Best dive trips for Open Water
Open Water divers are limited to 18 m / 60 ft and direct ascent to the surface. The trips below stay within that envelope, with mild currents and forgiving viz so you can build dives without overrunning your training.
Safety first.
Mind depth and current limits in your training. If a site exceeds 18 m or has a current you can't kick into, sit it out. DAN health & safety guidance →
Locations that fit your level
- Ogasawara
Japan · 2 sites
Warm-season access lines up with dolphin, pelagic and blue-water diving.
- Ningaloo Reef
Australia · 8 sites
Whale shark season and clear reef diving generally peak in late autumn to winter.
- Jardines de la Reina
Cuba · 3 sites
Main liveaboard window outside the peak storm season.
- Silver Bank
Dominican Republic · 1 sites
Peak humpback interaction season in the North Atlantic.
- Ari Atoll
Maldives · 5 sites
Classic manta and whale shark season with drier weather and stronger visibility.
- North Male Atoll
Maldives · 3 sites
Reliable dry-season diving with clear channels and consistent reef action.
- Raja Ampat
Indonesia · 16 sites
Peak conditions for biodiversity, calmer seas and strong wide-angle diving.
- Komodo National Park
Indonesia · 9 sites
Long main season with good visibility, manta encounters and liveaboard conditions.
- Tulamben
Indonesia · 5 sites
Popular wreck and macro season with calmer dry-season conditions.
- Bunaken
Indonesia · 5 sites
Best wall and turtle diving generally aligns with drier months and better visibility.
- Apo Reef
Philippines · 6 sites
Dry-season window generally offers better crossings and cleaner water.
- Moalboal
Philippines · 3 sites
Sardine run and reef diving usually shine during the drier part of the year.
What you’ll typically see at this level
- Great White Cage Diving
beginner
Surface-cage encounters with white sharks at established aggregation sites. Non-decompression, no certification required at most operators.
- Whale Shark Aggregations
beginner
Predictable seasonal aggregations of the world's largest fish, typically at plankton or fish-spawning hotspots.
- Mandarin Fish Dusk Spawning
beginner
Daily dusk mating ascents of mandarin fish above rubble patches, observable on a single short shallow dive.
- Giant Australian Cuttlefish Aggregation
beginner
Annual breeding aggregation of giant cuttlefish in the shallow waters of upper Spencer Gulf, with elaborate male display and mating behavior.
Recommended gear
Cressi F1 Frameless Mask
mask · basic
Your window underwater. Seals against your face so you can see without water getting in your eyes.
Cressi Supernova Dry Snorkel
snorkel · addon
Splash guard + purge valve. Pairs with the F1 mask.
ScubaPro Go Travel Fins
fins · basic
Foot blades that turn leg kicks into forward motion underwater.
Cressi Isla 5mm Dive Boots
boots · addon
5mm zip boots for open-heel fins. Solid mid-price warmth.
Bare Reactive 3mm Full Wetsuit
wetsuit · basic
An insulating neoprene suit that traps a thin layer of water against your skin to keep you warm.
ScubaPro Hydros Pro BCD
bcd · basic
A vest that holds your tank and inflates or deflates to control your buoyancy at depth.
ScubaPro MK11/C370 Regulator Set
regulator · basic
The breathing apparatus. Steps high-pressure tank air down to something you can comfortably inhale.
ScubaPro R195 Octopus
regulator · addon
Pairs with the MK11/C370 set. Bright yellow alternate second stage.
Plan a trip
Methodology
How we matched locations to your level
For each location we take the lowest skill floor across its sites. A location qualifies for Open Waterwhen that floor is at or below your certification rank — meaning at least one site there is dive-able for you. Encounters are matched to your level through the editorial difficulty rating, not a per-dive risk score. Always confirm site-specific requirements with your operator’s morning briefing.