News
Top Ten dive sites in the Netherlands for beginner scuba divers

Scuba diving in the Netherlands. For some a nightmare, and for others a lifelong passion. Not many people know that the Netherlands offers the most beautiful dive sites of Northern Europe. During scuba diving season people come from Belgium, Germany and even France for scuba diving holidays to Holland. However the Netherlands is also known for it’s treacherous waters, and not all dive sites are accessible to every diver. So where are the best dive sites for beginner scuba divers to explore in Holland?
The Netherlands offers both salt and fresh water scuba diving locations. In this article I’m focusing on the salt water dives sites, as they are usually the reason why scuba divers visit my country. The Netherlands has much to offer, even for beginner scuba divers. Some of my friends always talk about learning to scuba dive in Egypt or the Caribbean. I always urge them to start scuba diving here in the Netherlands. If you can dive here, you can definitely scuba dive in clear blue waters!
Scuba diving in the Netherlands can be dangerous. We have treacherous waters with strong tidal currents, cold temperatures and low visibility. An important rule for me: “Scuba dive to your level of expertise”. Meaning if you have 10 dives in your logbook, you just can’t scuba dive a location with strong tidal currents. Be careful.
Luckily the Netherlands has lake Grevelingen. Lake Grevelingen was created when the area was closed off by a dam in 1971. The lake has a total surface area of 11,000 hectares of water. The elimination of the tide created an area ideal for (beginner) scuba divers. The dam has several inlets which still keep the lake connected with the North Sea, which means the lake is still salt water and has loads of marine life.
Most of the dives sites can be found on the southern coast of lake Grevelingen, between Bruinisse and around Brouwershaven. Below is an overview of the top 10 dive sites for beginner scuba divers. I have dived these sites and I can recommend them all. Off course there are many more dive sites to to explore in the Netherlands, but below is a great central starting point:
1. Het Koepeltje
Has a great reef wall which you can dive alongside.
2. Le Serpent
The wreck itself is for more experienced scuba divers. However the two little wrecks, reef balls and platform are definitely worth checking out and are accessible for beginner divers.
3. Scharendijke
Just right of Le Serpent you can find a small bay area in which you can scuba dive.
4. De Muur
Take a ladder with you, you’ll need it to climb the wall. The dive site isn’t easy to reach, which means not many divers go here. Loads of smaller marine life (especially snails).
5. Den Osse Nieuwe Kerkweg
This is one of my favourite locations with artificial reef balls which hold a score of different marine life.
6. Den Osse Haven
It will take some time swimming out, but then you have a drop-off you can follow down. On your way back it’s scuba diving at a depth of 2 to 3 meters, but smaller marine life is abundant here.
7. Kijkuitpolder
Easy dive site with not that many divers.
8. Bommenede
This one is a bit more dangerous as you’re scuba diving below a sea lane. Remember not to make a direct ascend here!
9. Dreischor Frans Kokrif
Also one of my favourite dive sites. Easy to enter the water, and whether you go left or right there is always an abundance of marine life.
10. Dreischor Gemaal
Somewhat more difficult to enter the water, but definitely worth it! When reaching the Gemaal you can expect a beautiful view.
News
Get moving with the new RAID DPV training programs

The thrill of speeding through the water behind a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) is an experience that really gets the blood racing. Using a DPV provides divers both immense fun and the means to achieve goals that would be impossible without their use.
RAID is proud to announce the new two-tier DPV training program with certifications for DPV and Advanced DPV.
Why DPV and why now?
Recreational and technical divers are using DPVs to access sites that would be difficult to reach and explore using traditional propulsion methods; to help propel large amounts of heavy equipment; to increase the safety of dives in areas of strong current; or just for the pure exhilaration of shooting through the water at speed and performing underwater acrobatics.
By extending your capabilities and extending your range, using a DPV opens new vistas for exploration and fun.
DPV
This certification option is aimed at the recreational diver who wishes to learn how to use a DPV to enhance their diving by using mainly natural navigation.
Advanced DPV
This certification option is available to anyone who is familiar with longhose configuration, has logged a minimum of 20 dives and is certified as Navigation specialty divers.
This certification option is aimed at the slightly more experienced diver with preexisting navigational training and diving on a single, twin or sidemount setup with a longhose. Although this level is slightly more challenging, the more advanced navigation exercises provide an important base for more complex types of DPV diving within a team.
PREREQUISITES
You must:
- Be a minimum of 12 years old.
- Be certified as RAID Open Water 20, Junior Open Water or equivalent.
Just visit www.diveRAID.com to put some extra dash into your dives.
Marine Life & Conservation
Beers raise cash for ocean clean-up

The Driftwood Spars Brewery, a pioneering microbrewery based on the North Cornwall coast, is donating a percentage of all profits from its Cove range of beers to Fathoms Free, a certified charity which actively cleans the ocean around the Cornish peninsula.
Each purchase of the small-batch, craft beers – there are four different canned beers in the Cove range – will help generate funds to purchase a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and fund retrieval dives; every brew will raise the equivalent cost of a fully-funded dive.
Fathoms Free is a Cornwall-based charity whose day-to-day mission involves dives from their fast-response specialist vessel to recover ghost fishing gear; abandoned nets, pots, angling equipment and other plastic causes severe damage to the marine environment and the death of countless seabirds, seals, dolphins and other sea life.
The campaign to raise funds for an ROV is a new initiative which will take the clean-up work to a new level; the highly manoeuvrable underwater vehicle will be used to scour the seabed, harbours and remote parts of the coastline for abandoned fishing gear and other marine litter.
Project Manager Natallia Paliakova from Fathoms Free said: “Apart from helping us locate ghost gear underwater, the ROV will also be capable of recording underwater video which is always great for raising awareness about marine pollution issues.”
She added: “We are really excited to be partnering with The Driftwood Spars Brewery and appreciate the proactive support of Mike and his team in bringing the purchase of an ROV a step closer to reality.”
Head Brewer Mike Mason personally approached the charity after their work was featured on the BBC 2 documentary, ‘Cornwall with Simon Reeve’.
He said: “As a keen surfer I am only too aware of the problem of marine litter and had heard about Fathoms Free, but seeing them in action prompted me to find a way of contributing. The scale of the challenge is scary, but the determination of organisations like Fathoms Free is inspiring.”

Photo by Beagle Media Ltd
The Driftwood Spars Brewery was founded in 2000 in Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes; the microbrewery is just a few steps away from it’s co-joined brewpub, The Driftwood Spars; both pub and brewery are well-regarded far beyond the Cornish cove they call home.
You can hear the waves and taste the salt on the air from the door of both brewery and pub, and the rough seas along the rugged North coast often throw up discarded nets and other detritus; Louise Treseder, Landlady of The Driftwood Spars and a keen sea swimmer, often collects washed up ghost gear on her daily beach excursions.
Louise commented: “This is a great partnership to support a cause close to our hearts – I know the money we raise will have a positive and lasting impact. The Cove range was inspired by our unique surroundings and the artwork – by local artist Jago Silver – reflects that. Now donations from each purchase will contribute towards the vital ocean clean-up taking place right on our doorstep.”
The Cove range can currently be purchased online here, and is available in good independent bottle shops in Cornwall.
To find out more about Fathoms Free visit their website here.
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