Big Squid 5* PADI Scuba Diving Training in London & Portland Dorset

Big Squid

Big Squid offers scuba diving courses in London and Portland, Dorset — including a full range of PADI qualifications, equipment sales and hire, and an active dive club.

Our London training is based at Clapham Leisure Centre, convenient for Clapham North tube and Clapham High Street overground. We also operate from Portland, Dorset.

Why choose Big Squid?

We have a dive trip to Portland 19th and 20th September 2026

Scuba Diving Courses

Whatever your level, whether you're brand new to diving or looking to continue your scuba education, we have something for you. Consequently on offer are a range of PADI courses from taster sessions and beginners courses all the way up to professional level.

Courses information

Scuba Diving Travel

Big Squid offer scuba diving trips in the UK and abroad. and run several diving trips throughout the UK. For example two of our most popular destinations are Portland in Dorset and Lundy island just off the coast of Devon. Both are suitable for all levels of divers, and as a result each offers its own unique UK diving experience.

Travel Information

Scuba Equipment Sales

We offer equipment sales and stock a variety of top brands in our Portland shop. However, if something isn't in stock, we can usually obtain it quickly. We also aim to price match if you find the same item cheaper online. In addition, a large selection of used equipment in excellent condition is available. Gift vouchers are on offer too.

Equipment Sales

Scuba Equipment Hire

Additionally a wide range of diving equipment is available for hire, from full sets of kit including, drysuits and individual items.

Hire Information

Scuba Equipment Servicing

We service most brands of dive equipment and most items including, regulators, BCD’s, cylinders as well as dive computers and drysuits.

Servicing Information

Scuba Diving Gift Vouchers

Scuba Diving Gift Vouchers are available and can be used for courses, travel or equipment.

Voucher Information

Used Scuba Equipment Sales

A large selection of used scuba equipment which is in excellent condition is available for purchase.

Equipment Sales Information

Portland , Dorset

Whether you're a seasoned saltwater diver or completely new to UK diving, you're welcome to join Big Squid for a weekend in Portland. We typically dive around Portland Harbour or Balaclava Bay, with 4 to 5 dives over two days across a mixture of sites including wrecks and reefs. As a result, there's something to suit all levels of experience. On previous visits we've also been lucky enough to spot an impressive variety of marine life, including Red Mullet, Turbot, Dogfish, Greater Pipe Fish, Lesser Sand Eel, Garfish, Tom Pot Blenny, Pollack, Mackerel, Cork Wing Wrasse, Cuttlefish, Trigger Fish, Giant Jellyfish and Spider Crabs.

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Lundy Island, Devon

Lundy is positioned off the coast of North Devon, at the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Bristol Channel. Remarkably, there is no land between Lundy and America. The island itself is essentially a granite outcrop, three and a half miles in length and half a mile in width. As a result, lying in the middle of nowhere, Lundy is truly unique, peaceful, and unspoiled. Furthermore, Lundy's clear waters are home to an abundance of marine wildlife. Warm currents from the south meet cooler currents from the north, consequently creating ideal conditions for a varied and healthy marine environment.

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Marsa Nakari, Egypt

The small settlement of Marsa Nakari has a house reef that offers diving at a range of depths, from shallow to deep. As a result, this location is ideal for all levels of experience. You can ease into the safer dive sites first and then gradually challenge yourself at more advanced locations. In addition, Marsa Nakari is an ideal place for taking Open Water Qualifying Dives and Advanced courses. Furthermore, there are stunning night dives to be had here, with a good chance of seeing free-swimming moray eels.

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Certified Instructors

Our Reviews..

Big Squid

5.0

Based on 73 reviews

review us on

Georgi Aleshanov

1 year ago

Possibly the best shop you could pick in London. Great team of experienced and patient instructors and solid training every time, with real focus on safety, as you’d expect from a serious operation. Whether you’re diving for fun or training, or coming for the socials, you’ll be surrounded by experienced divers, ready to share their tips. They only work with new and top quality equipment, always well maintained. Having done multiple certifications and dive trips with them now, and having tried other London shops in parallel for comparison over the years, I can’t recommend BigSquid enough.

Rosalind

1 year ago

I have purchased equipment from Big Squid for several years. John has always provided excellent recommendations and advice.

Philip Smith

1 year ago

Did the reactivate course which was fantastic. The instructor was excellent and we had time at the end to do some extras. Would happily recommend Big Squid. They are extremely professional.

A Badr

2 years ago

Great service, John is super friendly and the instructors are great. A nice social group in the heart of clapham with a monthly social gathering.

Ed Boughton

2 years ago

Needed a dive watch battery replaced last minute (3 days before my holiday) and John was able to do it same day in 90 minutes, pressure and sensor tested and all!

Great spot and couldn’t recommend more highly - I will be back!

Peter Saunders

3 years ago

John owner and service manager is not only welcoming but engages in a personable relaxed professional manner.He was able to identify the specific problem and explain to me how it arose in a knowledgeable and understanding way.
Once serviced and collected he then without time restraints explained why certain components were replaced and then carried out certain tests in my. presence
Thankyou John and I need not look eklswhere if I need another service

Jodie Tapscott

3 years ago

I only had 8 open water tropical dives under my belt when Big Squid taught me to cold water Dry Suit dive in Portland! John, Kevin, Maria and the crew were great instructors. Taught me well in tough conditions and 6 mths later I was out diving with them and the seals 🦭 at Lundy Island. Great teachers and lovely welcoming dive club!

Lorena Oberg (Lorena Oberg Skincare)

3 years ago

I took my second hand equipment to be serviced. They were very helpful. Sadly later had issues with the servicing (these things are outsourced so it's not directly their fault). They immediately got on it and eventually refunded me.
It's my opinion that a business shows how good they are when there are problems. Handled beautifully and highly recommend

Jérémie Girand

3 years ago

Worked with BigSquid to get an open water referral.
Amazing experience, nice people, really know their stuff.

Shamz Uddin

3 years ago

I’ve yet to have an opportunity to dive with Big Squid but when I went in asking for help with my SSI account, John was extremely helpful and supportive making phone calls and sending emails to help me fix an issue with my account. I will no doubt be diving with Big Squid in the future just going by how great the customer service is

David Glenville

3 years ago

Debbie Seaton

3 years ago

Just visited here for the first time, can't recommend it highly enough, very helpful, very knowledgeable, great prices and very generous. Thank you for your help John

Greg Szasz

3 years ago

We did the practical part of the EFR certification with Big Squid. John was responsive and helpful through the booking process, and we quickly locked down the details for the course.

The location at Clapham was convenient and easy to reach, and the course took place at their cozy unit.

Kevin was the instructor, who explained everything clearly and was super helpful. He and John (his live demonstration dummy!) showed us the skills, and we walked through them together effortlessly.

Leona

4 years ago

Big thank you to John and his colleagues Mattewos and Jerry. I had a fantastic time. They were very patient as it took me time to get to grips with it as I was doing my padi open water so new to diving. I had a really good time and they were very supportive, informative and great teachers. Thank you!

Lindsey Scott

4 years ago

Great dive store and club! John did a great job and quick turnaround servicing my regulators this week. Always great trips away too 🙂

Siona Tomlinson

4 years ago

Amazing customer service. John couldn’t have been more helpful and kind.

Tom Spanswick

4 years ago

I've just completed my Open Water referral course with Big Squid and couldn't recommend it more highly with the team. John, Phil and the rest of the team were super friendly, highly knowledgeable and made the diving experience one to remember. I'll definitely be returning to do some more courses with them!

Nicolas Bonnet

4 years ago

I would give them 6 stars if I could. Very professional, knowledgable and friendly staff. Went there for my Open Water referral. 5 awesome training sessions where I learnt a lot with John and his team (Phil, Kevin). I never thought diving in London would be so fun. And I will definitely continue diving with them 👍🏻

Becky Rowe

5 years ago

Have really enjoyed getting to know Big Squid over the last year or so. Super friendly and welcoming group of people. Great trips (don't miss Lundy!) Just completed my Rescue Diver course with them. Great fun!

Christina Matawa

5 years ago

I also could not recommend John and his team highly enough. The communication before and during the dive weekend was excellent and very professional, the equipment was the best I've ever had, the team were friendly and accommodating and also made the experience fun and less daunting for me, joining for the weekend by myself. Thank you!!

Natalie Brooks

5 years ago

Just finished an equipment speciality course with Big Squid. John made the entire experience really interesting and fun, it is great to actually finish a course and know I've learned things! Definitely recommend Big Squid for any of your diving needs, the team are great and really go out of their way to help.

Karine Tereszkiewicz

6 years ago

great team, Tania was my teacher for the confined session and she was brilliant, patient and we had lots of fun, The sessions are done in pool in clapham or dulwich, great facilities for both. John communicates all the information to go there, Covid security etc. before each session via email.This is really professional , with a really friendly vibes. Highly recommend! Thanks a lot!

Helen stewart

6 years ago

Really lovely dive shop. Friendly and personable

TMC Services Ltd

6 years ago

Excellent help and support from John. I am an Air Gunner and ordered my 300bar air cylinder from them and have regularly taken back for re-fills and repairs when I damaged the pressure gauge. Would highly recommend

Bashkim Isai

6 years ago

My preferred dive shop in London - great prices, excellent service, always gives you a good deal and expert advice. Would recommend to any diver

Adrian Mullins

6 years ago

I've got my dive kit from here for many years. They're always able to price match any of the online dive kit retailers but the benefit is you get a friendly, knowledgeable diver to offer expert assistance. I can't recommend Big Squid highly enough.

Di Xu

7 years ago

Big squid is a great centre to do course and fun-dive with! John has built up a community of very experienced instructors and dm over the years that you can learn and dive with.
Everyone is super friendly and logistics is always well-organised!

Rachel H

7 years ago

Great dive team at Big Squid - brilliant instructors. Really good courses. I cannot recommend them highly enough!!!

Michael Gallagher

7 years ago

Brilliant service! Highly recommended. All dive shops should be so customer friendly.

michael kearns

7 years ago

Went in to buy a mask lovely fella,very helpfully not pushy at all gave me great advice on masks,had a lovely chat booked my scuba refresher course with them which I’d highly recommend,and he gave me a book free off charge on diving in the Philippine s, just a great experience,came out with a smile on my face,
Great shop great staff.
Thank you Big Squid

Katie Tomsett

7 years ago

Couldn’t be happier with my experience here. I said I didn’t want to spend too much and every effort was made to ensure I got the best quality equipment at the lowest price. Great service and great location - I’ll definitely be back!

Sarah Turner

11 years ago

I've just finished the Open Water Referral course and my experience has been excellent. The instructors were all very friendly and extremely competent which put the whole group at ease for the pool dives. I felt very safe and relaxed. The Knowledge Development session was also excellent and the instructor again put us all at ease creating a great learning environment with lots of Q&A and discussion. I feel completely equipped to go on to the Open Water dives.

I would definitely recommend Big Squid to anyone wanting to learn to dive.

Big Squid 5* PADI Scuba Diving Training in London & Portland Dorset

We have a dive trip to Portland 19th and 20th September 2026

Scuba Diving Courses

Scuba Diving Travel

Scuba Equipment Sales

Scuba Equipment Hire

Scuba Equipment Servicing

Scuba Diving Gift Vouchers

Used Scuba Equipment Sales

Portland , Dorset

Lundy Island, Devon

Marsa Nakari, Egypt

Years Of Experience

Destinations

Satisfied Divers

Certified Instructors

BigSquid

Courses

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