Diving Centers in Lebanon: Mediterranean Wrecks, Caves, and Reefs
AdvisorLB Team
Lebanon is a surprisingly good place to dive. The Mediterranean here is clear in summer, warm enough for 5 mm wetsuits, and dotted with wrecks of WWII vessels and old fishing boats. Most diving centers operate out of Jounieh, Batroun, and Tyre.
Diver certifications offered
- Try Dive / Discover Scuba: a guided shallow dive with no certification — ideal for first-timers.
- Open Water: the entry-level certification, usually 3–4 days.
- Advanced Open Water, Rescue, Divemaster: progressive PADI/SSI/CMAS courses.
- Specialties: wreck, night, deep, nitrox, drift.
Popular dive sites
- Jiyeh wreck: a tanker wreck accessible at intermediate depths.
- Ras el-Maten: a wall dive close to Beirut.
- Batroun caves: swim-throughs and sea caves for advanced divers.
- Tyre reefs: the warmest and most marine-rich waters in the country.
Choosing a center
- Verify the instructor's certification number directly on PADI/SSI/CMAS websites.
- Inspect rental gear — regulators, BCDs, and tanks must be in date.
- Ask the diver-to-instructor ratio (max 4:1 for new students).
- Make sure the boat has oxygen on board and an emergency action plan.