Southern Europe has some of the best and most accessible scuba diving close to home. The Mediterranean offers warm, clear water from June to October: Corsica’s groupers and B-17 bomber wreck, the Ustica and Cinque Terre marine reserves in Italy, and Greek islands such as Santorini and Kefalonia, where a 2020 law opened historic wrecks to recreational divers. The Atlantic adds Madeira’s Garajau reserve and navy wrecks, the Azores’ mobula rays and Second World War wreck, Gran Canaria’s year-round diving and Cornwall’s famous Manacles reef. You need a recognised certification card, or you can do a supervised try dive with a licensed dive centre.
This page covers where and when to dive in the six countries TravelerCenter publishes, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and the United Kingdom, the certification and marine-reserve rules in each, and how to choose a dive centre.
Scuba diving at a glance
- Who it suits: certified divers of every level, and beginners on a supervised try dive with a licensed centre.
- Best months: June to October on the Mediterranean, in mainland Portugal and the Azores; all year in Madeira and the Canary Islands; summer in Cornwall.
- Water temperature at the surface: about 25–27 °C in August around Corsica, Sicily and the Greek islands; 19–24 °C in Madeira and the Canaries; 14–19 °C on the Portuguese mainland; 9–17 °C in Cornwall. It is colder at depth.
- Highlights: groupers at Garajau and the Lavezzi islands, wrecks off Madeira, the Azores, Portimão, Calvi, Kefalonia and Cornwall, archaeological trails at Ustica, and mobula rays in the Azores in summer.
- Rules to know: no diving inside the Scandola reserve in Corsica; in the Cinque Terre only in zones B and C from May to October; in Greece, wrecks older than 50 years only with a dive centre; permits for Cabrera, the Arrábida park and the Princess Alice Bank.
What diving involves
Most dives in southern Europe are boat dives over rocky reef, walls, seagrass meadows or wrecks, run by a local dive centre that supplies tanks, weights and, if you need them, the rest of the kit. The Mediterranean is usually calm and clear in summer, with little tide; the Atlantic brings swell, some current and cooler water, but also bigger shoals and pelagic visitors. Expect groupers, moray eels, octopus, barracuda, bream and, in the right places, rays and dolphins. Many centres run two boat dives in a morning.
If you have never dived, a try dive (also called a discovery dive or, in Portugal, a batismo) lets you breathe underwater in shallow, calm water with an instructor holding your hand. If you are hooked, an entry-level course takes three or four days.
Safety and rules
Certification
- Portugal: under Law 24/2013, recreational divers need a qualification card from a licensed Portuguese school or a recognised international system; IPDJ, Portugal’s sports institute, lists CMAS, PADI, SSI, SDI, DDI and GUE. Dive centres must be licensed, and only centres, schools and instructors may run try dives.
- Greece: Law 4688/2020 opened up recreational diving, including on historic wrecks, but dives on wrecks older than 50 years must go with an authorised dive centre. Removing, moving or disturbing antiquities on the sea bed is forbidden.
- France and elsewhere: centres accept the main international cards (French centres teach both PADI and FFESSM, the French federation’s system). Bring your card and logbook; after a long break, book a refresher dive first.
Marine reserves and permits
- Corsica: landing, fishing and diving are forbidden inside the Scandola reserve; Punta Muchillina, at its edge, is one of the island’s classic dives.
- Cinque Terre: individual scuba dives are allowed only in zones B and C of the marine protected area, from 1 May to 31 October; authorised centres also run guided dives.
- Cabrera, Mallorca: diving in the national park needs an authorisation from the park, applied for online with each diver’s certification; in practice, go with one of its authorised dive companies.
- Portugal: in the Arrábida marine park, diving is allowed in the partial and complementary protection areas, but organised groups need a permit and the total protection area near Cabo Lagosteiros is closed to divers; Madeira’s IFCN handles dive bookings for its marine protected areas; and the Azores’ Princess Alice Bank is a marine nature reserve where diving needs authorisation.
General safety
Dive within your training: many of the best wrecks lie at about 25–30 metres, deeper than an entry-level card allows. Expect cancellations when the sea is rough, and don’t push a centre to go out. Make sure your travel insurance covers diving to the depth you plan. Most dive trips end with a flight: Divers Alert Network (DAN) recommends waiting at least 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive, 18 hours after several dives or several days of diving, and 24 hours after dives with decompression stops. Emergencies: 112 in the EU, 999 (Coastguard) in the UK.
Where to dive: the best sites by country
Portugal
- Madeira: the Garajau reserve east of Funchal, created in 1986 after local divers asked for it, has rocky bottoms to about 22 m, walls, visibility of more than 20 m and big dusky groupers; Visit Madeira lists seven traditional dive sites along about 7 km of coast. In the Cabo Girão marine park, below the Cabo Girão cliff, the corvette Afonso Cerqueira was sunk in 2018 at about 30 m; off Porto Santo lie the Madeirense (2000) and the corvette General Pereira d’Eça (2016). See our Madeira travel guide.
- Azores: off Ponta Delgada, the Dori, a Liberty ship that took part in the Normandy landings and sank in 1964, is an underwater archaeological park at about 9–20 m. The Vila Franca islet, averaging 12 m with weak currents, suits try dives. From Pico and Faial, full-day trips visit the mobula rays of the Princess Alice Bank, usually July to September. See our Azores guide.
- Mainland: Sesimbra is the base for the Arrábida marine park near Lisbon; the Berlengas off Peniche have granite reefs and caves; and off Portimão, the Ocean Revival park is four former navy ships sunk in 2012–2013, standing at about 30 m. See our Lisbon and Algarve guides.
Spain
- Gran Canaria: the island’s tourist board says divers come for sea beds where currents bring shoals of fish, with water sports possible all year in a sea of about 18–22 °C. Expect rays, groupers and octopus; El Cabrón near Arinaga is a well-known site, and centres in the south and in Las Palmas run try dives and courses. See our Gran Canaria travel guide.
- Mallorca: the Cabrera archipelago, a maritime-terrestrial national park reached by boat from Colònia de Sant Jordi, is the island’s protected diving area, with authorised operators only. See our Mallorca travel guide.
France
- Corsica: Visit Corsica’s ten must-do dives include the wreck of a B-17 bomber off Calvi at 27 m, the grouper site at the Lavezzi islands (20–32 m), Les Cathédrales in the Gulf of Propriano and Punta Muchillina on the edge of Scandola. See our Corsica travel guide.
- Nice: a dive centre at the port, listed by the tourist office, offers try dives, guided dives and PADI or FFESSM courses in the bays of Villefranche and Cap-Ferrat; its 2026 season ran from 6 May to 9 October. See our Nice travel guide.
- Marseille: the Calanques and the Frioul islands are a national park at sea as well as on land; local centres dive along the cliffs. See our Calanques guide.
Italy
- Sicily: the Ustica marine protected area has underwater archaeological trails at about 10–30 m; Italia.it also names the Aeolian Islands, Marettimo in the Egadi, Pantelleria and the Plemmirio reserve near Syracuse. See our Sicily travel guide.
- Cinque Terre: dive in zones B and C of the marine protected area from 1 May to 31 October, on your own or with an authorised centre. See our Cinque Terre guide.
- Amalfi Coast and Naples: boat days from Positano, Amalfi and the islands reach clear coves and grottoes; see our Amalfi Coast and Naples guides.
Greece
- Santorini: Visit Greece names Cape Trypiti, the Adiavati reef and the shipwreck off Palea Kameni in the caldera, with dive centres at Ammoudi and Perissa. See our Santorini travel guide.
- Kefalonia: divers head to Agia Efimia and Skala, where they can see the wreck of the British submarine Perseus. See our Kefalonia travel guide.
- Rhodes: Ixia and Kallithea have diving and water-sports facilities. See our Rhodes travel guide.
- Zakynthos: the caves and reefs of the west coast and Keri; in the marine park, boats keep to 6 knots and divers must respect the turtle rules. See our Zakynthos travel guide.
United Kingdom
- Cornwall: the Manacles, an offshore reef of more than a square mile near Falmouth, is one of Britain’s most famous dive sites, with dozens of wrecks including the SS Mohegan; Coverack’s slipway gives access. Falmouth’s dive centres run boat trips. The water is cold even in summer, so most divers wear a drysuit or thick semi-dry. See our Cornwall travel guide.
When to go: seasons and water temperature
Sea temperatures are surface values: 10-year monthly averages from satellite and in-situ data (seatemperature.info), except Madeira, where the figures are official 2024 readings at Funchal’s Pontinha pier (DREM, from IPMA data). All as of October 2026.
| Region | Best months | Sea temperature (coldest–warmest month) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madeira and Porto Santo | All year; Jun–Oct warmest | 19.3 °C (Mar–Apr) to 23.6 °C (Aug) | Garajau groupers, corvette wrecks |
| Azores (São Miguel, Faial, Pico) | Jun–Oct; mobulas Jul–Sep | Ponta Delgada 16.2 °C (Mar) to 23.3 °C (Aug) | Dori wreck, Princess Alice Bank |
| Sesimbra and Arrábida | Jun–Oct | 14.9 °C (Feb–Mar) to 18.9 °C (Sep) | Marine park reefs |
| Algarve (Portimão) | Jun–Oct | 15.5 °C (Mar) to 19.9 °C (Sep–Oct) | Ocean Revival wrecks |
| Gran Canaria | All year | Las Palmas 18.9 °C (Mar) to 23.4 °C (Sep) | Shoals, rays, El Cabrón |
| Mallorca (Palma) | Jun–Oct | 14.3 °C (Feb) to 27.1 °C (Aug) | Cabrera national park |
| Nice | May–Oct | 13.7 °C (Feb) to 25.4 °C (Aug) | Villefranche and Cap-Ferrat |
| Corsica (Ajaccio) | Jun–Oct | 13.7 °C (Feb) to 25.4 °C (Aug) | B-17 wreck, Lavezzi groupers |
| Cinque Terre (Monterosso) | May–Oct | 13.6 °C (Feb) to 25.8 °C (Aug) | Marine park zones B and C |
| Sicily (Palermo) | Jun–Sep | 14.5 °C (Feb) to 27.4 °C (Aug) | Ustica archaeological trails |
| Santorini (Fira) | Jun–Oct | 16.5 °C (Feb–Mar) to 25.2 °C (Aug) | Caldera wreck and reefs |
| Zakynthos and Kefalonia | Jun–Oct | Zakynthos 15.7 °C (Mar) to 26.7 °C (Aug) | Perseus submarine, caves |
| Rhodes | Jun–Oct | 17.1 °C (Mar) to 28.2 °C (Aug) | Ixia and Kallithea |
| Cornwall (Newquay) | Jun–Sep | 9.4 °C (Feb–Mar) to 16.6 °C (Aug) | The Manacles wrecks |
September and October are a good compromise almost everywhere: the warmest water of the year, calmer seas before the autumn storms and fewer divers than in August. In winter, Madeira and the Canary Islands are the best choices.
How to choose a dive centre, and what to pack
Choose a centre that holds the licences and park permits for where you want to dive: in Portugal, ask for its Law 24/2013 licence and check it in Turismo de Portugal’s free RNAAT public search; for Cabrera, the Arrábida park, the Princess Alice Bank and Greek wrecks older than 50 years, only authorised operators can take you. Ask about group size, the guide-to-diver ratio, the boat ride and what happens if the sea is too rough. Book ahead in July and August, especially for the Lavezzi islands, Ustica and the Azores mobula trips, and keep a spare day in case of cancellations.
What to pack
- Dry bags and phone pouchesDive boats are wet; keep phone, documents and a towel dry between dives.
- Fleeces and warm layersA warm layer or windproof after a dive stops you chilling on the boat ride back.
Dive centres rent full equipment, so the essentials to bring are your certification card, logbook and, if you have them, your own mask and dive computer. Ask what wetsuit thickness the centre provides: a 5 mm suit is comfortable on the Mediterranean in summer, a 7 mm or semi-dry suits the Portuguese mainland and the Azores most of the year, and a drysuit is usual in Cornwall. Pack a dry bag for the boat, a warm layer and a windproof jacket for the ride back, a towel or changing poncho, and seasickness tablets if you need them.
Diving in Europe: questions and answers
Where is the best scuba diving in southern Europe?
For big fish and clear water: Corsica’s Lavezzi islands and Madeira’s Garajau reserve, both famous for groupers. For wrecks: Madeira, the Azores, Portimão, Calvi, Kefalonia and Cornwall’s Manacles. For history: Ustica’s archaeological trails. For warm water in winter: Gran Canaria and Madeira.
Do I need a certification to dive in Europe?
Yes, for any dive outside a supervised try dive. Portugal recognises cards from CMAS, PADI, SSI, SDI, DDI and GUE, and centres across the Mediterranean accept the main international agencies. Without a card, book a try dive with a licensed centre.
Can I dive in Greece now?
Yes. Since Law 4688/2020, recreational divers can visit far more of Greece’s sea bed, including historic wrecks, but dives on wrecks older than 50 years must be with an authorised dive centre, and you must never touch, move or take antiquities.
Can I dive in the Scandola reserve in Corsica?
No. Landing, fishing and diving are forbidden inside the reserve. Dive at Punta Muchillina on its edge, or at the Lavezzi islands, Calvi and Propriano instead.
When can I dive in the Cinque Terre?
Individual scuba dives are allowed in zones B and C of the marine protected area from 1 May to 31 October, and authorised centres run guided dives in the same season.
When is the best time to see mobula rays in the Azores?
Usually July to September, on full-day boat trips from Pico and Faial to the Princess Alice Bank. It is a marine nature reserve, so dive only with an operator that holds the authorisation.
Can I dive in the UK?
Yes. Cornwall’s Manacles reef near Falmouth is one of Britain’s best-known dive sites, with dozens of wrecks. The water is about 16–17 °C at best in late summer, so most divers wear a drysuit.
How cold is the water for diving?
At the surface, from about 13–15 °C in late winter to 25–28 °C in August on the Mediterranean, and 14–19 °C on the Portuguese mainland through the year. Madeira and the Canaries stay at about 19–24 °C. It is cooler at depth, so wear a thicker suit than you think.
Can I fly home the day after diving?
Usually, if you plan it. DAN recommends at least 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive, 18 hours after several dives or days of diving, and 24 hours after decompression dives. Keep your last dive day free of early flights.
More ideas for your trip: snorkelling, boat trips and the best beaches.
Sources and last review
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 4 October 2026. Portuguese certification rules come from Law 24/2013 and IPDJ; Madeira’s reserves, wrecks and dive bookings from IFCN and Visit Madeira; the Arrábida park from its information pages; the Berlengas from ICNF; the Dori and Vila Franca from the Azores tourism and diving sites; the Princess Alice Bank from Regional Legislative Decree 14/2024/A; the Ocean Revival wrecks from Portuguese press; Gran Canaria from its tourist board; Cabrera permits from the Balearic government; Corsica dives and Scandola from Visit Corsica; Nice from Explore Nice Côte d’Azur; the Cinque Terre from the Cinque Terre National Park; Ustica and Sicily from Italia.it; Greek sites from Visit Greece; Greece’s 2020 diving law from Greek tourism press; the Manacles from Visit Cornwall’s dive guide; flying after diving from Divers Alert Network; sea temperatures from seatemperature.info’s 10-year averages and, for Madeira, DREM from IPMA data. Rules and permits change, so check with the official sites and your dive centre before you go.