„Under the sea, everything’s better down where it’s wetter“, as Sebastian the crab sings in the Disney movie Arielle. And in fact: Today, around 240,000 animal species are known in the oceans, with a total of more than 2.2 million species being estimated. But there are rare estimates of as many as 10 million marine species. 

The ocean always has a fascination for humans—does that apply to you as well? That is probably not least because much of the oceans are still unexplored.

Of the 300 million square kilometers of the ocean floor, only about 5 percent has been discovered so far. After all, from 200 meters water depth, the darkness, cold, and pressure are so high that for a long time the depths of the sea were regarded as hostile to life in the same way as the universe.

Marine diversity is severely threatened

However, this colorful and varied diversity, which you can watch in documentaries, is under severe threat. Plastic is one of the biggest drivers of this. Whereas in the 1950s nearly 1.5 million tons of plastic were produced each year, the figure today is approaching 400 million tons. And far too much of it is ending up in the sea.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) states that up to 18,000 pieces of plastic of different sizes are now floating on every square kilometer of the ocean’s surface. This doesn’t include the more than 90 percent of waste that sinks to the ocean floor. 

Furthermore, overfishing and pollution from oil and co. are playing a role. Diving can also be useful in explaining the effects and why it is worth protecting the sea. Many divers are so excited about the biodiversity underwater that they are committed to the protection of the oceans. 

Amateur divers can help

Many movements of diving groups are taking place to clear the ocean floor from trash and dangerous nets, saving animal lives. There are a few relevant rules for recreational divers to be taught before they dive. Three most important rules: don’t touch anything, don’t take anything with you, don’t break anything.

Sports and leisure divers may even be helpful to notify changes in the waters to the relevant authorities at an early stage.

If you are now eager to see coral reefs and colorful marine life through your eyes, then we have good news for you: Great diving offers are available by our Green Pearls® partners!

At the Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives, you can enjoy a colorful seascape. Experienced multilingual dive instructors provide day and night dives and courses for all levels. 

Colorful underwater world in the Maldives

This resort is considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly dive centers in Southasia. You can even participate in a science dive here and collect data for organizations like SharkWatch and the Manta Trust.

For those who have never dived before, a Discover Scuba Diving course is a great option. This basic course also lasts only three hours. Especially worth seeing are the manta rays that can be seen around Gili Lankanfushi all year round.

And if you want to get a glimpse of the underwater world but prefer not to dive directly, put on your snorkel mask and a pair of fins—and you’re ready to venture to the 15-meter-deep drop-off at the edge of the resort. Exploring the dazzling coral walls is like swimming in an aquarium—only in the ocean. There’s a good chance you’ll see a few turtles and rays here, too.

Special dive spots off Bali

But not only the Maldives offer colorful fish and seascapes. Moreover, Bali is a wonderful underwater world. After driving through the enchanting landscape of rice fields, starting from Puri Dajuma, you will reach Menjangan, which is the best snorkeling and diving area in Bali. The instructors there also offer courses for beginners and speak German and English. 

Particularly worth seeing in Menjangan? The eel garden, for example. In addition to the garden eels that give it its name, turtles, reef sharks and shoals of mackerel are also found here. 

Some dive sites in Thailand have already been temporarily closed because they were overcrowded. However, you can also visit great dive sites that are not so much affected from mass tourism. Among this is the Phi Phi National Marine Park, where Hotel Zeavola is located. 

Individualized tours in Thailand

Here you will find a wide range of stunning dive sites, including the breathtaking Bida Islands, less than twenty minutes away. Because there are so many options for dive trips, the staff will put together a customized trip for you, considering tides, boat traffic, and weather conditions. 

The dive sites, with depths ranging from 5 to 30 meters, provide a mix of different marine environments, ranging from sandy bays to coral wonderlands and dynamic rocky playgrounds, ensuring divers a variety of quality diving experiences.

For a diving vacation, you don’t have to travel all the way to Asia though, there are some beautiful spots in Europe definitely worth a visit as well! Located on the Croatian Island of Korcula is Eco-Apartment Hotel The Dreamers Club in Lumbarda.

Underwater wrecks off Croatia

Since the waters of the Adriatic are that clear, you can see as deep as sixty meters. The seafloor is dotted with shipwrecks, coral reefs, hidden caves and the remains of past civilizations, and if you are cautious, you might even see an octopus.

The most interesting diving sites here include Garda steamship wreck, Boka merchant ship wreck, Majsan archaeological site and Orlandusa wall. 

Do you want to go diving now? Or have you already been diving? Tell us about it!

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