Dorset Diving Services

Located in Poole, Dorset Diving Services serves as a central hub for divers looking to explore the varied marine environments of the South Coast. From the sheltered waters of local quarries to the rugged coastline of the Jurassic Coast, the centre provides access to a diverse range of diving opportunities.

The centre operates as an SSI Dive Resort, balancing local training and guided excursions with organised international travel, including Red Sea liveaboards. Whether you are looking to start your training or are a seasoned diver seeking local wreck or kelp forest dives, the service is built around local expertise and small group attention.

The team is led by Leon Butler, an SSI Instructor Trainer, supported by JoJo Butler, who manages administration and quality, and Neil Stonestreet, an SSI Instructor and Workshop Manager. This professional structure ensures that training and equipment maintenance are handled with a high level of technical oversight.

With a team of 20 instructors, the centre is well-equipped to manage a wide variety of diver needs, from youth programmes like Scuba Explorers to professional development courses. The focus remains on personalised instruction and small group sizes to maintain safety and quality during every session.

As an SSI Dive Resort, the centre offers a complete spectrum of training. Beginners can start with Try Scuba or the SSI Basic Diver and Scuba Diver courses, progressing through to Open Water Diver. For those looking to refine their skills, Scuba Skills Update refresher courses are available.

Advanced divers can specialise through various SSI Specialty courses, including Wreck Diving, Night & Limited Visibility, Deep Diver, and Navigation. The centre also offers professional development paths, such as the SSI Dive Guide course, and ecological training through online courses covering Shark, Sea Turtle, Manta Ray, and Nudibranch ecology.

The centre provides a full range of equipment for hire to support your diving. While complete kit hire is available, divers are required to provide their own mask, snorkel, and boots, which can be purchased directly from the centre.

In addition to rental gear, Dorset Diving Services maintains a retail shop featuring a variety of equipment from recognised brands. The centre is also a proud supporter of sustainable ocean exploration, integrating environmental awareness into their operations.

The waters around Poole and the Jurassic Coast host a variety of interesting species. You can encounter several types of rays, including Undulate Ray, Blonde Ray, spotted rays, and thornback ray, often patrolling the seabed.

Shark species are also present in the region, with sightings including Spiny Dogfish, Porbeagle Shark, Thresher shark, Tope Shark, Blue shark, Small-spotted catshark, dogfish, and Smooth-Hounds. Common Skate are also known to inhabit these waters.

The marine life includes various other species such as Nurse hound and Undulate Ray. For those interested in the smaller details of the ecosystem, the centre offers specific ecological training to help identify the diverse life found in these habitats.

Diving in the area involves a variety of environments, from the calm, controlled waters of quarries like Vobster Quay to the more open coastal sites. Local expertise is provided to help divers navigate the specific conditions of the Jurassic Coast and Poole Bay.