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: Reefs, Walls and Warm WaterPlan your Cozumel diving holiday with our full guide to marine life, best times to visit, a typical week of diving, and getting there from the UK.1 Jun 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →UK DivingFarne Islands Diving Guide: Seals, Walls and WildlifeEverything you need to know about diving the Farne Islands, from curious grey seals and visibility to conditions, facilities and the best time to visit.25 May 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside Our Conservation Academy: Diving With PurposeExplore the Conservation Academy pathway, from your first course through to real project dives, and see how purposeful diving builds better, more aware divers.18 May 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesFull Face Mask Diving: Warmer, Drier, More ComfortableDiscover how the Full Face Mask Diver course keeps you warmer, drier and more comfortable underwater, and why it suits UK cold water diving so well.11 May 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesPADI DPV Specialty: Cover More Reef, Meet More TurtlesChase turtles without the chase. Discover the PADI DPV specialty: what it involves, who it suits, and how it changes your next diving holiday.4 May 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsYour Spring Dive Season Checklist: Getting Kit-ReadyKit sat idle all winter? Here's your practical checklist for getting equipment, skills, and plans ready before your first dive of the season.27 Apr 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →CommunityLearning to Dive as a Family: One Journey, Many LessonsThinking about learning to dive as a family this Easter? Here's what the journey really looks like, from first pool session to first open water dive.20 Apr 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →GearWetsuit or Drysuit? Choosing Your Kit for UK Spring DivingWetsuit or drysuit for UK spring diving? A practical, no-nonsense guide to choosing, fitting, and looking after your cold-water exposure kit.13 Apr 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →ConservationMicroplastics in UK Seas: What Divers Can Do This SeasonUK divers see plastic on every dive. Learn where microplastics come from, why they matter for marine life, and what you can actually do about it.6 Apr 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsGas Planning for Divers: A Complete Practical GuideWhy gas planning matters, the mistakes divers make, and how to calculate and practise it properly before your next UK or holiday season dive.30 Mar 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →TravelDiving Gozo and Malta: Your Complete Holiday GuideMarine life, best time to visit, and a typical week of diving in Gozo and Malta, plus logistics for planning your own Mediterranean trip.23 Mar 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →UK DivingStoney Cove, Leicestershire: The Complete UK Dive GuideA genuine diver's guide to Stoney Cove, Leicestershire: depths, visibility, wildlife, facilities, and how it fits into UK diver training courses.16 Mar 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside Our PADI Professional Academy Instructor PathwayHow our PADI Professional Academy takes divers from Divemaster through full Instructor status and beyond, and exactly who the pathway genuinely suits.9 Mar 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesTec Sidemount: Is This PADI Course Right for You?Thinking about PADI Tec Sidemount training? Here is what the course covers, who it suits, and how it fits into technical diving at our Reading academy.2 Mar 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesTec 50 Explained: Reading's Path to Technical DivingWhat Tec 50 involves, who it's for, and how our Reading-based Tec Academy prepares divers to safely dive to 50 metres with staged decompression.24 Feb 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →CommunityHalf Term in Reading: Family Scuba and Mermaid TastersWhat half-term scuba and Mermaid taster sessions in Reading actually involve, why families keep coming back, and how to book before it fills up.17 Feb 2020 · 6 min readRead Article →CommunityLearning to Dive as a Family: One Pool, Different PacesWhat really happens when families learn to dive or mermaid together, from the first nervous taster session to years of shared family diving trips.10 Feb 2020 · 6 min readRead Article →GearChoosing a Dive Mask: A Half-Term Family Buying GuideA practical, honest guide to buying your first dive mask, covering proper fit, lens types, kids and Mermaid sizing, and what UK conditions demand.3 Feb 2020 · 6 min readRead Article →ConservationCoral Bleaching Explained: Why New Divers Should CareThinking of learning to dive in 2020? Here's a clear guide to coral bleaching, why it happens, and what new divers can do to help protect reefs.27 Jan 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsMaster SMB Deployment: A Core Skill Every Diver NeedsStruggling with SMB deployment? Learn why it matters, the mistakes most divers make, and how to practice until it feels calm and effortless.20 Jan 2020 · 6 min readRead Article →TravelCozumel, Mexico: A Diver's Guide to the Island's WallsWarm water, effortless drift diving and turtles on every dive, here's what a week diving Cozumel, Mexico actually looks like and how to plan one.13 Jan 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →UK DivingDiving the Farne Islands: Seals, Cold Water, Big RewardsGrey seals, cold clear water and dramatic gullies, our full UK dive site guide to the Farne Islands and why it belongs on your 2020 dive list.6 Jan 2020 · 7 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside Our Freediving Academy: The Full PathwayCurious about breath-hold diving? Explore the full pathway through our Freediving Academy, from your first pool session to open water dives.30 Dec 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesThe PADI Advanced Training Academy: Your Next StepThinking about Advanced Open Water training or a Christmas gift voucher this year? Here's what our Advanced Training Academy covers and who it suits.23 Dec 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesMaster Scuba Diver Trainer: Your Guide to Going ProfessionalWhat is Master Scuba Diver Trainer, and is it right for you? Here's who it suits, what a typical day involves, and how it fits the professional pathway.16 Dec 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →