Swimming with sharks in the UK: what a shark dive is actually like
You can swim with sharks in the UK, and you do not need a diving qualification to do it. Skegness Aquarium runs two experiences in the same tank: a scuba dive for ages 10 and over, and a surface snorkel for younger rangers from age 6. Both include full training and all the equipment.
Do you need diving experience to dive with sharks?
No. The shark dive is designed for people who have never dived before, and the instruction starts on dry land. There is a dedicated dive room with changing areas and space for in-water training, so nobody meets a shark before they are comfortable in the kit.
Groups are kept to four to six participants. That is small enough that an instructor is with you throughout rather than supervising a crowd.
Shark dive or shark snorkel: which one?
The difference is depth and age, not how close you get. Both take place in the same tank with the same animals.
Shark Dive — scuba, ages 10 and over. Full instruction and equipment included, from £134.15.
Shark Snorkelling Ranger Experience — guided from the surface by the dive team, from age 6 and ideal for 6 to 11 year olds, from £40.65.
Prices are the lowest currently listed. The Dive and Snorkelling Centre has both experiences with what is actually available on the day you want.
What happens before you arrive
Most of the preparation is done before you get to Skegness. Booking sends you an online lesson and a digital registration form, so the paperwork and the essential teaching are finished in advance and the day itself is spent in the water rather than in a briefing room.
Use an email address you actually read when you book. That is where the lesson and the registration form are sent. Experiences can be booked up to a year ahead.
What you will see in the tank
Black tip reef sharks, rays and tropical fish, at the distance the animals choose rather than through glass. The dive team are in the water with you and will point out what is worth looking at, which is most of it.
Can someone come and watch?
Yes. Each participant gets one free non-participating spectator, so a parent or a partner can watch the whole thing from outside the tank without paying for a second place.
Who runs the experiences
The Skegness Dive and Snorkelling Centre developed both experiences in partnership with the British Sub Aqua Club, the national governing body for diving in the UK, with the Shark Trust as educational partner.
That partnership is the reason these are described as educational experiences rather than thrill rides. The point is to spend time with sharks and come away understanding why they matter.
How to book
Both experiences are booked through the Dive and Snorkelling Centre, where you will find current availability, prices and the full terms.
