In too Deep: Eight Best Destinations for Technical Diving

1. Malta and Gozo

Image by Audrey Cudel

Just over 3 hours direct flight from the UK, Malta and Gozo boast a massive volume of wrecks at varying depths, diveable from either the shore or a boat. Scuttled, bombed or shot down there is a multitude of majestic rust on the ocean floor ranging from paddle-wheeled steamer tugs (HMS Hellespont) to 70 metre long submarines (HMS Stubbon) and planes (Bristol Beaufighter). Some are deeper than others and may require a trimix certification.

Our partners Maltaqua (owners of the Sands Apartments) and Atlantis Diving Centre can offer experienced guides to take you around these historical sites as well as offer courses (including closed circuit rebreather) from varying training agencies. Atlantis can also offer more specialised technical sidemount and cave.

2. Cayman Islands

Image by Nigel Wade

Divetech is at Lighthouse Point resort in Grand Cayman’s West Bay. They have been supporting technical divers since 2003 and offer entry-level and rebreather training (including try dives) on the KISS CCR. They provide open circuit technical training from TDI, IANTD and PADI in addition to sidemount AND scooter diving/courses. The Lighthouse Point House Reef is one of the nicest in the Caribbean with a 100 metre drop off, perfect for adventurous trimix divers!

3. Bikini Atoll

Image by Robert Wilpernig

Bikini Atoll, in the Marshall Islands, is home to one of the finest wreck diving sites in the world: the Ghost Fleet. The USA used Bikini Atoll as a nuclear testing site between 1946 and 1958, detonating no fewer than 23 atomic bombs, along with the notorious ‘Castle Bravo’ hydrogen bomb. In 1996 Bikini Atoll opened for SCUBA diving, allowing qualified technical divers to explore a fascinating graveyard of 21 military wrecks, including war battleships, cruisers, submarines and an aircraft carrier called the USS Saratoga. The crater left by Castle Bravo is now home to an abundance of corals, reef fish and sharks. If you are suitably qualified, why not join one of the annual liveaboard expeditions?

4. Philippines

Image by Cath Bates

The steep walls of Monad and Kimud Shoal in the Philippines lend themselves perfectly to decompression dives. Evolution Resort on Malapascua is run by a British TDI Instructor Trainer and despite its remote location, has an oxygen booster pump, helium and CCR training. 30 metre visibility, warm water and thresher sharks are certainly a perk of the reef diving here but if wrecks float your boat (excuse the pun) then Japanese fishing trawler the Mogami Maru certainly won’t disappoint for Extended Range divers.

12 Japanese vessels were sunk in 1944 when US forces struck the navy who were at anchor in Coron Bay. Surrounded by tropical palm trees on a sandy beach Sangat Island Dive Resort caters for the technical diving community well, despite being one of the Coral Triangle’s best kept secrets. The mix of gun boats, supply vessels and seaplane tenders lie between 12 and 40 metres. Although the dives are not particularly deep you can extend your bottom time here diving with a twinset and stage cylinder or if you are rebreather qualified, the resort can provide sorb and tanks. 

5. Bonaire

Image by Beth Watson

Dedicated Tec Weeks at Buddy Dive in Bonaire include workshops, try-outs and presentations. They welcome divers who are thinking about dipping their toe into the technical world but aren’t sure which discipline to pursue. Try new kit offered by international manufacturers, take your first breaths underwater through a rebreather loop and learn all about the long hose configuration favoured by tech divers the world over. Bonaire hosts Operation CCR in Spring and Buddy Tec Week around autumn

6. Honduras

Image by Nigel Wade

As part of their first TEC WEEK Anthony’s Key Resort in Roatan is offering free Closed-Circuit Rebreather demo dives with technical diving professionals, sidemount diving trails and also presentations will be held each evening. The resort has a PADI Platinum Course and Training Director who is heavily involved in the TecRec training on site.

7. Mexico

Mexico is home to the cenotes which were originally used by the ancient Mayans for delivering their dead to the Underworld. Some of Tulum’s most famous sites include Angelita, The Pit and Dos Ojos. Underworld Tulum is just a short walk away. It is fully equipped for cave exploration, sidemount diving and CCR. It is home to the annual Cave Camp event of social evenings, workshops and presentations given by well known technical instructors and explorers. From novice through to instructor they offer a range of training with multiple agencies (including RAID and IANTD). Their block of 6 apartments is also suitable for groups.

8. Truk Lagoon

An entire Japanese fleet was sunk within Truk Lagoon during Operation Hailstone in 1944. Over the space of two days 40 ships were sunk, from destoyers to merchant Marus. These wrecks are now home to 76 years of coral growth and therefore some are unrecognisable as ships at first glance. To maximise your bottom time at this underwater museum decompression diving is the way to go! Both Blue Lagoon Resort and the liveaboards are used to accommodating open and closed circuit technical divers as they serve expeditions such as Lust for Rust and the Dirty Dozen each year. Truk Odyssey has an all inclusive mentality, not just from a food and beverage angle but also for twinsets,additional cylinders for sidemount and 30% Nitrox. Richer mixes of Nitrox and 100% oxygen are available at an additional cost.

Find out more about our technical diving holidays, or speak to Cath to start planning your next dive adventure.