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When we think about freediving, we imagine warm seas with good visibility and a fair depth to practice this beautiful sport. Some people may believe that freediving in the UK is tough. However, this is not the case.
The UK boasts wonderful freediving and spearfishing areas, as well as great clubs where you can practise freediving in a swimming pool. The most popular locations are in South England, including Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall. In addition, Pembrokeshire, in southwestern Wales, is a famous place for freediving and spearfishing.
Dorset is a county in the southwest region of England. It is famous for the Jurassic Coast, a lengthy stretch of the English Channel with countless fossils and rock formations that reflect millions of years of geological history. Unseen and underappreciated underneath the Dorset waters is a wonderful paradise. The undersea landscapes and ecosystems are more than equal to those on the surface, sustaining as many, if not more, varied animal species. In addition, Dorset's seas include a variety of ecosystems that sustain a wide range of marine species. Seagrass meadows, kelp forests, coral gardens, rocky reefs and ledges, tide-scoured undersea cliffs, and gravel dunes carved by tidal currents are among them. As you can see, there is an excellent location for freediving and snorkeling.
Devon is a county in the southwest region of England. It has sandy beaches, fossil cliffs, medieval villages, and national parks on the moorland. Torquay, Paignton, and Brixham are among the magnificent south-coast coastal towns that make up the English Riviera. The South West Coast Path traverses the shoreline, taking in the northern Exmoor Coast's towering cliffs and the fossil-rich southern Jurassic Coast's rock formations. The seas of North Devon are teeming with fascinating marine species and ecosystems. People benefit from a variety of them, including nursery grounds for young fish given by intertidal reefs and coastal protection offered by salt marshes. Defra designated this region as a "Marine Pioneer" which means it is being used to test innovative ideas outlined in the government's 25-year environmental plan.
Cornwall is a county in the mountainous south end of England. It creates a peninsula of natural moorland and hundreds of sandy beaches, culminating in the Land's Endpoint. The Cornish Riviera, or south coast, is home to attractive port settlements including Fowey and Falmouth. Cornwall has some of the most diverse marine fauna, from small uncommon colorful corals to massive basking sharks, yet our oceans desperately require protection. Cornwall Wildlife Trust has a significant maritime conservation initiative called 'Living Seas.' Cornwall Wildlife Trust manages a wide range of maritime programs to monitor our marine environment and involve Cornwall in the beautiful aquatic world surrounding us.
Pembrokeshire is a county in Wales' southwest. It is bounded to the east by Carmarthenshire, to the northeast by Ceredigion, and to the south by the sea. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is located in the county. Pembrokeshire is blessed with waters that have traveled from the Caribbean via the Gulf Stream. Those same currents deliver nutrients to our coasts, which attract species looking for food. So basking sharks, minke whales, and various dolphin species have visited Pembrokeshire.
Freedivers would say a good spot to freedive needs deep, clear and warm water which might be a problem for some UK Freedivers. Unfortunate, to reach some decent depth to practice freediving is a problem because you cannot swim to find some deep spot so you would need a boat and go miles offshore to achieve it. In terms of visibility, it might be possible depending on the time of the year, but you would struggle to have more than 15 meters of visibility. Even though freediving is not about viewing the outside world, good visibility might help you relax. However, even if you have the luxury of having a great day out for freediving, such as finding a deep spot with great visibility, you will find that the water temperature is not warm, as it is in some places such as Indonesia, Mexico, Egypt, and the Philippines, and this will have a significant impact on your relaxation.
Unfortunately, freediving has a season in the UK and can only be done thoroughly in the summer. To give you an idea, the water temperature in the winter can range from 4 to 7 degrees, while in the summer, it does not surpass 20 degrees. The UK is not recognized for being a fantastic place to practice open water sports and ocean freediving. Those who learn to freedive in the UK, on the other hand, will discover that they may improve rapidly since they will have easy access to deep locations, ideal visibility, and warm water, which will make them feel even calmer.
Because lakes and quarries border the UK, it might offer better conditions and depths than many other UK open water places. For example, many UK quarries reach depths of 40 meters, making them ideal for freediving. Unfortunately, the NDAC, which SaltFree operated, was the most popular quarry. It was the ideal location for training depth because it could reach 80m. Unfortunately, it closed its doors in May 2022, leaving no chances for a fantastic deep dive in cold waters. If you want to freedive in the UK, there are a few options, including:
Dorothea quarry in North Wales
Vivian quarry in Llanberis
Capernwray quarry in the Lake District
Vobster Quay near Bath and Bristol
There are several clubs in the UK where you may practice freediving in a pool. Unfortunately, you will be unable to access a swimming pool with your buddy and begin freediving. Some swimming pools do not permit freediving practice; however, if you are a club member, you will be permitted to attend pool club sessions and freedive safely.