The UK diving season is coming to a close. The sea is cooling and the autumn storms are not far away. The winter months force divers, in the UK at least, either inland to lakes and quarries or onto planes to more tropical destinations.  

So now is the perfect time to start looking at your diving calendar for next year so I’ve pulled together 5 dive trip ideas to consider in 2026. The list covers a range of budgets and diving interests. Hopefully, there’s one that interests you.

1. Tried and Tested

Red Sea Liveaboard – Ghazala Adventure

The liveaboard market has had a tough couple of years with no shortage of tragedies, accidents and incidents. However, there are still plenty of good boats and operators working hard to win back the trust of customers. 

My recommendation for 2026 would be a classic Red Sea liveaboard itinerary aboard Ghazala Adventure.  It’s a brand new boat having just been launched in the summer of 2025. Her sister, Ghazala Explorer, has built an excellent reputation for quality and, crucially, safety over the last few years. The initial reviews for Ghazala Adventure have continued that trend.

Expect to pay around £1500 for a week-long itinerary, including flights, diving and full-board accommodation.

2. Best of the UK 

In Deep Plymouth

Plymouth is an underrated dive destination. It’s never mentioned on ‘Best Places to Dive Lists’ but that needs to change. It has everything that makes UK diving great: excellent wrecks and varied marine life.

Standout wrecks include the Persier, the James Eagan Layne and the Maine. These merchant vessels were sunk by U-boats during the World Wars and now sit between 24m-33m. All are easily reached by hardboat from Plymouth.  

I recommend diving with In Deep Dive Centre. They’re a professional and well organised outfit, which isn’t always a given in the DIY world of UK diving. They offer weekend dive packages that includes accommodation (and crucially a pasty for the surface interval).  

Weekend dive packages with accommodation start at £280.

3. Cenotes

ProTec Tulum – Mexico

If you’re looking for a change from wrecks and marine life, Mexico’s cenotes are well worth considering. They offer a truly memorable experience—and are among the most Instagrammable dive destinations out there.

Tulum is the heart of cenote diving, and staying there gives you the best access. While some dive centres in Playa del Carmen offer day trips, you’ll get far more out of the experience by basing yourself in Tulum.

You don’t need to be a qualified cave diver to enjoy the cenotes—many of the most beautiful (and photogenic) are technically caverns, with fixed lines and clear paths to the surface. A standard open water qualification is enough.

There are many dive centres in Tulum, but quality varies. I recommend a well-established operator like ProTec Tulum, where a day’s diving will cost around $200.

4. Splurge

Four Seasons Explorer – Palau

I was lucky enough to be invited aboard the Four Seasons Explorer when it was based in the Maldives (you can read about it here). No other liveaboard comes close in terms of luxury, service, and food. It’s in a league of its own.

It’s now operating in Palau, still under the Four Seasons brand, and continues to offer a premium diving experience. The small Pacific island nation is around 500 miles east of the Philipines and has been a world leader in marine conservation for many years. Dive sites include the: world famous Blue Corner, offering big marine encounters, and the wreck of a Japanese Zero fighter.

The only problem? The price. Cabins start at around £2,500 per night…. So you may need to get saving.

5. Tech Diving Adventure

Bikini Atoll – Dirty Dozen

Bikini Atoll might just be the most unique dive destination in the world. It was the site of US atomic bomb testing during Operation Crossroads in the late 1940s. The test targets are now an eerie collection of wrecks—from submarines to aircraft carriers, and everything in between.

Depths vary, but make no mistake—this is a true tech diving destination. Leading the charge is The Dirty Dozen Expeditions, who run well-curated trips to technical diving hotspots (and some of the best marketing in the business). They often feature well-known guest expedition leaders like Mark Powell, Jill Heinerth, and Alex Dawson.

This is a truly remote destination, and few divers ever get the chance to visit. Prices (excluding flights) start at $8,850.