Top Dive Destinations for Travel with Kids in 2022 (Post COVID)

2. Barbados, Carlisle Bay

Vacation in Barbados is a must for divers and non-divers looking for a family holiday. With so much to do both on land and beneath the crystal-clear waters, Barbados can accommodate all the members of your family.

Barbados is a sunny island in the Caribbean Sea that boasts visibility up to 200ft (62m) for a view of healthy and vibrant reefs. One of the best-known dive sites in Barbados (and the wider Caribbean), is Carlisle Bay. More like a playground of shipwrecks and crystal-clear blue waters and white sands, Carlisle Bay offers the best conditions to go diving with your kids. Take a short boat ride with one of the dive shops on the beach and jump into the big ‘swimming pool’. Descend onto wrecks as old as WW1 or play with the Southern Stingrays and Green Turtles in the shallows.

Highlights:

• Little to no current across a large bay
• 200ft+ (62m) visibility
• More than 5 wrecks
• Maximum 45ft (13m) depth
• Abundance of fish and wildlife

Due to its vicinity to shore and clarity of water, it is perfect to take your kids diving here. Another important feature is that one of the local laws in Barbados says you must have a dive master or professional leading you. Therefore, you can dive peacefully knowing you are always in good hands!

Species found in this region:

• Spotted Eagle Rays
• Southern Stingrays
• Green Sea Turtles
• Hawksbill Turtles
• Seahorses
• Frogfish
• Barracuda
• Peacock Flounders

3. Grenada, Molinier-Beausejour Marine Park

Looking for another tropical dive destination? Grenada offers the best of both worlds for the family looking for a new dive destination. Grenada is one of the larger islands in the Caribbean, featuring tall mountains and cascading waterfalls, alongside dedicated marine reserves and the first (and only) underwater sculpture park in the Caribbean!

Grenada’s Molinier-Beausejour Marine Park offers everything from fringing reefs to walls and of course the highlight of your visit, the sculpture park. The first stature found its resting place amongst the coral labyrinths in 2006 and has provided opportunity for growth and repair of the beautiful corals and fish life since.

Highlights:

• Little to no current in a small, secluded bay
• 40ft (12m) visibility
• Fringing reefs, wall, sculpture park
• Maximum depth of 45ft (13m)
• 40 + sculptures

Species found in this region:

• Creole Wrasse
• Parrot fish
• Damsel Fish
• Porcupine Fish
• Southern Stingrays
• Scorpion Fish
• Seahorses
• Nurse Sharks

4. Bonaire

Known as the shore-diving capital of the world, Bonaire is great for the family of divers who can go diving at their own pace without having to fit into the schedules of dive shops and dive boats. Also good for year-round diving with warm waters, astounding visibility and mild currents, diving in Bonaire is perfect for the youngster looking to explore and gain experience within the diving world. Many hotels or dive shop located along the west coast on Bonaire can cater to children and offer many programs on ocean conservation and adventure diving with fully equipped classrooms and experts on site.

Additionally, Bonaire offers other family-friendly activities on the water such as paddleboarding, kayaking, botanical gardens, donkey reserves and more.

Highlights:

• Mild currents
• Shore and boat diving
• Conservation programs
• Visibility over 100ft (30m)
• Fringing reefs and walls starting from 15ft (5m)

Bonaire is also known as a diversity hotspot within the Caribbean and attracts many interesting fish and sea creatures to its water. Since majority of the western portion of the island has been part of the Bonaire National Marine Park since 1979, the abundance and biodiversity is, frankly, unmatched.

Species found in this region:

• Seahorses
• Frogfish
• Barracudas
• Jacks
• Tarpon
• Staghorn colonies stretching over 30ft (10m) long

5. Indonesia 

Jumping across to the Pacific and Indian Ocean, we must not forget to mention Indonesia. One of the most colourful diving locations of this world, Indonesia boasts Pacific and Indian Ocean-specific corals and species that cannot be found anywhere else. Indonesia is an archipelago of islands straddling the equator, giving rise to some of the best diving there is. Born from beautiful coral reefs, these islands rise from the shallows and many dive shops have settled here, having mapped out all the best dive sites and locations to be found in this region.

For the sake of the kids, Wakatobi House Reef is the number one place to go. This reef starts so close to shore that it can be taken as a shore dive or boat dive. Jump into the water and explore this magnificent reef, appreciating the colours and diversity of life. From hard species like Elkhorn, Staghorn, Black and Sheet Coral to soft ones like Sea Fans and Gorgonians. Amongst these you can find Frogfish, Leaf Scorpionfish, and varieties of shrimps and crabs. It is truly a paradise for beginners to advanced divers.

Wakatobi House Reef is the perfect place for your kids to learn how to dive or continue expanding their experience as the staff on board keep your safety as their number one priority. Always on the lookout to assist any divers on the water, the members can quickly jump into their small boats and whiz out to you to solve any problems.

Highlights:

• Reef starting at 5m (15ft)
• Shore and boat diving
• Attendant staff
• House reef in a protected bay

Species found in this region:

• Frogfish
• Leaf Scorpionfish
• Hard and Soft Corals
• Shrimps
• Crabs