5 Top Scuba Diving Locations in the UK

When you think of exciting places around the world where you can explore the deep you probably picture visiting Australia, Indonesia or Egypt but you don’t have to jump on an aeroplane and travel halfway around the world to find beautiful locations to scuba dive, there are plenty right here in the UK!

Here are the top 5 UK locations for a great scuba dive.

Lundy Island, Devon

This Marine Conservation Zone can be found a few miles from Barnstaple in North Devon and boasts one of the most vibrant marine life ecosystems in the country. There are over 40 dive sites around the island including 10 wrecks and many reefs, drop-offs, and pinnacles. Lobsters, moon jellyfish, urchins can be seen in the cool, clear, oceanic waters from the Gulf Stream. If you wear glasses it’s worth buying a prescription snorkel mask so you can get the best view. If you’re lucky you might also find some friendly playful seals.

Scapa Flow, Orkney, Scotland

Scapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, sheltered by the islands of Mainland and is one of the most famous dive sites in the UK due to its amazing collection of wrecks. An extraordinary 52 German ships were scuttled here, during WWII and they attract divers from all over the world. The wrecks are mostly located at depths of 35 to 50 metres. Scapa Flow is popular due to it being easily accessible at 14m to 18m, covered in sea life, and surrounded by crystal clear water.

Farne Islands, Northumberland

Off the coast of Northumberland are a collection of 15 – 20 islands (depending on the tide), which are one of the most dangerous shipping areas in the British Isles! The Farne Islands have dozens of wrecks littering the seabed which are great to explore. You can easily find fish, crustaceans and anemones on this dive and you might run into the colony of local grey seals found around the Farne Islands’ rocks who might just give your fins a tug! The Farne Islands have an amazing 290 bird species, including Puffins, so make sure to look up as well as down.

Skomer Marine Reserve, Pembrokeshire, Wales

If you enjoy exploring reefs alongside wrecks then the Skomer Marine Reserve in Wales is a good choice for you. First established in 1990, this conservation zone is protected from fishing and development this reef is teeming with sea life including dolphins, seals, colourful sea slugs, catfish, lobsters and rare seahorses. There are wall drops which descend to over 50m, caves plenty of wrecks to explore including the Lucy, a popular dive for advanced divers.

M2 Portland, Dorset

Situated three miles off Lyme Bay in Dorset lies one of the most unusual submarine wrecks in the UK. At 36m deep the HMS M2 was an underwater aircraft carrier which was designed to be able to surface, launch a plane and then sink into the water again. Unfortunately, it accidentally sank in 1932 due to the hangar being opened while she was still underwater. The M2’s keel is about 100 ft (30 m) below the surface at low tide and the wreck can be covered in one dive with minimal decompression, which is probably why it is one of the most popular wrecks in Lyme Bay.

For more information about putting together a scuba kit see the Simply Scuba website.