Interested to know what we've been up to since Vobster Quay first opened its gates back in 2003? Below you'll find links to all the major events and changes that have taken place at Vobster Quay over the last few years. From DPV racing to charity fund raising events, 'celebrity' visits to the placement of new dive attractions, we've seen it all - and it's all here for your perusal...

PLEASE NOTE - For more information on any of the news items listed below, contact the website administrator.

		Santa Charity Dive 13th December 2007

Ho! Ho! Ho! Vobster Quay will be going 'Christmas crackers' on Saturday 22nd December with a day packed with Christmas joy. In the spirit of the season, we're inviting visiting divers to dig out their Santa suits and go for a dive dressed as everyone's favourite fat giver of gifts - all in the name of charity, of course!

We're hoping that Vobster will be a sea of red pantaloons, fake beards and fur-lined hats with large numbers of jolly Santas enjoying the diving opportunities on offer. For every diver that gets into the spirit of things, we'll donate £5 from their site entry fee to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution so there's never been a better opportunity to 'do your bit' and make a complete and utter baffoon of yourself - all in the name of seasonal cheer, of course.

UPDATE: We're pleased to say that the charity diving Santa day was a roaring success! Not only was the turn out better than we'd imagined thanks to our friends at Yorkshire Divers but the day was even covered on the regional news programme, BBC Points West. BBC Reporter Sitala Peek braved the winter waters to get in on the action herself - you can read her account of the day here.

Click HERE to view a short video from the day taken from the BBC News Points West website...

		The perfect Christmas gift? 24th November 2007

What do you give the diver who has everything this Christmas? Well fret no more as we think we've got the answer - a Vobster Quay Christmas Gift voucher. Costing just £15 each, a Vobster voucher can be used to pay for just about anything - from site entry to something shiney from Vobster Quay dive shop!

If you're after something for a non-diving spouse, a training voucher for a PADI Open Water could be the perfect gift! Simply pay for the course upfront and then present your spouse with one of our training vouchers - when they're ready to go, we'll put them through the full PADI Open Water course, all pre-paid with your compliments!

Gift vouchers are available to purchase from the Vobster Quay shop. Contact us for more information...

		Trimix - back again in February! 14th November 2007

With the winter weather starting to kick in with a vengeance, the window of opportunity for sea diving has all but closed for the next few months. With this in mind, we've temporarily put our trimix service on hold. Note that this is only temporary - we'll be back pumping trimix in February.

Please note that this change will have no effect on the availability of breathing air and nitrox cylinder fills at Vobster Quay - we shall continue to supply these gases throughout the winter months. If you require a large volume of trimix for a specific diving project, this can still be arranged (pending adequate notice).

Want to know more? Click here for more information on the cylinder gas filling service at Vobster Quay...

		Phil Short - Cave Talks... 7th November 2007

Ever wondered what it takes to mount an expedition to dive an unexplored cave system in an uncharted region of the world where the nearest town is literally days away across some of the roughest and most inhospitible terrain you could ever encounter? Here's your chance to find out.

On the 18th November, visitors to Vobster Quay will hear first hand what its like from world-renowned cave explorer, Phil Short - a man who has quite literally been there and done that. From the wilds of northern Russia to the wonders of Wookey, Phil is one of the world's most acclaimed cave divers.

Phil will be presenting a series of fascinating talks on his expeditions to dive an unexplored cave system in a remote area of Siberia in Northern Russia. With real 'boys own' grit and determination, Phil and his team explored a cave system that had until then remained a mystery. For anyone interested in cave diving and cutting edge exploration, this talk is not to be missed!

Riding shotgun with Phil will be Jim Standing from Fourth Element who will be following up his earlier talk in October, giving Vobster visitors another opportunity to learn more about the science of keeping warm this winter. From eating the right foods to wearing the right combination of thermals, Jim's the man in the know.

Interested in cave diving or technical diving in general? Why not take an IANTD course with Phil Short at Vobster?

		Shark Weekend 7th November 2007

Most divers know that sharks aren't the man eaters that the movie industry would have us believe. With 90% of the world's shark population decimated in the last 30 years, the shameful truth is that sharks have more to fear from us than we have from them!

On the 25th November, Vobster Quay will be pleased to welcome Richard Peirce, the chairman of the Shark Trust and owner of the UK's first shark cage diving operation, Shark Cornwall. Richard will be presenting a series of talks on the Shark Trust's activities and - in the process - dispelling a few myths and misconceptions that surround these magnificent apex predators. Find out what you can do to help save these essential marine predators!

Richard will also be giving a talk on his latest enterprise, Shark Cornwall. Billed as the UK's first shark cage diving experience, Shark Cornwall gives divers the opportunity to get in the water with deep water Blue Sharks, Porbeagles and - of course - the gentle Basking Shark. Whether you're fascinated or scared rigid by sharks, this is an experience not to be missed!

For more information on their activities, why not visit the Shark Trust and Shark Cornwall websites.

		Mark Ellyatt Reveals All! 1st October 2007

Look out for pioneering deep-diver Mark Ellyatt who will be delivering a series of talks at Vobster Quay on the 27th and 28th October. Famous for his cutting-edge diving exploits around the world, Mark is the latest in a long line of high profile world-class divers to present 'surface interval' talks at Vobster Quay.

For the first of his talks on Saturday 27th October, Mark will be presenting a fascinating talk on his dives on HMS Victoria, the wreck of a Royal Navy battleship that lies in 150m of water off the coast of the Lebanon. What makes this wreck so unique is that she embedded itself *vertically* - the wreck now rises up almost 68m from the sea bed! With the shallowest part of the wreck at 'only' 77m, the HMS Victoria is a fascinating and unique wreck.

Of course Mark is best known for his record-breaking deep dives. Back in December 2003, Mark broke the world record with a dive to a depth of 313m - deeper than any man had dived before! For this record attempt, Mark had to rewrite the book on decompression theory and he'll be discussing the lessons he learnt during the second of his talks on the 28th October. For anyone interested in cutting-edge decompression dives, this is not to be missed!

Mark will also be on hand to sign copies of his latest book Ocean Gladiator which is available from the Vobster shop.

		Surface Interval Talks 1st October 2007

What better way to spend your surface interval than by listening to fascinating talks give by some of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable divers! We're arranging talks on everything from record-breaking deep dives, cave and deep wreck expeditions, conservation and even the science of keeping warm this winter!

We're finalising an exciting programme for the winter months including - in no particular order - Phil Short, Mark Ellyatt, Richie Stevenson, Fourth Element, The Shark Trust, The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and the Marine Conservation Society. More are planned so watch this space!

We kick off with Jim Standing from Fourth Element on October 21st who will be revealing the secrets of how to keep warm as the water temperature drops. Jim will be talking about the technology behind undersuits and may even give those that attend a sneak peak of what his company has waiting in the wings. For those who like their diving warm and toasty, Jim's talk is not to be missed!

		Air Ambulance Success 28th September 2007

Divers from across the country turned up at Vobster on the 23rd September to do their bit to raise money for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Service. After a day of fundraising fun culminating in a grand raffle, divers managed to raise an impressive total of £500 for this very worthy cause!

Divers were invited to take part in an underwater treasure hunt by collecting uniquely numbered miniature helicopters hidden around the lake. All the numbers found were then entered into a raffle to win prizes donated by some of the top companies in the dive industry. Prizes included a Akona gear bag worth £150, a Halcyon SMB and titanium diver’s knife, Fourth Element and DNA Divewear T-shirts, Vobster Quay memberships and lots more!

Air Ambulance fund raising staff were also on site to talk about the service and the challenging work that it does. The fund raising day went so well that both the Air Ambulance Service and Vobster Quay have committed to making this an annual event! If you missed out on the fun this year, why not get involved next year?

Click HERE to find out more about the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and the life-saving work that it does.

		Morzh Submarine Dive Video 5th September 2007

Ever wondered what it would be like to go for a dive in Vobster's resident submarine, Morzh? Thanks to the wonders of internet streaming video wizardy, visitors to the Vobster Quay website can now discover the thrill of a dive in Morzh for themselves.

Using high resolution video footage captured both inside and outside of the submarine, our online Morzh video will give you a real taster of what its like to explore the lake from the inside of a submarine. If our video whets your appetite for all things submarine-shaped, why not join the Submarine Explorers Club and experience a dive in Morzh for yourself? It's a thrilling experience not to be missed!

Click HERE to view the Morzh dive video and to find out more about the Submarine Explorers Club.

		Air Ambulance Fundraiser 15th August 2007

Vobster Quay is pleased to announce a fundraising day in aid of the Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance Service. The Air Ambulance saves lives every day from car crashes and other accidents, medical emergencies and diving incidents across the Somerset and Dorset area.

On the 23rd September 2007, divers are invited to take part in an underwater treasure hunt. Uniquely numbered miniature helicopters will be hidden around the quarry for divers to discover throughout the day. At 3:30pm sharp, all the numbers found will be entered into a raffle to win prizes donated by some of the top companies in the dive industry. Prizes include SMBs, a titanium diver’s knife, membership to Vobster Quay and lots more!

In addition, the Air Ambulance will land - schedule permitting - on site and staff will be giving talks on the varied work that the air ambulance service takes on.

Entry is simple - just turn up on the day and pay £10 to enter the competition (in addition to normal entry fee) then collect as many helicopter ‘raffle tickets’ as you can. To raise even more money, you might like to persuade friends and family to sponsor you – if you have more than £10 promised, then you entry fee will be returned when you have collected the sponsor money.

To find out more about our Treasure Hunt in aid of the Air Ambulance, why not download the promotional flyer...

		Youngest diver at Vobster 15th August 2007

We get thousands of students learning to dive at Vobster Quay every year but few could match the enthusiasm shown by young Patrick Delaney. Having just turned 10 the day before, Patrick completed his final open water dive to become one of the UK's youngest certified divers!

Of course it helps when your dad is a PADI instructor but that didn't mean that young Patrick got an easy ride of it. "He's been studying hard and has really put the work in" commented dad Pat. So what was Patrick's favourite bit about learning to dive? "Diving at Vobster, of course! The fish are really cool" enthused Patrick shortly before running off to tuck into a thoroughly well-deserved cheese burger from the Vobster catering van...

If you're interested in learning to dive, why not do it at Vobster Quay? Click here to find out more...

		More site improvements... 19th July 2007

We always value your feedback - especially when that feedback helps us to make your visit safer and more enjoyable. Acting upon your valued suggestions, we've installed a spacious new platform next to the slipway that's ideal for rescue training and for shallow water entry...

Located on the far corner of the quayside on the near side of the slipway, the new platform is submerged just a few inches below the surface making it ideal for rescue training. Divers can also use it to enter and exit the water when the slipway is busy. In the near future, we plan to improve the platform still further with the addition of steps and a hand rail. Watch this space!

If you've got an idea that you think would make your visit more enjoyable, send us your comments now!

		BurstHP medals success! 16th July 2007

The BurstHP team did us all proud at the 9th biannual International Submarine Races recently held in Bethesda, Maryland USA. Taking on some of the best teams from around the world, the team and their SeaBomb submarine managed to win both silver and bronze medals at the event.

Amongst their many accolades, the team picked up a silver medal in the catagory for top speed by a non-propeller driven one-man sub with an impressive speed of 2.092 knots. They also achieved a bronze in the 'innovation' category for their 'counter-oscillating fin propulsion system and modular chassis design'. Last but not least, the team was also awarded an honorable mention (4th) in 'overall performance' - which takes into account the overall quality of craft, its performance and the conduct and attitude of the team.

"The team have worked incredibly hard and are delighted with their result. We were up against some much better established teams - including the world record holders - and did much better than hold our own. SeaBomb's top speed of 2.092kts even beat several of the (traditionally much quicker) propeller-driven boats." commented Dr William Megill, the team's supervisor.

Click the following link for information on the University of Bath team and its Bursthp submarine project.

		Air fills... cleaner and faster! 6th July 2007

Long waits for cylinder fills are now a thing of the past thanks to recent improvements to the air compressor system at Vobster Quay. Even at the busiest of times, site visitors should see a marked improvement in our cylinder filling service.

Considerable resources have been recently invested to improve the speed and quality of service that the Vobster filling station provides. We've almost doubled the number of high-capacity inline air banks, providing a considerable supply of high pressure clean air at all times. Even in the event of a total power failure, these air banks will continue to pump cylinders with ease!

To cope with this extra capacity, we've also installed a brand new air compressor which runs inline with the existing compressor to deliver a welcome boost to our cylinder filling service in not only additional capacity but redundancy too. The improvements don't stop their either - we've also upgraded the filtration system to ensure you always get the cleanest and safest air possible!

Click HERE for more information on our air, nitrox and trimix cylinder filling service.

		MCS Fundraising Success 4th July 2007

On the 21st April, divers took part in a sponsored 24 hr dive to raise money for Project AWARE, the Marine Conservation Society and WaterAid. Hosted at Vobster Quay, participants managed to raise over £3000 for these worthwhile causes.

Organised by our friends at Aqualeisure in Wiltshire, the event proved to be a roaring success with over 40 divers taking to the waters during the 24 hour dive. Participants were invited to swim sponsored laps around Vobster Quay (approx distance 1km - should take about 60 mins) which which was credited towards the MCS' UK-wide Coastal Challenge target of 11,477 miles.

Visit the MCS, Project AWARE and WaterAid websites for more information on the good work they do.

		Site closed on 12th - 13th April 21st March 2006

If you're planning a trip to Vobster Quay in April then make a note that the site will not be open to the public on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th April due to essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

		Road Closure... 19th March 2007

Visitors travelling to Vobster Quay via the Mells or Vobster village approaches may find they are unable to enter the site via their normal route. Due to essential road works commencing on the 19th March 2007, the short stretch of road immediately to the south of the main entrance will be closed until the 9th April.

For most visitors to Vobster Quay, these roadworks will have very minimal impact as the roads leading from Bath and Radstock are unaffected. Visitors who approach Vobster Quay via Vobster village and Frome are advised to seek an alternative route that allows access to the site via the north approach road. The directors of Vobster Quay apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Click HERE to view a the affected section of road. A map of the local area can be downloaded HERE.

		MCS Coastal Challenge 16th March 2007

We all like to do our bit for the environment - especially when it involves a great day's diving! In conjunction with the Marine Conservation Society, Vobster Quay is hosting a special Coastal Challenge day on the 21st April 2007 to help raise awareness and money for this worthy charity.

Participants are invited to swim sponsored laps around Vobster Quay (approx distance 1km - should take about 60 mins) which will be credited towards the MCS' challenge target of 11,477 miles. Vobster Quay will donate a portion of all participants entrance fee to the MCS and - to make things even more fun - we'll even be handing out prizes at the end of the day for the fastest lap (DPV and non-DPV catagories) and most laps. The MCS will also be on site to discuss its many activities with site visitors.

Just to make things a little bit sillier, we'll also be handing out a prize for the best 'Sea Monster' SMB used by a sponsored entrant. Simply decorate your SMB in the style of a sea monster and you could win a prize! We're also offering FREE entry to any entrant that raises more than £100 in sponsorship.

Click HERE to download the sponsorship pack. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

		Vobster sponsors Burst racer 6th March 2007

Vobster is proud to announce its sponsorship of the University of Bath team and their Bursthp submarine when they take on the rest of the world at the 9th International Submarine Races in the USA later this year. The Bursthp team will be the only team representing the UK.

The International Submarine Races are held biennially in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. One and two-person teams from all over the world will race their human-powered submarines in this gruelling week-long event. The Bursthp team will participate in two events - a 100m sprint and a slalom race testing control systems. Click here to view photos from a recent test dive at Vobster.

With the competition less than three months away, the Bursthp team are still actively seeking sponsors so if you - or the company you work for - would like to get involved, the Bursthp team would love to hear from you. Send them an email today.

Click the following link for information on the University of Bath team and its Bursthp submarine project.

		TRIMIX - now even cheaper! 12th February 2007

Technical divers are a hardy bunch but if there's one thing that's sure to bring a tear to their eyes, it's the cost of helium. We feel your pain - we really do - which is why we've dropped the price of helium by a massive 20%. Yes folks - our trimix is now a whole lot cheaper!!!

As from today, the cost of our helium will drop by 20% from £0.02 per litre to £0.016 per litre. So how does this translate into real world savings? Let's take a typical fill of 21/35 trimix in a set of twin 12s, for example. Instead of paying £46.40 as before, you'll now pay only £38.72 - that's a saving of £7.68 that's not to be sniffed at! For richer helium mixes, the savings get even better!

Baffled by trimix? Don't forget that we offer a full range of technical training courses with some of the best instructors in the business. From Advanced Nitrox to full-blown CCR trimix, we're sure to have a course to suit you. Why not give us a bell?

Click HERE for more information on the air, nitrox and trimix cylinder filling service we offer.

		Road Closure... 8th January 2007

Visitors travelling to Vobster Quay via the Mells or Vobster village approaches may find they are unable to enter the site via their normal route. Due to essential road works commencing on the 8th January 2007, the short stretch of road immediately to the south of the main entrance will be closed until the 26th January.

For most visitors to Vobster Quay, these roadworks will have very minimal impact as the roads leading from Bath and Radstock are unaffected. Visitors who approach Vobster Quay via Vobster village and Frome are advised to seek an alternative route that allows access to the site via the north approach road. The directors of Vobster Quay apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Click HERE to view a the affected section of road. A map of the local area can be downloaded HERE.

		The Darkness Beckons... 1st January 2007

There's nothing quite like a night dive to awaken the senses - with nothing more than your torch beam to guide you, a night dive at Vobster is a thrilling experience not to be missed! Bowing to popular demand, we'll be running a special night dive evening on Thursday 1st February 2007...

Following on from the success of previous night dive evenings, night dives will now be run regularly on the first Thursday of every month during the winter and early months of Spring. Open to all divers with night diving experience, the dive centre will re-open between the hours of 7:00pm and 10:30pm. Spaces are very limited so get in touch to reserve your place now!

Please note that only divers with night diving experience or suitable training will be allowed to dive...