovnik.Just for starters.
Oh,and was excited to find out recently that they've found an intact German WW1 U-boat near Cork harbour.

Thanks a million for that lads. My experience is not that great- I have my qualification etc, but have only done about 10 dives. I was looking for somewhere a bit more exotic... and warm!
It was for fish life that I wanted to dive, so had already kinda made up my mind to avoid the Med. The Canary Islands were one of the options, but I hate the themed bars and other cr*p that usually goes with a holiday down there. El Hierro sounds ideal. I'll be making my own way down, so won't need the whole package. Who is Shane Gray? Is that a friend of yours or someone who works out of Ireland?
Thanks again,
L

Shane Grey is in Clare....Xaribdis there are some stunning wreck sites down on the south west off baltimore...gorgeous diving there and a few nice dives around 20m for someone like you with 10 dives that you'd manage no hassle.

Gavin

I certainly plan on doing as much diving around Ireland this Summer as I can afford. I never realised just how many great sites we can boast. My paretns dived for years and never did one dive outside Ireland.

However, for my thirtieth I want to go somewhere a bit more exotic maybe. .... well, that's not entirely true, I'd be happy diving anywhere, but the girlfriend doesn't dive, so while I leave her every day she insists on having a nice beach to relax on, with reliable weather!

L

for good weather and great divin, espically with regard to marine life, the red sea's hard to beat, and probably the closest you'l get to the fish life you've previously seen. ya can usually pick up pretty decent offers and things seem to be settling down out there too. and there's something for everyones experience. i've dived malta as well, great for wreaks and caves, marine life's not bad, but would be nothing compared to the reefs your used to. haven't dived tenerife, but have heard good things about it, including the island Acara mentioned. likewise with croatia, supposed to be beautiful above and below water!

Happy diving wherever ya go!

I'm currently diving in Lanzarote with Safari Diving.I too can't stand the themed bars,and the 'strip' type resorts,but they have their place.in fact we went down the strip the other night,and it was entertaining,if nothing else.The diving is MUCH better than I expected,and the sealife is outstanding.Spotted a seahorse on 1st dive,electric rays,angel sharks,and far too much to list here.Excellent topography,lots of caves and swim throughs,great walls,and a few wrecks,all from the beach in front of the centre.There's a multitude of centres here,but I can't reccomend Safari enough,superb crew,great guys,and the location is awesome.They litteraly are on the beach,a small quiet one,not the main one,every other centre has to drive here.Prices are good too,if anyone else is cheaper,I would still go with Safari.I have a 4min walk to centre,kit up,in water at 10am,back at hotel by 1130,then back down,kitted up,and in water again at 1500.Night dives(did 1st one here last night)are 8pm,and amazing.
This will become my regular Spring dive spot,and yes,the skangers and that lot are here,but we don't go down that way,we're on the edge of the old town.
Oh,and I won 7nts accom and a weeks diving for 2 with Safari Diving,at the Irish Dive Show,so I have to back Nice to win something occaisionally

Sounds fantastic Acara, your makin me jealous! Whats the water temp like at this time of year? And the air temp for that matter, gotta keep herself happy after all!

Rolly

There's a pleasant breeze,and I guess it's mid-20s. My computer shows about 19-21 degrees in the water,although it does feel chilly under there,but certainly not uncomfortable.I'm not using boots,gloves,hood,etc,although some are,and the guide went out in a drysuit on the night dive last night
It's 1750 and I'm still only in shorts,in the shade.Thankfully(for others),our balcony is not over looked

3mm suits so I assume with that temp. Lovely. Id wear Hood alright,main loss of heat and all that.
Guide only used a dry suit cos its easier to suit up!!
Gavin

er,um,5mm me thinks computer is faulty

Thanks for all the advice on here lads- off to Lanzarote for a few dives on Saturday week. Bought myself an underwater housing for the camera, so will be annoying you all with crappy photos!

Bring a bananna with you under the water, and once you start to feed it to the fish you will get amazing snaps.
Gavin

Enjoy,jealous as hell,but am heading there later in year for 2wks. Have a weeks free diving to take,and will prob pay for a few extra days as well.
Don't forget to try their new tapas bar in the Old Town.

I havn't been lucky enough to dive the Red Sea yet,but there are a couple of reasons I would do the training here,rather than there.
Firstly,I always believe in 'train hard,play easy'. Whilst the qualification is the same,no matter where you do it,it's the experience that is the most important thing. If you want to dive here,after doing your course in the Red Sea,etc,you will need to gain some experience here,as the conditions are obviously different. Have heard of so many who trained in Red Sea,Thailand,Turkey,etc,nice and cheap,nice and warm,then jumped in with their qualifications in Brit/Irish waters,and died. Havn't worded that well,but you get the drift.
Secondly,the Red Sea is an amazing place to see such a variety of life,but you won't get a chance,sas you'll be training. If I were out there,I'd want all my diving to be pleasure diving,and enjoy the sights.
Try to choose a centre that is German or British run,or any other decent Euro country.

Fishowner wrote:

Bring a bananna with you under the water, and once you start to feed it to the fish you will get amazing snaps.
Gavin

That's a good idea. Might try that one.

Diving in the Costa Blanca in Spain is very good, just finished diving there 3 weeks ago. 25c in the water and alot of good sites.

Good diving in Cartegena near the Submarine dams about 25-30m down.