PADI Scuba Diving Courses in London & the UK

Start Your Underwater Adventure with Oyster Diving

As a premier PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre (IDC), Oyster Diving is dedicated to providing world-class scuba training with a focus on safety, professionalism, and fun. Whether you are taking your first breath underwater or looking to turn your passion into a career, our expert team is here to guide you through every step of your diving journey.

Why choose PADI Scuba Diving Courses?

We proudly offer a comprehensive range of PADI scuba diving courses. The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world’s most popular and widely recognised diving certification, accepted at over 6,500 dive centres globally. Once you qualify with us, the entire ocean becomes your playground.

Expert Training in the UK and Beyond

Oyster Diving is one of the largest and most respected diving schools in the UK. We provide flexible training options to suit your lifestyle, offering courses both locally in the UK and at stunning overseas destinations. Our programs cater to all skill levels and ages:

  • Beginners: Start with a ‘Discover Scuba‘ taster session.
  • Kids & Families: We offer specialised programs for children aged 8 and above.
  • Advanced & Professional: Progress from Advanced Open Water all the way to PADI Instructor level.

The Oyster Diving Difference

While we are a PADI 5 Star Centre, we believe true excellence goes beyond a title. With over 650 5-star reviews, our reputation is built on a personal dedication to elite training standards and premium, meticulously maintained diving equipment. Choosing Oyster Diving means gaining the skills and confidence that come from a team obsessed with quality, safety, and your success underwater.

scuba diving courses in the UK
diivng courses and lessons london

Discover Scuba / trial dive – Experience the magic with a pool-based trial dive.

Open water certification – Your “passport to the ocean”—qualify to dive worldwide.

Advanced Open Water – Unlock some of the best dive sites worldwide

Rescue Diver – Enhance your safety skills and become the ultimate dive buddy.

Divemaster – Take the first step in your professional diving journey.

Instructor Courses – Turn your passion into a career and get paid to dive the world.

Children’s courses – Specialist programs for young explorers aged 8–15.

Freediving courses – Discover the freedom of the ocean without tanks.

Technical diving – Explore historic wrecks, deeper depths, and mixed gases.

Dive Lesson Locations

If you are looking for a scuba diving course in London or the South East, Oyster Diving provides unmatched convenience. With six premier training locations, your underwater adventure is never far away:

Open water training dives take place in Mercers Park

What Our Divers Say

Give the Gift of Adventure

Looking for a unique gift? Treat a friend or family member to diving lessons in the UK. We offer flexible gift vouchers for our entire range of courses.

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Read our Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Who Can Learn to Scuba Dive?

PADI flow chart
PADI flow chart

Virtually anyone in good health, who is reasonably fit and comfortable in the water, can start their PADI journey.

Medical Requirements:

If you answer ‘Yes’ to any of the medical questions on the PADI Forms, then you would need a note from your GP saying that you are okay to dive. If you would prefer a professional dive medic to take a look at you, then we suggest the London Diving Chamber.

Why Choose Oyster Diving for Your Diving Course? 

As the Premier PADI 5 Star IDC for London and the South East, we are a multi-award-winning dive centre. Our reputation is built on providing a professional, friendly service that is hard to beat.

Whether you are looking for private scuba lessons or group trial dives, we offer expert instruction across Hertfordshire, Brighton, Surrey, Berkshire, Kent, and Oxfordshire. From absolute beginners to experienced divers expanding their skill sets, we provide the highest standards of diver education and quality gear in the industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHO CAN LEARN TO DIVE? 
Virtually anyone who is 8 years or older, in good health, reasonably fit and comfortable in the water. If you answer ‘Yes’ to any of the medical questions on the PADI Forms then you would need a note from your GP saying that you are okay to dive. There is no age limit on learning to dive.
I’M NOT SURE IF ONLINE LEARNING IS FOR ME? 
Just click on the video below and you can see exactly what it encompasses and how easy it really is!
WHAT DO I NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING A DIVE CENTRE?
We appreciate there are many dive centres out there and it is important that you select the one that is right for you. Before you decide you should find out the following information – how big is the class size, how big is their pool, where are they based, type of equipment used as well as price. Also type search the name of the dive school followed by “review”, this will let you know what other people thought of that dive school.

In answer to the questions above: our class sizes are a maximum of 6 students to 1 instructor (normal size is 3 to 4), our pools are between 20-30m long, we have 5 locations; Soho, Richmond, Egham, Oxford and Brighton and we offer a price match on all of our courses if you can find a cheaper price through a reputable school.
DO I HAVE TO BE A GOOD SWIMMER FOR SCUBA CLASSES? 
No, you just need to be comfortable in water. For the PADI Open Water course you must be able to float/tread water for 10 minutes and swim at least 200m. There is no time limit to complete the 200m and you can do it using any stroke you like. 
HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO BECOME A PADI SCUBA DIVER?
You can be as young as 8 years old to do the Bubblemaker course or the PADI Open Water certification course can be taken from 10 years and upwards.
HOW LONG DO PADI SCUBA COURSES UK TAKE TO MASTER? 
At Oyster Diving, our PADI dive centres UK focus on tailoring PADI courses for the individual. The time it takes to complete a scuba course depends on your diving ability and the course you have signed up to.

Trial dives and Bubblemakers take as little as one and a half hours. Our open water courses can be tailored to suit your timetable and learning needs but typically you do the theory at home (about 10 hours) and then 1/2 day / 2-3 evenings in the pool and one weekend to complete the open water dives.
WHY TAKE YOUR PADI COURSES UK WITH US? 
All our diving instructors are fully PADI qualified, are friendly patient and have travelled around the world gaining an understanding of local dive conditions. We have several convenient locations all of which have fantastic facilities. Our open water courses allow you to visit the pool as many times as you like until you are ready to hit the open water.
DO I NEED TO BRING MY OWN DIVING EQUIPMENT? 
No, we recommend that you have your own mask and snorkel but all diving equipment is included in the price of your course.
CAN I CANCEL MY SCUBA DIVING COURSE ONCE I’VE BOOKED? 
To book the course we require full payment in advance unless an alternative payment scheme is agreed in advance in writing. Once booked the course is non-refundable. If you need to cancel or rearrange your course we require at least two weeks’ notice. If more than two weeks notice is supplied we will be happy to change the course to an alternative date but this is subject to availability. If you are prevented from attending due to illness then we will refund the full cost of the course less a £25 administration charge providing you can produce a valid and relevant doctor’s letter. Failure to arrive within 20 minutes of the start of your course will result in the cancellation of your course.
ONCE I’VE COMPLETED THE OPEN WATER COURSE, WHERE CAN I DIVE?
Once qualified you can dive anywhere around the world in similar or better conditions that you learnt in. In reality most people go to a reputable dive centre and are given a dive guide who is familiar with the dive site and can point out the best bits.
WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE SCUBA DIVING UK PADI ONCE I’VE STARTED? 
This is really unusual but you can come back to the pool as many times as you like until you feel comfortable in the water, or your instructor thinks you are ready to hit the open water.
HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY PADI COURSE? 
You can read all of the course details you receive once you sign up to the course here.
WHY CHOOSE OYSTER DIVING FOR YOUR DIVING COURSE? 
Because we are London’s Premier PADI Dive Company. We are multi-award winning, providing dive courses throughout London, Hertfordshire, Brighton, Surrey, Berkshire, Kent, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. From private lessons to trial dives, we offer a professional and friendly service that is hard to beat. So, whether you’re an experienced diver wanting to expand your skill-set or you’re brand new to dive training, we have a PADI dive course that’s perfect for you.