This is by no means a top 4, and if you dive in other great tec spots we’d love to hear about them — we’re always on the lookout for sites to add to the bucket list!
Dahab, Egypt
Dahab, on the South Sinai coast about a 1-hour drive from Sharm el-Sheikh, is a bit of a mecca for tec divers, myself included. Not only does it still have that off-the-beaten-track feel, but also has some amazing dives for all tec levels. It’s also a great place to start your first tec course; I went from Tec40 all the way to my first trimix dive on sidemount. Dahab has also played host to a number of deep-dive record-setting attempts and successes.
There are a whole host of great dive sites for tec divers, the most famous of which is the Blue Hole, discovered by Jacques-Yves Cousteau. The Blue Hole drops down to 427 feet (130m) and its famous arch — essentially an 85-foot (26m) tunnel through the reef — is at around 184 feet (56m). There are also a number of canyons and cave systems to explore, such as the eponymous Canyon, which drops down from 66 feet (20m) to around 167 feet (51m), with Neptune’s cave at 246 feet (75m) outside the canyon. Tiger Canyon and the Abu Helal cave system, among other dives, make Dahab a great spot for tec divers to explore. And best of all, most of these deep dives are just steps away from the shore.
For those who want to start a tec-diving course, even Dahab’s “house reef,” The Lighthouse, offers a great introduction, and even experienced tec divers can spend some time on the reef perfecting trim. There are many great tec instructors in Dahab; my personal recommendation is Team Blue Immersion.
Water temps are 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit (20C to 28C) year-round and vis can be 65 to 197 feet (20 to 60m) depending on tides and wind.
Malta
Malta and its smaller cousin Gozo (and even smaller Comino) sit roughly in the middle of the Mediterranean around 50 miles (80 km) south of Sicily. The island boasts a rich history, which not only provides for some amazing dive sites, but also makes for some great terrestrial excursions. The island’s capital Valletta features some impressive fortifications dating from the era when the Knights of St John ruled the island in the 16th century.
Malta benefits from great Mediterranean weather, with up to 13 hours of sunshine in high summer and average temperatures reaching a pleasant 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27C). Sea temperatures are also among the warmest in the Mediterranean, with an average of 68F (20C) and highs of 80F (27C) in summer and lows of 59C (15C) in the winter.
Dive sites showcase not only Malta’s long history, but also some great natural features. Some of the most popular sites are the Blue Hole, Rozi wreck, Um el Faroud wreck, HMS Maori wreck and the Azure Window. There are also two great World War II plane wrecks, a Bristol Beaufighter and a Bristol Blenheim bomber, at around 128 to 138 feet (39 to 42m), as well as numerous other war wrecks between 131 and 263 feet (40 to 80m), suitable for all levels of technical diver.
Like Dahab, Malta is a great place for all levels of tec diver, and is an ideal place for those looking to take their first steps into the world of tec diving. Dive centers on the island offer all types of training from most, if not all, tec-diving agencies.
For more information on Malta holidays check out http://www.visitmalta.com/
Scapa Flow, United Kingdom
Located in the far north of the British Isles on the island of Orkney, the natural harbor of Scapa Flow has been used as a safe anchorage for centuries and was home of the British Grand Fleet during World War I. Its deepest point is around 197 feet (60m) but mostly it averages around 98 feet (30m). What makes this location so special is the abundance of wrecks and the story behind them.
The main attractions for divers are without doubt the wrecks of the German High Seas Fleet, (Hochseeflotte) which were scuttled at this location on June 21, 1919. In all, German crews scuttled 74 naval ships of all classes, from destroyers to battleships. The British desperately tried to prevent this but only managed to beach 21 ships, and beginning in 1922 a salvage operation managed to recover 45 of the remaining 52 sunken ships. Now there remain three impressively large battleship wrecks and four small light-cruiser wrecks.
Apart from the WWI wrecks, there are also some World War II wrecks sunk as barriers to stop German U-boats from penetrating the anchorage. Known as the Churchill blockships, they are the Tabarka, the Gobernador Bories and the Doyle. Divers will also find a U-boat and some large debris on the sea floor, including various gun turrets. Most wrecks lie between 115 and 164 feet (35 and 50m). Wreck penetration is allowed, but divers must get a permit, which is available at local dive centers.
Water temps range from 39 degrees Fahrenheit (4C) in April to 57F (14C) in September, with vis ranging from 33 to 98 feet (10 to 30m).
To learn more about the wrecks, check out http://www.scapaflowwrecks.com/.
Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia
Also know as Truk Lagoon, this sheltered body of water in the central Pacific is the final resting place of more than 60 World War II Japanese warships and aircraft. Many think of this atoll, with an enclosing, protective reef, which creates a natural harbor, as the world’s greatest wreck diving destination.
Chuuk was once a major logistical base, as well as the operational base for the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Combined Fleet, a sort of Japanese version of Pearl Harbor. Why so many wrecks? You can credit Operation Hailstone, a combined Air Force and Naval attack by American forces from February 16–17, 1944. The wrecks are in roughly three clusters and depth ranges from around 66 feet (20m) to 230 feet (70m), with the most famous wreck being the San Francisco Maru, which sits in 205 feet (63m). You’ll see everything from planes, tanks, trucks, ordnance, guns and a whole heap more. Keep in mind though, that these ships weren’t scuttled but sank under attack, so respect them and, as with any wreck, don’t touch or remove items.
Seas are calmest December through to April with water temps of 81 to 86 Fahrenheit (27 to 30C) year round. Dive via liveaboard or with a number of local dive centers.
