Britain
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Monday, 14 December 2009 23:30 | | Britain |
Located in Cliffe which is inbetween Rochester and Gravesend. It is easily accessible from the M2 and it is also centrally located to all areas of Medway and Kent.
Below you will find information about the site and all of our facilities.
Opening hours are 6 days a week
We are closed on Tuesdays
During the week we open between 9.30am - 4.30pm
At weekends we open from 9.30am - 5.30pm
ENTRY FEES
£10 per person.
A percentage of your entry fee goes back into the nature reserve.
We do not accept credit or debit cards.
TRAINING GROUPS
The leader of any training group with 6 or more in the group will not pay entry to our site, proof of training required on arrival.
DEEPEST DEPTH - 15 Meters
DIRECTIONS
From the M2 take junction 1 - A289
Take the second exit - B2000 towards Cliffe.
Follow the road through Cliffe Woods village.
Take the second left after the village - Rectory Road.
Turn right into Buckland Road.
Turn left into Salt Lane.
We are situated down the lane through the second set of gates on the left.
Nearest postcode is ME3 7ST.
Buckland Lake is a large disused quarry and has been flooded for over 40 years.
There is an abundance of wildlife and the setting is one of peace and relaxation.
Many divers have already commented on the fact that they feel totally chilled
out before and after dives.
On a sunny day it is like being in the carribean as the sun shines on the diving area from dawn to dusk.
Surrounded by white chalk cliffs and colourful vegetation it has to be seen before
you can understand it's attraction.
WRECKS
Caitlin - a small cabin cruiser sunk in about 6.5m
Malaysian Sigma Jet Aircraft - accessible to all levels of diver - fuselage has been
gutted making it a superb swim through - ideal for wreck courses
maximum depth 6.5m. This is a complete aircraft with wings.
Flat Bed Lorry Trailer - this is used as a training platform and is
large enough to give students lots of room in a depth of 6m
CESA platform - located just off of the pontoon, the ideal base for students in a depth of 8m
Training Platform - Located a short swim away from the pontoon, ideal for students. Made from scaffold tubes and boards in a depth of 8m
Underwater forests
SPOOKY TREE
The Old Pump House
The remains of the old pumphouse have been buoyed off as an attraction and have been made safe by the Royal Engineers so that all divers can enjoy diving on it. Work is now being carried out to increase the depth of the site by opening up the large well within the pumphouse - Sept 09.
Great White Shark
JAWS has arrived!!
The only lake in the UK where you can dive and see a great white shark and she waits for you in about 5m of water.
Her head is moulded from that of a real shark and her body reflects the beauty of an amazing and awesome fish.
Her mouth displays a full set of realistic teeth and her big black eyes are waiting to look into yours.
She is 19 feet long and ready for visitors.
Have your photo taken with her but please respect our shark.
Any diver found to have damaged the shark in any way will not be allowed future entry to Buckland.
Gnome Garden
This has now been started and about a dozen gnomes are in place, there is plenty more space for others so feel free to bring a gnome along for our underwater garden, club gnomes welcome too!!
The Lady Di Yacht
This wreck sits in 8m of water and still has most of her features except the mast. In the galley you will find cups etc along with the kettle still on the side.
The Fletcher
This speedboat is sunk in 8m of water, she is laying very close to the Lady Di yacht, she is very colourfull and proved to us to be very unsinkable until we got the better of her!! See pics of her sinking on our gallery page - the progress of Buckland Lake.
The Port Rose
This 32 foot vessel lies in 11m of water and is a complete swimthrough, she is ideal for wreck specialities and has most of her original features. We think that she originates from an original herring fishing boat although we have yet to clarify this, see pics of her sinking on our gallery page - the progress of Buckland Lake.
All wrecks and platforms are linked with safety lines and all have marker buoys.
There is also a safety line leading from the entry steps to the Flat Bed Lorry Platform
OTHER FACILITIES
CAR PARK
FREE parking for divers only - please park sensibly when you arrive to enable enough room for everyone - where possible please car share.
The car park has now been extended but we still ask you to car share please.
OVERFLOW CAR PARK
This is located at the fishery side of the lake and is available for divers to use after unloading kit at the diving area. It is then just a short walk back to the dive area along the North Cliff path.
Please come down to the diving area and ask about this if the top car park is full.
Shop/Office
This is where we ask that you come to BEFORE dropping your kit on the diving area so that you can sign yourself in and be advised of any details we may have for you.
We also have various items of kit on sale here at very good prices.
Kit Hire
This is available at good prices, individual items or complete sets.
We also hire out cylinders and weights.
Kit hire disclaimers must be signed at the time of arrival.
We would appreciate a phone call or an email before your dive date advising us of any kit hire requirements.
FOOD
We sell various snacks along with hot & cold drinks.
At weekends we sell large filled rolls (subject to availability).
You are welcome to bring your own lunches.
We do not allow the use of any portable camping gas cookers or BBQ's.
You are welcome to use our large BBQ to cook for your group, we do ask a small charge for this and advance notice is required.
CONCRETED DIVERS AREA
We keep this area as clean as possible so that your kit stays dirt free. This area is used by a lot of divers so please help us to keep it clean by using the rubbish bins provided and the "butt buckets" if you are a smoker.
This area is for DIVERS ONLY.
Changing areas & Toilet.
Our toilet is supplied with anti bacterial soap, anti bacterial hand wipes and pleasant air fresheners for your comfort.
The changing rooms are on the diving area and are roomy and dry.
DIVING ENTRY POINTS
For giant stride entry we have a large floating pontoon. We do not allow any kit to be left on the pontoon for the safety purposes of all divers. No non divers are allowed on the pontoon.
For alternative entry and for exiting we have the set of metal steps which make life easy for all divers.
No other area is to be used for entering or exiting the water.
AIR FILLING
There is a compressor on site that fills with triple clean air. If you require an air fill then we ask that you buy a tag from the cabin BEFORE you take your tank to the air room for filling.
Any tank without a tag will not be filled.
DRY DECKED AREA
Take a break between dives and sit and relax on our decking, no kit allowed on this area apart from your suits. The entire lake can be seen from this point which also overlooks the diving area below. This is where we ask that all non divers sit if accompanying divers.
CLASSROOM
This is located at the fishery end of the lake and is available for hire to any dive group that needs somewhere to do exams etc. It can seat up to 20 people and has fantastic views over the lake, it has running water and power. Advance notice is required and the charge is £15 per half day.
More info : http://polarisscuba.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=29
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PODSNAP - a Dickens Class Harbour Minesweeper. Built in 1944 specifically to clear mines in around harbour entrances during WWII. She is 50ft long, has a beam of 14ft and displaces 25 tons. She was scuttled at Capernwray in December 1995 and now lies on her side in 18 metres.
WESSEX DRAGONFLY HELICOPTER - this old lady first flew in 1943 and was commissioned to HMS Eagle in October 1953. She moved to the Advanced Training and Development Unit in 1953 and continued in Service in a variety of roles until her last flight in 1962. She then moved to the Civil Aviation Fire School at Stanstead where she was used extensively for crash rescue training techniques. Scrapped in 1991, she was bought by Capernwray Diving and Leisure Ltd in 1996 and now lies atop our 'cave' in 14 metres.
THE AFRICAN QUEEN - A 'look-a-like' for the famous vessel in the Humphrey Bogart film of the same name! She sits on a slope in 12 metres of water.
THE CAVE - Our 'cave' is in fact an old container which has been 'engineered' to allow safe access inside. This provides a very realistic 'overhead environment' suitable for lining -out etc. whilst providing safe access and exit from each side. The top of the 'cave' makes an ideal training platform in deeper water (14m) than our novice training area. The Wessex helicopter sits atop the cave.
DREAMER - One of the original wrecks at Capernwray and ideally located at the end of the training area. Lies in 8 metres of water.
ORCA - Our most recent wreck and an excellent dive in a quieter part of the quarry. A longish swim but well worth the effort. Look out for the large shoals of roach on your way to this wreck.
NOVICE TRAINING AREA - A purpose-built area in safe, shallow water, specifically designed for novice training. There are two platforms, one at 2m and one at 6m, which are suspended on lazy shots. Importantly, the area is on a ledge on one side of the quarry so trainees can be monitored and are able to carry out drills in safety without the dangers of 'drifting-off' into deeper water. The whole area is buoyed off and is easily accessed from the slipway.
THE SUMP! - Not for novices but the deepest part of the quarry for those who need to log a 20m dive. This was where the original quarry was drained (hence its depth in relation to the remainder of the quarry which is normally 18m). CAUTION: The very nature of this depression in the floor of the quarry allows silt to build up so watch your buoyancy control to avoid 'stirring-up' the bottom. Marked by a shotline and buoyed by a large plastic goose! (!?)
THE GYPSY MOTH - A very nice wreck in 17m. A spitting image of the yacht of the same name made famous by Sir Francis Chichester's solo non-stop round the world voyage.
CANDIDA II - An unusual name for a vessel of the High Seas (!) but an excellent dive nevertheless. She sits alone on the far side of the quarry and is rarely visited, so you are guaranteed a quiet dive and generally good viz! A long surface swim needed to reach her but well worth the effort. She lies on the bottom in 18 metres.
THE CANNON - Originally destined for the front of the shop as an interesting feature, we decided that this old weapon of an earlier sea-faring age would be much more interesting as an underwater exhibit. Not much to see but a good check of your whereabouts underwater when you bump into it! Lies in 18m and marked by a red buoy.
THE GNOME GARDEN - A very special feature to Capernwray! Not to be confused with any other 'gardens' of similar nature in the North Lands but our very own collection of garden gentleman kindly donated by one of our regular visiting dive schools. The location is secret; see if you can find them yourselves! (Please do not touch; leave the gnomes alone for others to enjoy).
LORD LUCAN AND SHERGAR - Possibly our most famous attractions, the two fibreglass horses from Blackpool Pleasure Beach are a significant addition to our novice training area and provide a unique underwater feature. Come and ride Shergar and see for yourself!
NEW WESSEX HELICOPTER - A magnificent new addition to our in-water attractions, this is a genuine Wessex helicopter (much larger than our 'old' helicopter on top of the 'cave'), resplendent in bright day-glo yellow, sitting atop a container to keep her clear of the bottom in about 15 metres. She makes a wonderful dive and her arrival here yet again puts us out in front in terms of in-water attractions for discerning divers!
More Info : http://www.dive-site.co.uk/