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Scuba Diving in the United Kingdom
It would be unfair to call the UK dive sites "exotic destinations". But, divers willing to explore inland water systems and coastal waterways may be pleasantly surprised.
This section lists the top places for diving around Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with details about the marine creatures found in the North Sea and Channel Islands.
When and Where is it best to dive in the UK
By and large, the Farne Islands is the best place to dive with grey seals in the United Kingdom.
Even so, the chequered seafaring history of the British Isles has left an abundance of sunken shipwrecks to explore.
Divers heading to the coastlines need to be mindful of big tidal swings and fast-moving water currents.
But, the creatures living around the shores of Great Britain range from the tiny short-snouted seahorse to the colossal basking shark.
Including the islands, especially the Republic of Ireland (an EU member country), there are more than 20,000 kilometres of sandy beaches and shingle rock coastlines waiting for divers to explore.
Best Months for Diving in the United Kingdom
The two large islands situated in the area known as northwest continental Europe, are the United Kingdom and the island of Ireland to the west.
Great Britain consists of England, Scotland, and Wales, with Northern Ireland sharing part of Ireland's northeastern border.
Here's the thing:
For the most part, divers will be experiencing cold water temperatures for most of the year. The water averages 7° Celsius in the winter months (January to April) and up to 15° Celsius in the summer (June to September).
Remember, water conducts heat away from your body 20 times faster than air. Hence, wearing adequate exposure protection is paramount to avoid the risks of hypothermia.
Marine Life around the United Kingdom
- Barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo)
- Basking shark
Beadlet anemone (Actinia equina)- Black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus)
- Blue shark (Prionace glauca)
- Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)
- Common dolphin
- Common seal
- Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus mixtus)
- Great spider crab (Hyas araneus)
- Minke whale
- Orange-clubbed sea slug (Limacia clavigera)
- Red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus)
- Small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)
- Thornback ray (Raja clavata)
Pro Tip: According to the IFAW, over 500 different shark species are currently swimming in the oceans - and we separate them into ten individual orders.
Where to Scuba Dive in the United Kingdom
- Channel Islands Dive Sites
- England Dive Sites
- Northern Ireland Dive Sites
- Scotland Dive Sites
- Wales Dive Sites
Pro Tip: The underwater structures at the UK dive sites means getting the PADI® Wreck Diver certification would qualify you to join organised excursions around sunken shipwrecks in deep water.
Related Information and Help Guides
- Scuba Diving in Croatia
- Scuba Diving in Cyprus
- Scuba Diving in Ireland
- Scuba Diving in Malta
- Scuba Diving in Spain
Getting to the United Kingdom
Most journeys into the UK will be via an international flight to one of the major airports, such as London, Birmingham, or Manchester.
Following that, using public buses, trains, or taxis is an easy way to get to travel around the British Isles.