Kayak Diving

[David Grounsell]

I have recently purchased an 'Ocean Kayak' Scrambler XT sit on top kayak with a view to using it as a dive platform for inshore dive sites.There's plenty of it in US and other warmer climes but does anyone do it over here? I would like to use mine on the North Antrim coast and the Clyde islands.

[Craig Billingham]

I have recently purchased an 'Ocean Kayak' Scrambler XT sit on top kayak with a view to using it as a dive platform for inshore dive sites.There's plenty of it in US and other warmer climes but does anyone do it over here? I would like to use mine on the North Antrim coast and the Clyde islands.

Yep I have a SOT kayak and go diving from it, mostly diving off the East coast of Scotland or out of Oban.

I would recommend having a look at the book Savvy Paddler by Doug Alderson. Nothing to do with Kayak diving per say, but loads of good advice on the kayaking aspect. Particularly planning, safety and kit storage.

Watch out for overheating when paddling in your drysuit, and tide planning, as if you get the tides right you have an easy ride out and back, get it wrong and it can be a real slog.

I've tried it several ways, from using the kayak as an SMB to Beaching the kayak and shore diving. So far I haven't anchored up, although I'm intending to do this when I dive a wreck I'm planning to go to. Just need to sort out a Sounder first.

My advice is go steady and you'll have a great time.

[Ben Field]

Since seeing this thread I had a good look round the web for this topic and theres alot from the US about fishing and freediving off kayaks and abit about diving.

Seems an interesting way of doing "just-beyond-shore" diving, anyone tried it along the South Coast?

Tidal, weather and DCI issues aside it seems very suitable to inaccessible locations, I might look into it further....

:=I have recently purchased an 'Ocean Kayak' Scrambler XT sit on top kayak with a view to using it as a dive platform for inshore dive sites.There's plenty of it in US and other warmer climes but does anyone do it over here? I would like to use mine on the North Antrim coast and the Clyde islands.

Yep I have a SOT kayak and go diving from it, mostly diving off the East coast of Scotland or out of Oban.

I would recommend having a look at the book Savvy Paddler by Doug Alderson. Nothing to do with Kayak diving per say, but loads of good advice on the kayaking aspect. Particularly planning, safety and kit storage.

Watch out for overheating when paddling in your drysuit, and tide planning, as if you get the tides right you have an easy ride out and back, get it wrong and it can be a real slog.

I've tried it several ways, from using the kayak as an SMB to Beaching the kayak and shore diving. So far I haven't anchored up, although I'm intending to do this when I dive a wreck I'm planning to go to. Just need to sort out a Sounder first.

My advice is go steady and you'll have a great time.