National Parks Dives: the 14 Best on Earth

1.Try Scuba Diving in a Beautiful Nature Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 51 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $192Our pick

Spend about three and a half hours learning basic scuba skills with the AquaSub team, then explore Cala Delta Bay from shore at a maximum depth of 6 meters. Bruno and the instructors provide gear, transport, insurance, and calm guidance for first-timers. The small group size helps, though underwater visibility can vary.

“Very friendly and competent - we will return! Thks so much. Next time we will book for padi certoficate and dive again”

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2.Freedive trip Koh Kood or Koh Rang National Park ( start at Ko Kut)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $38Best value

Start at Bang Bao Beach on Ko Kut for a six-hour boat day with three water stops. You can snorkel, freedive, or join scuba sessions while friends and family share the same boat. Crew members named in the trip details include Manu, Jeffrey, Danny, Taky, Garance, Kevin, Lou, and Makay.

“Booked 3 dives with them, really well organised. The wreck diving was a lot of fun can only recommend to do it here.”

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3.Calanques National Park Snorkel and Scuba Dive

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 27 reviews · 6h 30m · from $258

Spend nearly seven hours at Marseille’s Port de la Pointe Rouge and the Calanques National Park. After a 20 to 30 minute boat ride, you’ll snorkel independently in a secure area, then learn scuba skills with a personal instructor to a maximum of 18 feet. English and French instruction, equipment, park fees, and a certificate are included.

“La journée était super . Merci encore à l’équipe d’Aquadomia pour leurs gentillesse et leurs professionnalisme. Clémentine c’est occuper de moi pour la plonger . Elle a était super. Merci à Nathan pour l’encadrement de mon copain qui lui aussi a beaucoup apprécier sa journée . On oublie pas Oliver et les autres personnes présente sur le bateau avec nous . Je recommande”

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4.Double dive in the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area, for patents.

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $162

Spend about four hours on a small boat in Sardinia’s Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area, with two guided scuba sessions near Isola dei Cavoli. Roberto, Patrizia, Alberto, and other SubAquaDive staff offer calm supervision, free nitrox for certified divers, snacks, drinks, and optional rental gear. Pickup is free within 5 km.

“WOW! What a wonderful dive operation Alberto runs. I have dived all over the world and this shop is the best!! Friendly, professional, knowledgeable, passionate and accommodating staff in the most spectacular marine park in Europe. I had the immense pleasure of diving and snorkelling with Subaquaservice for 4 days and it was beyond expectations. My daughter is 6 and had her first introduction to snorkelling here. She was completely looked after from start to finish and got to see a beautiful eco system. She is hooked and has been in the water all week since then. For my dives I had the pleasure of being guided by a local…”

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5.Scuba Diving Lesson and Abades Protected Area Dive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 3 hours · from $88

At Tenerife’s Abades protected area, you’ll receive a 30-minute safety briefing, full scuba gear, and close guidance from an English or Spanish-speaking instructor. Beginners can practice in shallow water before reaching 10 meters. Instructors Pedro and Hugo have helped first-timers spot turtles, rays, octopi, and colorful fish.

“Superbe expérience ! Nous étions novices en plongée et nous avons adoré ! Nous avons apprécié la qualité des explications avant d’aller à l’eau et la gentillesse de l’instructeur ! Merci à Pedro qui a su nous mettre en confiance et nous guider tout au long de l’activité ! Nous avons pu voir de nombreux poissons et même une tortue venue brouter dans les herbiers ! Je recommande vivement !”

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6.Tayrona National Park: Scuba Diving Tour for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 4 hours · from $138

Meet your instructor at Santa Marta’s downtown marina for a four-hour beginner scuba session in Tayrona National Park. You’ll learn basic gear use, hand signals, and underwater skills in calm water with an English- or Spanish-speaking PADI professional. The price includes transport by boat, equipment, snacks, refreshments, and photos and videos.

“El guía una excelente persona y maestro, la actividad, la movilidad y el servicio por parte de Elkinventura 10/10. Muy recomendable, la sazón del break también estuvo muy buena.”

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7.L’Escala: Introductory diving in the Montgri Nature Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 14 reviews · 3 hours · from $106

Meet Grassi Sub in L’Escala for a short safety lesson, boat ride, and a 20-minute first underwater session in the Montgrí Natural Park. Each participant has a personal instructor in the water. Raoul and the multilingual team provide guidance, equipment, and time to swim or snorkel afterward.

“great team. if you are over 60 bring a doctor's permission with you.. unfortunately not on their website. I am 80 so although they tried to get a note for me on the day not possible. But to be fair noone over the the age of 60 had wanted to dive with them before. but still had a great experience snorkelling. rest of my family loved the diving.”

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8.Double dive in the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $180

Meet Barracuda at 9:00 am in Massa Lubrense for two guided underwater outings in the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area. A certified park instructor leads the way, with a surface break overlooking Capri. Expect wall formations, rocky pinnacles, a small cave, octopus, grouper, fireworms, and barracuda when conditions allow. A valid license is required.

“Had an amazing time with Fabiana and the team, went diving with some friends in front of Baia di Ieranto. Felt safe, had fun and even saw an octopus in its cave!”

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9.Diving baptism with cylinders (Introdive) at the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $97

You’ll learn basic scuba skills with a personal instructor, then make a first descent to about 5 meters in the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area. Pickup, equipment, water, and snacks are included. Guides named in guest feedback include Luana, Alberto, Giulia, Luca, and Tio.

“What a pleasure to discover Sardinia underwater and get back to the taste of diving.”

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10.1 single dive in the Capo Carbonara marine protected area. For patented.

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $71

Join SubAquaDive Service in Villasimius for a four-hour scuba outing in Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area. A qualified guide leads one underwater session, with Nitrox for certified divers, snacks, drinks, and the protected-area fee included. Equipment rental costs €20, and guides may include Alberto, Lucio, Lorenzo, Julia, or Alvaro.

“Calm instructors checking on divers great dive brief good company to dive with”

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11.Full-Day Snorkeling and Guided Dive in the Calanques National Park from Marseille

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $300

From Pointe Rouge, Vince and his team take you by fast inflatable boat to the Calanques National Park for guided snorkeling and a 30 to 60 minute scuba session. You’ll explore rocky coves, see protected marine life, and learn at your own pace. Certified participants may descend to 20 meters.

“Our guide (and company owner) Vince was fantastic, very friendly and helpful and took time to explain everything we were doing. He clearly loves his job and “office” out on the water! We didn’t realize that the tour was more intended for beginner scuba divers, but we were all certified and signed up because we wanted to get a dive in, and they changed the day’s schedule to accommodate. The water was definitely colder than we are used to, but the wet suits did their job and kept us pretty warm. The scenery was beautiful and the boat ride to/from the snorkeling/dive site was quite enjoyable. My son said it…”

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12.Garajau National Park Dive from Funchal for Certified Divers

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · from $51

From Madeira Divepoint at Hotel Carlton in Funchal, you take a short boat ride east to Garajau Partial Nature Reserve for a guided scuba outing. Certified divers need at least 10 logged dives and one dive within the past year. Expect abundant fish, dusky groupers, a maximum group of 12, and about two and a half hours door to door.

“Price deceiving. apart from the fine print of Nat Park entrance Fee (3€) Rental equipment available for a fee (19€) i ended up paying 29€ for some unknown reason. they did not even give me boots and my feet were freezing.”

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13.Package of 4 single dives to the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $198

Spend four single underwater sessions exploring different sites in the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area near Villasimius. Choose morning or afternoon departures, spread sessions across several days, and use the included guide, snacks, drinks, protected-area fee, and pickup within 10 kilometers. Equipment rental costs extra.

“A Journey Through the Northern Areas of Pakistan: A Traveler’s Dream”

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14.Package of 2 double dives in the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · from $266

You’ll make two guided scuba descents in the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area, with morning or afternoon departures, a maximum of 12 people, snacks, drinks, and marine park fees included. Guides such as Elena and Alberto have helped guests feel safe after time away from scuba. Equipment rental costs €38 extra.

“Diving molto professionale! Siamo rimasti piacevolmente colpiti dall'accoglienza e dalla professionalità di Alberto e del team. Se cercate un Diving dove fare immersioni in sicurezza e non dovervi preoccupare di nulla se non di divertirvi fa al cRead more”

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