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United Kingdom

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Explore United Kingdom

Diving in the United Kingdom offers a unique experience, blending rich history with diverse marine environments. Nestled between the North Sea, the English Channel, and the Celtic Sea, the UK boasts the 12th-longest coastline globally, providing an extensive array of dive sites. From thrilling shipwrecks to vibrant reefs, each dive reveals a slice of the UK's storied past and natural beauty. The cold waters are home to an array of fascinating marine life, including playful seals, colorful anemones, and even the occasional basking shark, ensuring divers always have something captivating to explore. The UK’s varied geography supports an array of dive styles, whether you're a fan of shore dives, boat excursions, or the adventure of liveaboards. Scotland offers dramatic underwater landscapes with towering walls and kelp forests, while the southern coast features historic wrecks, remnants of maritime clashes. Each region has its own seasonal highlights, such as the blooming of underwater flora in spring or the increased visibility during autumn, making the UK a year-round diving destination. Despite its reputation for cooler waters, the rich tapestry of experiences and encounters makes diving in the UK a rewarding escapade for divers of all levels.

Power Plug Type
G
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, Cir, Plus, Barc
Tipping
10–15% / Service Staff / Tipping is appreciated in restaurants and for table service, though not expected in pubs or bars.
Currency
GBP
Dial Code
+44
Electricity
230V / 50Hz
Time
UTC+0, UTC+1

Top Regions to Explore

Upcoming Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in United Kingdom

The waters surrounding the United Kingdom host a diverse array of marine life, with notable species varying by location and season. Common reef fish include species like the colorful wrasse and darting pollock. These fish are frequently encountered by divers exploring the coastal rocky reefs and kelp forests, especially during the warmer months when visibility is optimal. Seasonal highlights include sightings of basking sharks, which are typically spotted off the coast of Cornwall and the Isle of Man during the summer. Although less frequent, leatherback turtles and rays, such as the common stingray, are occasionally seen in southern waters, particularly during late spring to early autumn. Additionally, seals are a common sight throughout the year, especially around Scotland's Orkney Islands and the Farne Islands in northeast England, offering divers a chance to observe these playful mammals up close.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

1.9k Sightings
J
24
F
19
M
62
A
73
M
153
J
249
J
491
A
402
S
274
O
122
N
65
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

229 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
4
A
8
M
25
J
33
J
73
A
34
S
30
O
9
N
2
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Perch

Perch

7.9k Sightings
J
159
F
171
M
207
A
463
M
722
J
907
J
1.3k
A
1.5k
S
968
O
703
N
541
D
264

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Sturgeon

Sturgeon

4.2k Sightings
J
72
F
55
M
107
A
338
M
407
J
501
J
670
A
769
S
447
O
374
N
348
D
104

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 35

Trout

Trout

3.8k Sightings
J
89
F
71
M
132
A
351
M
392
J
448
J
562
A
625
S
383
O
323
N
310
D
110

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

3.4k Sightings
J
42
F
65
M
93
A
238
M
414
J
549
J
736
A
650
S
350
O
160
N
97
D
31

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Carp

Carp

3.4k Sightings
J
76
F
74
M
114
A
228
M
338
J
363
J
518
A
553
S
392
O
322
N
304
D
115

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 5

Pike

Pike

1.5k Sightings
J
40
F
58
M
76
A
109
M
184
J
139
J
215
A
164
S
183
O
151
N
84
D
63

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

1.3k Sightings
J
14
F
19
M
14
A
57
M
101
J
177
J
273
A
322
S
182
O
73
N
50
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 19

Seal

Seal

798 Sightings
J
0
F
9
M
6
A
18
M
30
J
97
J
175
A
178
S
126
O
142
N
15
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 190

Conger Eel

Conger Eel

433 Sightings
J
0
F
9
M
10
A
18
M
47
J
51
J
80
A
95
S
70
O
34
N
14
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

381 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
7
A
12
M
20
J
28
J
115
A
107
S
61
O
21
N
8
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

365 Sightings
J
26
F
14
M
30
A
35
M
44
J
52
J
29
A
43
S
42
O
22
N
19
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

358 Sightings
J
26
F
11
M
22
A
16
M
24
J
32
J
36
A
58
S
49
O
34
N
36
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

Pipefish

256 Sightings
J
12
F
6
M
14
A
16
M
20
J
38
J
40
A
46
S
32
O
25
N
2
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Pollock

Pollock

224 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
2
A
1
M
22
J
32
J
86
A
31
S
29
O
16
N
2
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

210 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
1
A
1
M
16
J
17
J
93
A
56
S
24
O
0
N
1
D
0

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