Archive for the ‘Scuba Diving’ Category
Christmas Gift Vouchers for Activities & Accommodation
Tuesday, November 17th, 2020
Christmas Gift Vouchers are available now from Chepstow’s National Diving & Activity Centre.
Give your friends or family members a unique gift this Christmas with an adventurous experience at the National Diving & Activity Centre.
Scuba Diving Booking System – Thanks for your support
Tuesday, October 13th, 2020
Lockdown
Following the Government’s announcement, we will sadly be closing the National Diving & Activity Centre for the remainder of November.
We would like to thank all of you who’ve already booked scuba diving with us at the National Diving & Activity Centre for when we reopen in a few weeks.
We are really pleased that our first few weeks are already fully booked and we are really looking forward to welcoming you all back. The support you’re all giving us during this challenging time for the diving industry is greatly appreciated.
You may have noticed on the scuba booking page that we need a minimum number of 30 divers to make opening the site viable. Our new booking system helpfully shows the dates that are almost full as well as those with plenty of spaces available.
We still have a small number of spaces on Sunday the 15th November and we’ve bookings coming in for the remaining November dates. So if you would like to dive with us between November and the end of January, don’t delay in making your booking.
Please bear in mind that without the minimum number of 30 scuba divers, we would regrettably need to close the site that day. Our cut off date for this decision is 7 days prior to the date.
If we do ever need to close the site due to low booking numbers, we will email you to let you know and provide a code that can be used to easily rebook on an alternative date.
If you have any questions about this, feel free to drop us a message.
NDAC current Membership to extend until 31st March 2021
Wednesday, October 7th, 2020
We have decided to extend all current diver memberships for free until the end of March 2021. This will apply to anyone who has membership in place dated between 31 October 2019 and 31 October 2020.
Because of the ongoing effects of Covid-19 and uncertainty around the services and facilities we’ll be able to provide; we have decided to hold back on any new diver membership packages or renewals for the next 6 months.
Once we have a clearer idea of the days/dates we will be able open and the benefits we can provide on a membership scheme, we will review our membership package.
We are reopening the centre for scuba divers from the 31st October 2020. This is for weekends initially, but will be under constant review and will follow any current Government advice.
We look forward to welcoming you back to the centre soon.
New Kitting-Up Benches & seating area for Scuba Divers
Friday, October 2nd, 2020
Following feedback from our visiting divers, we have installed some brand new kitting-up benches to help you set up or place your scuba diving equipment between fills.
Complete with social distancing signage, the kitting-up benches have been placed near the Gas Room and are all ready for the NDAC reopening for divers on the 31st October.
We have also repainted the wooden benches in the seating area outside the shop and gas room. Please ensure you use the kitting up benches, rather than the seating areas, for placing equipment.
We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks!
Cromhall Diving underwater attractions find new home at NDAC
Friday, October 2nd, 2020
Sadly, as many of you will know, the Cromhall Quarry Diving Centre closed during 2020. It has been a real loss to the diving and open water swimming communities.
Simon and Maggie, who many of you will know from Cromhall Diving, kindly donated the National Diving & Activity Centre some of their items that we will be using as underwater diving attractions.
Simon visited us recently to hand over the items, and as a small token of our appreciation we plan to paint up the MK XV11 Sea Mine and name it after him.
The new items will be given a good home at the National Diving & Activity Centre. We hope they will provide interesting attractions to dive as a small legacy to the Cromhall centre, Simon and Maggie.
New pontoon sections installed at the NDAC
Friday, October 2nd, 2020
In the last few weeks we have taken delivery at the National Diving & Activity Centre of some new pontoon sections from Southampton.
Reopening the National Diving & Activity Centre For Scuba Divers
Thursday, August 13th, 2020
Lockdown
Following the Government’s announcement, we will sadly be closing the National Diving & Activity Centre for the remainder of November.
We are excited to announce that there will be an initial phased reopening of the National Diving & Activity Centre for Scuba Diving starting from Saturday 31st October.
Initially the centre will be open for Scuba Diving Only on Saturdays and Sundays. We will be carefully limiting the numbers on the site and will only be allowing visitors who have pre-booked their Scuba diving.
The View Cafe Bar, Gas Room and limited Wooden Wigwam accommodation will also be available for scuba diving visitors. The Wooden Wigwams will initially have a minimum of a 2 night stay in place. Please note that evening meals at the View Cafe Bar must be pre-booked in advance.
Other activities such as the Wire Zip Slide, Atlantis Aqua Park and Giant 3G Swing will remain closed at this stage, but will be reviewed after we’ve opened for scuba diving.
Scuba Diving entry can be booked NOW on our new Scuba booking system. It will not be possible to enter the site without a booking.
This phased opening and our control measures are under constant review and will follow Government guidelines as they develop.
DATES AVAILABLE NOW!
Book your Scuba Diving Entry online »
Whilst the centre has been closed to the public we have been working hard to implement new procedures and measures throughout the site to protect our visitors and staff. For further questions, please visit the FAQ on our Covid-19 information page.
Online Bookings
All Scuba Diving, Activities, Events and Accommodation provided by the National Diving & Activity Centre are now using an online booking system. The new online booking system for Scuba Diving is now operational for selected dates.
At this stage we are only accepting visitors who have pre-booked online for Scuba Diving.
Paperless Registration Forms
We are pleased to announce that our Diving Declaration forms and Activity Registration forms can now be completed online as part of the booking process. Participants must complete the online form in full prior to any activity at the National Diving & Activity Centre. Without the completed online form you will not be able to take part in the activity.
Face Masks
We want you to stay safe and encourage you to bring and wear your own face covering while visiting us at the National Diving & Activity Centre. Our staff, where applicable, will also be wearing PPE.
On arrival
If you have any of the symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) we ask that you do not visit the National Diving & Activity Centre. If you develop any symptoms whilst at the site we request that you leave the site safely, return home and seek medical advice. Our staff may ask you about your health and any Covid19 symptoms on arrival.
Social Distancing
The National Diving & Activity Centre is a large outdoor venue with lots of open space and fresh air for you to enjoy and keep safe.
We will be following social distancing guidelines and request that all visitors stay 2 metres apart. We will also limit the amount of close proximity you will have with our staff where practicable to do so.
There will be lots of new signage in place and we’ll be operating one-way systems where possible to avoid cross-over and assist visitors maintaining social distancing. Some areas, such as toilets, will have limits to the number of people who can enter at any one time.
Increased Cleaning Activity
We already have comprehensive cleaning procedures and checks in place throughout the National Diving & Activity Centre. In addition to these, we will increase the cleaning schedules taking place.
Additional hand-wash, paper towels and sanitising stations are being installed throughout the site and in rest areas.
Shared equipment will be sanitised between each use where possible.
Cashless Site
Activity, Event and Accommodation payments are already taken via the website. We have also introduced an online booking system for Scuba Diving.
The rest of the National Diving & Activity Centre has also transitioned to contactless payments and staff will no longer be handling any cash. This will cover areas such as the View Cafe Bar, the Dive Shop, Service Shack and Gas Room.
The contactless payment machines will be cleaned between transactions if staff/visitors need to use the touchpad.
As well as the safety benefits, we believe this will be convenient for our visitors, speed up transactions and reduce queueing at the site.
Buses
For the Scuba Divers who use our buses to travel between the car park and lake, we have a number of procedures in place.
• Several buses will be made available
• Windows will be kept open for increased ventilation.
• Buses will be cleaned regularly throughout the day
• Hand sanitising stations for use prior to boarding the buses
• Face coverings will be required on the buses
• Reduced number of people on the buses
• People are welcome to walk if they feel able
We value your custom and thank you for your patience and understanding whilst we operate these new procedures and measures. These are under constant review as the Government guidelines are updated. For further questions, please visit the FAQ on our Covid-19 information page. If you have any specific questions or concerns please contact us.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Online Booking System for Scuba Divers at NDAC
Thursday, August 13th, 2020
We are excited to announce that we’ve introduced a new online booking system for Scuba Divers visiting the National Diving & Activity Centre (NDAC).
The booking system is part of our post-Covid 19 procedures to make the NDAC cashless, and brings Scuba Diving inline with our other online booking systems.
Scuba Diving spaces can be booked now for Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday 31st October onwards.
We will use the system to carefully manage the numbers on the site and it will not be possible to enter the site without a booking.
DATES AVAILABLE NOW!
Book your Scuba Diving Entry online »
As part of the booking process, our Diving Declaration forms can also now be completed online.
We look forward to seeing you back in the water soon! If you have any specific questions or concerns please get in touch.
National Diving & Activity Centre to remain closed for 2020 season
Sunday, July 5th, 2020
Update August 2020
We’re pleased to announce that we will be reopening for Scuba Diving from Saturday 31st October.
Initially the centre will be open for Scuba Diving Only and will only be allowing visitors who have pre-booked their Scuba diving.
It’s been a difficult and very worrying year for everyone. COVID 19 has taken more lives and businesses than it should, but thanks to the Government, banks and services, we have managed to remain stable.
As we approach coming out of lockdown and some businesses reopening, we have considered our business reopening. However, we have decided to not open the National Diving & Activity Centre to the general public this year.
Cashless Payments at the National Diving & Activity Centre
Wednesday, May 6th, 2020
We will no longer be accepting cash payments and will only be accepting cashless payments throughout the NDAC.
Most of our activity bookings are taken via the website and the vast majority of onsite payments are cashless already.
We believe this will be convenient for our visitors, speed up transactions and reduce queueing at the site. Studies have shown that a cashless transaction takes on average 1-2 seconds process, compared to 6-7 seconds for cash.
The changeover to cashless payments will start from the date we re-open (following the Coronavirus lockdown).
