Scuba Blue: “Start Diving. Keep Diving.”

Scuba Blue: “Start Diving. Keep Diving.” – A Conversation with Midge and

Vicky

For the past eight years, Scuba Blue has been helping individuals discover and enjoy the underwater world. Based in Taunton, Somerset, the centre offers personalised scuba training and, just as importantly, ongoing support to help divers continue exploring after they qualify.

“Our motto is ‘Start diving. Keep diving.’” explain Midge and Vicky. “We really believe in that. We’re not just about teaching people to dive, we want to help them stay diving. We’re incredibly lucky that Scuba Blue is our livelihood and that we get to do what we love every day.”

Diving in the UK: Breaking the Misconceptions

According to Midge and Vicky, many new divers have the wrong idea about UK diving. “There’s a real misapprehension out there,” they say. “A lot of people imagine UK diving as dark, grey, and miserable, but the reality is completely different. The sights around our coastline, and even at inland sites, are amazing.”

And when the weather makes coastal diving tricky, inland options come into play. “At Vobster Quay on a weekend, you might see 150 divers in the water. It’s a brilliant hub for the dive community.”

The Importance of Vobster Dive Centre

“Vobster is absolutely vital to our business,” they explain. “If it wasn’t here, we honestly couldn’t operate in the same way. We’d love to teach at the coast more, but with the challenges of distance, tides, weather, and accessibility, Vobster offers everything we need, controlled conditions, a range of depths, great facilities, and a solid infrastructure. We never have to cancel a session at Vobster, which is fantastic.”

As well as inland training, Scuba Blue also takes divers to coastal locations many times a year. “We run between 20 and 25 charters annually, taking groups to explore coastal dive sites.”

Challenging Stereotypes: Quarry Diving and Training in the UK

Quarry diving often gets an unfair reputation. “We sometimes hear people refer to it as ‘muddy puddle diving,’” Midge laughs, “but usually, the people who say that haven’t tried it recently!”

They believe that the location of your training is far less important than the experience itself. “Whether you learn at the coast or in a quarry, it doesn’t really matter, you’re still learning to dive. What’s great about training in the UK is that if you can dive here, you can dive almost anywhere in the world. It gives you a really solid foundation.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Scuba Blue has a particular passion for teaching children to dive. “We get such a buzz when we see young people discovering the underwater world,” says Vicky.“Some even go on to say they want to study marine biology, which is amazing.Diving gives them a real appreciation for the ocean and its incredible marine life.” And there’s plenty to appreciate. “You don’t have to go far. We see octopus, cuttlefish, crayfish, kelp forests absolutely teeming with life, and seals. The UK’s underwater world is so accessible and so full of surprises.”

A Changing and Welcoming Dive Community

Both Midge and Vicky have noticed positive changes in the diving world over the past few years. “It’s brilliant to see more women getting into diving,” they say. “For a long time it was quite male-dominated, but now we’re seeing courses where women actually outnumber the men. The dive industry is evolving, and we hope that continues.”

For Scuba Blue, the heart of diving will always be community. “The dive community is friendly, open, and supportive,” they agree. “We’re proud to be part of that and we hope to keep sharing our passion with more and more people.”