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 Diver's Guide to the Maltese IslandsTrade grey skies for clear Mediterranean water. Here's what diving in Gozo and Malta is really like, from swim-throughs and wrecks to a typical week's diving.17 Mar 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

UK DivingStoney Cove Diving: The Complete Inland Site GuideEverything you need to know about diving Stoney Cove in Leicestershire - depth, visibility, wildlife, facilities, and why it's ideal for early-season training.10 Mar 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

AcademiesFreediving Academy: Your Complete Pathway to One BreathFrom first breath-hold to advanced depth, explore the full Freediving Academy pathway - a brilliant way to build fitness before spring diving season.3 Mar 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

CoursesDive Against Debris: Give Back on Every Fun DiveDiscover the PADI Dive Against Debris specialty at our Reading academy - family-friendly, purposeful, and open to newly certified divers from age 10.24 Feb 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesMaster Scuba Diver: What It Really Takes to Reach the TopMaster Scuba Diver is the highest non-professional PADI rating. Here's exactly what the pathway actually involves, and whether it's right for you now.17 Feb 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

Family DivingYour Guide to Half-Term Family Diving and Mermaid FunFebruary half-term is coming up fast. Here's how to fill it with pool taster sessions the whole family can genuinely enjoy together this year.10 Feb 2025 · 6 min readRead Article →

CommunityLearning to Dive as a Family, One Half-Term at a TimeA composite look at what it's really like when a whole family learns to dive together, one taster session and one school half-term at a time.3 Feb 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

GearNew Year, New Kit: A Beginner's Guide to Dive ComputersThinking about buying your first dive computer this year? Here's what actually matters, what to skip, and how to avoid the common beginner mistakes.27 Jan 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

ConservationA Diver's New Year Resolution: Taking On Ocean MicroplasticsMake 2025 the year your diving does some good. Discover what ocean microplastics really are, where they come from, and what divers can actually do.20 Jan 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

Diver TipsNew Year, Better Diving: Mastering Basic Gas PlanningMake 2025 the year your gas planning stops being guesswork. A practical guide to the rule of thirds, reserves, and building the habit properly.13 Jan 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

TravelCozumel, Mexico: Caribbean Wall and Drift Diving GuideEverything to know about diving Cozumel: drift-diving the reefs, marine life highlights, best months to visit, and what a typical dive week looks like.6 Jan 2025 · 7 min readRead Article →

UK DivingFarne Islands Diving: Northumberland's Seal Colony SiteA full guide to diving the Farne Islands, from playful grey seals and kelp forests to conditions, logistics, and how it fits into your UK training.30 Dec 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

AcademiesInside the Conservation Academy at Diving AcademyHow Diving Academy's Conservation Academy turns divers into active ocean advocates, from first course to citizen-science fieldwork. A full guide to the pathway.23 Dec 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesPADI Tec 45: Your Bridge Into Technical DivingThinking about technical diving? Here's what PADI Tec 45 at Diving Academy Reading really involves, from prerequisites to your first staged decompression dive.16 Dec 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesTec 40: Your First Real Step Into Technical DivingThinking about technical diving? Here's what the Tec 40 course actually involves, who it suits, and how it fits into a bigger technical pathway.9 Dec 2024 · 6 min readRead Article →

SeasonalGift a Dive Course This Christmas: Our Full 2024 GuideStruggling for Christmas gift ideas? Here's why a diving gift voucher works brilliantly, plus a look back at our year and what winter diving involves.2 Dec 2024 · 6 min readRead Article →

CommunityFrom Desk Job to Dive Deck: One Diver's Career ChangeA composite look at what it actually takes to trade an office career for professional diving, from first Open Water course to working instructor.25 Nov 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

GearDive Computers Explained: What to Actually Look ForChoosing a dive computer can feel overwhelming. Here's a clear, practical guide to the features that matter and the ones you can safely ignore.18 Nov 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

ConservationThe Lionfish Invasion: Why Divers Are on the Front LineLionfish are spreading fast across the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Here's why they're such a problem, and how divers are helping to track and control them.11 Nov 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

Diver TipsGas Planning for Divers: A Practical, Honest GuideWhy gas planning matters more than most divers realise, the core concepts explained simply, and how to genuinely build the habit into every dive.4 Nov 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

TravelGozo and Malta: A Diver's Guide to the Maltese IslandsWhy Gozo and Malta remain one of Europe's best dive destinations, from wrecks and blue holes to marine life, timing, and planning a full week away.28 Oct 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

UK DivingStoney Cove: The UK Diver's Guide to a Classic SiteEverything you need to know about diving Stoney Cove in Leicestershire, from depth and visibility to facilities, training fit, and what to bring.21 Oct 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

AcademiesInside the Professional Academy: Your Full PathwayFrom Divemaster to Master Scuba Diver Trainer, here is a genuine look at what our Professional Academy pathway actually involves, stage by stage.14 Oct 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

CoursesBecoming an Adaptive Techniques Specialty InstructorHow the PADI Adaptive Techniques Specialty Instructor course equips Reading dive professionals to teach every kind of diver, safely and well.7 Oct 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →

ConservationAWARE Shark and Ray Conservation Specialty: Full GuideEverything you need to know about the AWARE Shark and Ray Conservation Specialty, from prerequisites and course structure to why it is genuinely worth doing.30 Sept 2024 · 7 min readRead Article →