Overland Underwater Training
Dalton Terrace, York, England, GBR
Sobre o Centro
Overland Underwater Training, based in York, GBR, is a PADI, SSI, and TDI certifying center for scuba diving and freediving. Established in 2001, it offers a comprehensive range of courses, from introductory Discover Scuba Diving and Open Water Diver to professional levels such as Divemaster and Instructor Development Course. They also provide training in freediving, snorkeling, and boat diving, catering to both beginners and experienced divers.
The facilities at Overland Underwater Training include showers, lockers, a bar, accommodation, a swimming pool for training, and a full dive shop. They offer equipment rental and air and nitrox fills. Their services are further enhanced by airport transfer options, facilitating logistics for their national and international clientele.
This center prides itself on unmatched expertise and decades of dive experience, with instructors certified by SSI and PADI. They offer flexible training options, maintain small group sizes for an optimal experience, and uphold exceptional safety standards, with all staff trained in rescue and first aid. A complimentary mask and snorkel are included with the full SSI Open Water Course.
Overland Underwater Training also encourages professional career development in the underwater world, with pathways to becoming a Dive Instructor or Instructor Trainer. Additionally, they offer gift cards to share the thrill of scuba diving and freediving in York, making it an ideal choice for ocean lovers. The center's team is fluent in Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, and Russian.
Cursos Disponíveis
6 cursosOpen Water Diver
The Open Water Diver course here is done entirely in the pool at The Mount School in York — there's no boat, no sea, no current. That's the reality of training in an inland city, and it's also what makes this a clean, controlled environment for first-time divers. You focus on skills and buoyancy without the variables of open water conditions getting in the way. The SSI route uses digital-first learning through the SSI app, which means you can work through the theory at your own pace before pool sessions start. There's no thick manual to carry around — just your phone or tablet and whatever time you have between sessions. The digital format also means your course materials don't expire or get lost. Pool sessions run in the evenings, 18:45 to 20:30. Groups are kept small, instructors are SSI-qualified, and all essential equipment is included in the price — including a free mask and snorkel. You don't need to buy anything before your first session. The certification qualifies you to dive to 18 m independently once completed. Flexibility on scheduling is a genuine feature here, not just a marketing line. If a session date conflicts with work or family, the team works with you to rearrange. For adults fitting a certification around a normal life, that matters more than it might seem.
Divemaster
The SSI Divemaster course at Overland Underwater is the entry point to the professional pathway. Combined with the Science of Diving course, it's the foundation for anyone who wants to lead dives, assist instructors, or work toward becoming a qualified instructor themselves. The centre runs the full SSI professional ladder — Divemaster, Training Specialist, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Instructor, and up to Instructor Trainer. That means you can complete every stage of the professional development pathway here in York without moving to a different centre for advanced ratings. For someone who has been diving recreationally and wants to take it further, this is a structured transition. The professional courses are contact-based — call or email the training team directly to discuss scheduling and requirements. Having the Instructor Trainer rating available at the same centre is unusual for an inland school. It's a sign that the professional training side of the business is taken seriously, not just offered as an afterthought.
SSI Explorers
SSI Explorers is the youngest entry point in the programme, open from age 6. It's not full scuba — it's a structured introduction to the underwater environment designed to build water confidence, teach basic aquatic skills, and lay the groundwork for open water certification when participants are old enough. The programme runs to age 11, covering snorkelling and introductory pool activities. It's built around familiarity with the water, breathing techniques, and comfort with equipment — skills that carry forward when the child is ready to progress to Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver training from age 10. For parents, it's also a way to get the whole family into the water together. The centre explicitly frames their kids' programmes as family-friendly, and the evening pool slots are workable for school-aged children. All sessions are at The Mount School pool in York. Equipment is provided.
Try Scuba
Try Scuba is a single-session introduction to breathing underwater, run in confined water — the pool at The Mount School. There's no certification at the end, just a recognition card and a clear sense of whether diving is something you want to pursue further. For a lot of people, that's exactly what they need before committing to a full course. Available from age 8, this is one of the entry points for younger participants who aren't yet old enough for the full Scuba Diver programme. Adults with no experience use it too — it removes the unknown before signing up for Open Water training. All equipment is provided. The session is run in shallow water, so the emphasis is on comfort and first contact with the gear rather than depth or technique. Instructors are fully rescue and first aid trained. If you decide to continue after the Try Scuba session, your experience feeds directly into the Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver course without having to repeat the basics.
Scuba Diver
The Scuba Diver certification is an intermediate step between Try Scuba and the full Open Water Diver rating. It qualifies you to dive to 12 m with a certified professional — you're not diving independently, but you're fully certified and can go on guided dives at most dive centres worldwide. Available from age 10, it's positioned as a first real certification for younger participants, but adults use it too when they want a qualification faster than the full Open Water course allows. From here, continuing to Open Water Diver is a straightforward progression. Training is pool-based at The Mount School in York, with all equipment included. Sessions run evenings. The same small-group approach applies — you're not working through skills alongside a large group of strangers. The Scuba Diver course is SSI-accredited. The certification is internationally recognised for supervised dives.
Freediving Courses
Overland Underwater runs freediving courses alongside their scuba programmes — it's listed as a separate discipline on the site, not an add-on. Freediving is described as accessible to beginners with no prior experience, and the emphasis is on breath-hold technique, relaxation, and lung capacity rather than depth records. The approach is pool-based, which suits freediving training well. Controlled conditions in York's deepest pool allow for proper breath-hold and technique work without the distractions of open water. The centre positions freediving as complementary to mindfulness and physical fitness, not just sport. Try Freediver sessions are available for complete beginners who want a first contact with breath-hold diving before committing to a course. The progression beyond that isn't detailed on the site, but freediving is listed as a distinct course category with its own booking pathway. Gift cards can be applied toward freediving courses, which makes them a practical option for anyone whose friends or family have expressed interest in the discipline.
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What people ask before booking
Children can start with the SSI Explorers programme from age 6, and the Snorkel Diver course also opens at 6. Try Scuba is available from age 8. From age 10, children can enrol in the Scuba Diver course (dives to 12 m with a professional) or go straight for the full Open Water Diver certification.
No. All essential gear is provided for your course. The SSI Open Water course also includes a free mask and snorkel. Just bring swimwear and a towel.
Yes. Overland Underwater is certified with both agencies and offers courses under both SSI and PADI. Both Open Water Diver certifications qualify you to dive to 18 m.
Sessions run in the evening, 18:45 to 20:30, at The Mount School pool on Dalton Terrace in York. If a specific date doesn't suit you, the centre will work to find an alternative.
Yes. The servicing side of the business handles regulators, BCDs, dive computers, and watches across most major brands including Aqualung, Apeks, Mares, Oceanic, Scubapro, and Suunto. Contact Greg directly on 07923 170353 or [email protected]. Most services are completed within a week.
Yes. The full SSI professional pathway is available — from Divemaster through Assistant Instructor and Open Water Instructor up to Instructor Trainer. You can start with the SSI Divemaster Professional and Science of Diving courses and progress from there.
There's pay-and-display parking nearby and some free on-street parking — check the signs carefully. Once parked, walk through the tennis court to reach the poolside entrance.
Yes. Gift cards are available for any amount or experience — from a single taster session to a full course. They can be used toward any scuba or freediving course.