Best Places to Dive in Cyprus: Our Top Picks for Weekends and Diving Holidays

Post author By Mark Murphy
Post date May 27, 2025

We’ve just returned from a fantastic trip to Cyprus, where we explored the island’s top diving destinations with a focus on finding the best options for school groups, weekend getaways, and recreational diving holidays. Cyprus delivered on all fronts — from beginner-friendly reef dives to world-famous wrecks and even an underwater museum. Here’s what we found…

🐠 Protaras – The All-Round Favourite

Protaras came out as our top overall choice. It’s a beautiful and relaxed part of Cyprus with excellent local diving for both beginners and more experienced divers.

Why It’s Great:

Ideal for Open Water training dives thanks to sheltered, accessible sites.
Home to the Underwater Sculpture Museum (MUSAN) – a magical experience for all levels.
Only 45 minutes from the Zenobia, one of the world’s best wreck dives (Advanced certification required).

A quieter and more family-friendly area than nearby Ayia Napa.

✅ Cyprus Diving Centre

Swiss-owned, super friendly, and laid-back.
Run a turtle conservation project – perfect for schools looking to add an educational twist.
Great match for divers who like a slightly more chilled and relaxed pace of diving
Accommodation options nearby include the Mandalena Hotel Apartments (3* and just a 12-minute walk away), with many more available on Stuba.

✅ Rec2Tec

Run by Will, whose style is a little more structured — great for more formal schools like Matt Rendu.
Excellent facilities and accommodation (SC Apartments), all on-site.
Best suited for those who prefer a more organised and professional setup.

⚓ Larnaca – For the Zenobia Lovers

For Advanced Open Water divers (or higher) who just want to dive the Zenobia, then Larnaca is a no-brainer for a long weekend or longer dive trip.
Zenobia Wreck right on the doorstep – a must-dive for any experienced diver. You can easily do 6 completely different dives on this wreck
Ideal for shorter trips where you want to maximise underwater time without long transfers.
Great for tec, deep and sidemount training

✅ Dive-In Larnaca

Professional and experienced with Zenobia dives.
The Cactus Hotel nearby offers convenient and cost-effective accommodation.

🌞 Paphos – Perfect for Summer

Paphos offers great diving conditions, particularly during the summer months. While it can get a little windy between November and May, the area still has a lot to offer.

✅ Cydive

Cydive is a superb centre with its own boat and training pool.

A wide range of dive sites nearby, suitable for beginners and schools.
Tonnes of restaurants and accommodations nearby – without the rowdy tourist crowd.
Would be good for schools wishing to do training and have fun in the evenings

Conclusion

Cyprus is an incredibly versatile diving destination with something for everyone. Whether you’re organising a group trip, planning a weekend break, or looking for your next holiday destination, the island offers warm waters, reliable dive centres, and unforgettable underwater experiences.

We’re currently planning new dive trips to Cyprus for 2026 and beyond. If you’re interested in joining or organising a trip, get in touch with the Oyster Diving Travel Team today!