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Site Information
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VOBSTER QUAY
SITE INFORMATION
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Welcome to Vobster Quay - the UK's friendliest inland diving centre. Whether you're a certified diver looking for some fresh water fun or completely new to diving, Vobster Quay has something to offer...
For certified divers, there's no better place to hone your diving skills and have fun than at Vobster Quay. With 36-acres of fresh water diving in depths ranging from 6m to 36m, divers of all levels will find the heady mix of exciting underwater attractions and a full range of diving support services hard to resist.
Beneath the lake waters you'll find a fabulous array of attractions just waiting to be discovered. Divers can explore the wreck of a large commercial aircraft, a 42ft motorcruiser, two metal wheelhouses, our famous Crushing Works - a towering structure the size of a 2-storey house - and even a spooky concrete-lined tunnel that's not for the faint hearted!
Got an question about Vobster Quay? Below you'll find a mountain of information to help you get the most out of your visit to Vobster Quay. If you need further help, though, do not hesitate to get in touch - send us an email to info@vobster.com or call us on 01373 814666.
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Opening Hours
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Planning a trip to Vobster Quay? Please note that Vobster is open for business seven days a week - including bank holidays - between the following times...
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Here at Vobster Quay, we're proud of our record of keeping the gates open seven days a week - including bank holidays - throughout the year. Whether you're a fair weather diver or a hardcore winter dipper, we're here to ensure you get your diving fix whatever the weather.
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Note that on the very rare occasions that we are forced to close the site to visitors, advance notice will always be given on both the front page of our website and on our Facebook page. We advise all visitors to check these pages before travelling to avoid disappointment.
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| Sunday
| 08:30 - 17:30
| 16:45
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| Saturday
| 08:30 - 17:30
| 16:45
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| Monday
| 08:30 - 17:00
| 16:00
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| Tuesday
| 08:30 - 17:00
| 16:00
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| Wednesday
| 08:30 - 17:00
| 16:00
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| Thursday
| 08:30 - 17:00
| 16:00
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| Thursday - Evening Dives (April - Oct only)
| 17:00 - 21:30
| 21:00
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| Friday
| 08:30 - 17:00
| 16:00
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| ** Bank Holidays **
| 08:30 - 17:30
| 16:45
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PLEASE NOTE: Thursday evening diving available EVERY Thursday between the start of April and the end of October. Day divers wishing to stay on after 17:00 will be required to pay an additional entry fee (see below).
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Entry Fees...
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We like to think that a day at Vobster Quay offers superb value for money - where else can you enjoy a full day of diving fun and banter and still have change for your bus fare home?
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Unlike traditional diving centres, we don't charge 'per dive' - you merely pay an entry fee onto the site and for the rest of the day (normal operating hours apply), you're free to make as many dives as you desire. Once you're signed in, there's no need to carry cash around either - we operate a tab system onsite so you only need settle up at the end of your diving day. Below you'll find details of the entry fees - please note that these fees are subject to change without notice...
For regular visitors to Vobster Quay, we offer entry at a discounted rate via our Quay Membership Scheme. For a small annual membership fee, members gain access to a host of discounts including a reduced entry fee and discounts on food, gas and retail purchases.
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For dive instructors accompanied by four or more students, we offer FREE ENTRY. Better still, the more students you bring along, the more of your staff gets in for free and we'll even carry across unused student 'credits' to your next visit! For more information on the benefits that we offer dive instructors, visit our page detailing services for dive schools, clubs and instructors.
Between April through to the end of October, we also offer divers the opportunity to take advantage of our evening diving session every Thursday. Our gates will remain open until 21:30 with last divers out of the water by 21:00. Note that day divers who wish to stay on after 17:00 to take advantage of these extra hours of diving will be required to pay an additional entry fee.
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| Day Dives - Non Member | £ 16.00 |
| Day Dives - Member | £ 11.00 |
| Night Dives - Non Member | £ 16.00 |
| Night Dives - Members | £ 11.00 |
| Evening Dives - Member | £ 7.50 |
| Evening Dives - Non Member | £ 9.00 |
| Non Divers | £ FREE |
| Instructor (with 4+ students) - see conditions | £ FREE |
| ** WEEKDAY SPECIAL ** Non Members (after 2pm) | £ 11.00 |
| ** WEEKDAY SPECIAL ** Members (after 2pm) | £ 8.50 |
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PLEASE NOTE: All visitors are required to swipe their Credit Card as a deposit on weekdays. This information is destroyed when you check out.
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Emergency Information
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In the event of an emergency, please inform a member of the Vobster Quay staff immediately. Our staff are there to assist you. ALL injuries - no matter how minor you think they are - must be reported to a member of our staff.
Vobster Quay employs a very simple diver recall signal that you should listen out for at all times when underwater. In the event of an incident that requires all divers to exit the water, a member of our staff will pound a heavy object against one of the metal ladders located at the water's edge. If you hear this signal, make a safe ascent and leave the water by the nearest safe exit.
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Nearest Telephone
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Shop, Office and Main Building
Waterside staff have a radio link to the main building
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Emergency Services
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Dial 999
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Site GPS Coordinates
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2 º 25 ' 28 '' W
51 º 14 ' 44 '' N
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Specialist Hyperbaric Advice
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Atlantic Enterprise UK, Poole
DDRC, Plymouth
Capital Hyperbarics, London
London Diving Chamber, London
Haslar Naval Hospital, Gosport
Royal Navy Doctor
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
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07770 423637
01752 209999
07623 937666
07940 353 816
02392 584255
07831 151523
0845 408 6008
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DAN: Divers Alert Network
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Emergency
Advice
Website
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0870 8719999
0870 8728888
www.daneurope.org
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Nearest A&E Hospital
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Royal United Bath
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01225 428331
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Oxygen Therapy Units
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Inside shop - main building
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First Aid Kit
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Inside shop - main building
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Environmental Features...
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Vobster Quay offers the very best in fresh water inland diving but what's it really like below the surface? Below you'll find a detailed breakdown of the environmental features of the lake...
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Water Type
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Fresh water, non-tidal
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Temperature
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Minimum
Maximum
Average
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3º C
18º C
10º C
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Visbility
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Minimum
Maximum
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< 1 metre
> 20 metres
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Visibility Effectors
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Silt disturbance, algae bloom and/or rainfall 'wash'
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Depth Range
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Minimum
Maximum
Average
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6 metres
36 metres
12 - 24 metres
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Bottom Composition
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Rock & Limestone silt
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Underwater Obstructions
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Quarry buildings (various)
Subterranean tunnel
Aircraft wreckage (various)
Vehicle wreckage (various)
Training platforms (various)
Steel cables
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GREAT VIZ AND STRONG SUNLIGHT
Great viz and strong sunlight transforms the shallows at Vobster Quay. Stunning rays of light cut through the water creating beautiful dappling effects and stunning silhouettes. Shot yesterday with Vobster regular Kenni Purrdy-Artcat Maidment on modelling duties, this photo from pro photographer Jason Brown really shows off how beautiful the lake... [more]POSTED: 24th May 2013
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AQUASPHERE NOW IN STOCK
Broken your googles, forgotten your trunks, water in your ears, or need a warmer head?
We now have open water swimming googles, hats, clips and shorts in stock at Vobster for your every swimming need. We have a small range of tri suits in stock for the beginners, and hope... [more]POSTED: 24th May 2013
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Some footage from Emma Farrell this weekend, showing the free divers in action. Great action shoots, well done.
POSTED: 20th May 2013
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Things have certainly moved on in the last 40 years but it's good to see that even in the mid-1970s, Vobster Quay was still a popular place to train divers! Thanks to Neil Withers for sharing this fabulous photo...
POSTED: 18th May 2013
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Good luck to all the triathletes training at Vobster and heading North for the Llanberis 'Slateman' this weekend.
POSTED: 17th May 2013
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