Top Shore Diving Destinations of the World

Shore diving, as the name implies, is the ability to enter the water directly from the shore. This may be a beach, a pebbly shoreline or perhaps a straddle jump entry from the rocks. We explore some of the virtues of shore diving and cover some of the best diving destinations to give it a go.

It is true. Many divers turn to boat diving or liveaboards for their diving fix, overlooking the virtues of the humble shore dive. There is an inclination to assume that heading farther out to sea means better diving, but is this valid?

There is, without doubt, some incredibly exciting diving to be had from boats, but there are many upsides to shore diving too. One thing is for shore (sorry), you’ll never really know unless you’ve tried it.

Entering the water through a little surf can sometimes be tricky and not to everyone’s ability. We’ve all had the odd little mishap. Not to worry, many destinations and dive centres have adapted to make shore diving as easy as possible. Some sites are even suited to those learning to dive, where sea pools have been created for example.

In locations such as Grand Cayman, the rocky shoreline has been carved out to allow large entry and exit pools, well away from any surf. The diver can descend a couple of metres before swimming through a small channel to join the open sea and dive along colourful reefs with abundant marine life including turtles and tarpon from some house reefs on Grand Cayman.

Malta and Gozo are well known for their shore dives, with a multitude of options and easy entries for divers of all abilities. The dive centres escort eager divers around the islands, using their local knowledge to identify which entry points and dive sites are most suited to the diver’s experience and interests whether it be a wreck, reef or cavern to explore. On Gozo, the Inland Sea is a unique and spectacular dive, as is Cathedral Cave, mainly due to their topography but expect plenty of marine life and colour from the soft corals. Divers are spoilt for choice when it comes to wrecks around the islands, some accessible from the shore. In addition the reef sites such as Cirkewwa and Qawra Point are where you can expect to see rainbow wrasse, octopus, dentex and barracuda. 

Also close to home, the Azores offers shore diving options as well as boat diving, using ladders to ease entry and exits from the rocky shoreline. Expect plenty of marine life surprises here as the archipelago is a hub for many migrating species. The south coast of Sao Miguel offers the chance of encounters with dusky grouper at sites such as Amora as well as dramatic volcanic landscapes like Cozinha. Marine life here includes colourful wrasse, stingrays, puffer fish, flounder and morays. Pico island is home to 40 coastal dive sites, fantastic for those who prefer entering from the shore.

In some destinations, entry from the shore is the only option, such as one of the world's most famous cold water sites in Iceland. Swim between two continents in the exceptionally clear waters of the Silfra fissure, a truly unique dive site. Add this to your bucket list! In other destinations piers and jetties form the focus of a shore dive. These man-made structures often prove to be a safe haven for marine life and can truly make exceptional dive sites for both day and night diving. The Navy Pier in Exmouth, Western Australia might be ‘just’ a shore dive but is recognised as one of the finest dives in a country spoilt for choice.

For those who suffer from being seasick, shore diving can be a real blessing. There is no need to sit in a boat and so it removes the motion element from your day. Eliminating the boat can also have other benefits as it makes your diving considerably more accessible. 

Shore diving does not mean diving the same dive site over and over again however. Far from it. Destinations such as Bonaire & Curaçao offer car rental packages for divers. Your ‘Dive n Drive’ package can include an almost unlimited amount of diving, allowing you to dive to your heart’s content. The local staff will pop tank refills in the boot of the car or ‘yute’ and you can drive yourself to any one of the dive sites at a time that suits you. Located in the southern Caribbean, the islands are often described as being the shore diving capital of the world. The 60+ sites in Bonaire's Marine Park are marked by yellow stones and extend the length of the west coast. Expect plenty of colourful marine life, soft and hard corals and turtles along the fringing reef. Famous sites such as Porto Mari, Alice in Wonderland and the Superior Producer wreck are all accessible from the shore on Curaçao, mostly from beautiful beaches.

The Red Sea resort of Aqaba in Jordan is also famed for its shore diving, taking divers to a range of dive sites by van or minibus on request. The majority of these are found in the Aqaba Marine Park, stretched along 7km of coastline with warm waters away from the crowds. Expect to see hard and soft corals, colourful reef fish, Napoleon wrasse, several species of ray, turtles, frog fish and nudibranch. This is a fantastic location for photographers and home to the Cedar Pride, one of the most photographed wrecks in the world.

We couldn’t cover the best shore diving options without mention of the wonderful Maldives. Many of the best diving islands and resorts in the Maldives, such as Vilamendhoo Island Resort, Eriyadu or Filitheyo have multiple entry and exit points around the island, providing ample variety for divers and snorkellers. Highlights include an abundant and diverse marine life amongst the reefs surrounding the island resorts. Located on the South Ari Atoll, there are possible manta and whale shark sightings at Vilamendhoo, whilst Filitheyo has a resident hawksbill turtle and plenty of large pelagic encounters including sharks and the Eriyadu house reef is simply breathtaking.

Shore diving can offer you huge flexibility with your daily schedule. You are no longer required to rush through breakfast and be on the boat dock by 08:30. Shore diving will often allow you to be Captain. Assuming you have a buddy or buddies, it is you who controls the schedule. If you want to dive before breakfast, no problem. If on the other hand you prefer a more leisurely approach, why rush when you can miss the crowds with a mid-morning start? Fish life tends to prefer a quieter encounter and interactions can often be better with fewer people in the water. 

Removing a boat trip from the equation will inevitably help keep costs down. Boats, no matter the size or age, are expensive to operate and so the cost of your dive will be less if a boat journey is not required. As a result, a diving holiday focused on shore diving offers divers exceptional value for money.

Recently introduced to our portfolio, both Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge and Wadi Lahmy Resort in Egypt offer house reef diving as standard, with local supplements for boat diving when you wish to enjoy it, helping to keep the holiday budget down without compromising on the quality of the diving.

Shore diving and house reefs are a hugely popular option for budding underwater photographers, who value the extra time and space they provide to compose that award-winning shot. The beautiful and highly acclaimed Wakatobi Dive Resort is considered by many to have the finest house reef in the world, while other superb options for photographers can be found in Bali, Lembeh and Dumaguate, to name but a few. Visit these destinations at the heart of the Coral Triangle and you'll be spoilt for choice with underwater highlights. The main attraction is undoubtedly the critters, with plenty of subjects in all shapes and sizes. Visiting at different times of the year also brings new life and different species. Think nudibranch, mimic octopus, frog fish, ghost pipefish and scorpionfish as well as hundreds of species of reef fish.

Shore diving is a great option for many, offering varied and highly rewarding diving experiences, often with exceptional value too. For some, it's the preferred way to see the delights of our underwater world.

Find out more about ourshore diving holidays or to book your place today get in touch with our friendly team.