Scuba divers like to dive in new dive sites and one thing that Vietnam does have is plenty of dive sites along its coastline. The dive sites in Vietnam offer underwater coral reefs and diverse reefs. As well as the chance to see marine life such as sea turtles. Where to scuba dive in Vietnam?
Diving in Vietnam gives you the opportunity to see small fish, seahorses, frogfish, and more. The dive sites in Vietnam offer some great scuba dive sites that are from Nha Trang in central Vietnam to Phu Quoc in south Vietnam.
In this post, we will go through the best places to scuba dive in Vietnam. Let’s get started!
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Best Places To Dive In Vietnam
To make things easier, we have made a list of the best places for scuba diving in Vietnam. We have chosen them based on their beauty, dive conditions, and also the range of marine life you might see.
Here are the best places to dive in Vietnam.
Con Dao Islands
In the Con Dao archipelago, there are around 20 diving spots with various difficulty levels. Not only that, but you can also admire the natural beauty of this area like landscapes blessed with reefs and colorful coral formations.
It is an extremely photogenic place, decorated with fabulous corals and sponges. Undoubtedly, it is the key place to see animals like hawksbill turtles, frogfish, and seahorses.
Nha Trang
For decades, Nha Trang has been scuba diving in the capital of the country. It is popular with top backpackers when they are traveling around Vietnam. It is easy to find a diving operator as there are over 20 scuba operators in Nha Trang.
They offer scuba diving courses and diving packages for beginners and experienced ones. They offer extremely attractive prices. In fact, it is considered a cheap place for taking scuba diving courses. As a result, if you want your open water certificates, this is not a bad choice.
The average water temperature in Nha Trang is 82°F (28°C). Most of the water conditions are clear and the currents are also friendly. Even though marine life may not be the best, most diving here is done for improving skills and adding experience.
In short, there are three top locations to scuba dive in Nha Trang.
Dive On Whale Island
It offers a more complicated and varied marine life. You can find seahorses and stonefish. They live by hiding among the countless pinnacles surrounding the island. For your information, Whale Island is home to manta rays and stingrays.
If you are able to dive deeper, you will have a chance to see them and when lady luck stands by your side, whale sharks will appear near you.
Dive In Hon Mun Marine Park
It is suitable for all-level divers. It is packed with macro and reef life. There you will find Moray Beach, with its shallow and sandy bottom that is a perfect fit for dive training.
There are incredible corals to watch and you will meet scorpionfish, clownfish, and black frogfish, the list goes on. Madonna Rock is another site, and there are more caverns that have various depths. Many species of fish used them as shelter to breed.
And Dive In Nha Trang Bay
Nha Trang Bay is the final spot. Besides offering similar experiences to the above-mentioned, it also presents another option and another site to explore.
Try Hoi An And Da Nang
When compared to the previous sites, these two spots have less diving attention. Hence, the diving potential here is still unexplored. Da Nang is a major port in Vietnam. It is located along the coast of the South China Sea. Meanwhile, Hoi An is 18 miles (29 km) southeast.
Da Nang’s most popular diving site is around Son Tra Peninsula, 7 miles (12 km) north. You have to consider the time of year to visit, as the best time for diving here is between February to September.
You need to avoid other months because of the bad weather which leads to bumpy waters and reduced visibility.
Another option is to dive off the coast of Hoi An as well. There you will find innumerable different varieties of coral and tropical fish. Cu Lao Cham Marine Park is only 13 miles (21 km) from the Ancient Town of Hoi An.
It consists of eight islands in the South China Sea. The area is very crowded with marine life. If you are a beginner, it is a tremendous option because the sites are rather shallow, and decorated with swim-throughs and caves.
Dive On Phu Quoc
Our last on the list is the little-known Phu Quoc Island. Phu Quoc Island lies close to Cambodia and actually has the finest marine life in Vietnam. The leading dive sites here are Dry Island and Nudibranch Island.
In those two points, you will be able to spot a variety of marine animals, including cuttlefish, octopus, scorpionfish, crustaceans, pufferfish, anemones, damselfish, and moray eels.
It has the ultimate conditions for first-time divers because the waters here are clear and calm, sheltered from the strong currents that affect other areas around the island. The An Thoi Islands are for the more adventurous divers.
They are a set of 15 islets. It is pretty safe, you will rarely encounter any big sharks and mantas. Nevertheless, there is a rare chance that you might see bamboo sharks or blue-spotted rays. Phu Quoc’s depths are mostly undiscovered, and new sites are found every year.
Frankly speaking, if you love to dive and looking for some once-in-a-lifetime adventures, then you have to be there. It’s a paradise for divers, even beginners.
When To Dive In Vietnam?
Considering the monsoon season starts from October to January, making the best times to visit the mid to southwest coast are between February and October. Therefore February to June is perfect for diving.
But, for diving at Phu Quoc Island and the Con Dao archipelago, the best diving season is from November to March.
Wrapping Up
Finally, as you see there is a good range of dive sites around Vietnam. Phu Quoc Island offers the best dive sites in Vietnam. If you are interested in learning to scuba dive then Nha Trang is a good option. The best time to go there is when the ocean conditions are clear. Also remember, in the low season some dive points are closed.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on the best places to dive in Vietnam has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there are any other sites.
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