Russia, the largest country in the world, borders not only many European and Asian countries, but also the Great Pacific and Arctic oceans. That is why you do not need to travel far to try diving and discover a new world with large mysterious caves, shipwrecks, and plenty of whales and seals.
The Black Sea
If you want to experience the amazing sensations of diving but are not yet ready to plunge into cold water, then the Black Sea is one of the best places for scuba diving in Russia. The most wonderful thing is that you can even find dolphins there. Although there are not many aquatic organisms at a depth of 50 to 200 metres in the Black Sea, you can find shipwrecks and their cargoes here. To admire these objects, you will need a diving torch, since light practically does not reach such a depth.
One amazing place that you definitely must visit is the village of Olenevka in Crimea, home to an underwater museum of busts of Soviet leaders.
Lake Baikal
This is one of our country’s most valuable sites. Lake Baikal is not only the largest freshwater lake in the world, but also the deepest lake, with a maximum depth of 1,642 metres. Lake Baikal contains 20 per cent of all the planet’s fresh water. There are about 50 dive sites here.
The crescent-shaped Lake Baikal is adorned with rich flora and fauna along with good visibility, making this already amazing scuba diving experience even more exciting. This place can be visited year-round, but you must remember that the water here is very cold, sometimes even dropping to 3–4°C in June and 7–10°C in August.
The White Sea
This incredible sea is one of four seas named after colours, along with the Red, Black, and Yellow seas. Rich in aquatic fauna, the sea is home to more than 700 species of invertebrates, about 60 species of fish, and 5 species of marine mammals. Often the temperature here drops very low, so this is another icy place for diving.
If you are lucky, you might even encounter beluga whales, also known as sea canaries. The White Sea, with its amazing diversity of fauna and excellent visibility, is a wonderful place for diving.
Kamchatka
The Kamchatka Peninsula is one of those few places that have remained untouched by traces of human activity. The pristine and beautiful peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean on the east coast and the Sea of Okhotsk on the west coast, is an ideal place for diving. It is inhabited by about 350 species of fish, seals, sea lions, sea otters, walruses, killer whales, and whales. Here you can enjoy diving without descending too deep. But if you want to study underwater life in more detail, you need to buy a diving torch and then you will see everything that boggles the mind.
Saint Petersburg
Yes, that’s not a mistake. Saint Petersburg is not only the second largest city in Russia after Moscow, but also boasts an important port on the Baltic Sea. Saint Petersburg, known for its rich historical heritage, canals, and imperial palaces, is also considered the most romantic city in the country. And speaking of the sea, it is a mesmerizing place to see, and even more interesting to explore.