Even in the second half of the year, when the days are getting shorter and the temperatures drop, there are numerous destinations around the world offering underwater adventures. If you're looking for the ultimate dive spot, check out the following six countries. Recommended would be an online booking on PADI, the world's largest diver training organization.

These six hotspots are a true paradise for diving fans!

1. diving with manta rays in the maldives

The Maldives in the Indian Ocean are tropically warm even in winter. The waters around the archipelago promise an abundance of magnificent reefs. An absolute highlight is diving with manta rays, as The Westin Maldives Miriandoo Resort offers. Experiencing the gentle giants up close is a unique experience. Those who want to do something for the environment in the Maldives have the opportunity, for example, to participate in the "Adopt a Coral" program of the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa , where coral fragments are regularly planted on the seabed.

2. colorful schools of fish in Egypt

The reefs off the coast of Egypt are known worldwide for their impressive corals and huge, colourful schools of fish. The Red Sea is considered particularly calm and light-flooded all year round, offering ideal conditions for diving beginners, budding marine biologists and wreck divers alike. To protect the endangered sea turtles native to the Red Sea, travelers can also participate in a special "Marine Turtles Monitoring" program. For those who are interested in a liveaboard diving safari , Hurghada is perfect, because many trips on special dive boats to both coral reefs and wrecks start here.

3. diving in the tropical paradise of Thailand

Thailand inspires with a magnificent underwater view and countless coral reefs teeming with marine life. With the Gulf of Thailand to the east and the Andaman Sea in the west, the Southeast Asian country offers ideal diving opportunities for every taste. In Thailand there are very large fish such as whale sharks and manta rays, but also exciting tiny creatures such as seahorses and colorful pipefish to marvel at.

4. diving in the Sifra Fissure in Iceland

On the island in the North Atlantic, worlds literally collide. In the Sifra Fissure in the southwest of the country, the Eurasian and American plates collide and provide a diving spectacle in a class of its own. The crevasse, which widens by around seven millimetres every year, is up to 63 metres deep and is fed with crystal-clear water from Iceland's second largest glacier. Despite water temperatures averaging only around two to four degrees, the spot is popular with divers all around the world for its excellent visibility of up to 100 meters.

5. maritime diversity in South Africa

In the country at the Cape of Good Hope, a great maritime diversity opens up for diving enthusiasts. From meter-long whales to impressive sardine shoals, the northeast coast with its tropical reefs and the rocky west coast promise unique experiences. Many of the best dive sites in South Africa range from calm and warm waters for beginners, to slightly rougher conditions suitable for adventurous and experienced divers.

6. diving through history in Croatia

Croatia offers around 1000 islands whose underwater world includes reefs, piers, canyons, WWI and WWII shipwrecks and even a B-17 bomber. From drop-offs to wrecks to rocky reefs, there's something here for divers of all levels. For those who want to dive in warm waters close to home, consider Kvarner in the north of Croatia. It is one of the most beautiful bays of the Adriatic and can be used all year round for both day trips and liveaboards.