Best destinations to get back into diving?

Hi everyone.

I’d describe myself as a "former diver." I’ve done around 450 dives in natural environments across different settings. I put diving on hold about 5 years ago due to work/schedule constraints and, let’s say, family reasons. Since then, I’ve still tried to stay in shape with hiking trips, running, swimming, and freediving in protected environments, etc... I’m planning to get back into the bubbles somewhere this year. Any destinations you’d recommend—or avoid—for getting back into it? I’m looking for a spot for April/May this year.

Any tips or ideas?

Thanks

Uh... that’s a *very* broad question. With your diving experience, you probably know better than us what you prefer, what tempts you, or what you’ve never done before... 😉

I’d lean toward saying that for a comeback, a dip in Corsica or Sardinia wouldn’t hurt 🙂

I’d recommend the Red Sea and the Three Tortles club in Safaga. Great francophone club and really affordable. Happy diving!

Unless things have changed a lot in the last 15 years (in terms of coral destruction), the most beautiful dive spots I know are in the Red Sea... Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Safaga, and the islands near Djibouti whose names I’ve forgotten. There are also the Mitsio Islands in Madagascar near Nosy Be, but they’re hard to get to... The first two in Egypt are easily accessible, and there are dive schools there. Everywhere else—even in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines—I’ve found the coral reefs bleached and badly damaged, plus pollution! And this isn’t recent! I don’t know the Raja Ampat area, though.

Thanks everyone for your replies. A little health hiccup means I’ve had to postpone my return "underwater," but I’m thinking the Red Sea when it’s possible.

Thanks