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Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Kent

The top 5 dive and snorkel sites in Kent, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. Read the Kent guide

dive sites
5
dive shops
6
reviews
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5 sites, ranked by diver reviews
No photos yet
1

Holborough Lake

3.0(1 review)UK, England, South East

A new dive site in easy reach of M20/M25. Vis is usually good for a UK lake. Small friendly team running site with free tea/coffee included in entry fee. a few attractions at the time of writing but I believe more are on the way. Update June 2010 - underwater attractions include, 4 training platforms, large digger tyres for buoyancy practice, large boat with swim through suitable for wreck course, several smaller boats, statues, mopeds and more... They have male and female changing rooms and toilets on the lake edge. Entry to the lake is via a slipway or a floating jetty for deep water entry. Diving at this site is always enjoyable and the staff make you feel really welcome. Access to the lake is just off the A228, behind the Jet petrol station (and wimpy). You need to travel through the construction site but the road is tarmac and there is parking on the waters edge. If you get lost phone the dive centre on 0750 762 4911 and they will direct you. During the week there is usually a security guard on the gate and you will need to sign in, if the gates are shut call the dive centre and they will open up for you.

BeginnerMax depth 23 ftShore entry
No photos yet
2

HMS Brazen

No reviews yetUK, England, South East

British Navy Destroyer 'B'-class destroyer built in 1928 by Palmer & Co; and entered service in 1931. Brazen measured 323ft x 32ft with a 34,000 hp steam turbines giving a top speed of 35 knots; she was armed with four 4.7" and 2 anti-aircraft guns, eight 21" torpedo tubes and depth chargers. The destroyer Brazen was escorting convoy CW7 in the North Sea when she was attacked by German bombers on July 21st, 1940 as they traveled through the straits of Dover. She shot down three aircraft before she was hit and badly damaged. An attempt was made to tow her but this proved impossible and she was abandoned and sank some hours after the attack. The Brazen was commanded by Lt. Cdr. Sir Michael Culme-Seymour and carried a complement of 138, of whom one stoker petty-officer died of wounds (after he was taken off the ship) and four stokers were wounded. Diving: Until a few years ago she was standing 8m proud and reasonably intact but in two halves, about 100m apart, the seabed is sand and gravel. Recently she has become buried in the sand and less of the wreck can be seen, however, torpedo tubes, depth chargers and the guns are still present and together with the excellent visibility it's still worth a visit. From Dover HMS Brazen is also known as H80.

IntermediateMax depth 98.4 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
3

UB-78

No reviews yetUK, England, South East

A UB Type III boat built by Blomm & Voss, Hamburg. This is a WW1 Coastal attack sub commissioned in 1917 and sunk by a mine on 19th April 1918 losing all hands from a crew of 35. She now lies upright and intact on a sandy seabed at 28m she has a list of about 40 degrees to port, but the conning tower, gun and bow are all intact and the blown off stern is close by. There are torpedoes in her bow tubes, the outer hull is now breaking down to reveal the inner pressure hull she is still very intact and easily recognisable. This makes a fantastic night dive as all the brass shows up and both lobster and edible crab are plentiful. By boat from Dover marina or Folkestone.

IntermediateMax depth 82 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
4

Loanda Wreck

No reviews yetUK, England, South East

The Loanda was a 2702-ton, 253hp triple-expansion engines steamer, measuring 328ft x 39ft, built in 1891. The ship was travelling from Hamburg to West Africa, for the Elder Dempster Line, when she collided with the Russian steamer Junona. The cargo was hundreds of cases of gin, rum, champagne and barrels of gunpowder. She was badly damaged on port side near engine room, an attempt was made to save her but she sank under tow on the 31 May, 1908. Diving: Upright and 5m proud at a depth of 17-23m, the top is generally at 18m and if you drop into the holds you will be at 20m or so. Slack can be early so get to the site in plenty of time, must be dived on slack tide. Sweeping and collision damage have exposed the engines. The bell has been recovered. Bottles everywhere, mainly gin and champagne but contents undrinkable. Lots of clay pipes/perfume bottles and trading beads. Prop intact. Tales of thousands of newly minted shillings being carried by the Loanda are not borne out by the manifest. Lots of Lobsters, Edible Crab and Conger's. Information from Canterbury Divers website which is extremely informative for wrecks in and around the Dover area.

BeginnerMax depth 65.6 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
5

Leybourne Inland dive site

No reviews yetUK, England, South East

Good site for practice and to look at the fishes there and also there a few objects to look at as well. Dive site is accessed through the Leybourne Dive shop because is Key entry to the site it is then a little ledge to gain entry

BeginnerMax depth 26.2 ftShore entry
Snorkeling & Scuba Map of Kent: numbered map of the top 5 dive and snorkel sites, with ratings
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Numbers match the ranked list of Kent dive and snorkel sites. Full map with key

Top dive shops in Kent

All 6
Kent Diving Services
4.9 (45) · Gravesend
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Blue Ocean Diving
4.8 (66) · Maidstone
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Kent Scuba Ltd
5.0 (8) · Ramsgate
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Nemes Diving & Water Sports Academy Ltd
4.5 (19) · Snodland
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Kent diving guide

Ready to check out the best sites in Kent for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 5 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.

Frequently asked questions

Are there dive shops in Kent?

Zentacle lists 6 dive shops in Kent. The top-rated are Kent Diving Services (4.9 from 45 reviews) and Blue Ocean Diving (4.8 from 66 reviews).