In the age of the internet, finding exciting diving spots has become much easier. Websites and social media are full of impressive photos and descriptions, but the internet is not the only source of information. Divers still value recommendations and experiences from fellow divers, they join diving center programs, and consult guidebooks with carefully selected locations and wrecks. Diving clubs also play an important role in choosing destinations, often making the travel decision easier with their suggestions.
Some divers prefer hidden or lesser-known locations – they dive in rivers and lakes without diving centers, exploring more peaceful places. Others return multiple times to the same wrecks, always discovering something new. My diving buddy Matjaž and I spent several summers doing two dives each on the wreck of Peltastis, commonly known as “the Greek”. The first was always a late-afternoon dive, followed by a night dive after Vlado refilled our tanks.
So, how do you find interesting sites and dives? Here are a few ways!
📚 BOOKS
The market offers many guides with descriptions and stunning photographs of diving destinations – from local areas to worldwide “best of” collections. For the Adriatic, I have three outstanding titles on my shelf.
The first is Treasure of the Adriatic, a legendary collection of wrecks by Danijel Frka and Jasen Mesić. The 2012 reprint features detailed descriptions of 56 wrecks, along with diagrams, photos, and historical data. A top recommendation for fans of wreck diving.
Also notable is Dive into Croatia by Ivana Ostoić, which provides essential information and sketches for 85 locations, plus tips on dive centers, weather, and regulations.
The third book, Diving in Croatia by Miro Andrić, features 116 dive sites and comes with a DVD offering additional useful insights.
Collection of Books
🌐 SOCIAL MEDIA
Diver profiles, groups, and dive centers on social media often feature galleries of current locations, regularly updated throughout the season. By joining these communities, you’ll easily find inspiration for upcoming dives and connect with fellow enthusiasts who share your passion.
And of course – don’t forget to share your own photos from the most exciting dive spots. Deal?
🤿 DIVING CLUBS
Joining a diving club is a great way to discover new sites. Well-organized clubs hold annual trips and diving camps, introducing members to different areas or taking them on island-hopping dive safaris. The offerings are diverse – from river and sea clean-ups to diving in the Adriatic, as well as trips abroad to places like Egypt, France, or Italy. Club members are a valuable source of information, so it’s worth following their websites and social channels.
🛥️ DIVE SHOWS
At shows like boot Düsseldorf (www.boot.com), diving centers from all over the world often fill nearly an entire exhibition hall. These events are a unique opportunity to explore destinations for dive vacations – whether it’s diving with whale sharks, discovering wrecks in Scapa Flow, exploring the fauna of the Galápagos Islands, or visiting the world’s deepest pool. You’ll get first-hand information – and often enjoy promotional discounts when booking.
🌴 VACATION
Divers who dedicate their entire season to diving usually select their locations carefully before departure. Others, who dive occasionally during vacation, often go with what the local dive center offers and embrace the surprises. Still, true divers usually explore the options in advance and pack their essential gear – just in case.
Location: Bizjak
✅ FOUND A LOCATION — WHAT NOW?
Let’s now look at some of the key, closely connected factors that influence your choice of diving destination. The main trio: budget, time, and certification level. Let’s break down why choosing an interesting location alone isn’t enough.
- BUDGET
Diving in local rivers or lakes doesn’t require major spending. But traveling abroad brings transport costs and dive center fees. The farther the destination, the more it will cost — think fuel, tolls, ferries, accommodation, and food. Exotic spots often mean flights, logistics, and gear rental — so plan accordingly.
- TIME
Few dives take less than a full day. You might manage if diving nearby, but most dives require more time. Divers usually prefer to take two days off over a weekend for diving from a center. If you go on a diving safari along the Adriatic for three, four, or more days, you can plan up to three dives per day. In tropical regions, that number often climbs to four or even five dives a day. These trips typically last seven, ten, or fourteen days — shorter stays rarely justify the travel to places like Egypt, the Philippines, the Maldives, or Mauritius.
- CERTIFICATION LEVEL
Most dive sites clearly specify the certification required. Due to depth, currents, visibility, or local rules, some sites aren’t accessible if you’ve only completed the basic OWD course. It’s recommended to take the AOWD (Advanced Open Water Diver) course, with specialties like night and deep diving, navigation, nitrox, and Stress & Rescue. This opens up access to a vast number of attractive dive sites around the world.
🚫 NO DIVE — AND NO SELFIE — IS WORTH THE RISK
When posting on social media, always use common sense. Photos of deep wrecks or corals can be so captivating that you might feel tempted to dive beyond your skill level — and that desire for the perfect shot could come at a serious cost.
If your maximum certified depth is 40 meters, forget everything deeper! Of course, you can always enroll in a technical diving course and then add wrecks at 50, 60, or more meters to your wish list.
Caution is also necessary in rivers and lakes, where dangers include whirlpools, strong currents, submerged branches and trees, unexploded war remnants, and very low visibility. Rivers offer a thrilling and completely new diving dimension — but only if you thoroughly research the location and ensure it’s safe.
Good luck!
Photos: Matej Ogorevc, Boštjan Bizjak, archive
Matej Ogorevc, SSI Diving Instructor, active since 1993. Also certified to work with children through the Scuba Rangers program.
