WHY CYPRUS IS THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN SCUBA DIVING IN EUROPE

Starting your Open Water Diver Course is a big decision. Who knows? it might be life changing, if you fall in love with diving after your first underwater adventure. Needless to say, finding the right place – both location and dive shop – to do this first step is very important.

Today let’s focus on location. I will try to explain why certain aspects of the place where you learn to dive are important. I hope that after reading this post, you will agree with me that Cyprus is the best place to learn scuba diving.

CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERS

Amongst factors that stress out fresh divers, murky waters are on the top of the list. Fortunately, most of the year water in Cyprus is not only calm, but crystal clear, making it an excellent choice for nervous novices. It provides visibility reaching 30, or even 40 meters. Don’t believe me? Just look at the picture below. This turquoise simply invites you to jump in and explore what’s underneath the surface!

EASY WALK –IN DIVE SITES

As much as experienced divers love diving from the boat, it is understandable that new divers may find it a bit intimidating. Jumping into the unknown waters sounds a bit scary at the very beginning. Whoever visited Cyprus knows that beautiful bays scattered along its coast offer very peaceful conditions for swimming, snorkeling and diving.

Most bays provide easy water access, where from the very start you see what awaits you further. Green Bay in Protaras is the perfect example of that. Shallow part of this easy dive site is almost like a pool – what better place to learn diving. Pool with sea water and interesting fish to see!

PERFECT CLIMATE – WARM WATER

If you’re thinking about getting your diving certification, you need to know that initial part of the course involves spending considerable amount of time in shallow waters learning new skills. Exciting as it is to acquire new abilities, you may find that after an hour or two you will feel cold. If you’re chilly person, like myself, do your training in Cyprus. From July till October water temperature ranges from 26°C to even 30°C.

Isn’t it better to focus on honing your skills than on chattering of your teeth. Undoubtedly, warmest sea temperature in whole Mediterranean region is one of many reasons why Cyprus is the best place to learn scuba diving in Europe.

AWESOME THINGS TO SEE UNDERWATER

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love turtles. They are cute, beautiful and peaceful animals.

East coast of Cyprus offers unique opportunity to enjoy their company even from your first diving experience. No doubt the most important thing during Open Water Diver Course is learning new skills. But what better reward for completing confined water training, than hanging out with green turtles in clear waters of Green Bay.

Turtles are undoubtedly the biggest attraction for fresh divers, but it’s not only them. Colorful sponges scattered among magnificent rock formations comprise the majority of underwater landscape of Cyprus. Some dive sites located in Cape Grecko National Park provide equally beautiful views on the surface as underwater. Octopuses, Cuttlefish, Sea Horses, Moray Eels and variety of other fish are common on most dive sites in eastern Cyprus.

You have best chance to meet the turtles if you come to Cyprus from July to October.

GREAT VACATION DESTINATION

Ok, so diving in Cyprus is very cool, but is there anything else to do here?  No matter were your interests lay, you will find something interesting for yourself on the Island of Aphrodite!

If you’re into history and monuments, you couldn’t pick a better place to come. This tiny island is packed with world heritage sites from ancient city of Paphos, through Troodos region to Famagusta with it’s complicated past.

If outdoor activities are your thing, Cape Grecko National Park offers fantastic hiking trails. Adrenaline junkies love plunging from the rocks and cliffs into the turquoise water to take a break from the heat of the day. You can rent a bogey car and drive from one awesome bay to the other, looking for favorite spot to swim or snorkel.

Beach lovers couldn’t be happier here. With over 60 “Blue Flag” beaches Cyprus definitely stands out amongst Mediterranean resorts. Famous Nissi Beach in party capital Agya Napa or breathtaking Konnos Bay will provide you with numerous attractions and unforgettable memories. If you prefer more laid-back places you will easily find tiny beaches where mostly local people hang out. Clean sand, mesmerizing turquoise water, colorful bougainvillea flowers in contrast with white cliffs – your holidays pictures will look like an ad from tour operator magazine.

There’s also something very special awaiting in Cyprus for foodies..

WORLD-FAMOUS CYPRUS CUISINE

It’s only natural that water activities make you super hungry. Diving is no different. After few hours of training in the water you will certainly dream of a hearty meal. If you choose Cyprus for your diving training destination, you won’t be disappointed in culinary aspect of your stay. Cypriot cuisine come from Mediterranean cooking culture, however proximity of Middle East, Turkey and Greece had a big influence on both ingredients being used and preparation methods.

Halloumi cheese, sweet Commandoria wine, Koupepia (stuffed vine leaves) and strong, sweet Cyprus coffee are only few on the long list of must-try delicacies. Every dinner on the island can be described as a tiny feast. If you’d like to learn more about what delights await you in Cypriot tavernas check out this link.

VERY SAFE

Safety in certainly an important aspect when choosing your travel destination nowadays. Cyprus is proud to be considered one of the safest countries in Europe. Crime rate is statistically very low here and most local people are very friendly and hospitable towards visitors.

When to go?

It is possible to dive in Cyprus all year long, however best conditions start from April until November. The water gets nice and warm from June. If you love warm water, but you’re not fun of crowds or heat, come in October.

We would love to hear from you!

Do you have any questions about choosing your Open Water Diver Course location? Maybe you already did your course and you’d like to share your experience? What are, in your opinion, important aspects to consider?

I hope you enjoyed reading ‘Why Cyprus is the best place to learn scuba diving’. Stay tuned for the second part of this post, where we’ll talk about how to choose the dive shop to take your diving course with.

Important note: during COVID-19 there are restrictions on travel. Check the latest guidance before departure, and always follow local health advice.