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

TravelGozo and Malta: A Mediterranean Diving Trip Worth BookingEverything you need to know about diving Gozo and Malta - marine life, best season to visit, logistics, and what a typical week of diving looks like.17 Jun 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →UK DivingStoney Cove: Why Every UK Diver Should Know This QuarryA UK dive-site guide to Stoney Cove, Leicestershire - depth, visibility, sights, facilities, and why it's a genuine training staple for Reading divers.10 Jun 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside the Freediving Academy: From First Breath to DepthA full guide to our Freediving Academy pathway - from beginner breath-hold basics in the pool to instructor training, and who the sport genuinely suits best.3 Jun 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesTec Deep Instructor: Is It Time to Start Teaching Tec?What the PADI Tec Deep Instructor course involves, who qualifies, prerequisites, a typical training day, and how it fits a technical diving career pathway.27 May 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesTec 40 Instructor: Your Next Step in Technical DivingTec 40 Instructor is the entry point into PADI's technical instructor pathway. Here's what the course involves, who it suits, and why it matters.20 May 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsWorld Turtle Day: The Turtles You'll Meet This SummerWorld Turtle Day falls on 23 May. Meet the turtle species divers encounter on holiday and get a head start on planning next summer's dive trip.13 May 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →CommunityFrom Nervous Beginner to Confident Diver: One JourneyEvery confident diver started as a nervous beginner. Follow one diver's composite journey from first breath underwater to considering their next step.6 May 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →GearStaying Warm: A Diver's Guide to UK Thermal LayeringCold UK water demands the right layers underneath your wetsuit or drysuit. Here's how to choose thermal gear that keeps you diving longer all season.29 Apr 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →ConservationGhost Fishing Gear: Diving's Quiet Ocean CrisisLost nets and pots keep trapping marine life for decades after they sink. Discover what ghost fishing gear is and how divers can help stop it.22 Apr 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsUnderwater Navigation: The Skill Most Divers Never Truly MasterCompass work, natural navigation and genuine dive planning that actually gets you home safely. Why navigation deserves far more practice than it gets.15 Apr 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →TravelCozumel Diving: Why This Mexican Island Belongs On Your ListWarm currents, dramatic walls and effortless drift diving at their best. Here's what a genuine week of diving in Cozumel actually looks like.8 Apr 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →UK DivingFarne Islands Diving Guide: Seals, Wrecks and Cold Water ThrillsGrey seals, atmospheric wrecks and some of England's best visibility. Here's everything you need to know before diving the Farne Islands this season.1 Apr 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside the Conservation Academy: Diving With Real PurposeHow our Conservation Academy turns curious divers into confident advocates for the ocean, one practical skill and one meaningful dive at a time.25 Mar 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesAdvanced Mermaid: Take Your Tail Skills FurtherReady to swim faster, dive deeper and glide with real finesse in a monofin? Here's exactly what our Advanced Mermaid course covers, and who it really suits.18 Mar 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CoursesPADI Discover Scuba Diving Leader: Is It Right for You?What the PADI Discover Scuba Diving Leader course actually involves, who it suits, and how it helps working Divemasters take on more responsibility.11 Mar 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →Diver TipsYour Complete Guide to Prepping for the UK Dive SeasonA practical checklist for getting your gear and yourself properly ready for the UK dive season, from regulator servicing to weight checks and fitness.4 Mar 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →CommunityOne Family's Journey From Nervous Beginners to DiversA candid, honest look at what it's really like for a family learning to dive together, from nervous first breaths to confident open water divers.25 Feb 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →GearHow to Choose a Dive Mask That Actually Fits YouA practical guide to choosing a dive mask that actually fits, covering skirt fit, lens style, colour, and how UK and warm-water needs differ.18 Feb 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →ConservationBritain's Hidden Seahorses and Why Divers Should CareMeet the UK's two native seahorse species, the real threats they face from habitat loss, and the practical steps divers can take to help protect them.11 Feb 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →Diver TipsMaster Buoyancy Control: The Skill That Changes EverythingStruggling to hover still underwater? Our guide to mastering buoyancy control covers common mistakes, real practice drills and what instructors look for.4 Feb 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →TravelGozo and Malta: Mediterranean Diving Worth Flying ForFrom the Blue Hole to Um El Faroud, discover why Gozo and Malta remain one of the best short-haul diving holidays for UK divers all year round.28 Jan 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →UK DivingStoney Cove: The UK's Ultimate Inland Training Dive SiteA full diver's guide to Stoney Cove, Leicestershire, the UK's favourite inland training site, covering depth, visibility, wrecks and what to bring.21 Jan 2019 · 6 min readRead Article →AcademiesInside the Professional Academy: From Diver to InstructorThinking about becoming a dive professional? Explore our Professional Academy pathway from Divemaster through to instructor level and beyond, step by step.14 Jan 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →CoursesWhale Defender: Make Your 2019 Diving Mean SomethingDiscover the PADI Whale Defender Speciality at Diving Academy, learn real cetacean conservation skills, and give your 2019 diving resolutions genuine purpose.7 Jan 2019 · 7 min readRead Article →