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

Diver TipsBlack Friday Offers, Dry Season Prep and Movember Diving TipsNovember brings Black Friday course deals, dry season kit prep and Movember health awareness. Here's a practical way to use the month well overall.8 Nov 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →CommunityFrom Nervous to Confident: One Path Into DivingWater anxiety stops a lot of would-be divers before they even start. Here's how real confidence gets built, one small, patient win at a time.1 Nov 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →GearDry Suit vs Wetsuit: Choosing the Right Kit for UK DivingDry suit season is here. A practical guide to neoprene vs membrane suits, seals, undergarments, care, and the mistakes first-time buyers make.25 Oct 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →ConservationGhost Gear: The Real Halloween Horror Haunting UK WatersDiscarded fishing gear keeps trapping marine life for decades. Here's what ghost gear is, why it matters in UK waters, and how divers can help clear it.18 Oct 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsMastering Low-Visibility Diving as UK Autumn Conditions ArriveVisibility drops fast once UK autumn and winter set in. Learn the common mistakes to avoid and how to build real confidence diving in the murk.11 Oct 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →TravelGozo and Malta: A Diver's Guide to the Maltese IslandsWarm water, clear visibility and dramatic wrecks, here is what a proper autumn diving holiday in Gozo and Malta actually looks like for UK divers.4 Oct 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →UK DivingStoney Cove Dive Guide: Depth, Visibility and What to ExpectEverything Reading divers need to know about diving Stoney Cove, from depths, visibility and wildlife to facilities and the best time to visit.27 Sept 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside Our Freediving Academy: The Full Training PathwayFrom your first breath-hold to Freediving Instructor, here is the complete training pathway through our Freediving Academy in Reading, Berkshire.20 Sept 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesBecome a Mermaid Instructor at Diving Academy This TermThinking of becoming a Mermaid Instructor? Here is what the course covers, who it suits, and how to book at our Reading academy this autumn.13 Sept 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesBasic Mermaid Instructor: Turn Your Skill Into a Teaching CareerOur Basic Mermaid Instructor course trains certified mermaids to teach safely. Here's what it covers, who it suits, and how the autumn intake works.6 Sept 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →UK DivingBank Holiday Diving: Your Last Big Quarry Weekend of SummerThe August Bank Holiday is peak quarry diving season in the UK. Here's how to plan your weekend, what conditions to expect, and what comes next.30 Aug 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →CommunityLearning to Dive as a Family: One Summer at the QuarryMore families than ever are learning to dive together each summer at the quarry. Here's what a family course really looks like, and how to start.23 Aug 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →GearWetsuit or Drysuit? Choosing Your Kit for UK Quarry DivingSunny surface, cold depths. Here's how to choose between a wetsuit and drysuit for UK quarry diving this summer, and why thermoclines matter.16 Aug 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →ConservationInvasive Species in UK Quarries: What Every Diver Should KnowUK quarries host incredible wildlife, but also invasive species like signal crayfish. Here's what every diver should know to help protect them.9 Aug 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsBuddy Checks: The Two Minutes That Could Save Your DiveWhy the pre-dive buddy check matters far more than most divers assume, the common mistakes instructors see, and how to build the habit properly.2 Aug 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →TravelCozumel: Why This Mexican Island Belongs on Your ListMarine life, the best time to visit, and what a real week of diving in Cozumel actually looks like, plus what makes this small island so special.26 Jul 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →UK DivingFarne Islands: England's Best Cold-Water Seal EncounterA full guide to diving the Farne Islands, covering grey seal encounters, conditions, facilities, and how the site fits your UK training plan.19 Jul 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside the Conservation Academy: Dive With Real PurposeDiscover what the Conservation Academy actually covers, the full pathway through it, and how to turn your diving into something that matters.12 Jul 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesMaster Freediver: The Final Step in Your Breath-Hold JourneyThinking about Master Freediver? Here's exactly what the course covers, who it suits, and how it fits your wider freediving pathway with us.5 Jul 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesPADI Freediver: Your Introduction to Breath-Hold DivingCurious about freediving? Here is what the PADI Freediver course actually involves, who it suits, and how it fits into a bigger freediving pathway.28 Jun 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →UK DivingPeak UK Dive Season: Making the Most of Summer's Long DaysThe summer solstice brings the longest days and some of the year's best UK diving conditions. Here is how to make the most of peak season properly.21 Jun 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →CommunityComing Back to Diving After Years Out of the WaterThinking about returning to diving after a long break? Here is what that journey genuinely looks like, and why it is easier than most people expect.14 Jun 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →GearWetsuit or Drysuit? Choosing UK Dive Gear This SummerPeak UK dive season is here. We break down wetsuits versus drysuits so you can choose the right exposure protection for local diving this summer.7 Jun 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →ConservationWorld Turtle Day: Why Sea Turtles Need Divers On SideFor World Turtle Day, we look at the sea turtles UK divers meet abroad, the threats they face, and practical ways divers can genuinely help them.31 May 2021 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsMastering SMB Deployment: A Skill Every Diver NeedsWhy SMB deployment matters, the mistakes divers make most often, and how to practice until sending up a marker buoy becomes second nature underwater.24 May 2021 · 6 min readRead Article →