Back in the Water: Your Essential Guide to UK Spring Diving

As the days get longer and temperatures (slowly) start to rise, UK divers are preparing to shake off the winter cobwebs and get back in the water. But if you’ve been out of the water for a few months, jumping straight into a sea dive without preparation isn’t the best idea.

Spring diving in the UK presents unique challenges—colder water, reduced visibility, and ensuring your gear is fully serviced and ready to go. Whether you're a newer diver or just feeling a little rusty, here’s how to get back into diving safely and with confidence.

Step 1: Get Your Gear in Check

One of the biggest mistakes divers make after a long break is assuming their equipment will work just fine. Regulators, cylinders, and drysuits don’t like sitting idle for months—seals dry out, batteries drain, and small issues can become big problems underwater.

Before your first dive of the season, go through this checklist:

✅ Drysuit Check – Inspect your neck and wrist seals for cracks or wear, check for leaks, and lubricate your zipper. Also, check your hood and gloves—neoprene degrades over time.

✅ Regulator & Cylinder Servicing – If your gear hasn’t been serviced in a while, get it done before you dive. A free-flowing regulator or a dodgy cylinder isn’t something you want to discover at 20 metres.

✅ Dive Computer – Make sure the battery is fresh and the display is functioning properly. A dead dive computer mid-dive is not a good look!

✅ General Gear Check – Inspect straps, clips, and buckles on your BCD, weight belts, and fins. Make sure everything is in top shape before you hit the water.

💡 Spring Offer: Get your pre-season servicing done with us and enjoy a free guided refresher dive at Capernwray!

Step 2: Ease Back in with a Skills Refresher

Diving isn’t just about getting back in the water—it’s about getting back in control. If you haven’t practiced your core diving skills in a while, now’s the time.

Before heading out on a big dive, take it slow and set some refresher goals:

🔹 Pre-Dive Buddy Checks – Go through your full equipment check thoroughly before getting in the water. Don’t rush it.

🔹 Basic Skills First – Start with mask clearing, regulator retrieval, and out-of-air drills with your buddy. These are lifesaving skills—you want them to be second nature.

🔹 Gradual Skill Building – Once you’ve got a couple of dives under your belt, practice more advanced skills like mid-water buoyancy control, air-sharing, and even rescue skills. This will build confidence for more adventurous dives later in the season.

🔹 Don’t Just Swim in Circles – If your first dive is just a casual swim around a quarry, you’re missing a key opportunity to test and refine your skills. Running through exercises will make you a better, safer diver.

Step 3: Pick the Right Dive Site

For your first few dives back, choosing the right location makes a world of difference. We highly recommend starting at an inland dive site—especially one with a dive shop and a café (because, let’s be honest, post-dive cake is a tradition).

Why?

✅ On-Site Support – If your gear needs adjusting or you forgot a crucial piece of kit, you can rent or buy what you need on-site.
✅ Sheltered Conditions – Less current, predictable visibility, and easier entry/exit points make inland sites perfect for skill refreshers.
✅ Controlled Environment – A quarry or lake lets you focus on your skills without worrying about tides, currents, or unpredictable weather.

Once you're feeling confident, it’s time to head back to the sea. The key difference? You’ll need to adjust to the increased buoyancy and movement of the water. It’s worth doing a shore dive first before heading straight out on a boat.

Step 4: Avoid These Common Mistakes

🚨 "I’ll just go for a dive—it’ll be fine."
Diving without a refresher plan leads to overconfidence. Just because you can descend and swim around doesn’t mean you’re at your best.

🚨 "My gear worked last season—it’ll be fine."
Small issues become big ones at depth. Gear that looks okay might fail when you least expect it. Get it checked.

🚨 Skipping Servicing & Checks
Diving with out-of-test equipment isn’t just unsafe—it’s irresponsible. Regulators, cylinders, and drysuits need maintenance, especially after months in storage.

💡 Exclusive Offer: Get a discount on servicing AND a free refresher dive at Capernwray when you book your pre-season servicing with us. Let’s make sure your first dive back is a safe one! -> To Claim: Simply ship or drop off your gear and we'll get you booked in!

Ready to Get Back in the Water? We’ve Got You Covered!

Spring diving in the UK is an incredible experience—but preparation is key. Whether you need a full equipment service, a gear upgrade, or just a little confidence boost before your first sea dive, we’re here to help.

👉 Book your servicing & claim your free refresher dive today!

See you in the water soon! 🌊🐠