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

399Articles & Field Notes
16Topics To Explore
PADI 5-StarWritten By Real Instructors
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The Full Archive

TravelCozumel Diving Guide: Mexico's Caribbean Reef ParadiseEverything to know before a Cozumel dive trip, turtle encounters, easy drift diving, the best time to visit, logistics, and what makes it special.2 May 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →UK DivingFarne Islands Diving Guide: Seals, Wrecks and Cold WaterA full diver's guide to the Farne Islands, Northumberland, seal encounters, wreck sites, conditions, facilities, and the best time of year to visit.25 Apr 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside the Freediving Academy: Beginner to Advanced PathwayA full guide to our Freediving Academy in Reading, covering every stage from Discover Freediving through to Master Freediver, and who each suits.18 Apr 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesDiscover Freediving This Easter: Your First Breath-Hold DiveCurious about freediving? Try our PADI Discover Freediving session in Reading this Easter half-term, no experience needed, all equipment fully provided.11 Apr 2022 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesEFR Instructor: Teach Life-Saving Skills This EasterWhat the EFR Instructor course actually involves, who it genuinely suits, and how it fits into a real career as a working PADI diving professional.4 Apr 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →Diver TipsWhy a Refresher Dive Should Come Before Your Spring TripSkills fade over a winter off more than most divers realise. Here's why a proper refresher dive matters before the first trip of the new season.28 Mar 2022 · 7 min readRead Article →CommunityThe Diver's 100th Dive: More Than Just a NumberA look at what hitting a landmark dive count like a hundred actually represents, and why the journey there is genuinely worth reflecting on.21 Mar 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →GearRegulator Servicing and Buying: Your Spring Gear GuideEverything genuinely worth checking on your regulator before spring diving begins, plus what actually matters if you're buying a new one this season.14 Mar 2022 · 7 min readRead Article →ConservationOcean Acidification: The Slow Change Every Diver Should KnowWhat ocean acidification actually is, why it matters below the surface, and how UK divers can help track it and respond through citizen science.7 Mar 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →Diver TipsEqualisation Technique: The Skill That Makes or Breaks DivesPainful ears end more dives than almost anything else. Here's how to master equalisation, the mistakes to avoid, and how to practice properly.28 Feb 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →TravelGozo and Malta: A Diver's Guide to the Maltese IslandsClear water, dramatic caverns, and decades of shipwrecks to explore. Here's what a genuine week of diving around Gozo and Malta actually looks like.21 Feb 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →UK DivingStoney Cove: The UK Dive Site Every Diver Should TryFlooded quarry, sunken submarine, year-round diving just a couple of hours from Reading. Here's our complete guide to planning a Stoney Cove trip.14 Feb 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →AcademiesHalf-Term Adventures: Inside Our Conservation AcademyLooking for a meaningful half-term activity for the whole family? Discover how our Conservation Academy turns curious divers into genuine ocean advocates.7 Feb 2022 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesNew Year, New Ticket: Train as an Enriched Air InstructorThinking about teaching nitrox? Here's exactly what the PADI Enriched Air Instructor course involves, who it suits, and how it fits your career.31 Jan 2022 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesNight Diver Instructor: Teach One of Diving's Best SpecialtiesOur Night Diver Instructor course trains certified professionals to teach night diving properly. Here's what it covers, who it suits, and why it matters.24 Jan 2022 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesNew Year, New Diver: How to Actually Start Learning to DiveThinking of learning to dive as a New Year resolution? Here's exactly how to go from first enquiry to certified diver, step by step, this year.17 Jan 2022 · 7 min readRead Article →CommunityNew Year, New Confidence: Diving Past Fear of WaterWater anxiety stops plenty of would-be divers before they start. Here's how a proper, paced approach to training can turn that fear into confidence.10 Jan 2022 · 7 min readRead Article →GearDive Computers Explained: A New Diver's Buying GuideThinking about your first dive computer this New Year? Here's what the numbers, modes and features actually mean, and how to choose sensibly.3 Jan 2022 · 8 min readRead Article →ConservationMarine Protected Areas: Why UK Divers Should CareAs 2021 closes, here's why the UK's Marine Protected Areas matter, how winter diving fits in, and how to give the ocean a gift this Christmas.27 Dec 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsLow-Visibility Diving: Winter Skills Worth MasteringHow to dive confidently when winter conditions turn UK water murky, the common mistakes divers make, and how instructors actually train for it.20 Dec 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →TravelCozumel Diving Holidays: Reef Walls, Turtles, and Warm CurrentsWhy Cozumel belongs on every diver's list, from its famous drift-diving reef walls to sea turtles, logistics, and what a week there looks like.13 Dec 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →UK DivingFarne Islands Diving Guide: Grey Seals and Wild North Sea SitesA practical guide to diving the Farne Islands off Northumberland, from playful grey seals to conditions, logistics, and the best time to go.6 Dec 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside the Professional Academy: From Divemaster to InstructorHow our Professional Academy takes divers from Divemaster through to full instructor level, what each stage involves, and who it genuinely suits.29 Nov 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesOpen Water Diver: Your First Step Into a Lifetime of DivingEverything you need to know about the PADI Open Water Diver course at our Reading academy, from prerequisites to what you'll actually learn.22 Nov 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesDiscover Scuba Diving: Your No-Commitment First Taste of DivingCurious about diving but not ready to commit? Discover Scuba Diving lets you breathe underwater with an instructor, no experience required at all.15 Nov 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →