The summer months always seem to come and go in a flash, and this year is certainly no exception. While we’ve been pretty lucky with the weather and possible marine life sightings, autumn will be here before we know it and peak diving season will be behind us. Changing weather and shorter days do not mean that you have to stop diving, though. In fact, the autumn months can bring some very favourable conditions for scuba diving in the UK - you just have to be prepared.
With this in mind, we’ve put together our top tips for preparing for autumn scuba diving in the UK. From having the right kit to timing your dives right, we’ve outlined everything you need to know to keep exploring this year.
Why Go Diving In The Autumn?
If you’re a fair-weather diver or typically only explore beneath the surface when on holiday, you might be wondering why it’s even worth considering diving in the autumn months (and beyond…). There is no doubt that this time of year is often overlooked as an opportunity to dive, but it certainly has its advantages.
Firstly, sea temperatures are actually at some of their warmest in the UK in the earliest stages of autumn after months of absorbing summer heat. Visibility is also good, with fewer algae and plankton blooms occurring, and reduced boat traffic lessening its impact on the water. Depending on where in the UK you are diving, you’re also likely to find that summer crowds disperse, leaving more popular dive sites quieter, more tranquil, and easier to access.
Autumn Scuba Diving Tips
If you are keen to embrace everything the water has to offer from October onwards, there are a few considerations you’ll need to make before getting going. Fortunately, there’s still plenty of time to prepare by working through the following tips.
1. Dig Out Your Drysuit
Though early autumn does offer temperatures on the warmer side for scuba diving in the UK, these temperatures will dip quickly as the season progresses and may halve between early October and late November. This means you’ll need to dive with a drysuit, undersuit, hood, and gloves. If you haven’t yet used your drysuit this year, get it out now and check over all of the seals, valves and zips, applying some drysuit zip wax if you think they need a little TLC.
2. Shift Your Schedule
One of the major changes to adjust to at this time of year is the rapid shrinking of daylight hours. The evenings are considerably shorter by the time the clocks go back, and this will most likely require you to make some adjustments to your typical diving schedule. If you can, use your weekends wisely and plan dives earlier in the day to make the most of natural light. Even so, don’t rely on surface brightness alone and always carry a suitable dive torch to ensure visibility and safety even in low-light conditions.
3. Keep On Top Of Equipment Care
Cold water can place additional stress on your diving kit, particularly your regulator, which must be approved and serviced for cold water use. Likewise, after your dives, make sure that you take the time to care for your gear properly. Damp conditions can speed up the natural wear and tear process, encouraging corrosion, mildew growth, and damage to seals. When you are out of the water, it’s therefore important to properly rinse and dry your equipment, storing it properly when autumn does draw to a close to prevent any nasty surprises when peak season rolls around again.
4. Plan For Changing Conditions
The weather in autumn is famously unpredictable, with sunshine spells, strong winds, and heavy rainfall all a possibility. This uncertainty makes it imperative that you properly check the conditions before committing to a specific site. When planning your dive, you should also bear in mind that access levels can change quickly and become more hazardous with the weather. We would always suggest having a backup plan and multiple entry/exit points available for shore dives.
Prepare For Your Dive With Aquanauts
With the above tips taken into consideration, all that’s left for you to do is enjoy your dive! Wherever you go and whatever you see, we do not doubt that it will be a memorable experience and hopefully one that reminds you it’s possible to dive all year round.
If you need any further advice when it comes to scuba diving in autumn, we’re always happy to help further. The Aquanauts team has a huge range of experience of scuba diving in the UK and are on hand to help you find the right equipment regardless of season. Simply get in touch now and we’ll be happy to help with any concerns or queries you may have.