Explore North Sea

Diving in the North Sea off the Netherlands offers a uniquely adventurous experience for seasoned divers. With diving primarily taking place in North Holland and South Holland, the region presents a challenging yet rewarding environment. The North Sea is renowned for its intriguing shipwrecks—there are an estimated 10,000 scattered across its waters, with several accessible near the Dutch coastline. These sunken relics, often found at depths of 30 meters/98 feet or less, house a fascinating array of marine life, including conger eels, lobsters, and anemones, ready to greet those who venture beneath the surface.

The diving conditions in the North Sea demand respect and skill, with strong currents, cooler temperatures, and variable visibility creating a thrilling backdrop for exploration. Despite these challenges, the rewards are substantial. Divers can explore historic wrecks teeming with life, providing a glimpse into the past and a vibrant underwater ecosystem. Seasonal features add to the allure, with the possibility of encountering seals during certain times of the year.

For those prepared to brave its depths, the North Sea offers an unforgettable diving experience that combines history, adventure, and natural beauty. Whether setting off from shore or embarking on a boat dive, each expedition in the North Sea is an opportunity to uncover new stories and marvel at the interplay of nature and history. The dive sites are a testament to the sea's rich maritime heritage and the resilience of the marine habitats that have thrived among the wrecks. This distinctive blend of challenge and wonder makes diving in the North Sea a compelling pursuit for experienced divers seeking to expand their horizons.

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Duikcentrum Onderwaterwereld

Scuba Skills Update

16 Nov 2025 + 3 more

It is easy for dive skills to get rusty and to lose confidence when you have not dived for a while. With the SSI Scuba Skills Update, we will get you back in the water and diving with ease in no time. This scuba refresher course allows you to review and practice scuba skills you learned in your Open Water Diver program, under the guidance of an SSI Professional. This is a great course to take just before a dive holiday, so you spend less time worrying about your skills and more time admiring the marine life. If you are a non-certified Open Water Diver student, a Scuba Skills Update is ideal for practicing your dive skills before your open water training dives. With no fixed course duration, you can take your time and focus on the skills you need help with.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Duikcentrum Onderwaterwereld

Perfect Buoyancy

16 Nov 2025 + 3 more

The SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty is the best way to improve your buoyancy and get the most from every dive. Buoyancy is an essential dive skill, but any diver will tell you it takes time to perfect. The Perfect Buoyancy specialty will teach you advanced buoyancy skills and techniques, so you can master your buoyancy more quickly and enjoy more relaxed dive adventures. In this fascinating program, you will also learn new skills that protect the environment and work in every diving situation. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty certification. With better buoyancy skills, you will soon be able to hover with ease and take the underwater photographs you dream of!

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Duikcentrum Onderwaterwereld

Snorkeling Course

22 Mar 2026 + 1 more

The SSI Snorkel Diver program is your first step towards discovering a passion for the underwater world. It is the best way to learn how to snorkel and develop your confidence in the water, so you can go snorkeling and explore the mesmerizing landscapes and wildlife of the aquatic world. You do not need to be a proficient swimmer to participate in the Snorkel Diver program, and there is no minimum age to join. You just need to be comfortable in the water, able to maintain your buoyancy, and ready to begin the adventure of a lifetime! In this program, you will be introduced to the equipment and skills you need to go snorkeling safely. Begin your snorkeling training and earn your SSI Snorkel Diver recognition card today!

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Duikcentrum Onderwaterwereld

Open Water Diver

12 Apr 2026 + 4 more

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★☆☆ Onderwater Natuurpark Zegersloot

This dive site is a fairly dark dive site, but with a lamp it is easy to do. There is a great steel jetty that makes putting on fins and even doing a buddy check very easy. There are various objects under water including the regina maris. These are all next to each other.

★★★☆☆ Toolenburgerplas

A nice dive site with an easy to follow dive path and many underwater objects, such as wrecks, cars, two training platforms and even an old cannon! Visibility varies throughout the year but is generally good.

★★★☆☆ Haarlemmermeerse Bos

A dive site with high clay walls between 4 and 10 metres. Visibility is usually good on this divesite. The large height differences make this site very suitable to practice your buoyancy. A nice divespot with plenty of parking space. Watch out for fishermen.

★★★★☆ Twiske Kurejan

Kure-Jan beach is a very nice dive site. There is a course with various objects such as wrecks, platforms and even a wheelchair! Most fish can be found along the coast. The visibility varies from moderate (1-2) to reasonable (3-4).

★★★★☆ De Strandgaper

Large freshwater lake with lots of fish, but also many beautiful peat block formations that form wide canyons. Visibility is variable but can reach six meters on good days.

★★★☆☆ Klinkenbergerplas

Nice diving spot. Reasonable visibility deeper than 6 to 7 meters. You can enter the water at 2 places. Both entry points are between the reeds and easy to get in. Nice diving course with many objects, easy to follow the line to the platform. Along the reed banks the best chance to spot fish.

☆☆☆☆☆ Rif010

RiF010 is a world first: the first urban surfing pool in the world! Here you can surf in the inland harbors of Rotterdam on waves of up to one and a half meters high!

Aqualung

★★★☆☆ Boothelling

A beautiful dive site. Especially along the clay walls it is very nice diving here. Less air left on the way back? Dive along the reeds back to the entrance.

★★★★☆ Zevenhuizenplas

Not the most beautiful spot of the Zevenhuizerplas but nice to visit once. You can enter the water via the beach, swim out to past the buoy line and retrieve. Here you will find overgrown plateaus that slope down slowly.

★★★★☆ Hondenstrand

The dog beach of the Zevenhuizerplas is a diverse diving spot. You can follow a line course to depths of 30m but also the clay wall is highly recommended.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

★★★☆☆ Duikpark Zoetermeer

It is a nice dive site with a course to swim along all the different objects that are put here. In 2021 this huge crab was sunk, definitely go and visit it.

★★★★☆ Sportcentrum De Waterkanten

The swimming pool in Sports Centre De Waterkanten has a 25-metre competition pool, an instruction pool, a recreational pool, a whirlpool, a rapid and a toddler pool with various play equipment. There is also a 60-metre long slide, a low diving board and when the weather is nice, the terrace is open.

★★★★★ REM III (Wreck)

The REM III, previously known as the Delft is a ship converted by the Germans in the Second World War and at the time directly equipped with a cannon. It is from the former REM platform seen the 3rd known wreck, hence the name. The REM was sunk during the war by the Allied forces.

★★★★☆ MP-Diving

MP-Diving has its own 40,000 liter indoor pool where possible tests and exercises as well as private dive training can take place.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

★★★★☆ Sportkomplex Koning Willem-Alexander (SKWA)

Sportcomplex Koning Willem-Alexander is a unique place to push your boundaries in health, relaxation and sports performance. You can practice indoor sports as an amateur, but also if you are boundlessly ambitious and practice top sports.

Diving in North Sea

The North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands offers exceptional diving experiences with a mix of shore and wreck dives. Notable wreck dives include the "HMS Aboukir," a protected site where divers can explore remnants of a World War I warship. For those who enjoy shore dives, Zeeland offers accessible entries and vibrant marine life, making it a favorite spot for local divers. Unique underwater experiences await with night dives when bioluminescent creatures illuminate the dark waters, creating a magical spectacle. Divers may also witness the seasonal migration of certain fish species. Whether embarking on a liveaboard or opting for shore dives, the North Sea's diverse offerings provide a balance that caters to all diving preferences.

The best Months to dive in North Sea

The North Sea offers year-round diving opportunities, though conditions can vary significantly with the seasons. Summer water temperatures range from 15°C–18°C/59°F–64°F, while winter sees temperatures drop to 5°C–8°C/41°F–46°F. Visibility is typically 5 to 10 meters/16 to 33 feet, but can occasionally improve during calm weather. Strong winds and currents are common, especially in winter and early spring, which can affect dive conditions. While diving is possible throughout the year, the best conditions are generally found from late spring to early autumn. During winter, harsher weather and lower temperatures might deter less experienced divers.