Best location to experience nice culture/cities and diving (something like Greece)

[mrmojorising]

Hi,

I'm looking for a live aboard trip where I can experience some nice diving and see some nice sites/experience some nice culture in the evening (not just beaches, and jungle).

I think a trip to the greek islands would be ideal -- they have beautiful/interesting towns/cities, it's safe and the diving is good. apparently these trips don't get underway in greece until april though, and I want to go sooner.

Anyone have any advice about where to go in the world to find what i'm seeking? I'd like to see a new location town/dive site every night or two. I'm a totally novice diver getting ready to take my open water padi course and would be going alone.

Thanks.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I say youre better off doing a liveaboard and land trip consecutively. Few liveaboards call on ports at all. My wife and I tend to do a week on a liveaboard and THEN a week on land touring around.

 

[gekodivebali]

What about a trip to Bali? Unique culture, proper diving and great people. You could do a dive safari or stay in a village like Padang Bai, dive in the morning and visit in the afternoon...

 

[Quero]

I dunno. It sounds to me like you want a cruise with a little diving rather than a dive trip with a bit of a cultural component. Why not look at a regular cruise ship sort of trip of the type that goes around in the Caribbean? These will generally offer different ports of call for every day of the trip, and maybe five opportunities to dive over a weeklong cruise. Most diving liveaboards are in rather remote areas where there are uninhabited islands and lots of jungle/beach. Also, the divers on ordinary cruises with diving as an optional activity tend to be less experienced divers, so as a new diver you'll fit right in with the group in regards to dive site selection and dive destinations.