Exploration
These are the best freediving spots in the UK
Because holding your breath in the bath isn’t an extreme sport, we present a list of stunning and certified places to freedive in the UK.
The art of diving as deeply as possible while holding your breath may not sound like the most relaxing weekend. But, embrace the sport of freediving and not only will you push your body, you’ll open your mind, too – as Georgina Miller, chair of the British Freediving Association, well knows.
“We are extremely lucky here in the UK to have so many active freediving clubs and amazing, varied dive sites,” says Georgina. “You can find a full list of affiliate clubs on our website so it’s easy to find somewhere close to you if you are interested in learning to dive. We recommend that you take a course with a qualified instructor to learn how to enjoy the sport safely. Most importantly, never freedive alone, and always dive with a qualified buddy."
So, in no particular order, here are some great freediving venues across the UK. Do hold your breath.
NB: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, some trips and courses may not be running, so check before you go.
1. NDAC, Chepstow
At 75m, NDAC in Chepstow is the deepest official dive site and inland lake in the UK. It has beautiful turquoise water, plus a state-of-the-art facility with a cafe, classrooms, shop, and changing rooms with hot showers. In the lake itself is a large Freedive platform with two counterweight systems for safe deep diving and four fixed lines. The lake has lots of purpose sunk attractions, such as an aeroplane, cars, tunnels, and a bus. All freediving at NDAC has to be through Saltfree Divers, a group which arranges regular meets for qualified divers as well as courses.
2. Vobster Quay, Somerset
Another inland lake, this is a bit shallower than NDAC. It is 34m deep and has many purpose sunk attractions, including a Sea King helicopter, a plane, several boats, cars, and trucks. There is a freediving platform with six lines. The site has an onsite shop, food van, classrooms and good changing facilities. Vobster Quay is open to any qualified freediver, and many schools use it as a training ground including Go Freediving, Blue Water Freediving and Apnea Revolution. The visibility is usually better in the colder months, but surface temperatures can get up to 18 degrees in the summer, with thermoclines as you progress deeper.
3. Dotshill Quarry, Midlands
A popular dive site with scuba divers as well as freedivers, Dotshill has a maximum depth of 23m. There are plenty of purpose sunk attractions, including boosts, cars and the odd bus. Basic food and bathroom facilities on site. A great place to explore the shallows. Watch this video to see how the good folk of Learn2Freedive tackled the quarry waters.
4. Porthkerris Cove, Cornwall
Porthkerris cove is a beautiful venue in southwest Cornwall. Famous for its scuba diving, it's also fast becoming a well-known freediving spot. Perched on the edge of the Manacles marine conservation zone well known for famous wrecks and abundant reef, there is a shore dive that ranges between 5-18m. But the dive centre also arrange boat trips out to deeper sites for deep freediving or some of the wrecks or reefs offshore. The site is well staffed, has a classroom, a well stocked shop with freediving gear, cafe, pool (under construction), and hot showers. It also has a good range of accommodation and camp site.
All freediving here takes place with Aquacity who run trips for qualified divers, courses, and specialist wildlife trips to freedive with seals and blue sharks. You can even tag along with experienced freediver and renowned underwater photographer Daan Verhoeven, whose fearsome work you can see in the image above.
5. Capernwray Dive Centre, Lake District
A popular destination of Apneists UK, who train here regularly, the site is well set up and has some of the best fish stocks in any UK inland dive site. Capernwray Dive Centre has lots of purpose sunk attractions, with depth ranges to around 20m. The lake boats some of the cleanest water for bathing and really good visibility.
6. Towan Headland, Newquay, Cornwall
A beautiful dive site with a maximum depth of 25m, freedivers and spearfishers love it for its sea life and endless gullies and swim-throughs. A popular destination of FreediveUK who are based in Newquay and run AIDA courses regularly in the summer. The group often trains in various spectacular dive sites, making the most of Cornwall’s abundant underwater world.
