Where to learn diving
Best countries for PADI Open Water certification — calm shallow reefs, year-round warm water, beginner-friendly operators.
Top countries for your first dive course
Ranking factors: number of beginner-friendly spots, average underwater visibility, water temperature, and entry depth — all read from real spot data, not opinion.
- #1
Italy
5m avg viz · 12°C+ water
5 beginner spots74 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #2
Cyprus
21m max depth
5 beginner spots20 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #3
Indonesia
18m avg viz · 26°C+ water
3 beginner spots323 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #4
Maldives
24m avg viz · 26°C+ water
2 beginner spots156 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #5
Mexico
22m avg viz · 24°C+ water
2 beginner spots51 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #6
Cape Verde
24m avg viz · 22°C+ water
1 beginner spot7 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #7
United States
19m avg viz · 17°C+ water
1 beginner spot87 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #8
France
18m avg viz · 14°C+ water
1 beginner spot220 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #9
Brazil
22°C+ water · 39m max depth
1 beginner spot13 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #10
Greece
13°C+ water · 24m max depth
1 beginner spot19 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #11
French Polynesia
30m avg viz · 24°C+ water
9 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #12
Palau
25m avg viz · 26°C+ water
7 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #13
Malta
25m avg viz · 13°C+ water
40 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #14
Egypt
24m avg viz · 21°C+ water
258 dive spots totalSee dive schools →
- #15
Philippines
23m avg viz · 26°C+ water
119 dive spots totalSee dive schools →