Enjoy 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

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.

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.

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!

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.

In the last few weeks we have taken delivery at the National Diving & Activity Centre of some new pontoon sections from Southampton.

(Read more…)

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

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.

(Read more…)

Here are a couple of photos taken recently during the works to open up the 143-year-old Tidenham Tunnel.

(Read more…)

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.