Academy Journal

Dive Deeper

Training stories, UK diving advice, conservation notes and course inspiration from the Diving Academy team.

399 Stories, 16 Topics — New Field Notes Every Week

Latest storyCommunityLearning to Dive as a Family: One Summer, New Divers17 Aug 2026 · 7 min read

Just in

GearWetsuit or Drysuit? Choosing Gear for UK Quarry Diving10 Aug 2026 · 7 min read

ConservationInvasive Species in UK Quarries: What Divers Should Know3 Aug 2026 · 6 min read

Training5 Tips for Your First Open Water Dive29 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Diver TipsMaster Your SMB: The Skill Every Diver Needs This Summer27 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

399Articles & Field Notes

16Topics To Explore

PADI 5-StarWritten By Real Instructors

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Courses

Mermaid Academy: Reading's Fin-tastic New Way to Dive29 Jun 2026 · 6 min read

Discover Mermaid: Try Mermaiding at Diving Academy22 Jun 2026 · 6 min read

Discover Freediving in Reading: Your First Breath-Hold20 Apr 2026 · 7 min read

EFR Instructor: Teach Life-Saving Skills, Grow Your Career13 Apr 2026 · 6 min read

Easter Holidays: The Perfect Time to Kick Off Your Season6 Apr 2026 · 6 min read

The Full Archive

CoursesMermaid Academy: Reading's Fin-tastic New Way to DiveCurious about mermaiding? Discover what Diving Academy's Mermaid course involves, who it suits, and how to book your first tail session in Reading.29 Jun 2026 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesDiscover Mermaid: Try Mermaiding at Diving AcademyCurious about mermaiding? Our Discover Mermaid course is a fun, accessible taster in the pool, no scuba or mermaid experience needed to start.22 Jun 2026 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesDiscover Freediving in Reading: Your First Breath-HoldCurious about freediving? Try our Discover Freediving taster session in Reading this Easter and find out what breath-hold diving really feels like.20 Apr 2026 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesEFR Instructor: Teach Life-Saving Skills, Grow Your CareerThinking about becoming an EFR Instructor? Here's what the course covers, who it genuinely suits, and how it fits your professional diving pathway.13 Apr 2026 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesEaster Holidays: The Perfect Time to Kick Off Your SeasonEaster half-term is a natural reset for diving. Here's how to use the two-week break to start training, refresh skills, or plan your season ahead.6 Apr 2026 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesBecome an Enriched Air Instructor: Your Next StepThinking about teaching nitrox to your own students? See what the Enriched Air Instructor course covers, who it suits, and how it builds your pathway.9 Feb 2026 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesNight Diver Instructor: Teaching Divers to See in the DarkA detailed look at the Night Diver Instructor specialty, who it suits, what the training actually involves, and how it fits a professional pathway.2 Feb 2026 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesYour 2026 Guide to Finally Learning to Dive This YearWhy January beats summer for starting to dive, how our six academies fit together, and a realistic step-by-step pathway from zero experience.26 Jan 2026 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesPADI Open Water Diver: The Complete Beginner's GuideEverything you need to know about PADI Open Water Diver training in Reading, from pool skills to open water dives, cost, and what comes next.1 Dec 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesDiscover Scuba Diving: Your First Breath UnderwaterNo experience needed. Discover Scuba Diving is the easiest way to try scuba for the first time, and Black Friday offers are now running here.24 Nov 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesMermaid Instructor Course: Turn Your Fin Passion Into a CareerDiscover what it takes to become a qualified Mermaid Instructor in Reading, from prerequisites and training days to career paths and common questions.22 Sept 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesBasic Mermaid Instructor: Turn Your Passion Into a Teaching RoleThinking about teaching mermaiding? Here's exactly what the Basic Mermaid Instructor course covers, who it suits, and how to actually get started.15 Sept 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesWhy Autumn Is Actually the Best Time to Learn to DiveForget waiting for next summer. Here's why September's start-of-autumn intake is genuinely one of the smartest times to begin diver training.8 Sept 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesPADI Freediver Course: Learn to Dive on a Single BreathCurious about freediving this summer? Here's what the PADI Freediver course covers, who it suits, and how families can try it together this year.7 Jul 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesBecome a PADI Digital Underwater Photographer InstructorThinking of teaching underwater photography? Here's what the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Instructor course at Diving Academy Reading covers.5 May 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesUnderwater Naturalist Instructor: Course SpotlightThinking about becoming an Underwater Naturalist Instructor? Here's what the course actually covers, who it suits, and how it fits your career path.28 Apr 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesDive Against Debris: Give Back on Every Fun DiveDiscover the PADI Dive Against Debris specialty at our Reading academy - family-friendly, purposeful, and open to newly certified divers from age 10.24 Feb 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesMaster Scuba Diver: What It Really Takes to Reach the TopMaster Scuba Diver is the highest non-professional PADI rating. Here's exactly what the pathway actually involves, and whether it's right for you now.17 Feb 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesPADI Tec 45: Your Bridge Into Technical DivingThinking about technical diving? Here's what PADI Tec 45 at Diving Academy Reading really involves, from prerequisites to your first staged decompression dive.16 Dec 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesTec 40: Your First Real Step Into Technical DivingThinking about technical diving? Here's what the Tec 40 course actually involves, who it suits, and how it fits into a bigger technical pathway.9 Dec 2024 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesBecoming an Adaptive Techniques Specialty InstructorHow the PADI Adaptive Techniques Specialty Instructor course equips Reading dive professionals to teach every kind of diver, safely and well.7 Oct 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesWhy Autumn Is the Perfect Time to Start Your Dive TrainingThinking of learning to dive? Here is why an autumn start, training indoors through the winter months, sets you up perfectly for next year's diving.23 Sept 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesDry Suit Diver Instructor: Your Next Step at Diving AcademyReady to teach dry suit diving in the UK? See what the PADI Dry Suit Diver Instructor course involves, who it suits, and how it advances your career.29 Jul 2024 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesBecome a Search and Recovery Diver InstructorWhat it really takes to become a PADI Search and Recovery Diver Instructor, from prerequisites to teaching your very first specialty course.22 Jul 2024 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesFull Face Mask Diving: Is This Scuba Course Right for You?Curious about full face mask diving? Discover how it works, who it suits and what to expect from this Scuba Academy speciality course in Reading.20 May 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →