{"id":25824,"title":"Our UK Top 20 UK dive sites","description":"In our last blog we talked about our global favourite dive sites.  But we\u2019re first and foremost huge fans of British diving.   The UK may not have the crystal-clear waters of the tropics, but it offers some of the most diverse and exciting diving in the world","content":"<p>In our last blog we talked about our global favourite dive sites. But we\u2019re first and foremost huge fans of British diving.  The UK may not have the crystal-clear waters of the tropics, but it offers some of the most diverse and exciting diving in the world. Here are the 20 best UK dive sites, in no particular order:<\/p><ol><li><p>St. Abbs Marine Reserve, Scotland: A stunning marine reserve with deep canyons and an abundance of marine life, including seals and colourful anemones.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands: The final resting place of many WWI and WWII ships, this dive site offers amazing wreck diving and a glimpse into history.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>The Manacles, Cornwall: This reef is home to a diverse array of marine life, including lobsters, crabs, and colorful fish.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Chesil Beach, Dorset: The closest to our HQ.  Known for its variety of shipwrecks, this dive site also offers the opportunity to see seahorses, cuttlefish, and octopus.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>The Needles, Isle of Wight: A unique dive site with towering rock formations, colorful sponges, and the opportunity to see basking sharks.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Lundy Island, Bristol Channel: A marine conservation area with abundant marine life, including seals, dolphins, and sunfish.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Stoney Cove, Leicestershire: A former quarry turned dive site, Stoney Cove is known for its clear water and underwater attractions, including a sunken airplane and a double-decker bus.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Swanage Pier, Dorset: A popular dive site for beginners and advanced divers alike, this pier is home to a variety of marine life, including seahorses and cuttlefish.<\/p><\/li><li><p>Farnes Islands, Northumberland: A marine reserve with rich marine life, including seals, lobsters, and colorful anemones.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Sound of Mull, Scotland: Known for its spectacular wrecks, including the HMS Audacious and the Rondo, this dive site offers the opportunity to see a variety of marine life, including octopus and wolf fish.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Eddystone Reef, Devon: This reef is home to an abundance of marine life, including lobsters, crabs, and colourful fish.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>M2 Wreck, Lyme Bay: A popular wreck dive, the M2 submarine wreck is home to a variety of marine life, including conger eels and lobsters.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Portland Bill, Dorset: A popular dive site for advanced divers, this site offers the opportunity to see cuttlefish, seals, and even the occasional dolphin.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Plymouth Sound, Devon: Home to a variety of wrecks and abundant marine life, including dolphins and porpoises.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Loch Fyne, Scotland: A beautiful freshwater loch with crystal-clear water and the opportunity to see freshwater species, including trout and crayfish.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Lizard Point, Cornwall: A stunning dive site with a variety of marine life, including colourful fish and nudibranchs.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Babbacombe Bay, Devon: Known for its clear water and colourful marine life, including cuttlefish and seahorses.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Porthkerris Cove, Cornwall: A beautiful cove with crystal-clear water and abundant marine life, including lobsters and crabs.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire: A marine reserve with the opportunity to see seals, dolphins, and a variety of fish and invertebrates.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><li><p>Farne Islands, Northumberland: A popular dive site with abundant marine life, including seals, lobsters, and colourful anemones.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><\/ol><p>Despite the cooler temperatures, the UK offers some of the most diverse and exciting diving in the world, with a wide range of dive sites to suit all interests and skill levels. From reefs and wrecks to crystal-clear freshwater lochs - if you haven\u2019t tried it yet, come see for yourself!<\/p>","urlTitle":"our-uk-top-20","url":"\/blog\/our-uk-top-20\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/our-uk-top-20\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/darktyde.com\/blog\/our-uk-top-20\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1679171228,"updatedAt":1679237154,"publishedAt":1679237154,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":78443,"name":"DarkTyde Divewear"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/3zr2jprhyz4bdtnqocicfrlejnknxp5ckzrbvotqqkji6h6x.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/3zr2jprhyz4bdtnqocicfrlejnknxp5ckzrbvotqqkji6h6x.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/3zr2jprhyz4bdtnqocicfrlejnknxp5ckzrbvotqqkji6h6x.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":25828,"title":"What is Tech Diving?","url":"\/blog\/what-is-tech-diving\/","urlTitle":"what-is-tech-diving","division":78443,"description":"Technical or \u201ctech\u201d diving is a type of scuba diving that involves exploring deeper and more challenging dive sites, using specialised equipment and techniques.  Although the basics are still the same, this type of diving requires more training, experience, and preparation than recreational diving, and it can involve a greater degree of risk. The term \"technical diving\" refers to a range of advanced diving practices, including mixed gas diving, deep diving, cave diving, wreck diving, and more","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/9a0wfpr43djozjtr0fpdr1qx9xakpzgu7mgxzmezk1bqbbv8.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/9a0wfpr43djozjtr0fpdr1qx9xakpzgu7mgxzmezk1bqbbv8.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":25840,"title":"Best Shore Dives in the UK","url":"\/blog\/best-shore-dives-in-the-uk\/","urlTitle":"best-shore-dives-in-the-uk","division":78443,"description":"At DarkTyde were huge fans of exotic foreign trips.  Sun, sand and scuba are what we all dream of when we first take up the sport.  But most of our diving takes place in the UK and we also love our low stress, light kit bimbles","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xqalyk0wzifzyxnx27dqgi7cm8ua0fpvhm5dk5touaze59es.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xqalyk0wzifzyxnx27dqgi7cm8ua0fpvhm5dk5touaze59es.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":25822,"title":"Our Global Bucket List","url":"\/blog\/our-global-bucket-list\/","urlTitle":"our-global-bucket-list","division":78443,"description":"The DarkTyde team have dived on every continent in the world apart from Antarctica.  We are always looking for the most unique and exciting dive sites around the world.  Here are twenty bucket list dives we think that every scuba diver should experience:Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Explore one of the world's largest coral reefs and marvel at its abundant marine life","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/px2wz9uy6sk8m9g90skpka17ehmyxclma702gyktblydhdzf.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/px2wz9uy6sk8m9g90skpka17ehmyxclma702gyktblydhdzf.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}