View Full Version : Quarry diving
Hi guys, I'm looking for someone who can tell me the nearest quarry dive to central scotland. Or beter still the next time they are diving a quarry let me come along. I want to do some fresh water pictures.
As you know, some of us have dived Powmill Quarry near Kinross. (Thanks to craigdiver & mrgreen for introducing it to our club :) )
I'd be quite happy to give you info and/or accompany whoever would like to go there. We could discuss it on Thursday at the night dive if you like.
I'd have to do a bit more reconnaisance before I could put together a decent dive site guide for it: e.g. I'd need to work out the exact location of the lay-by on the map & get some photos of it etc. Will try and get this info the next time I'm there.
If you're ever near Lancashire, I'd recommend Capernwray: I thought that it was great fun (although a bit pricey on the first visit - registration charges etc.). Some photos of it are at http://www.charlesmcgurk.ndo.co.uk/diving/ :eek:
Cheers charlie, the pictures are great. saw the trout u put on best picture thread, I fancy doing some quarry diving to get some freshwater pictures. I might look into doing Capernwray, need to check the logistics.
I know that craigdiver wants to go to Capernwray: maybe you could arrange a roadtrip? :)
I'm lucky as it's only 30 min away from my parents-in-law. So, we can stay there & have on-site babysitters allowing my wife & I to have the luxury of buddying up (normally one of us has to be out of the water looking after the weans). ;)
If you do Capenwray, it's best to get in as early as possible. It's a very popular site for trainees/instructors and the later in the day you get there the worse the viz is with all the muck being stirred up. :(
It's a great site for navigation as they have laminated maps with all the points of interest (they've sunk lots of things there such eg boats/helicopters/horses/gnome garden!).
Last time I was there I spent my 3 minute safety stop surrounded by loads of fish (they were probably wondering why I was hanging up side down clinging to a rock, but that's another story!)
If anyone's going to Powmill Quarry, can I come along?!!
We dived Capernwray midweek & it was really quiet: hardly saw any other divers in there, and certainly none at the far side at the new Wessex helicopter. At the weekend, I could imagine it being a lot busier.
Yeah, the fish around the training platforms are great: they're so tame I suspect that divers feed them. Big brown trout, roach & perch. Spotted one of the sturgeon: they're funny looking critters (wonder what they think of us ;)). Unfortunately, wasn't quick enough with the camera to get a photo of it though. :(
Maybe we should organise an evening dive to Powmill sometime? It is quite an enjoyable dive, although the walk from the road to the quarry is hard going: several hundred metres up a steepish rough track :( Saw quite a few fish during a dusk/night dive there. :)
I'd definitely be up for an evening dive at Powmill if I'm free.
I reckon the path from the "carpark" off the A977 to the quarry is less than 100m, but it probably feels more when your carrying all your kit. If you have a 4x4 you can easily drive right up to the water... Unfortunately I sold my jeep a couple of months ago and am now driving a respectable, but not adventurous, Ford Mondeo!
I'd definitely be up for an evening or weekday dive at Powmill and I'm shure I could find some more quarry virgins. ;)
I reckon the path from the "carpark" off the A977 to the quarry is less than 100m
170m horizontal distance by my calculation, so about 200m when you take into account the slope. :rolleyes:
Point is, it's a bugger with your kit on, as you say. :eek:
craigdiver took his car up there last time & it seemed to survive (I presume). ;)
I'll not argue about the distance!!
It didn't seem very long when I was there last, but then I drove up! The time before I walked up, but of course without any kit, so quite easy.
The path is quite rutted and steep in places and I wouldn't risk trying to drive up in my Mondeo.
I only double-checked the distance because I was worried that the ageing process was eroding my judgement (I was severely out of breath by the time we got up that hill... I couldn't believe that it was under 100m ;))!
I wouldn't try and take my car up there now either (especially as the damned thing is in the garage today :mad:) Hope I get it back in time for Thursday's night dive to CA! :eek:
Lizardland
29-08-06, 13:02
If you're ever near Lancashire, I'd recommend Capernwray
If you're ever in Lancashire then go the extra 90min to Dorothea quarry in Wales :)
It's much better, there is no entry fee, the vis is generally crystal clear, you don't get anywhere near the number of divers you get at Capernwray and the diving is much more spectacular. There are a couple of beautiful walls, the best starts at 40m and drops to 100m (ah the joy of rebreathers :) ) and there are a couple of big, stone pinnacles too that drop quite deep. A few huts and some swim through tunnels as well.
There aren't any facilities but a great climbers' pub with campsite & bunkhouse about 1/2 hour away.
Gas Guzzler
29-08-06, 14:10
There are 2 other water filled quarries that spring to mind that are close to roads, no idea about access though
1. Auchinstarry (www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=55.9704&lon=-4.0533&scale=25000&icon=x) at Kilsyth
2. Mugdock Quarry (www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=55.9689&lon=-4.3155&scale=25000&icon=x), North of Milngavie
As I used to stay in bearsden I'v had a look at mugdock its not more than 2m deep and its small. Pity :(
alexmaclennan
30-08-06, 04:19
I used to rock climb there - I seem to remember access is easy. Don't know about the depth.
Alex
craigdiver
30-08-06, 09:55
I know that craigdiver wants to go to Capernwray: maybe you could arrange a roadtrip? :)
Anybody fancy organising a trip to Capernwray, we could travel down on a Friday or Saturday evening, camp over and dive the following day? Anybody want to set a date in November (long weekend of diving to Lochaline in Sept, Holiday to Salou in Oct, so needs to be November to keep my bollocks intact:o )?
Ding, looking forward to meeting you - you up for this?
Cheers
CraigDiver
craigdiver
30-08-06, 09:58
craigdiver took his car up there last time & it seemed to survive (I presume). ;)
I very nearly broke a fiesta taking it up (did make it, but with some damage!), myself and mrgreen had a great dive that day.
My Vauxhall Agila made it up no problem at all - good ground clearence. Not a scratch on the car.
CraigDiver
Anybody fancy organising a trip to Capernwray, we could travel down on a Friday or Saturday evening, camp over and dive the following day? Anybody want to set a date in November (long weekend of diving to Lochaline in Sept, Holiday to Salou in Oct, so needs to be November to keep my bollocks intact:o )?
Ding, looking forward to meeting you - you up for this?
Cheers
CraigDiver
Yep November 3rd - 5th what about it. drive down fri night, camp and dive early sat morn (good viz), and sat afternoon. party sat night. Have a quick dip sun morn and drive home sun afternoon.
Names on the calender and I will organise it !!!!
PS I am putting the info on the calender as I type this !!!
craigdiver
30-08-06, 11:07
Yep November 3rd - 5th what about it. drive down fri night, camp and dive early sat morn (good viz), and sat afternoon. party sat night. Have a quick dip sun morn and drive home sun afternoon.
Names on the calender and I will organise it !!!!
PS I am putting the info on the calender as I type this !!!
Name added, might not manage the whole weekend (just back from hols) but will definitely travel down Friday and dive all day Sat (3 dives if you pay to get in rather than pay per dive).
i'm sure i'll manage to talk mrgreen into going too.
Love having a full diving Calender.
CraigDiver
Capernwray trip sounds like fun!
Will have to check whether I can make it or not.
We also did the Devil's Bridge drift dive (http://www.lancs.ac.uk/~subaqua/dev_brid.htm) which is only 12 miles away and a popular post Capernwray dive. Not sure about that time of year though: the Environment Agency might not be keen if the salmon are running. Also is dependent on the previous rainfall: can't do it if the River Lune is in spate :)
Supose I should have put this trip on divetrips and places
but Its for quarry diving, Do u think I should?
If you're ever in Lancashire then go the extra 90min to Dorothea quarry in Wales :)
It's much better, there is no entry fee, the vis is generally crystal clear, you don't get anywhere near the number of divers you get at Capernwray and the diving is much more spectacular. There are a couple of beautiful walls, the best starts at 40m and drops to 100m (ah the joy of rebreathers :) ) and there are a couple of big, stone pinnacles too that drop quite deep. A few huts and some swim through tunnels as well.
There aren't any facilities but a great climbers' pub with campsite & bunkhouse about 1/2 hour away.
Organise a trip I'm shure a few of us will want to do a deepy
Some of the guys from atlantic divers would be up for it!!!
dive granny
30-08-06, 21:04
I only double-checked the distance because I was worried that the ageing process was eroding my judgement (I was severely out of breath by the time we got up that hill... I couldn't believe that it was under 100m ;))!
I wouldn't try and take my car up there now either (especially as the damned thing is in the garage today :mad:) Hope I get it back in time for Thursday's night dive to CA! :eek:
If you got out of breath and I am old enough to be your Mum I would have no chance.:rolleyes:
dive granny
30-08-06, 21:06
Yep November 3rd - 5th what about it. drive down fri night, camp and dive early sat morn (good viz), and sat afternoon. party sat night. Have a quick dip sun morn and drive home sun afternoon.
Names on the calender and I will organise it !!!!
PS I am putting the info on the calender as I type this !!!
If you have it that week end you could have a bonfire and have fire works too as it is Guy Fawkes night!:D
Anybody who wants to dive at Capernwray let me know I have details of B+B and camping
Capernwray House on 01524 732363-they have a B&B as
well as camping available.
I just need to organise the party on sat night. Tequila did sombody mention tequila. The party is work in progress Ye Ha
Ding :D :D
This is cancelled now there r 2 many divers at the weekend
If you have it that week end you could have a bonfire and have fire works too as it is Guy Fawkes night!:D
Heh heh.... sounds like my kinda party :D
bubblemaker
30-08-06, 23:23
Heh heh.... sounds like my kinda party :D
Christ... Eddie the psycho on a weekend of pyromania!!!
Lizardland
31-08-06, 00:10
Organise a trip I'm shure a few of us will want to do a deepy
Some of the guys from atlantic divers would be up for it!!!
I need 1hr 40min notice to organise a trip... 10min to pack my RB and 90min to drive there :)
At the moment I'm in south Manchester's Scottish ghetto (population me) so it isn't a major trek for me. Let me know when you fancy. It's usually best over the autumn/winter, brilliant vis but bloody cold below the surface. Not much in the way of life but very scenic (doesn't feel artifical like Capernwray). I usually end up going there every 6 weeks or so to use up leftover gas.
Cheers,
Stuart
There are to many divers in the quarry at weekends so trip cancelled ;)