Most Epic Caribbean Diving Destinations for New Divers

A world of underwater adventure awaits you as a newly-certified diver. Although you have some depth restrictions, there are still hundreds of exciting dive sites to explore. With its calm, clear waters and relatively shallow basin, the Caribbean Sea is a top dive destination for new divers. With over 7,000 islands, choosing where to go can be overwhelming! We have narrowed it down to five of the best Caribbean diving destinations for beginners. With their shallow dive sites, calm dive conditions, and ease of accessibility, they are perfect for your next dive vacation.

1. Ambergris Caye, Belize.

This vibrant island is home to some of the best diving in Belize for new divers. Thanks to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, dozens of well-preserved dive sites sit just offshore from Ambergris Caye.

These shallow dive sites are home to colorful reefs filled with marine life.

Visit these fantastic Ambergris Caye dive sites:

2. Bonaire.

Bonaire is one of the best Caribbean diving destinations for new divers because it is home to the highest concentration of easily-accessible dive sites in the world.

With over fifty shore diving sites, Bonaire is rightly known as the shore diving capital of the world. With so many dive sites just offshore, you are spoiled for choice when you go diving in Bonaire.

All you need to do is throw on your gear, walk to the water from the car, and jump in! Shallow, clear, warm reef diving is just a few steps away.

Check out these top Bonaire dive sites:

READ MORE: SCUBA GEAR ESSENTIALS FOR NEW DIVERS.

3. Barbados.

Barbados is known for having some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, washed by cyan waters full of life. This small, colorful island is also home to some of the shallowest reefs in the Caribbean, making it a prime dive destination for new divers.

A high concentration of sea horses and fish life mixed with great food and friendly locals makes Barbados a top choice for Caribbean diving.

When diving in Barbados, explore these popular dive sites:

4. Roatan, Honduras.

Just off the coast of Central America, the tiny island of Roatan is a diver’s paradise. The world’s second-largest barrier reef system sits just a few hundred feet off this small Honduras island.

Fantastic diving conditions, with 50-100 feet (15 to 30 meters) of visibility and 80 °F (26 °C) water year-round, let you leave that thick wetsuit at home.

With numerous shallow dive sites and exciting marine life encounters, Roatan diving is an excellent choice for beginners.

Check out these top Roatan dive sites for new divers:

READ MORE: DIVE SAFETY – 15 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR NEW DIVERS.

5. The Florida Keys, USA.

Thanks to the shallow waters surrounding the Florida Keys and easy access from the mainland of the United States, this area has become one of the best places for newly certified divers to go scuba diving in Florida.

From Key Largo all the way south to Key West, the Florida Keys islands are bursting with shallow, warm, clear-water dive sites filled with amazing marine life. It is a perfect place to experience the wonders of Caribbean diving.

New divers from overseas can get to the Keys quickly via the Miami International Airport and then rent a car to explore throughout the Keys.

With miles and miles of coastline to dive from, there are countless places to go diving!

Make sure you visit these top Florida Keys dive sites for beginners:

Are you ready for a Caribbean diving adventure?

You may think having a shallower depth restriction than some of your dive buddies will make you miss out on all the "good" diving, but visiting the Caribbean will make you think otherwise.

The Caribbean has so many fantastic dive destinations for Open Water divers, it is going to be challenging to choose just one.

By picking one from our list of the top five Caribbean diving destinations for new divers, you will not be disappointed!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DIVING IN THE CARIBBEAN.