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UK Inland Diving
Dive Site: Gildenburgh Water
Location: Gildenburgh Water, Eastrea Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough PE7 2AR
Description: Inland quarry
Depth: 22 metres max (40 feet)
Visibility: 15 - 20 metres (50 - 65 feet) in winter, 1 - 5 metres (3 - 15 feet) summer weekends
Rating: ***
Gildenburgh holds a special place for me as it was my first open water dive. Go soon after new year and the vis is stunning, spring / early summer and there can be clouds of fish. It is a fairly compact site and it's possible to swim from one side to another without seeing any of the vehicles but only on a summers weekend. Good training site with platforms at different levels and buoys above the vehicles, facilities are pretty basic (rough) but a new building has been started which promises to make the stay more pleasant.
Location map
Mart Tidd
It has been remarked on by several of my dive buddies that the staff at Gildy can be a surly and obnoxious bunch sometimes. As to the site itself, the lake is pretty cool, with ample supplies of wrecks though the shore facilities are a bit basic. Given the dive fees, this ain't really an issue. Just wish some of the staff could get a prescription for happy pills.
Keith
I completely agree with the comments about the staff! I did my drysuit speciality there and found the staff had very little patience to find you a suit that nearly fitted, they made me feel awkward asking for kit that I had paied for. My buddy was so intimidated by the staff that she ended up diving in a suit that was dangerously oversized. Shame really because the lake is quite nice.
Eddie
I dived GilendBOG in order to complete my Dive Master mapping project. I totally agree with the comments about the staff, surly, rude and no time for the customers (not a patch on Stoney or Horsea). The facilities are basic, but there's loads to see and as long as you don't stir the bottom up, the vis aint bad either. Work on the staff's attitudes and it'd be much better.
Diver Boy
Dived all year round last year and agree with everybody about staff. Few wrecks to see here and did most of my training here, excellent site but basic. Dived in Feb 07 and the temp was 5 degrees C. My partner has seen a huge pike here, the bottom is littered with bricks. I would get air fills elsewhere.
Jerry T
As there are no dates on the above posts, I have no idea who they could be talking about. However, I dive here on a regular basis and have never had any problems with the staff. There is still loads to see and a lot of work has been done to clear out the rubbish and put new lines in. Yes, there is more to be done, but it is a long job as time is limited by the fact that it is always busy here.
Peter Stewart
I dive here most weekends and it's an excellent place to learn and just dive generally. The viz in the summer can be very poor but this adds to the training element! Loads to see in the water but facilities are basic and staff attitudes need addressing, including the management!
Dave
The best thing about this site has to be the homemade chicken and mushroom pie with shortcrust pastry, no attempt made to microwave it either. Cakes are very good too. Ideal site for beginners.
Diving Foodies
Not a bad dive but vis was poor and gear needed dipping afterwards as the water isn't fresh. Stoney Cove is a much better site.
Chris Winfield
Just came back from Gildenburgh 30/8/07, I was there doing an under water nav and found the viz quite good - 2m if you don't touch down! Some fish, lots of bricks, only fault was the air man - he was rather short and didn't seem to have any time. Good customer service from the dive shop - 10/10.
Have a clean up esp the locker room
Dave the Diver
Gildenburgh is now up for sale. Hopefully they find someone who wants to develop the site to its full potential!
Dave
I have been diving this site for around 6 months now, I agree its not a brilliant place but IMHO if you can dive Guildy then you can dive anywhere and if you do you training here the only way is up. I personally like Guildy as a place but yes it does need a little work and it would be nice if there was less goose poo around, little things like clearing an area on the far side for the Geese could cut down on the amount of c$%p around. This could be a four star plus site but only with a lot of work. I agree with the above comments, lets hope that it gets purchased by somebody willing to put a little time and money into the site.
Lee Norris
I have been diving in Gildenburgh since September 07 and have logged about 20 dives there since. In my honest opinion I would describe this site as needing a lot of work, the lake is good but everything else needs sorting out and the staff are rude. I rented a drysuit and it flooded due to a faulty zip, I told the staff and they shouted at me telling me it was not done up properly, a month later another diver I was with rented the same drysuit with the same faulty zip and they told him the same!
Jason
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