Scuba diving in the UK: medicals, prices, who's in charge and emergencies
The UK scuba medical self-declaration, typical prices, the recognised governing body and BSAC's emergency numbers.
In this guide
- What you need first: Nothing. Read it before you book.
- What's next: Diving track: Ocean Diver. Instructing: BSAC instructor grades. Other agencies: PADI, SSI, SAA and RAID.
Typical prices
- Try dive (PADI Discover Scuba or a centre try dive, kit included): usually £55 to £160. The top of that range is a private session.
- PADI or SSI Open Water at a UK centre: usually £445 to £900, including pool, open-water dives and certification. A drysuit add-on is often extra.
- Guided or instructional dive: usually £65 to £120. Diving is sold by the dive.
Fitness to dive
- BSAC divers fill in a self-declaration medical form when they join, every year when they renew, and if a medical condition comes up in between.
- The form is a requirement set by the UK Diving Medical Committee (UKDMC), a network of medical referees with accredited diving medicine expertise.
- Answer no to everything and you don't need to do anything else. Answer yes to anything and you'll need to contact a medical referee.
- If you'd like a medical anyway, you can see your own GP or a UKDMC referee. Only a UKDMC referee can endorse a UKDMC fitness-to-dive certificate.
- Diving at work (including paid instructing) needs an HSE medical instead.
Who's in charge
- BSAC: calls itself the National Governing Body for scuba diving and snorkelling in the UK. Sport England and Sport Wales both list it for sub aqua.
- Scotland: the sports councils' joint list names the Scottish Sub Aqua Club for Scotland, with BSAC for England and the UK.
- HSE: the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 cover dives where someone is at work, such as a paid instructor.
Source: This is BSAC, Medical matters and medical forms, Diving fitness and medical forms, DCI helpline, BSAC; National governing bodies, Sport England; Recognised sports, Sport Wales; Recognition master list, September 2025, Sport NI; Diving FAQs, HSE; all checked October 2026.
Governing body: British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC). It sets the UK safety standards and training awards for scuba diving, so it's the official place to find out more. PADI and SSI run their own courses too.
Typical prices, checked October 2026. The club or coach sets and bills the price.
The club map lists some of the UK clubs for this sport. It is a starting point, so check with the club before you travel. To have a coach found for you, use the enquiry form.
