We think these 4 scuba diving clubs in Belfast are a splash hit!
I’ve picked up many lessons as a mom. One of which is making sure I don’t baby my kids all the time. They need to experience as many adventures as possible. Like my own mum used to say: it builds character!
We’ve already ridden rollercoasters, braved horror houses, and survived laser tags. And after a few years, my kids were finally ready to try something a lot more exciting and physically daunting—scuba diving in Belfast!
Turns out, this underwater experience is an amazing bonding activity for the family. It mixes teamwork, trust, and adventure. Plus, it cuts down their screen time (win-win!). If that convinced you, dive into some of these clubs we like below.
1. DiveClub NI
– Media credit: diveclubni
Website: https://www.diveclubni.com/
Address: 36 Milewater Dr, Glengormley
Contact Details: +44 7519 191911, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday – 9 AM to 5 PM
- Wednesday – 9 AM to 10:30 PM
Fees:
- Beginner Courses
- PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience – £40
- PADI Open Water Diver Full Course Certification – £579
- Intermediate Courses
- PADI Advanced Open Water – £399
- Rescue Diver – £399
Beginner at scuba diving in Belfast? DiveClub NI offers refreshers, PADI-certified (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses, and speciality dives for all levels. It’s also among the few Belfast clubs that give both local and global dive trips!
We like that there are plenty of dive sites to enjoy for junior divers and families (at least 10 years old) here—no experience required. The sessions are usually done at a heated pool, though you can also have a real open-water experience if you want.
Not only that, but we appreciate that the divers won’t have to worry about gear rental because the staff takes care of everything.
| Cool idea: Want to meet other diving enthusiasts? Check out DiveClub NI’s regular social events. It offers group meetups, post-dive gatherings, and trips to help you build fun connections. No more excuses not to make new pals this year! |
2. Belfast Sub-Aqua Club
– Media credit: qubsubaqua
Website: http://www.divebelfast.com/
Address: 421 N Queen St
Contact Details: [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – 8 PM to 11 PM
- Tuesday to Sunday – Closed
If you want to be part of a strong club culture, Belfast Sub-Aqua Club is the oldest scuba diving club in Ireland. It boasts its community spirit for beginner snorkelers to seasoned divers.
The highlight for us is its introductory course to scuba diving. It’s cool that the team offers this before you commit to the club membership and enrolment to the entry-level Ocean Diver course.
Besides swimming pool and open-water training, you’ll get five pool sessions, six theory sessions, some home study, and a multiple-choice theory test—all very thorough to ensure you can dive most safely and enjoyably.
| Handy hack: Belfast waters can be pretty chilly. If you’ve set your mind on diving, we recommend investing in a 5- to 7-mm wetsuit. You can also ask the club for rental options, but we feel it’s best to compare the costs first. |
3. Castlereagh Sub Aqua Club
– Media credit: castlereagh_sub_aqua_club
Website: http://csac.co.uk/
Address: 85 Castlereagh Rd
Contact Details: +44 7920 032468, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Thursday – 7 PM to 10:30 PM
- Monday to Wednesday, Friday to Sunday – Closed
Castlereagh Sub Aqua Club is one of the most reputable scuba diving clubs in the city, being over 50 years in the business. Members can explore along the Antrim coast, Strangford Lough, and even the wreck sites!
Should you be serious about diving, this club gives structured training and BSAC affiliation, a globally recognised certification. But it’s alright if you’re not a strong swimmer. You just need basic swimming skills to be confident in the water.
Most divers see a good variety of sea life under the waves too. This includes octopus, anemones, starfish, sunfish, and the like—be sure to spot as many as you can!
| Safety reminder: While scuba diving with Castlereagh Sub Aqua Club is relatively safe, we still advise being careful. We say don’t go getting too close to the lion’s mane jellyfish if you happen to see one—they can give a pretty nasty sting! |
4. Scuba Skool
– Media credit: scubaskool
Website: http://www.scubaskool.co.uk/
Address: 17, Enterprise House, 6 Enterprise Cres, Ballinderry Rd, Lisburn
Contact Details: +44 7511 116626, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – 9 AM to 5 PM
- Saturday – 9 AM to 5:30 PM
- Wednesday – 1 PM to 11 PM
Fees:
- PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience – £40
- PADI Scuba Diver Diving Course – £479
- PADI Open Water Diver Course – £599
- PADI Adventure Diver Course – £299
- PADI Advanced Open Water – £399
- PADI Rescue Diver Course – £399
- Discover Local Diving Northern Ireland – £99
Around 15 to 20 minutes from Belfast, Scuba Skool in Lisburn is the most accessible option for scuba diving enthusiasts in this area. It offers flexible training for dives, open-water certifications, refresher courses, and other specialities.
But what we love most is that it focuses on small group sizes. Every diver gets more personal attention and tailored instruction. For us, this means no more being shy asking many dive-related questions—ask away now or risk it later, we say.
| Insider scoop: Wish to learn faster at Scuba Skool? One way to do it is by learning basic dive theory with PADI e-learning online first. This can help you save time and focus more on the practical skills you’ll need. |