Mediterranean yacht charters offer the opportunity to enjoy the splendid scenery, culinary delights and ancient cities of Europe. But they can also transport you to incredible underwater destinations, where a whole world beneath the waves is waiting to be explored. Discover our list of the 10 best dive sites in the Mediterranean, and don’t hesitate to contact us to integrate diving into your next charter with ATI Yachts. We have yachts equipped with the latest diving equipment, as well as experienced guides and instructors, so that everyone can discover the beauty and tranquillity of the underwater world.
Medes Islands, Spain
This protected marine reserve, located off the coast near Girona, is one of the most beautiful dive sites in the Mediterranean, and one of the richest in biodiversity in Europe. Posidonia meadows and tunnel-filled caves are home to breeding groupers, schools of sardines, anchovies, eagle rays, barracudas and rock fish. Lucky divers might even catch a glimpse of a dolphin or sunfish, and the enormous Dolphin Grotto is a must-see for its chimneys and windows.
Malta and Comino
In the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta is one of Europe’s most exceptional diving destinations. In Gozo, its famous Blue Hole and Azure Window are emblematic, the rock formations creating iridescent colors, adventure-filled passages and giant shoals of bream and damselfish. However, wreck dives also abound, with the German patrol boat P29 and the British bomber Blenheim topping the list. Marine life in Malta and Gozo is flourishing, with octopus, barracuda, sharks, dolphins and turtles often spotted.
Wreck of the MS Zenobia, Cyprus
The most famous wreck dive in the Mediterranean is that of the MS Zenobia, a 178-metre ferry which sank near Larnaca on its maiden voyage in 1980. Its large size means it’s suitable for beginners and experienced divers alike, with plenty to see and explore. Moray eels have taken up residence among the cars, trucks and cargo that remain on the wreck, and experienced divers can descend to 42 meters where it rests on the seabed.
Secca della Colombara, Ustica, Italy
Divers have the best of all underwater worlds at this quiet dive site off the beautiful island of Ustica in Italy. There are steep walls adorned with brightly colored corals and sponges, caves filled with nudibranchs, gorgonians and crustaceans, and even several shipwrecks. For an excellent shallow dive, explore the 74-metre vessel that sank in 2005 and lies at a depth of 20 metres. Known as the “Black Pearl” for its volcanic rocks, Ustica is undoubtedly one of the best diving destinations in the Mediterranean.
Kas, Turkey
Turkey’s warm, clear waters – we’re talking visibility of up to 40 meters – are fast becoming one of the Mediterranean’s hottest diving destinations. In Kas, on the Aegean coast, reefs, drop-offs, caves and wrecks are home to loggerhead turtles, moray eels, octopus, rays and nudibranchs. Discover everything from 2,000-year-old Roman amphorae to light aircraft, Ottoman shipwrecks and numerous walls and peaks teeming with fish.
Premuda, Croatia
Premuda, in the Croatian Adriatic Sea, offers one of the country’s best diving sites: the cathedral, or “Katedrala”. A system of interconnected caves at a depth of 10 to 30 meters is illuminated like the stained glass windows of a cathedral when light penetrates through the ceilings. Octopus, spider crabs, rainbow wrasse and colorful sponges can all be spotted here. Apart from the caves, there are some fascinating shipwrecks from the two world wars to explore.
Sardinia, Italy
Diving in Sardinia’s sparkling waters reveals immense cliffs offering adventure-filled dives. On the island’s east coast, you’ll find caves, tunnels and drop-offs alongside gentle shore dives and incredible historic wrecks. Grotta del Nereo is one of the region’s most famous dives, the vast series of caves and tunnels home to lobsters, octopus, red coral, nudibranchs and the world’s largest species of mussel. Divers can discover abundant marine life in the protected Maddalena archipelago and Lavezzi Marine Park, or meet the colony of 50 giant groupers at Grouper Reef.
Chios, Greece
One of the highest-rated diving destinations in Greece and Europe is located in the waters around the island of Chios, in the Aegean Sea. Here, divers will find a multitude of underwater wonders, from historic wrecks to caverns and walls. The Great Wall is one of Chios’ most popular dive sites, with the sheer cliffs alive with colorful coral and marine life. Huge schools of wrasse, perch and tuna glisten in the sun, and turtles are occasionally spotted. For the luckiest divers, the boat ride to the dive sites may even reveal a passing humpback whale.
Costa del Sol, Spain
The Atlantic flows into the Mediterranean here, bringing with it nutrients and thriving marine life. Experienced divers can head for Tarifa, where the ocean meets the sea in a whirlpool of currents, while the Costa Tropical, home to Europe’s first marine park, is a paradise of warm waters and visibility of up to 30 meters. Expect to see dolphins and nudibranchs, and everything in between.
