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Liveaboard Diving Europe

Liveaboard Diving Europe - blue shark

Liveaboard diving is a great way to explore the underwater world of Europe. Here are some of the top destinations for liveaboard diving in Europe:

  1. Red Sea: While technically not in Europe, the Red Sea is a popular destination for European divers. Liveaboard trips depart from Egypt and explore the vibrant reefs and wrecks of the Red Sea.
  2. Azores: The Azores are a remote archipelago off the coast of Portugal offers some of the best diving in Europe, with the chance to see everything from manta rays to whale sharks.
  3. Malta: The clear waters around Malta are home to an array of wrecks and colorful marine life. Liveaboard trips from Malta can also visit nearby Gozo and Comino.
  4. Croatia: The Adriatic Sea around Croatia is known for its clear water, rocky cliffs, and underwater caves. Liveaboard trips from Croatia can explore the wrecks and reefs along the coast.
  5. Turkey: The warm waters of the Mediterranean around Turkey are home to a variety of marine life, including sea turtles and dolphins. Liveaboard trips from Turkey can visit sites such as Kas and Bodrum.
  6. Scotland: While the water may be chilly, Scotland’s rugged coastline and clear waters offer some of the most spectacular diving in Europe. Liveaboard trips from Scotland can explore sites such as the Sound of Mull and the Orkney Islands and Scapa Flow.

These are just a few of the many destinations for liveaboard diving in Europe. It’s important to research the different options and choose a trip that fits your experience level and interests.

My personal favourite is scuba diving in the Red Sea, especially on a Red Sea liveaboard. Although the Red Sea isn’t in Europe, it is close enough to fly there with a relatively short flight. Also, if you are diving on a budget, the Red Seas offers some very budget friendly liveaboards too, and the diving and marine life compares well with some of the best dive sites in the world.

To search for your favourite liveaboard diving destination, please use the following window:

How much does a liveaboard trip cost?

The cost of liveaboard diving in Europe can vary widely depending on several factors such as the destination, duration of the trip, level of comfort, and the diving services provided.

As a rough estimate, a 7-day liveaboard trip in Europe can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000 USD per person. However, some high-end liveaboard trips can cost even more.

In addition to the cost of the liveaboard trip itself, you may also need to factor in the cost of flights, transfers, equipment rental, and additional activities such as night diving or land-based excursions.

It’s important to research and compare different liveaboard options to find a trip that fits your budget and provides the level of comfort and diving experience you’re looking for. You can also consider booking during the shoulder season or off-peak periods to potentially save on costs.

Where is the best place to swim with sharks in Europe?

There are several great places to swim with sharks in Europe. Here are some of the top destinations:

  1. Azores, Portugal: The Azores are known for their populations of blue sharks, which can be seen throughout the year. During the summer months, there are also opportunities to swim with mako and hammerhead sharks.
  2. Malta: Malta is a popular destination for shark diving, with the chance to see species such as the thresher shark and blue shark.
  3. Canary Islands, Spain: The Canary Islands are home to a variety of shark species, including the angel shark, sandbar shark, and silky shark. The best time to go is between June and September.
  4. Medes Islands, Spain: The Medes Islands Marine Reserve is a protected area that is home to a variety of marine life, including the elusive but gentle-natured basking shark.
  5. Faroe Islands: The Faroe Islands are a remote archipelago in the North Atlantic, known for their population of pilot whales, but they also offer the chance to see different shark species, including the Greenland shark.

It’s important to note that swimming with sharks can be a risky activity, and should only be done with experienced guides and proper safety precautions.

I hope you enjoyed this article about liveaboard diving Europe

I’d love to hear from you. Tell us about your adventures of diving and snorkelling. Please use the comments section below. Please also share your photos. Either from your underwater cameras or videos from your waterproof go-pro’s!

If this article hasn’t answered all of your questions. If you have more questions either about snorkelling or scuba diving (or specifically about liveaboard diving Europe), please comment below with your questions.

There will also be many more articles about scuba and scuba diving safety tips (and on snorkelling too) for you to read and learn about this fabulous sport.

Have fun and be safe!

Liveaboard Diving Europe

Article written by Russell Bowyer who has been a scuba diver since diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in 1989. After his first dive he trained as a BSAC diver in the UK. He attained his Diver Leader certification with BSAC. He then went on to become a scuba diving instructor, teaching others how to dive and was voted as Diving Officer and Treasurer for the Saffron Walden BSAC club too. Russell has dived all over the world, including the UK, on liveaboards in the Red Sea, the Caribbean, South Africa and the USA. Russell is experienced in all dive types, including drift diving, deep dives that involved decompression stops and recreational dives too.

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