Traveling the world and ticking a dream destination off the bucket list sounds exciting. But did you know that 71% of the world is underwater? Even if you visit every country in the world, you’ll only see 29% of the planet!

Underwater, you’ll be able to see some shipwrecks and ancient ruins up close, watch colorful fish, sharks and other creatures in their natural environment. Diving can open a whole new world for you, so I think you should at least give it a go. Careful though, you might want to dive more and more…

Why You Should Try Scuba Diving on Your Travels

I had my first diving experience in Safaga in Egypt on my first solo trip back in 2007. I had no idea what to expect from diving, but I immediately fell in love with it once I jumped into the water. It was like jumping into a movie straight out of National Geographic seeing fish up close, just that this time – I was actually seeing them in real life and not on a TV screen.

I dived on my trip to Fiji once (sadly didn’t see any sharks) and in Eilat in Israel among dolphins. Needless to say, floating around wild and free dolphins was absolutely unbelievable!

Most of the time, however, I snorkeled instead of diving, as I didn’t have a PADI Open Water certification. I really regretted not being an advanced diver in Iceland, because even though I had a wonderful experience snorkeling in Silfra, diving lower into the track would have been way more fun!

What is PADI?

If you think diving, you think (or should think) – PADI. PADI stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors and it’s the world’s leading diver training organization. They have nearly 6,500 dive centers and resorts, and more than 135,000 professional members worldwide. Their dive shops actively promote underwater environmental awareness through education and experiences.

Where to Find Scuba Diving Lessons?

You can find scuba diving lessons at PADI (The Professional Association of Diving Instructors) dive shop near you, as there are many located around the world. But if you want to combine your passion for travel with diving, you don’t need to stick to lessons close to your home if you don’t want to.

That said, scuba diving doesn’t have to be expensive and prices vary per location. It’s much cheaper to go diving in Honduras, Thailand or Mexico, than the US for instance.

Do You Need Scuba Diving Gear?

Scuba is a gear-intensive sport, but you really only need three basic items to start lessons – mask, fins and snorkel. Most things like wetsuits, dive computers and buoyancy compensator devices (BCD) can be rented from a local dive shop. Once you get into diving, you might want to eventually purchase your own gear.