{"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":"

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>

  1. 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><\/li>

  2. 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><\/li>

  3. The Manacles, Cornwall: This reef is home to a diverse array of marine life, including lobsters, crabs, and colorful fish.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  4. 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><\/li>

  5. The Needles, Isle of Wight: A unique dive site with towering rock formations, colorful sponges, and the opportunity to see basking sharks.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  6. Lundy Island, Bristol Channel: A marine conservation area with abundant marine life, including seals, dolphins, and sunfish.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  7. 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><\/li>

  8. 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>

  9. Farnes Islands, Northumberland: A marine reserve with rich marine life, including seals, lobsters, and colorful anemones.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  10. 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><\/li>

  11. Eddystone Reef, Devon: This reef is home to an abundance of marine life, including lobsters, crabs, and colourful fish.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  12. 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><\/li>

  13. 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><\/li>

  14. Plymouth Sound, Devon: Home to a variety of wrecks and abundant marine life, including dolphins and porpoises.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  15. Loch Fyne, Scotland: A beautiful freshwater loch with crystal-clear water and the opportunity to see freshwater species, including trout and crayfish.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  16. Lizard Point, Cornwall: A stunning dive site with a variety of marine life, including colourful fish and nudibranchs.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  17. Babbacombe Bay, Devon: Known for its clear water and colourful marine life, including cuttlefish and seahorses.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  18. Porthkerris Cove, Cornwall: A beautiful cove with crystal-clear water and abundant marine life, including lobsters and crabs.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  19. Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire: A marine reserve with the opportunity to see seals, dolphins, and a variety of fish and invertebrates.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li>

  20. Farne Islands, Northumberland: A popular dive site with abundant marine life, including seals, lobsters, and colourful anemones.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/li><\/ol>

    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":25829,"title":"What\u2019s so special about Scapa Flow?","url":"\/blog\/scapa-flow\/","urlTitle":"scapa-flow","division":78443,"description":"If you\u2019ve ever spent the evening in a pub with any UK divers, chances are Scapa Flow has come up in conversation. What is it? Where is it and why do British divers rave about it? Scapa Flow, located in the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland, is one of the most renowned dive sites in the UK. It is a large natural harbor, historically used by the British Navy as a base during both World Wars","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/yeeo9l6fkgdiqtpwqne86a3lqzxo5p5hcr2gi04wj4atdenl.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/yeeo9l6fkgdiqtpwqne86a3lqzxo5p5hcr2gi04wj4atdenl.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":25811,"title":"SCUBA acronyms","url":"\/blog\/scuba-acronyms\/","urlTitle":"scuba-acronyms","division":78443,"description":"Our sport is packed full of acronyms - SCUBA of course is itself short for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. If you\u2019re new to the sport you\u2019ll come across many others used to describe equipment, training, and diving practices. It can be a little confusing","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/nzll6xle94szwni7ozujzficx1kevdjnboxqx8yg61iftrqt.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=1.0078158415258&fx=0.50387761394682&fy=0.49612238605318","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/nzll6xle94szwni7ozujzficx1kevdjnboxqx8yg61iftrqt.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=1.0078158415258&fx=0.50387761394682&fy=0.49612238605318"},"hidden":0},{"id":25832,"title":"British Sealife - 10 critters we love to spot","url":"\/blog\/british-sealife-10-critters-we-love-to-spot\/","urlTitle":"british-sealife-10-critters-we-love-to-spot","division":78443,"description":"Scuba diving in the UK may not always be associated with brightly coloured fish and the same exciting marine life as the tropics, but there is an abundance of fascinating creatures to be found in the waters surrounding the British Isles. Here are our top ten creatures that you can encounter (some only if you\u2019re lucky) on a UK scuba diving trip:Grey seals - these playful and curious creatures are a common sight in many UK dive locations, and will happily interact with divers in several diving locations. Cuttlefish - these masters of camouflage are found in shallow waters and are often seen swimming close to divers","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/nhgohmfbyo1gkrilrc2wddyovw8kvorrn7o6qo3jqekbo97v.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/nhgohmfbyo1gkrilrc2wddyovw8kvorrn7o6qo3jqekbo97v.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}