Best Time to Dive in the UK
2 dive areas, each scored on its own. Both areas peak together, May–September. You can dive from the shore at Cornwall; at the Farne Islands it is boat only. The one that asks for experience is the Farne Islands.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Good | May: Good | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Off season | November: Off season | December: Off season |
| Farne Islands | January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Moderate | April: Good | May: Good | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Moderate | November: Off season | December: Off season |
The UK compared
| Dive area | Best time | Water | Visibility | Dived from | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | May–Sep | 10–17 °C | 5–20 m | day boat and shore diving | Open Water |
| Farne Islands | May–Sep | 7–15 °C | 0–15 m | day boat | experienced divers |
Water and visibility are the whole year's range at each area, coldest month to warmest. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
Which area to pick
- Cornwall
- Best from May to September. Same season as the Farne Islands. It has the clearest water, up to 20 m, suits Open Water divers, is dived only from day boats and the shore and is the one for ocean sunfish.
- Farne Islands
- Best from May to September. Same season as Cornwall. It has the lowest visibility, 0–15 m, is for experienced divers, is dived only from day boats and is the one for grey seals.
The UK month by month
Two or more areas are good at once in April to September: the time to combine them in one trip.
- Jan–Feb
- Nowhere at its best.
- Mar
- Nowhere at its best; the Farne Islands is workable.
- Apr–Sep
- Every area is good.
- Oct
- Nowhere at its best; the Farne Islands is workable.
- Nov–Dec
- Nowhere at its best.
Cornwall
The best conditions run May to September for the long days — 14.7 hours of light against 10.0. The marine life holds steady all year, so the weather picks the month. The wider season runs April to September.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Good | May: Good | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Off season | November: Off season | December: Off season |
- Water
- 10–17 °C
- Wear
- drysuit
- Dived from
- day boat and shore diving
- Suits
- Open Water
Known for Basking shark, Ocean sunfish
Cornwall month by month →Farne Islands
Dive it May to September for the long days — 15.4 hours of light against 9.5. The marine life holds steady all year, so the weather picks the month. The full season runs April to September.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Moderate | April: Good | May: Good | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Moderate | November: Off season | December: Off season |
- Water
- 7–15 °C
- Wear
- drysuit
- Dived from
- day boat
- Suits
- experienced divers
Known for Grey seal, Basking shark
Farne Islands month by month →Diving in the UK: common questions
- When is the best time to dive the UK?
- Both areas peak together, May–September.
- Can you dive the UK all year?
- Not everywhere at once. Counting both areas, 5 months of the year have somewhere at its best; the rest are workable but off peak.
- How warm is the water in the UK?
- 7 to 17 °C across the year, depending on the area and the month. Each area's page gives its own month-by-month temperatures.
- Which part of the UK suits a beginner?
- The Open Water sites are Cornwall. The one that asks for more experience is the Farne Islands.
- Can you dive the UK from the shore?
- Yes, at Cornwall. At the Farne Islands it is boat only.
- What can you see diving in the UK?
- The headline animals are basking shark, ocean sunfish and grey seal. Each area's page lists everything recorded near it, with the months it was seen.