Archive for the ‘Local Information’ Category
Christmas & New Year Opening Times 2020 / 2021
Wednesday, December 16th, 2020
Below are the 2020/21 Christmas and New Year opening times for the National Diving & Activity Centre (more…)
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.
Luke Hart, 30 May 1979 – 29 November 2020
Thursday, December 10th, 2020
It is with great sadness we announce that Luke Hart sadly passed away at the Grange University Hospital on Sunday 29th November 2020. Luke was a big part of the NDAC family for many years, working in the gas room and was loved by all.
Luke will be sadly missed, not only by all of us who had the pleasure of working with him, but the many divers he had met and became friends with. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Luke’s Family at this sad time.
Luke’s funeral will be held on Monday 21st December 2020. Due to the restrictions that are in place, the funeral will be conducted in the presence of immediate family only. The family request that you remember Luke by raising a toast or lighting a candle on the day of his funeral. His funeral cortege will leave Bethesda Baptist Church, Rogerstone at 14:00, for those wanting to pay their last respects. If friends wish to pay their respects please abide by social distancing rules and local restrictions that may be in place.
We have been asked by many people about flowers or donations for Luke and we have been advised it will be family flowers only, but there is a memory page set up for Luke.
On the page there is also the opportunity to make a donation in Luke’s memory to Tŷ Hafan hospice for children. You can also leave your memories of Luke and light a candle in his memory.
Edward Luke Hart
30 May 1979 – 29 November 2020
NDAC Closed for Scuba Diving & Wigwams 11-13 December 2020
Monday, December 7th, 2020Due to exceptional unforeseen circumstances, the National Diving & Activity Centre will be closed for Scuba Diving and Wigwam Accommodation next weekend (Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th December 2020).
All bookings for wigwams will be deferred for you to re-book on another date. 12 month vouchers will be sent out to anyone who has booked scuba diving.
We are truly sorry for the short notice, inconvenience and disappointment this will bring.
We will reopen for the weekend 19th & 20th December before we close for Christmas. The site will reopen in the new year 2021 and we very much hope it will be a better year than 2020.
Thank you to you all for your continued support and understanding during these troubled times we have all found ourselves in.
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!
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.
Music Video by Black Lakes filmed at NDAC Quarry
Sunday, November 8th, 2020Enjoy this fantastic video shot recently at the National Diving & Activity Centre, Chepstow.
Local hard rock/metal band, Black Lakes, recorded the video for their song Deathrone on the floating pontoons in our spectacular quarry.
If you enjoy the track, Black Lakes have launched a gofundme campaign to support the recording of their debut album which is scheduled for a 2020 release.
The National Diving & Activity Centre makes a great location for filming projects and has been used in feature films and TV shows.
We can offer packages for site bookings tailored to your individual needs and the location has onsite accommodation, the large Water View Marquee and The View Cafe Bar for food and refreshments. The site has spectacular views over our breathtaking quarry/lake and lots of space for events and parking.
To discuss how we could work with you on your filming project or event, please contact us by phone on or via email at
Video report on Tidenham Tunnel, part of the Wye Valley Greenway
Thursday, September 17th, 2020The Wye Valley Greenway is now open for walkers and cyclists.
The Wye Valley Greenway provides a sustainable way to explore the beautiful Lower Wye Valley, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
A fascinating video report by Forgotten Relics about the fabulous Tidenham Tunnel, constructed in the 1870s as part of a railway connecting Chepstow and Monmouth, but destined to become the second longest tunnel on the country’s cycle network when it reopens as part of the Wye Valley Greenway.
Work to reopen the 1,188-yard long Tidenham Tunnel has made considerable progress in 2020, with tarmac laid by a contractor at the start of September followed by a subsequent volunteer workcamp which saw lighting installed and recesses bricked-up to encourage bat use.
Dating from 1876, the structure is unusual in that it started out as two tunnels; the small, intervening gap was later arched over and backfilled.
It’s hoped to open the greenway – which will connect Chepstow to Tintern – in the spring of 2021.
Words and video by Forgotten Relics
Recent works on Tidenham Tunnel to create shared use path
Monday, August 24th, 2020
The Wye Valley Greenway is now open for walkers and cyclists.
The Wye Valley Greenway provides a sustainable way to explore the beautiful Lower Wye Valley, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Here are a couple of photos taken recently during the works to open up the 143-year-old Tidenham Tunnel.
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.
