The Big Deep : Scuba Diving in Vietnam

Once the preserve of playboy adventurers, scuba diving is now one of the planet's fastest-growing and most accessible adventure sports activities. With its beautiful coral reef, spectacular marine life, calm, warm waters and mild conditions, the tropical seas of Southeast Asia attract thousands of divers each year. The waters of Vietnam boast some of the best dive sites in the region and sites in Con Dao and Nha Trang are now emerging as leading diving destinations.

Used as a penal colony by the French up until 1975 and one of only two Marine National Parks in the country, Con Dao is a 16 island archipelago situated 180 kilometers off the Southeast coast of Vietnam. Con Dao has largely escaped the exploitation and destructive fishing that have been the fate of other reefs in Vietnam and is now considered to be one of the best examples of marine conservation in the country.

With over 1,000 hectares of stunning coral reefs teeming with a colorful array of marine life, Con Dao supports a high level of biodiversity and over 1,300 marine species have been identified so far. Con Dao's sea grass meadows support a small population of globally endangered dugong, there are also resident hawksbill turtles that nest on the islands and even playful dolphins.

Nha Trang is another scuba centre in Vietnam, and although big animals are hard to find there (apart from the local morays), the abundance of other marine life makes for fascinating diving. Indeed, Nha Trang is renowned for its vibrant nudibranchs and extensive coral biodiversity, and over 350 species of coral can be found at dive sites there.

For advanced divers and beginners alike, Vietnam offers a stunning opportunity to experience the serenity and beauty of the sub-aqua world.