Leybourne Lake Dive Centre is owned and operated by Peter Simmonds and Martin Morgans.

Peter a PADI pro for 12 years opened the lakes for diving in 1993. The site has developed over the years under his direction into Kent’s premier dive location. Peter is a keen underwater photographer, is also a sailor and windsurfer.

Leybourne Lake training is under the direction of PADI and HSA Course Director Martin Morgans. Martin has been in diving since 1982. He has been involved in diver training in America, Jamaica, Turkey, Spain, The Maldives, Australia, Egypt, South Africa and Grand Cayman. He is the only PADI and HSA Course Director in the UK.

Martin has personally certified over 500 students and taught more than 16 Instructor Training Courses. Martin also serves as a Course Director and Diving Industry Consultant to dive centres as far apart as Turkey, Russia and South Africa.

Martin and Peter are supported by a team of instructors able to draw on many years of expertise. Leading members of the dive team are PADI Master Instructor Joanne Weston and PADI Master Instructor Bryan Mackness.

Jo has worked around the world including researching the Great White Shark in South Africa, teaching and leading diving in Mozambique, Australia, Indonesia and Vanuatu before coming to Kent to manage one of the UK’s busiest dive centres. As a professional level instructor Jo has taught 11 Instructor training courses. Holding the second highest PADI rating possible she leads the recreation diver training team. As a seasoned traveller she has a wealth of knowledge of all things scuba and travel!

Bryan Mackness leads the Divemaster development team. Bryan well known by many of the divers and instructors in Kent has exhaustive experience of our diving venues and has taught in both Egypt and Tenerife. Bryan himself has now taught on 3 Instructor training courses.

Whether it is beginner courses, advanced, rescue, specialities or professional level, we will provide the training you need. With high quality scuba programs from PADI’s highest qualified instructors, guaranteed low group numbers, and more direct contact time with your instructor, you’ll get the best training available – and we know you’ll love it !!! We enjoy teaching as much as you enjoy learning!

The team was formed in order to not only pool their considerable diving knowledge and expertise but to give an alternative diving experience to the money focussed world of some dive training centres. Our costs and overheads are kept low, after all we are the lake, so our course prices are always less. In fact we will match the cost of any comparable course without lowering our standards or low student instructor ratios.