Aquanauts Ltd began in 1986 as a BSAC club founded by Douglas Allen, a Senior Instructor at Fort Bovisand Underwater Centre in Plymouth. What started as a small, passionate diving community quickly grew into one of Plymouth’s most loved dive centres. It was built on knowledge, trust, and a genuine love of diving, values that still define Aquanauts today.
Doug’s children, Brian and Noeleen, grew up immersed in the dive world and went on to become experienced divers themselves. Returning to Plymouth after working and travelling abroad, they took the helm and, in 2004, opened Aquanauts on the historic Barbican, establishing a PADI 5* full-service dive centre in the heart of the city.
From day one, Aquanauts focused on quality scuba diving equipment, expert advice, and trusted brands. That ethos remains unchanged. Every product we stock, from dive computers and regulators to wetsuits, drysuits, and snorkelling gear is carefully selected based on real-world experience and performance.
Today, Aquanauts Ltd has evolved into a specialist scuba diving retailer, offering both a well-stocked Plymouth dive shop and a comprehensive online dive store serving customers across the UK. While our operations have changed, our commitment hasn’t: we provide honest advice, competitive pricing, and equipment you can rely on.
With decades of diving heritage behind us, Aquanauts continues to support divers of all levels, from beginners to Instructors, snorkellers to tech divers, with the gear and expertise they need to explore with confidence.