Scuba Diving Morocco: Discovering the Underwater Wonders of North Africa

Close your eyes and imagine diving into crystal clear waters, surrounded by colorful schools of fish and vibrant coral reefs. Now open your eyes and picture yourself doing this in Morocco!

Yes, you read that right. While Morocco may be more famous for its stunning desert landscapes and aromatic spices, it’s also home to some hidden scuba diving gems.

Although still a relatively new industry, scuba diving in Morocco is quickly gaining popularity among tourists seeking an unforgettable underwater adventure, alongside the more traditional watersports like surfing Morocco is increasingly becoming known for.

So, pack your bags and get ready to discover a whole new world beneath the surface of Morocco’s coastal waters!

Where Is The Best Place To Scuba Dive In Morocco?

There are two cities in Morroco that are popular for scuba diving. These are Tangier and Agadir. Tangier is situated along the northern coast of Morroco, and Agadir is on the Atlantic coast. When scuba diving in Morroco, visitors will see a variety of fish, turtles, eels, and dolphins. 

Morocco has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean sea. Morroco has many attractions, natural beauty, world heritage sites, and a few stunning places to scuba dive.

When planning your trip to Morroco and looking for places to scuba dive, it’s important to note that you can’t just dive anywhere but should visit a dive center for scuba diving.

The best reefs for scuba diving in Morroco are in the area of the strait of Gibraltar. This underwater reef has a great diversity of species offered by the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans. Many travelers looking to scuba dive prefer choosing reefs for their oceanic beauty, and Morroco has many exquisite underwater places to explore.

Cities To Go Scuba Diving In Morocco

Some of the Morrocan cities that are best for scuba diving are Essaouira, Agadir, and Dakhla. The best thing about exploring these diving sites in Morroco is they aren’t too well known, so there won’t be queues of people waiting for a chance to explore the Moroccan sea life.

Diving Centers For Scuba Diving In Morocco

When scuba diving in Morocco, it’s best to go on a guided tour or through a diving center. Diving centers may offer tours and have extensive knowledge of the water conditions and sea life you can expect to encounter when scuba diving. There are a few diving centers in Morroco which include:

1. Moroccan Diving center. The Moroccan diving center is in Al Hoceima and welcomes beginner and advanced scuba divers. Their fun and professional team of divers offer a welcoming approach to diving and makes the entire scuba experience a memorable one. This diving center also has attractive pricing and is in a stunning beach location. Scuba divers can experience beautiful fish and sea life between the coral reefs.
2. Diving center Tangier. The diving center in Tangier is home to many friendly diving instructors. The scuba gear is well-kept, and the guides will take you on a leisurely dive on a small beach. Divers can expect to find abundant sea life during this cave dive.
3. ACRAP diving club. The ACRAP diving club is in Al Hoceima, Morocco. This diving club has seven professional diving instructors and offers scuba divers a 15-minute scuba diving session with an instructor and includes a fish-feeding experience as well as underwater videos and photos.
4. Plonge Tanger Center. The diving team at the plonge diving center is a specialist team in diving training and underwater activities. Scuba divers can experience the diversity of the Mediterranean sea in an immersive diving experience. The plonge Tanger center also offers training and courses for divers.
5. Dalia Diving Center. Dalia diving center offers scuba divers a chance to experience one of the most beautiful diving locations, Dalia beach. Dalia beach is a popular destination that boasts clear waters and stunning sandy shores. When scuba diving in Dalia, divers will get the chance to experience a variety of fauna and flora.

Are There Beginner Friendly Spots To Scuba Dive In Morocco?

When looking to scuba in Morroco, beginner scuba divers will be happy to note that many of the scuba diving centers offer beginner-friendly scuba tours. However, some diving spots in Morroco can be a bit risky due to currents and murky waters, so going scuba diving on your own should be avoided.

Tangier is an excellent location for beginner divers. Beginners can visit the diving center Tangier or the Plonge Tanger Diving center for a guided dive.

When diving in Tangier, there are many sea creatures like the blue conger eels and sea turtles that you’ll get to catch a glimpse of. Occasionally, dolphins also occupy these waters, and you could have a rare dolphin encounter.

Is Scuba Diving In Morocco Dangerous?

As with any scuba diving trip, there are risks involved in scuba diving in Morroco. Because Morocco is not very well known for scuba diving (though in recent years the Moroccan shores have become known for their water sports) there are just a handful of scuba diving centers, so it may be slightly riskier to scuba dive in Morroco.

That said, tourists can still scuba dive in Morroco in the coastal areas, provided they follow a few safety measures. When scuba diving in Morroco, you should never dive alone and preferably go to a diving center and go on a scuba diving tour with a qualified diving instructor.

It’s also recommended to have a diving certification before you dive in Morroco, but many diving centers cater to beginner scuba divers with or without a certificate. Scuba diving as a tourist is primarily safe, and a professional scuba tour guide will take tourists to a well-known spot to scuba dive.

If you have any medical issues, it’s best to skip scuba diving in Morroco and instead opt for a range of other recreational activities. Morocco has many unique attractions and pristine coastlines to explore instead of scuba diving.

Diving in Morroco is something that not many people can say they’ve experienced. Although Moroccan diving is not very well known, the beauty and biodiversity of the ocean make it unforgettable.

There is a common misconception that scuba diving is banned in Morroco, which keeps many people from exploring some of the most untouched and scenic dive sites.

When planning a trip to Morroco to dive, there are a few safety precautions that you should keep in mind before embarking on your scuba experience. 

Scuba Diving Precautions To Take Before A Scuba Diving Trip

Before you begin scuba diving in Morroco, you’ll need to take a few precautions to ensure your safety and to make sure you get the most out of your diving experience.

1. Check the requirements of the diving school. Some diving schools require divers to present a diving certification before going scuba diving. Some diving centers are open to beginners and may not have this requirement. Diving centers also offer courses and dive training for beginners to ensure everyone is kept safe when going on a scuba diving tour.
2. Always dive with a professional. If you’re considering diving in Morroco, then diving with a professional diving school is a must. The waters can be unpredictable, and it’s much safer to dive with someone who knows the underwater environment should there be an emergency or if you’re faced with strong currents.
3. Make sure you are fit and healthy to dive. Before embarking on a scuba diving trip, you should always make sure you are healthy to dive. You’ll need to do a full medical assessment before you can go diving, and you should avoid diving if you are feeling unwell.
4. Check all scuba gear. Generally, the diving instructor will check all the scuba gear, and if you are diving through a dive center, they will maintain all of their equipment. However, it is always best to double-check that all your scuba gear is working before you start diving.
5. Check your diving partner’s gear. When scuba diving, you’ll likely have a buddy or scuba diving partner. Before you start scuba diving, always check your partner’s gear and ask them to check yours to ensure the gear is working as it should as an additional precautionary measure.
6. Make sure you’re insured. Tourists and travelers should never travel without travel insurance. Travel insurance also covers underwater activities like scuba diving. So if your trip to Morroco includes scuba diving, make sure that the travel insurance policy covers scuba diving.
7. Keep your medical information close. Your medical information should be kept close to you when you’re on a scuba diving trip. Having your medical information on hand helps when faced with an emergency.
8. Plan your dive and stick to it. When going on a diving trip through a diving center, it’s likely that they will have a preplanned diving trip for divers to follow. If diving with a partner, you should always have a diving plan and stick to it. This is the safest way to scuba dive.

Scuba Diving Precautions To During After A Scuba Diving Trip

Once your scuba diving tour is about to begin, you should keep the following precautions in mind. Many of the injuries scuba divers experience happen to those that are new divers and who don’t take the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe.

1. Don’t hold your breath. This is easily one of the most important rules of scuba diving. It’s common to want to hold your breath when going underwater, but when scuba diving, you should breathe naturally at all times. Holding your breath when scuba diving could lead to an air embolism, which causes an air bubble in your bloodstream, and this can be fatal.
2. Check your air gauge. It is essential to always check your air gauge when scuba diving. When diving, you can only stay underwater for as long as you have air in your tank. Keeping track of your air gauge means knowing when your tank is half full and a quarter full so you can plan on when you will need to swim to the surface again.
3. Keep track of your diving partner. When scuba diving, you should always stay close to your diving partner. It is not advisable to swim off and explore on your own. When you stick with your diving partner, you’ll be safe and will be better orientated with your surroundings.
4. Avoid depths that are deeper than 130ft. If you are diving with a dive computer, it’s good to make a habit of checking how much time you have at each depth. If you are scuba diving with a guide, then you’ll likely just follow the guidance of your guide. Going deeper than 130ft should be avoided and is usually the limit for recreational scuba diving.
5. Equalise frequently. During scuba diving, there is pressure on your ears as you descend deeper into the ocean. Your ears will need time to equalize to avoid injury and pain. When scuba diving with a guide, they will guide you on this process and help you equalize frequently.
6. Ascend slowly. Ascending slowly is another important rule of scuba diving. Coming up to the surface too fast can cause decompression sickness. Coming up slowly is the safest option. Generally, your scuba instructor will guide you through this process during your scuba diving trip in Morroco.
7. Avoid over-exertion. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned scuba diver, it’s essential to avoid over-exerting yourself. Scuba diving is fun, and you should avoid swimming too fast or moving at a pace that makes you feel out of breath. Instead, take your time to enjoy this underwater adventure.
8. Stay curious but don’t touch sea creatures or reefs. Unless guided to do so by your diving instructor, you should avoid touching any sea creatures or the coral reefs. Many coral reefs are sharp and can cause injury. You also do not want to disturb the natural habitat of the sea creatures or come into contact with poisonous plants, so opt for taking photos instead.

What Will You Experience When Scuba Diving In Morocco?

Morocco scuba diving allows divers to experience an abundance of sea life set against many idyllic beaches and explore an activity that Morroco isn’t well known for.

Scuba diving in Morroco can also be combined with visits to other scenic attractions and water sports experiences, and visitors can book a preplanned tour that includes scuba diving.

When scuba diving in Morroco, divers will learn more about the seabed and the unique flora and fauna that inhabits the Morrocan waters.

Depending on where you dive in Morroco, you’ll also see a variety of ocean fish like tuna and sea bream. Dolphins, sea turtles, blue conger eels, crabs, and grouper are also found in Morrocan waters.

Is Morocco Good For Snorkeling?

Morocco is an exciting destination to go snorkeling. Many snorkeling tours are half to full-day excursions. Tourists visiting Morroco can take a boat trip into the ocean and snorkel in some of the most beautiful sections of the Atlantic ocean.

Taghazout in Morroco has some of the best snorkeling tours, including a beach hopping tour and a boat over-water snorkeling tour. The beach-hopping snorkeling tour covers three beaches in Taghazout where visitors can snorkel. During this tour, you’ll discover one of the richest fish territories in the world.

The boat over water is a traditional snorkeling tour where visitors will take a boat trip to a specific snorkeling spot, and it is usually two hours long. When snorkeling during this trip, you’ll experience underwater coral reefs and exotic fish.

The best time to snorkel in Taghazout is any time of year. Rain is rare in this area, and the temperature is always pleasant to go snorkeling.

Although its in the Western Sahara, the sea conditions and the water temperature mean that the main dive spots are on the Northern coast or down in the South west so make sure on your next trip to get some underwater relief and go diving off the Moroccan shores, the coastal areas are the best place for watersports!.

Key Takeaways

Scuba diving in Morroco is a unique recreational activity for tourists to explore the exquisite underwater landscapes of this mystic country. Many scuba diving sites are reasonably untouched, and Morroco is not very well known for its scuba diving activities. 

For adventurers, beginners, and seasoned scuba divers, Morroco offers an unforgettable diving experience filled with diverse sea creatures, coral reefs, flora, and fauna.