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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
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The Full Archive

SeasonalWhy a Diving Voucher Is the Best Christmas Gift This YearWondering if diving makes a good Christmas gift, or if winter is a bad time to start training? Here's everything you actually need to know before buying.9 Dec 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CommunityComing Back to Diving After Years Away: A Real GuideThinking about diving again after a long break? Here's an honest, practical look at refreshers, rusty skills, old kit, and confidence for returning divers.2 Dec 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →GearThe Diver's Guide to Buying a Dive Computer This Black FridayThinking about a Black Friday dive computer deal? Here's what actually matters, from algorithms to UK cold-water usability, before you spend the money.25 Nov 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →ConservationBasking Sharks: Britain's Gentle Giants and Why They Need UsBasking sharks are protected in UK waters but still under threat. Here's how divers can help protect Britain's biggest fish through real conservation action.18 Nov 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →Diver TipsMaster SMB Deployment: The Skill Every Diver NeedsWhy surface marker buoy deployment matters, the mistakes divers make, how to practise properly, and what instructors look for during assessment.11 Nov 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →TravelGozo and Malta Diving: Walls, Wrecks and Warm WaterMarine life, best time to visit, and a typical week of diving in Gozo and Malta, plus logistics for planning your own Mediterranean trip.4 Nov 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →UK DivingStoney Cove Guide: The Best UK Inland Dive SiteEverything you need to know about diving Stoney Cove, Leicestershire, from depth and visibility to facilities, training uses, and what to pack.28 Oct 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside the Conservation Academy: Full Pathway GuideA full guide to our Conservation Academy pathway, from entry-level awareness courses to advanced survey specialties, and who the academy suits.21 Oct 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesSidemount Diver Instructor: How to Start Teaching ItWhat the Sidemount Diver Instructor course involves, who should take it, and how it fits your professional teaching pathway at Diving Academy Reading.14 Oct 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →ProfessionalPeak Performance Buoyancy Instructor: Why It Matters NowAs dry suit season begins, discover why the Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Instructor rating is one of the most useful an instructor can add.7 Oct 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesWhy Autumn Is Actually The Best Time To Learn To DiveQuieter pools, calmer open water sites, and a genuine head start on next year's holiday diving. Here's why September beats June for new divers.30 Sept 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CommunityLearning To Dive As A Family: What It's Really LikeAn honest look at how families learn to dive together this autumn, from mixed-pace training to the real challenges nobody usually talks about.23 Sept 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →GearChoosing Your First BCD: A Straight-Talking Buying GuideJacket versus back-inflate, UK cold water diving versus warm holiday diving, and the common fit mistakes new divers make buying their first BCD.16 Sept 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →ConservationCoral Bleaching Explained: How UK Divers Can HelpWhat coral bleaching really is, why it is becoming more frequent worldwide, and how divers trained right here in Reading can help gather real reef data.9 Sept 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →Diver TipsBack to Basics: Nailing Your SMB Deployment This AutumnA practical guide to confident surface marker buoy deployment - why it matters, common mistakes, how to practise, and what instructors look for.2 Sept 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →TravelCozumel Diving Holidays: Mexico's Caribbean Reef ParadiseEverything to know before a Cozumel diving trip - marine life, best time to visit, a typical week of diving, and what makes this Mexican island special.26 Aug 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →UK DivingFarne Islands Diving: Grey Seals and Wrecks in NorthumberlandA full guide to diving the Farne Islands - curious grey seals, dramatic reefs, wrecks and the best time to visit this Northumberland classic.19 Aug 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside the Professional Academy: From Diver to Dive ProHow our Professional Academy takes divers from Rescue Diver through Divemaster to Instructor - the full pathway, who it suits, and what to expect.12 Aug 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesUnderwater Pumpkin Carving: Reading's Wackiest Fun DiveDiscover Underwater Pumpkin Carving at our Reading academy - a fun, skill-building quarry dive that sharpens buoyancy and trim for divers of all levels.5 Aug 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesAdaptive Techniques: The Course That Makes You a Better DiverLearn what the PADI Adaptive Techniques course actually covers, who it's for, and why it makes you a genuinely more capable buddy and instructor.29 Jul 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesStill Time to Get Your Family Dive-Ready This SummerBooked a summer holiday with diving on the itinerary? Here's a realistic timeline for getting the whole family certified before you fly, starting now.22 Jul 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CommunityOne Family, Three Generations: Learning to Dive TogetherA composite look at what happens when parents, grandparents, and kids all learn to scuba dive together over one summer, and why it works so well.15 Jul 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →GearWetsuit or Drysuit? Choosing Exposure Protection That FitsHeading off on a summer dive holiday but training in UK waters too? Here's how to choose between a wetsuit and a drysuit without wasting money.8 Jul 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →ConservationCoral Bleaching Explained: Why UK Divers Should CareCoral bleaching is accelerating across the world's reefs. Here's what causes it, what divers actually see underwater, and how every diver can help.1 Jul 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →Diver TipsMaster SMB Deployment: The Skill Every Diver Needs NowWhy SMB deployment genuinely matters, the common mistakes divers make, and how to practise it properly before your next UK dive later this season.24 Jun 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →