Archive for the ‘Health & Safety’ Category
6 Month Post-Lockdown reopening plan for NDAC
Wednesday, March 24th, 2021
Update June 2021
The Atlantis Aqua Park is now open for bookings on selected dates.
We’re not currently selling Gift Vouchers for the Atlantis Aqua Park.
Following a review of the government guidance and consideration of how we can implement it throughout the National Diving & Activity Centre, we are excited to release our 6-month plan for reopening.
Easter Weekend Scuba Diving
We’re pleased to announce that we will now be able to open for limited Scuba Diving over the Easter holiday weekends (3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th April 2021).
We’ve established that providing we work to our Covid procedures, keep the Wigwams and changing rooms closed, and only provide takeaway food/drink, we will be able to open as originally planned.
We apologise for the changing dates and appreciate the frustration some have experienced as we react to the developing government advice. With the easing of lockdown restrictions and the release of our 6-month dates, we hope divers will be able to make firmer plans to visit.
Anyone who has booked scuba diving on Friday the 2nd or Monday 5th April is welcome to contact us to change their booking dates to the 3rd/4th or 10th/11th April. Alternatively, we can provide a 6-month voucher or a full refund.
Scuba diving bookings previously made for the 3rd & 4th April are still valid.
We have also released the dates we plan to open for Scuba Diving over the next six months. Anyone who had a previous Scuba Diving booking cancelled due to Covid will be offered a 6-month voucher to rebook.
We will be responding to customer emails in the next coming weeks to put all arrangements in place.
Activities
We are pleased to confirm that the Wire Zip Slide will be reopening in July and August. Our other activities (Giant 3G Swing, Atlantis Aqua Park and Cinema) will not be reopening for the remainder of 2021.
Anyone who has a Wire Zip Slide booking/voucher from November 2019 that has expired due to Covid19 will have their voucher automatically extended to use in July/August this year. Please use your existing voucher to make the booking.
For those with Giant 3G Swing, Atlantis Aqua Park and Cinema vouchers, you will be contacted in the next few weeks to offer a full refund or a Wire Zip Slide voucher as an alternative replacement.
Wigwam Accommodation
We are pleased to confirm that we are providing Wigwam accommodation on selected dates between 24th April and the end of August 2021.
Anyone who has a Wigwam booking/voucher that has expired due to Covid19 will have their voucher automatically extended to redeem and use by the end of August. Please use your existing voucher to make the booking.
All extended activity and accommodation vouchers must be redeemed and used by 31st August 2021. After this date the voucher will expire and will be invalid. No alternatives, further renewals, refunds or other form of compensation will be made.
Opening Dates
For our opening plan for the next 6 months and beyond, please visit our Opening Times Page. All dates are dependent on government/Covid restrictions allowing us to open.
NDAC Open Easter Weekend 2021
Tuesday, March 9th, 2021
Header image credit: kjpargeter – freepik
Last updated 24th March 2021
NDAC Will now open for Scuba Diving over Easter Weekend.
Following a review of the government guidance and consideration of how we can implement it throughout the National Diving & Activity Centre, we are excited to announce that we will now be able to open for limited Scuba Diving over the Easter holiday weekends (3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th April 2021).
Following the recent government guidance, we’re unfortunately unable to open as hoped for Easter on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th of April 2021.
We will make a decision on the reopening dates of the National Diving & Activity Centre in the next couple of weeks as we transition out of lockdown.
In the short term, our booking system has been closed and it’s not possible to make any bookings for activities or accommodation for the next few weeks.
Anyone who’s booked scuba diving or wigwam accommodation over the Easter weekend will be sent 6-month vouchers to rebook when we are open.
We would like to apologise to anyone whose messages or enquiries haven’t been responded to yet. We hope to resolve all queries/issues about reopening in the coming weeks with a follow-up announcement on the website and social media.
We would like to thank you all, for your continued support and understanding. We look forward to seeing you all again soon.
NDAC Closed until Easter Weekend
Thursday, January 7th, 2021
Header image credit: kjpargeter – freepik
Last updated 24th March 2021
NDAC Will now open for Scuba Diving over Easter Weekend.
Following a review of the government guidance and consideration of how we can implement it throughout the National Diving & Activity Centre, we are excited to announce that we will now be able to open for limited Scuba Diving over the Easter holiday weekends (3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th April 2021).
With the country moving into lockdown restrictions, the increasing pressures on the NHS, and the Government’s advice to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel, we have decided to close the National Diving & Activity Centre for all activities during January, February and March 2021.
NDAC Closed for Scuba Diving January 2021
Thursday, December 31st, 2020
Header image credit: kjpargeter – freepik
Last updated 31st December 2020
With much of the country moving into Tier 4 restrictions, the increasing pressures on the NHS locally, and the Government’s advice to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel, we have decided to close the National Diving & Activity Centre for all activities.
NDAC Closed for Scuba Diving 02-03 January 2021
Wednesday, December 16th, 2020
Regrettably we are closing the National Diving & Activity Centre for Scuba Diving over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of January 2021.
Although we’d initially met the minimum number of bookings, we’ve had a number of cancellations from visitors unable to travel from Tier 3 locations. Unfortunately this has meant that the weekend is no longer viable for opening and we will have to postpone the remaining bookings.
We appreciate this is disappointing and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Anyone with a booking will be contacted in the next couple of days and provided with a 12 month voucher to rearrange their booking.
We are currently open all the other weekends in January (subject to minimum numbers and Covid restrictions) and will be reviewing February/March dates in the new year.
We thank you for your continued support and understanding. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Reopening the National Diving & Activity Centre For Scuba Divers
Sunday, November 29th, 2020
Last updated 30th November 2020
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 5th December.
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 starting from Friday 4th December. 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.
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!
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.
Rock stability netting installed at the National Diving & Activity Centre
Thursday, September 10th, 2020
Here is a sneak preview of the first 30 metres of rock stability netting that has been installed at the National Diving & Activity Centre over the last few days.
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).
