Greetings,
'yippeediver' - Directions for Cromhall Quarry (NGR ST 705918) :-
Junction 14, M5 (1 mile south of Michael Wood Services, Junction 14 is the first junction 2 miles North of the M4/M5 interchange)
Turn East onto the B4509, heading toward Wotton-under-Edge/Yate, etc.. Travel approx. 1 mile before reaching a T-junction. Turn right, stay on this road for approx. 600 yards - the road drops down a shallow incline. At the bottom of this incline on the right is a group of buildings - this is the entrance (you're about 7 min's off the M5 by now).
Turn right into the coach station - Westward Travel, follow A4-sized signs depicting yellow standard-dress 8-bolt hard hat, accross coach yard and through the adjacent transport dept. The road will quickly lead you into the quarry itself.
It's a tenner to get in, we have a compressor but its not on-line - yet. At the moment we're only open weekends 9-00a.m. - 5-00p.m., but the way the numbers are building (despite zero advertising) it's only a matter of time (short) before the centre goes 'live' full-time week days to.
At the moment vis is around 10m at any depth. Water temp around 12-14 Deg. C. The 'silt' bottom is actually stone dust, so this settles out very quickly. It's very much a site run 'by divers - for divers' ... everyone who works there is advanced-trimix qualified minimum.... with a few bits added on - CCR, wreck, cave, etc...
It's an ideal site for training at all levels, o.k., we don't have extreme depth, but as most will agree, in the majority of training situations extreme depth/drop-offs merely complicate the instructors risk assessment, and make a 'lost diver' scenario a potential night-mare!
Chardy
, Mike - ex of NDC, & myself are working there. The boss is an Inspiration diver - so we're all speaking the same language as it were - nice change!!
Any divers are welcome to call in during the weekends, for now bring you're own gas, but I'm sure that'll change soon. Incidently, 400 yards down the road is the Royal Oak (01454 260 365), nice garden and the food is reasonably priced and of outstanding quality, in the bar is a glass-covered Well (50ft+ deep) dived a few years ago by none other than Martyn Farr - so it's almost a 'divers pub' right on the doorstep.
Cheers for now,
Rich D.
p.s. AMW, how's my Draeger getting on? starting to wish I hadn't sold the bloody thing!!
p.p.s Divers can park right by the waters edge - get in or out whenever you want.... no need to wait for 'transport'....