The UK diving tourism market is expected to be steady over the next decade, to eventually soar from an estimated USD 401.6 million in 2025 to a USD 625.4 million by 2035, with a CAGR of 4.5% by 2035.
Determinants behind this upward trend are mounting interest in marine exploration, rising accessibility to popular and lesser-known diving destinations within the UK, and emphasis on eco-tourism initiatives. With increasing public awareness of environmental preservation, the UK diving tourism industry is expected to experience significant market growth over the next 10 years.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated Industry Size (2025E) | USD 401.6 Million |
| Projected Value (2035F) | USD 625.4 Million |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 4.5% |
With the increasing desire for eco-friendly experiences among UK divers, the demand for sustainable diving activities, including coral reef restoration, marine conservation, and eco-conscious practices, is likely to continue rising.
In addition, the advancements in diving technologies, such as improved underwater navigation and safety features, are making diving more accessible to divers at all levels of expertise. These factors include the continued growth of VR and AR, which are technologies that are seen to advance the pre-trip planning experience as well as dive experiences.
Divers keep coming to popular destinations like Cornwall, Scotland, and Wales. However, a growing number of divers are visiting lesser-known spots, such as the Orkney Islands and Pembrokeshire. These diversification efforts in dive locations and the surge in popularity of eco-friendly accommodations, such as sustainable dive resorts and liveaboard vessels, will define UK diving tourism over the next years.
The market is projected to flourish well with both national and international tourism. As the market grows, experienced and newly initiated divers would be attracted by the UK in search of innovative and environmentally conscious underwater experiences.
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The UK diving tourism sector has registered a 4.1% growth in bookings for the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year, 2023. The growth is expected to continue during 2025 with an overall CAGR of 4.2%. A key factor contributing to this growth is the increasing trend of sustainable diving along with improved diving technology, which provides for a safer and more accessible experience.
The market is dominated by online booking platforms, and 62% of the total diving tourism bookings are through online channels. More and more tourists are using websites and mobile applications to organize their diving trips, which is an attraction due to streamlined payment and scheduling options. This trend is expected to continue because diving operators are developing user-friendly, intuitive platforms.
| Date | Development & Details |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Launch of Eco-Friendly Diving Packages by UK Divers: UK Divers announced the launch of a range of sustainable diving experiences in the Isle of Skye, focusing on marine conservation and eco-friendly practices. The tours include guided dives highlighting local marine biodiversity and eco-tourism. |
| 2024 | Expansion of Dive Resorts in Cornwall: Cornwall Dive Resorts expanded its sustainable eco-resort portfolio, offering divers access to pristine diving locations. The resort focuses on underwater ecosystems conservation and sustainable practices, making it a top destination for eco-conscious divers. |
| 2024 | Virtual Reality Dive Experience by Seaside Diving: Seaside Diving launched an innovative VR diving experience, providing prospective divers with a taste of popular UK dive sites such as the Scapa Flow wrecks. This immersive technology allows tourists to "experience" a dive before booking, increasing overall engagement. |
| 2024 | Partnership Between UK Marine Protected Areas and Dive Operators: The Marine Conservation Society has partnered with dive operators to offer exclusive, guided tours of protected marine areas, including the Farne Islands. These tours aim to educate tourists on conservation efforts while showcasing underwater biodiversity. |
| 2024 | Launch of Family-Friendly Diving Tours by Blue Sea Adventures: Blue Sea Adventures introduced family-friendly dive trips to the south coast of England, focusing on shallow-water dives and snorkeling for children aged 10 and older. These tours allow families to enjoy marine life exploration in a safe, supervised environment. |
Cornwall and Scotland as Key Diving Hubs
Cornwall remains one of the UK's most popular diving destinations, with a mix of spectacular underwater ecosystems, shipwrecks, and diverse marine life. Scotland, with its crystal-clear waters and dramatic underwater landscapes, is also attracting more divers, particularly in areas like the Orkney Islands, which offer some of the best-preserved shipwrecks in Europe.
Both regions have well-developed diving infrastructures and have a large number of dive schools and operators focused on sustainable and responsible diving practices.
Increasing Demand for Liveaboard Diving Experiences
Liveaboard diving is the newest craze happening in the UK, where divers are being ferried to distant and remote off-the-beaten-path dive sites via liveaboard vessels. The liveaboard boats can dive sites like the Scapa Flow shipwrecks, which indeed will require multiday trips.
With the help of liveaboard diving, their trend shows a drastic increase in interest from those who want unique access to any kind of dive site, but also this is in conjunction with growing adventure tourism trends.
Technological Advancements in Diving Equipment
New developments in diving technology continue to shape the face of the sport. State-of-the-art dive computers, underwater cameras, and navigation devices enhance safety and enjoyment for new and experienced divers alike.
At the helm of this development are leaders like Apeks and Mares, offering the most comprehensive toolsets to the diver, further ensuring a safer and more immersive experience under water.
The technique called drift diving involves the divers exploring underwater environments where they are transported by currents and is becoming quite popular in the UK. In this regard, places like Isle of Skye and Farne Islands provide appropriate conditions for this activity. Considering the laid back nature and scope of covering the vast underwater spaces easily, this technique is on the rise even among beginners.
Places like the Farne Islands allow the current to flow along the rocky coastline, offering divers a chance to experience both shallow and deeper waters. Marine life is abundant, with divers encountering seals, puffins, and schools of fish as they drift along. The ease and exhilaration of drift diving make it a favorite for UK divers seeking a unique underwater experience.
Online booking has definitely become the number one channel in UK diving tourism. It has been easier and more flexible with the option to compare several packages, and so people tend to book dive trips online.
Whether through dedicated diving platforms like Dive Britain or general travel sites such as Booking.com, the convenience of browsing available packages, reading reviews, and securing dive bookings with just a few clicks is reshaping how tourists plan their diving trips.
In addition, mobile apps have made booking easier, and divers can now make last-minute reservations or organize dive trips on the go. The shift toward online booking is expected to continue, as more divers appreciate the ease of managing their itineraries from their smartphones.
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The UK diving tourism market is moderately fragmented with large operators alongside niche diving companies focused on particularized tours like technical diving and underwater photography experience. Key players in the UK diving tourism market are companies such as Blue Sea Adventures, Seaside Diving, and Dive Cornwall. This segment of operators will expand into offering more options with a concentration on eco-packages, family trips, and liveaboard experiences.
Smaller players with niche sites that are unusual or off-the-beaten-path or specialized activity providers will most likely do well because they focus on niche markets. As demand for UK diving tourism continues to rise, space is available in both large and small players in this market because consumers are currently interested in traveling experiences that either offer eco-tourism experiences or adventure travel experiences.
The UK diving tourism market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2025 to 2035.
The market is expected to reach an estimated value of USD 625.4 million by 2035.
The primary factors driving the UK diving tourism market include a rising demand for sustainable diving experiences, increasing popularity of adventure tourism, and advancements in diving technology that make the sport more accessible to a broader audience.
Key players in the UK diving tourism market include Blue Sea Adventures, Seaside Diving, and Dive Cornwall, known for their diverse and eco-friendly dive experiences.
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