Intact steamship wrecks in the almost tideless water south of Lerwick
7–15°C · 45–59°Fadvanced
Country
Diving in the United Kingdom
21 dive destinations in the United Kingdom, up to 8,470 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 4–28 °C. 20 of 21 are in season in September. 91 named dive sites have their own pages.
Weymouth & Portland · photo Jacko
- Destinations
- 21
- Dive sites
- 91
- Water
- 4–28°C
- Most in season
- September
RegionsCold WaterAtlantic
Where are the dive destinations in the United Kingdom?
Atlantic
- 1ShetlandJun–Aug
- 2Scapa FlowSep–Oct
- 3Kinlochbervie & the North-West HighlandsMar–Nov
- 4Isle of SkyeYear-round
- 5Sound of MullJun–Sep
- 6Loch Fyne & Loch LongYear-round
- 7St Abbs & EyemouthJun–Sep
- 8Farne IslandsJun–Sep
- 9Strangford LoughJun–Nov
- 10Capernwray & the Lake DistrictMar–Nov
- 11AngleseyApr–Oct
- 12Stoney CoveOct–Jan
- 13Pembrokeshire & SkomerYear-round
- 14Lundy IslandJun–Sep
- 15Dover & Folkestone WrecksMay–Oct
- 16Weymouth & PortlandJun–Sep
- 17Plymouth Sound & HMS ScyllaJul–Sep
- 18CornwallMay–Sep
- 19Isles of ScillyMay–Sep
- 20Ascension IslandNov–Mar
- 21St HelenaDec–Mar
Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).
How do they compare?
| # | Destination | Best months | Water | Visibility | Depth | Level | Access | Sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shetland | Jun–Aug | 7–15°C | — | 1–40 m | Advancedsites from beginner to advanced | Liveaboard | 7 |
| 2 | Scapa Flow | Sep–Oct | 7–13°C | 2–20 m | 12–45 m | Advanced | Day boat, Liveaboard | 4 |
| 3 | Kinlochbervie & the North-West Highlands | Mar–Nov | 7–13°C | — | 10–30 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Day boat, Shore | 6 |
| 4 | Isle of Skye | Year-round | 7–15°C | — | 6–25 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Day boat, Shore | 5 |
| 5 | Sound of Mull | Jun–Sep | 7–14°C | 5–20 m | 10–45 m | Advancedsites from intermediate to advanced | Day boat | 3 |
| 6 | Loch Fyne & Loch Long | Year-round | 7–15°C | — | 10–30 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Shore, Day boat | 4 |
| 7 | St Abbs & Eyemouth | Jun–Sep | 6–15°C | 5–20 m | 6–30 m | Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced | Shore, Day boat | 4 |
| 8 | Farne Islands | Jun–Sep | 6–15°C | 5–15 m | 5–20 m | Intermediate | Day boat | 3 |
| 9 | Strangford Lough | Jun–Nov | 7–15°C | — | 12–25 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to intermediate | Day boat | 4 |
| 10 | Capernwray & the Lake District | Mar–Nov | 5–15°C | 6–15 m | 2–20 m | Beginnersites from beginner to advanced | Shore | 2 |
| 11 | Anglesey | Apr–Oct | 8–16°C | 5–10 m | 3–30 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Shore, Day boat | 3 |
| 12 | Stoney Cove | Oct–Jan | 4–18°C | 5–20 m | 1–36 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to intermediate | Shore | 4 |
| 13 | Pembrokeshire & Skomer | Year-round | 8–17°C | — | 12–30 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Shore, Day boat | 5 |
| 14 | Lundy Island | Jun–Sep | 8–17°C | 5–20 m | 5–30 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Day boat | 4 |
| 15 | Dover & Folkestone Wrecks | May–Oct | 8–18°C | — | 16–30 m | Advancedsites from intermediate to advanced | Day boat | 4 |
| 16 | Weymouth & Portland | Jun–Sep | 7–18°C | — | 3–39 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Shore, Day boat | 10 |
| 17 | Plymouth Sound & HMS Scylla | Jul–Sep | 8–19°C | — | 10–24 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to intermediate | Shore, Day boat | 5 |
| 18 | Cornwall — Padstow & the Manacles | May–Sep | 8–19°C | — | 5–30 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Shore, Day boat | 7 |
| 19 | Isles of Scilly | May–Sep | 9–19°C | — | 5–35 m | Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced | Day boat | 5 |
| 20 | Ascension Island | Nov–Mar | 22–28°C | 20–40 m | 5–35 m | Intermediate | Shore, Day boat | — |
| 21 | St Helena | Dec–Mar | 20–26°C | 15–40 m | 10–35 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Shore, Day boat | 2 |
When is the best time to dive the United Kingdom?
The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in September: 20 of 21. Each row is one destination's own season rating.
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Shetland | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
| 2Scapa Flow | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Fair | Off-season |
| 3Kinlochbervie & the North-West Highlands | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
| 4Isle of Skye | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| 5Sound of Mull | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season |
| 6Loch Fyne & Loch Long | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| 7St Abbs & Eyemouth | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season |
| 8Farne Islands | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season |
| 9Strangford Lough | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
| 10Capernwray & the Lake District | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
| 11Anglesey | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
| 12Stoney Cove | Prime | Good | Fair | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime |
| 13Pembrokeshire & Skomer | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| 14Lundy Island | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Off-season | Off-season |
| 15Dover & Folkestone Wrecks | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair |
| 16Weymouth & Portland | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
| 17Plymouth Sound & HMS Scylla | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good |
| 18Cornwall | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair |
| 19Isles of Scilly | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Off-season | Off-season |
| 20Ascension Island | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime |
| 21St Helena | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Prime |
| Good or prime | 7 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
Which destinations combine into one trip?
Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.
189 km end to end
In season together: Apr–Oct
162 km end to end
In season together: May–Sep
186 km end to end
In season together: Jun–Oct
125 km end to end
In season together: Apr–Oct
44 km end to end
In season together: May–Oct
69 km end to end
In season together: May–Sep
All 21 destinations in the United Kingdom
Scuttled German fleet wrecks in a sheltered Orkney anchorage
7–13°C · 45–55°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftadvanced
Cold Water
Kinlochbervie & the North-West Highlands
United Kingdom
Gullies, swim-throughs and a blowhole cave on Scotland's far north-west coast
7–13°C · 45–55°Fintermediate
Cold Water
Isle of Skye
United Kingdom
Pinnacle walls at the Macleod Maidens and wrecks from Neist Point to Loch Alsh
7–15°C · 45–59°Fintermediate
The Rondo stands almost vertical, stern at 15 m and bow at 50
7–14°C · 45–57°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftadvanced
Cold Water
Loch Fyne & Loch Long
United Kingdom
Shore diving on old pier wreckage and boulder reefs an hour from Glasgow
7–15°C · 45–59°Fintermediate
Jewel anemones and grey seals on a Berwickshire volcanic coast
6–15°C · 43–59°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Curious grey seals routinely approach and play with divers
6–15°C · 43–59°Fvis 15 m · 50 ftintermediate
Tide-scoured walls and wrecks in a County Down sea lough
7–15°C · 45–59°Fintermediate
Cold Water
Capernwray & the Lake District
United Kingdom
Friendly sturgeon and scuttled wrecks in a former limestone quarry
5–15°C · 41–59°Fvis 15 m · 50 ftbeginner
Wrecks, tide-timed Menai Strait dives and sheltered shore bays
8–16°C · 46–61°Fvis 10 m · 33 ftintermediate
A flooded granite quarry with a sunken tug, a helicopter and a submarine replica
4–18°C · 39–64°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Cold Water
Pembrokeshire & Skomer
United Kingdom
Shore and boat dives in Wales's only Marine Conservation Zone
8–17°C · 46–63°Fintermediate
England's first marine reserve, and its grey seals follow divers around
8–17°C · 46–63°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate
Cold Water
Dover & Folkestone Wrecks
United Kingdom
Upright WW1 liners and steamers a short boat ride from Dover
8–18°C · 46–64°Fadvanced
Submarine wrecks at 30 to 39 m, and a shore site for training
7–18°C · 45–64°Fintermediate
Cold Water
Plymouth Sound & HMS Scylla
United Kingdom
A frigate sunk as Europe's first artificial diving reef, a training site
8–19°C · 46–66°Fintermediate
A reef that has claimed more than one hundred ships, with its wrecks still on it
8–19°C · 46–66°Fintermediate
Hundreds of wrecks, anemone-covered walls and grey seals in one week
9–19°C · 48–66°Fintermediate
Black triggerfish swarm thick enough to block out the light
22–28°C · 72–82°Fvis 40 m · 130 ftintermediate
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Adult male and female whale sharks gather together, seen nowhere else
20–26°C · 68–79°Fvis 40 m · 130 ftintermediate