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UK Inland Diving
Dive Site: Wraysbury
Location: Station Rd, Wraysbury, Staines, Middlesex, TW19 5ND
Description: Inland quarry
Depth: 12 metres max (40 feet)
Visibility: 5 metres (15 feet)
Rating: ***
Located just near Heathrow, access is easy via the M25, J13. Wraysbury opens at 9am and serves mostly as a training site. The lack of visibility may make it a bad choice for a first open water dive. However, there are four 6 metre platforms, and a few things to look at including a boat, a VW Camper van, a control panel and a taxi. The onsite facilities are sufficient, but it is advisable to get there early as they only have limited parking and on busy days spaces soon run out. Entrance costs £6 (as of July 2004) and site users are issued with a membership card so thay do not have to fill out their personal details each time they go. Use their website for further details.
Location map
Reader Reviews:
I thought it was crap. I would rather drive an extra 150 miles and go to Vobster. What made it crap was the staff, what a moody bunch. Some old guy with grey was nice to this bunch of divers then as soon as they turned their backs he was taking the piss out of them.
Then there is the young "instructor" who I spoke to about a course. Man, he just looked down his nose at me and was so patronising, all he could talk about is how good a diver he is, talk about the military and how crap other London dive schools were and that they come to THEIR dive site to teach. It sucked, bonus was I signed up with a dive school that was teaching there on the day.
Greg Kitson
On entering the site you may wonder why you have never come across it before. It is very appealing with its lake surrounded by trees, bushes and rushes. It's very relaxing and you are made very welcome from the owner and his staff. With the cost still at £6.00 (June 2006) and a cafe serving hot drinks and 'tucker' it's very good value for money. There are no charges for non divers and a grassed area with picnic tables for people to chill out on.
As for the diving, we found plenty including the taxi, boat, staging, coach & minibus and a shoal of roach. It is a bit of a problem with the training going on but it's a case of keeping clear of the area and get yourself to the other side of the lake, there's still plenty to see.
On the downside..........The lack of decent toilets and showers is a real shame. I'm not sure if it's planning or the lack of mains drainage which is the problem but the plastic portaloos are not good. They serve the purpose but that's where it ends. The staff do their very best to keep them clean but it's not long into the day before the loos are not a place to be unless your desperate.
Please don't let the loos put you off though!! Pinch your nose, hover, do what ever it takes but try and visit Wraysbury, it was a wonderful day out and I'm sure the owners have the facilities issues in hand and when it's built I'm sure you will have to queue to get in.
Gary Berntsen
Toilets are currently being built at the centre now that planning has been approved so not long till the plastic ones are gone for good.
Chris
I dived this site for the first time last week, 19/01/08. It was much better than I had expected and has a nice wreck that you can swim through. The facilities were basic but it has everything you need (including toilets and showers) worth a visit.
Jason Ellis
New toilet and shower block is very good the young instructor mentioned in earlier posts has now departed, sadly though Wraysbury is a shadow of the site it was two years ago and most of the good staff that were there have all moved on to the detriment of the place.
Jason Ellis
Dived lake today (Monday 7th April 2008). Viz was simply stunning: easily between 25m and 30m for those that have dived here before you could see the whole bus, see through from one end to the other to the container and the platform beyond it was incredibly good. Water Temp 10°C. Had a great day.
New toilet and shower block is excellent. This site is well worth a visit Monday through to Friday with the present vis you will not be disappointed at all.
Steve
In response to Peter Maskell's comments, I think he has wraysbury confused with Horsea Island. Horsea is owned by the MOD where as Wraysbury is privately owned. It is Horsea that is to close fairly soon due to the MOD wishing to store more sensitive military material at the site.
Wraysbury is still going strong, dived there two days this week (April 2008). Vis was awesome well over 20m better than Stoney Cove at present by a long way.
Wraysbury Faithful
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