Scuba diving in United Kingdom

One of the most famous wreck sites in the world, this 200 square mile expanse of water was once used by the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet as a safe anchorage. In June 1919, the German Fleet was scuttled to elude Allied hands, littering the seabed of Scapa Flow. Some of the wrecks waiting to be explored include three 177 metre/580 foot battleships and four 155 metre/510 foot cruisers. Strong tides run here bringing nutrient-rich water that supports an bountiful sea.

Located off the east coast of the England / Scotland border are the Farne Islands. Inquisitive grey seals and a deafening plethora of seabirds can be found here such as puffins, terns and guillemots. You can find anemones and sponges of colours you can only imagine and you may spot a Yarrell’s Blenny peering out at you from their abode.

This stunning island offers warmer waters than mainland UK and can provide divers an option for the cold winter months. Jersey has one of the biggest tides in the world creating exhilarating drift dives and shore dives where you can see rays, flat fish, wrasse, cuttlefish and colourful reefs. Wreck diving is possible here too, teeming with marine life such as conger eels and sea squirts. Boat trips are available further out from the island, where you can find fan corals and sponges covering reef walls. Impressive kelp forests are where resident seals come out to play.

You will find the archipelago of St Kilda 40 miles off the Outer Hebrides, a mecca for British divers. It’s isolation from the mainland means a significant reduction in sources of pollution, resulting in exceptionally clear, blue oceanic water. You’ll be surprised to find a level of marine flora and fauna which isn’t commonly seen in this part of the world along with dramatic topography underwater and on land. It’s a great place to spot seals and puffins diving into the ocean due to fantastic visibility, as well as finding huge lobsters and multi coloured jewelled anemones.

This well-known Cornish dive site is located off the Lizard Peninsula and offers divers impressive drop offs, reefs and pinnacles covered with jewel anemones, dead mans fingers and Gorgonian sea fans. There’s a famous wreck, the Mohegan which sank in 1898 and is said to be haunted, as well as over 100 other shipwrecks waiting to be discovered. 

Daily trips

Diving in the UK can range between £395 for 2 dives a day creeping up to £815 for 4 days diving (2 dives per day including boat transfers, lunch). Prices will vary depending on the location of the dive sites. You’ll need to confirm with the dive shop what the cost includes (transfers, lunch etc). There are options to pay for extras such as dive computer, SMB etc. 

Discounts

You may get a discount when travelling with your own scuba gear. If you do have your own equipment, all you’ll need from the dive shop are weights and tanks. All dive shops will have wetsuits, dry suits, BCDs etc available for hire. 

UK Scuba Diving Courses

Learning to dive is possible in the UK, with starting prices £400. Recommended training for diving in and around the UK is the Wreck Diver course (prices from £250), Deep Diver  course (prices from £295) and Boat Diver (prices from £395, 2-days) course for enjoying offshore diving. The Dry Suit Diver course is highly recommended too, with starting prices from £149. Some operators offer a discount if you sign up for two or more courses. These can take place in a lake or in the sea, depending on where the dive centre is located.

Day trips are most common for UK divers. Some dive operations offer 2 day trips (2/3 dives per day) starting from £400. Most of the diving in the UK is shore diving or short boat trips.