Our Story
Oyster Diving was established on the sometimes-sunny South coast in Brighton by our founder, Mark Murphy. Mark had discovered the thrill of scuba diving and travelled to the Virgin Islands, where he completed his Divemaster training, moving on to Thailand to complete his instructor course and start teaching, and then to the Egyptian Red Sea.
Returning to the UK in 2006, Mark felt somewhat uninspired by the sorry state of the diving industry in the UK. Determined to revive it and to deliver scuba diving training at the highest level, he set up his very own diving school with Oyster Diving.
What started as a solo venture – just Mark, a laptop, and 6 sets of dive kits – has grown into the UK’s leading PADI dive centre.
“We now have a full team of instructors, are trusted by thousands, and are the first UK PADI dive centre to offer a fully bonded travel service with connections to the best dive centres, resorts, and liveaboards across the globe.” – Mark
What Do We Offer?
- PADI scuba diving courses at one of our six scuba diving centres across the South East, ranging from beginner to instructor level.
- UK and international diving holidays, organised and led by our team. We’ll connect you with some of the best resorts, liveaboards, and dive sites in the world, from Europe to the Red Sea to the Caribbean and beyond.
- Our friendly and active dive club – find your diving community and enjoy member discounts.
- Our scuba diving shop is available for purchasing and renting kit, and we can also offer scuba equipment servicing and air fills.
The Oyster Diving Difference
When it comes to learning to dive, we know you have plenty of options, which is why we go above and beyond to deliver a scuba experience that’s welcoming, professional, and truly unforgettable, holding ourselves to the highest standards.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- We’re a two-time UK Dive Centre of the Year.
- Mark was awarded Instructor of the Year by Sport Diver magazine in 2010.
- We have six premium diving pool locations across the South East.
- We offer exclusive access to a beautiful, private lake, Mercers Lake, for open water training.
- The use of high-end Aqualung diving equipment is included in your course fees.
- We can offer flexible scheduling – learn to dive at a time that suits you best.
- We have the highest Google review rating of any UK dive centre!
Our Mission and Values
Our ultimate mission is to make scuba diving safe, fun, and accessible while creating life-changing experiences both in the UK and abroad. We’re proud to offer some of the best facilities in the UK, from beautifully maintained private school pools to exclusive open water sites.
These values guide everything we do:
- Empowerment through diving – from building confidence to helping divers become professionals.
- Ocean advocacy – inspiring a deeper appreciation for marine life and UK dive sites.
- Community and connection – encouraging students to join our dive club, share their experiences, and keep diving locally.
- Accessibility – showing that unforgettable diving is possible here in the UK, not just on holiday.
- Unrivalled knowledge – sharing our wealth of diving knowledge to help our divers experience the very best global dive destinations.
What Our Customers Say
Oyster Diving Across the Globe
Want to Learn More?
Our friendly, expert team is here to help and would be delighted to meet you!
We’ll guide you through your options, from joining a Discover Scuba Trial or starting your PADI Open Water course to becoming part of our dive club or booking onto an Oyster Diving scuba diving holiday adventure.
We’re always happy to answer questions, talk through your goals, and help you choose the right course or holiday experience for you. Start your journey with us today.