Author: anthony

This is a critical time for many of us. When winter comes, with the cold and short days, we are not all equal. Because if some people will exchange fins for skis, the options available to others are not numerous… Dive into cold conditions…. Stop diving for several months…. Or something more motivating: go to a warm destination and enjoy yourself ! Tribloo has selected for you the best destinations to dive in winter….

Dive in winter in the Maldives

If there is one destination that makes everyone agree when winter is here, it is the Maldives and its small islands bordered by white sandy beaches that plunge into an emerald sea where life is literally bubbling ! With its coral reefs teeming with species, from the very small to the large, the abundance of life is obvious. And even if it is possible to dive almost all year round in the Maldives, in the winter months, from December to April when rains are rare, are excellent ! Underwater the spectacle is striking, with always many pelagics including many sharks, whale sharks, manta rays, but also many fish sometimes in very dense schools.

Go to dive in winter in Mexico – Yucatan

Widely in fashion for several years, Mexico attracts divers from all over the world with its whale sharks, its famous cenotes and its rather caliente atmosphere. But when winter comes, the show is even more worth it, for two reasons! The first is the presence of bull sharks during the period from November to March, near Playa Del Carmen, and a unique opportunity to be approached by these impressive species. The second, of a much shorter duration, between mid-January and the end of March, with the observation in pmt of sailfish (the fastest fish on the planet!) in the middle of sardine hunting !

Dive with angelsharks in Lanzarote

A little less tropical than the others, Lanzarote is still an exciting diving destination ! Close to Europe, the waters of this Canary Island are never really cold. This is what makes the fauna found there a real mixture of Atlantic, Mediterranean and tropical species ! But during the winter months, between November and March, a particular species frequents the waters of Lanzarote. On the sandy bottoms, we can observe the peaceful angelshark, perfectly camouflaged, but which always attract the eye of divers who come to cross their path….

Dive in winter in Raja Ampat

Let’s go back to tropical waters, Asia now ! The “Four Kings” archipelago has become one of the most prestigious diving destinations as the change of scenery and the underwater show are all part of the experience ! In the heart of the Coral Triangle, and renowned as the place on the planet where marine biodiversity is simply the greatest, diving in Raja Ampat is an experience that every diver dreams of living at least once in their life. The best season to dive there is from November to April, because it is the dry season, the time when you can also see the most manta rays !

Dive in Guadeloupe

If you are more of a Caribbean and like the atmosphere there, why not opt for Guadeloupe? This French island in the Caribbean arc has great assets for divers, especially with the Cousteau Reserve on the west coast. It is in this part of the island, sheltered and protected, that we find the most beautiful diving sites in Guadeloupe. Tunnels, caves, wrecks, and especially a multitude of reef fish, and encounters with adorable green turtles… the show is permanent. From December onwards, when the hurricane season is over, you will find the weather very pleasant.

Dive with pelagic in Mozambique

Located opposite the island of Madagascar on the African continent, Mozambique is a destination still little known by divers, but which offers world-class dives ! With the Mozambique Channel, its currents and nutrients, the area is ideal for the presence of large pelagics. Thus diving in Mozambique rhymes with incredible encounters near manta rays, whale sharks, humpback whales etc…. During our winter months, it is summer in Mozambique, and the best time to see whale sharks !

Go to dive in winter in the Philippines

The Philippine archipelago, with 7641 islands nestled in the Coral Triangle, is one of the most popular destinations for divers. And with so many islands, it is better to say that the possibilities are numerous and that there is something for everyone! From the wrecks of Coron, to the superb atolls of Tubbataha, to the incredible bottoms of the Visayas, filled with all kinds of species… It is possible to dive almost all year round in the Philippines, but the months of November to May are the driest, especially in the Visayas, and therefore the most suitable for a beautiful sun diving holiday !

Dive with manatees in Crystal River in Florida

Florida on the east coast of the United States is a major diving destination, including many wrecks, deliberately sunk to create artificial reefs and diving sites. But the great curiosity in Florida is in a river, whose water temperature is 21° C almost all year round. Crystal River, with its crystal clear waters, is home to many manatees, and the best time to observe them in snorkeling is from November to March. With very strict rules, however, it is possible to evolve in the midst of these large, highly protected mammals !

Many diving destinations are available during the winter months, among the best in the world ! So there is no reason to wait for the sunny days to put the fins back in the water….

Despite not always warm waters, France has world-class diving sites. Between the Mediterranean coasts renowned for their visibility and biodiversity, and the Atlantic and Channel coasts, diving opportunities around the hexagon are both numerous and varied. Tribloo has selected for you some of the best diving destinations in France…

1 – Diving in France at Port-Cros and around the islands of Hyères

The Var in the South-East of France is undoubtedly one of the destinations that attracts the most divers in France. With mostly clear and warm waters for most of the season (between June and November), abundant wildlife, protected areas, and many wrecks, it is the ideal recipe to satisfy all divers, whatever their expectations.

The Port-Cros National Park is the highlight of the region, with an extraordinary site, La Gabinière, where it is possible to dive in the company of huge dusky groupers, very friendly, who do not hesitate to come into contact with divers.

As for wrecks, they are numerous, but for experienced divers, a dive on the Donator is an unforgettable experience !

2 – Marseille and its National Park of the Calanques

Marseille… it is a little bit like the birthplace of modern scuba diving. It is here that many things began under the aegis of Captain Cousteau. With its cut limestone coasts, and its two archipelagos (Riou and Friuli), there is an incredible number of dives, accessible to all levels. Caves, drop offs covered with purple gorgonians, rocky plateaus or superb wrecks…. Diving in Marseille and its National Park of the Calanques is a great experience for divers. Despite not always very warm waters due to the North wind, the Mistral, the underwater show is always striking.

Wrecks also have a beautiful place in Marseille, such as Le Liban, le Saint-Dominique, or the famous Chaouen, located at the foot of the Planier lighthouse, and accessible from level 1 (or Open Water).

3 – Diving in the Lavezzi Islands in Corsica

Corsica, called the Isle of Beauty and located in the Mediterranean waters of southeastern France, is a real paradise for divers. The waters are warmer than on the mainland coast, with incredible clarity and a large majority of Mediterranean species.

The Lavezzi Islands are located in the South of Corsica, form an archipelago of 23 islands, representing the southernmost point of metropolitan France. Protected, the area is home to emblematic species such as corbs, sars and beautiful morays. When you dive in Les Lavezzi, you will have to go through the diving site of Mérouville ! Here, a colony of several dozen large groupers inhabit the area, and are not intimidated by the presence of divers…

4 – Normandy, a real submerged museum of the D-Day landings

Normandy is really a special destination for diving in France. Because even if subsurface conditions are generally very bad, it is still one of the most popular destinations in Europe. Because the waters of Normandy are a veritable wreck cemetery, testifying to the fighting during the landing of Allied troops in 1944.

Although less varied than in the Mediterranean, the fauna can be impressive. You will see in particular congresses, lobsters, sea spiders or even large ploughfishes and bars which watch over the ghostly atmosphere of the wrecks….

5 – The Glenan Islands

Britain is a region with a good number of divers ! With conditions that can be relatively complicated (swell, current, visibility, high tides, temperatures,…), it is not for nothing that many are struggling to brave the Ocean. Because there are places of rare beauty, such as the Glénan Islands. Located in the south of Finistère, they are bathed in clear waters of an emblematic colour, attracting divers. In the middle of the huge laminaria, crabs and lobster roam everywhere….

6 – The Cerbère-Banyuls marine reserve

Située juste avant la frontière espagnole sur la côte méditerranéenne, la réserve marine de Cerbère-Banyuls est également un lieu incontournable pour la plongée sous-marine dans la Grande Bleue. Créée en 1974 lors d’une politique de protection de la côte Vermeille, ses eaux accueille plus de 1200 espèces animales. Avec des fonds rocheux formés de failles, d’arches ou encore de grottes, c’est l’endroit idéal pour observer de gros mérous bruns, mais aussi un excellent panel de la faune méditerranéenne, avec beaucoup de poissons, et bien sûr toute la faune fixée hyper colorée !

7 – Thau Pond

Located on the edge of the city of Sète in the South of France, Thau Pond is a large lagoon separated from the Mediterranean by a fine sand barrier. It is the incredible biodiversity that has made the reputation of the Thau pond, which attracts many divers and especially photographers looking for small animals. There are for example many species of nudibranchs and other sea slugs, cuttlefish, anemones, blennies peacocks very photogenic, and many other things….

But the main reason we’re going to dive in Thau is largely because of the presence of seahorses ! It is even one of the main seahorses reserves in Europe. Even if it happens to fall on a bad day, it is very rare to dive in Thau without seeing a single individual !

8 – Lake Annecy

Among the many lakes and quarries in France where scuba diving is permitted, Lake Annecy is undoubtedly one of the most famous sites. Especially for waters its waters are quite clear (especially near the surface). With a temperature of 4°C at the bottom, using a dry suit is essential. But during the summer the surface waters easily reach 24°c, and can be very pleasant for first dives.

Obviously, the biodiversity is not as great as at sea. But we can still see some species, such as freshwater fish (pike, perch, carp or Arctic char,…), crayfish… and we can also find beautiful wrecks including the famous paddle boat (the last one assembled in France), France, which is about 40m deep, so for experienced divers.

Wherever you are in France, whether on the shores of the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean or the English Channel, you will always find beautiful diving sites to explore!