In the spirit of 🏳️🌈 Pride Month 🏳️🌈, let’s bring some awareness to a harsh reality. While LGBTQ rights are stronger than they have ever been, these rights often end at the border.
There are still many countries where LGBTQ people face not only severe discrimination, but also potential imprisonment or death sentence simply for their sexual orientation or identity.
Sadly, when it comes to travelling for scuba, there are several popular destinations that are notoriously hostile to LGBTQ travellers. Travellers and scuba divers can often fly under the radar in these locations, but this does involve risk that cisgender, heterosexual people do not face.
Regardless of actual risk level, I choose to be political with my wallet. I avoid countries that will not accept me for who I am, where I would need to alter my behaviour or lie about my identity. I will not give those countries my money. Be an ally: choose to scuba dive in places with progressive rights and stop visiting countries that persecute LGBTQ people.
Be an ally: choose to scuba dive in places with progressive rights and stop visiting countries that persecute LGBTQ people.
Most hostile scuba destinations for LGBTQ divers
The following are popular scuba diving destinations where the threat of punishment is real for LGBTQ tourists.
Egypt 🇪🇬
Same-sex activity punished by up to 17 years imprisonment under morality laws. Actively enforced.
Jamaica 🇯🇲
Same-sex activity punished by up to 10 years imprisonment. While there are no recent reports of it being actively enforced, the law is on the books and the majority of Jamaicans disapprove same-sex activity and oppose legalization. Constitutional ban against same-sex marriage. Named the most transphobic place on Earth by Time magazine in 2006.
Maldives 🇲🇻
Same-sex activity punished by up to 8 years imprisonment. Tourists are generally overlooked while on resorts, but locals have been arrested under the Islamic Sharia law.
St. Lucia 🇱🇨
Same-sex activity between men punished by up to 10 years imprisonment, although it is not enforced and no-one is currently imprisoned.
United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
Same-sex activity is illegal under Sharia law with a minimal punishment of 6 months imprisonment and no maximum limit (which means capital punishment is an option). In 2005, eleven young men were given 5-year sentences. In 2012, a British man was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Fortunately, there have been no known arrests since 2015 (but who’s taking chances?).
Best scuba destinations supporting queer rights
Thankfully there is no shortage of countries where same-sex activity is not only legal, but LGBTQ rights are growing. These countries are taking measures to actually welcome LGBTQ tourists and scuba divers.
Australia 🇦🇺
Legalized same-sex marriage in 2017. They were a bit late to the game with this, especially given polls show that the overwhelming majority of Australians support LGBTQ rights. Conversion therapy has been banned in several Australian states and territories.
Bonaire 🇧🇶
Legalized same-sex marriage in 2012 across the Caribbean Netherlands, which also includes popular scuba diving destinations Saba and Sint Eustatius.
Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Legalized same-sex marriage in 2020. MSMs allowed to donate blood since 2007.
Cuba 🇨🇺
Legalized same-sex marriage in 2022.
Curaçao 🇨🇼
Legalized same-sex marriage in 2024.
Ecuador (including Galápagos Islands) 🇪🇨
Legalized same-sex marriage in 2019. Conversion therapy banned in 2014. MSMs allowed to donate blood.
Malta 🇲🇹
Considered by many to have the most progressive LGBTQ rights in Europe. Trans rights are arguably the best in the world.
First EU country to ban conversion therapy in 2016. Legalized same-sex marriage in 2017. One of only 5 countries that have enshrined LGBTQ rights in their constitution.
Mexico 🇲🇽
Started legalizing same-sex marriage regionally in 2010 and become nationwide in 2022. Conversion therapy banned in 2024. MSMs allowed to donate blood since 2012.
Thailand 🇹🇭
The first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2025.
Neutral territory
There are several other popular destinations that sit somewhere in the middle. The following popular scuba diving countries have legalized same-sex activity, however, LGBTQ rights sort of end there. I have no qualms visiting these countries (and I often do!) but I’d love to see them go further.
- Bahamas
- Belize
- Cayman Islands
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Palau
- Philippines
- Turks and Caicos Islands
As LGBTQ divers, we need to be aware of our rights and safety when we book scuba trips. But I urge all divers to stand up for LGBTQ rights with their travel budget, by avoiding hostile countries and travelling to countries that are strengthening human rights.
If I missed something, or if you noticed something has changed since this article was published, let me know in the comments and I’ll make updates!
Scuba Duo 
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