Permission To Dive or Swim

• Divers and swimmers are reminded that Dosthill Quarry is privately owned, and that they are permitted to enter the site and dive or swim at the sole discretion of the owners. Such permission is granted based on the qualifications, experience, safe practices and conduct of the divers or swimmers, as well as their interaction with other site users and site staff.

General

• Please read all the relevant site notices.
• The site opening time should be accepted as the first time that you can check into the site.
• The site closing time should be accepted as the latest time that you should be out of the water. If you exit the water at the latest possible time, the air station and catering facilities will be closed.
• You bring your equipment and vehicles onto the site entirely at your own risk, and the site owners do not accept responsibility for any loss or theft of any type of equipment or vehicles or damage thereto. Site visitors are strongly advised to leave nothing of value in their vehicles and not to leave their equipment unattended.
• Visitors should park in the correct parking bays and should not obstruct the emergency access points or other vehicles.
• You may use the car park only for the purpose of your dive or swim. The car park is locked at the quarry advertised closing time. Any vehicle left after closing time will be unable to leave the car park, and the staff will not return to unlock the car park.
• Dogs are not permitted on the Dosthill Quarry site (either in the car park or within the quarry gates), unless the dog is swimming with its owner. In this case, it must wear a dog life jacket and must be on a leash.
• Children who are not taking part in swimming or diving activities must not be left unattended, and a non diving or swimming adult must be supervising them at all times.

Swimmers

First-Time Swimmers Please use the “First Time Dosthill Swim” option to book. When you arrive, our staff will conduct a site orientation and float test.

Check-In, Swim Duration and Check-out

Swimmers must check in at reception immediately on arrival. Each swim slot booked is ONE hour. Swimmers must check out at reception immediately after exiting the water.

Safe Open Water Swimming Procedures

Swimmers should enter the water slowly and allow time for the body to get used to the cold. Never jump or dive in.

Swimming Ability

All swimmers must not be suffering from any medical condition incompatible with open water swimming. If on any medication, please advise reception on arrival. Swimmers should be competent and confident in open water, or be taking part in open water swimming tuition.

The safety procedure for the quarry is based on each swimmer being able to float motionless on the water without sinking. This is achieved by one of two methods.

1. The swimmer wears a wetsuit which provides substantial buoyancy as well as keeping them warm
OR
2. The swimmer wears a swim costume, & tows a personal float behind them.
In the event the swimmer gets cramp in their legs they will be able to float on the surface with the wetsuit’s buoyancy, or hold the float to their chest until the safety boat reaches them.
When you arrive for your first swim, you will be asked to undertake a simple flotation check where one of the staff will oversee you floating on your back without kicking, or sculling with your hands.
If you don’t have a wetsuit or a float these can be rented when you make your booking.

Exposure Protection

Swimmers are expected to wear suitable exposure protection for the water temperature on the day, and their experience in that temperature. Only experienced cold-water swimmers will be permitted not to wear a wetsuit in cold weather. Swimmers should bring warm clothing for after their swim.

Be Seen 

A brightly-coloured swim cap is recommended, as well as a tow float

Night/Limited Visibility Swimming

When booking an evening swim slot in the autumn and winter, or when surface visibility is restricted, all swimmers must carry a light or strobe attached either to themselves or their swim float.

Sauna Experience

• Children under 16 are strictly not permitted to use the sauna, and anyone under 18 years old must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
• You MUST bring a water bottle with you and a towel to sit on.
• Please consult your doctor before using the sauna if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
• The sauna should not be used by anyone feeling unwell.
• Please wait outside the sauna until called by our staff to ensure everyone enjoys a tranquil experience.
• Be aware that the sauna rocks and heater will be VERY HOT. Therefore, please be careful to avoid direct contact with them, as this may cause serious burns or injuries.
• Sauna sessions start at the time stated on your booking, with sessions lasting 50 mins. If you are late starting your session, you will not be able to extend your session past your allotted finish time so please arrive on time.
• Temperature of Saunas – The sauna temperature should be around 85 degrees (+/- 10). Everyone feels the heat differently, and our sauna allows for 2 levels of heat with tiered seating. Consider changing places with another guest if you would prefer to be warmer or cooler. Listen to your body. If you feel too hot, LEAVE the sauna.
• Please shut the door as quickly as possible when exiting and entering to avoid losing heat from the sauna.
• Ladling water onto the rocks should be done no more frequently than once every 10 minutes. This is to prevent cooling the sauna down. If the temperature is under 80 degrees or over 100, avoid adding water until the temperature has readjusted.
• Essential oils may be used in the saunas. Our team will let you know if and which oil is being used on the day you visit. Please speak to them on arrival if you think oils will be an issue.
• It is recommended that you come out of the sauna for a dip every 10- 15 minutes or so, as prolonged exposure to the sauna may cause your body to overheat.
• Even if you don’t get fully into the water, we recommend that you cool your body fully before going back into the sauna; if you keep heating without cooling, you are more likely to overheat or in extreme cases even burn. If you do not wish to fully immerse yourself in the water, try patting some cold water onto the top half of your body to give yourself the full contrast therapy experience.
• We recommend you finish on a dip, so that your body warms naturally, so please use the 10 minutes at the end of your sauna session for a relaxing swim.
• If you feel unwell, dizzy, sleepy or uncomfortable, please leave the sauna immediately.
• It is advised to drink plenty of water before, during and after your sauna sessions. This is equally important during winter as dehydration can increase the risk of hypothermia.
• No glass or metal bottles are to be taken into the sauna.
• We recommend that jewellery, watches and glasses are not worn in the sauna. 
• Phones can also be damaged by the sauna, and if they overheat can be dangerous, so do not take them in.
• No wetsuits or neoprene swim suits are to be worn in the sauna. Long sleeved swimming costumes or rash vests are not recommended as they can trap the heat and lead to burns if you don’t cool sufficiently.
• Towels must be used in the sauna. Please place a towel down on the bench before sitting down. This absorbs excess water – therefore do not wring out your towels (or other items of clothing) inside the sauna
• Alcohol and smoking are not permitted around the sauna area (or anywhere on site).  
• Be aware that surfaces can become wet and slippery, caused by water, ice or snow. We recommend that you hold the hand rails as you enter the water to prevent slipping.
• Always behave in a respectful manner towards other sauna users.

Divers

Safe Diving Practices

• Divers must adhere to the relevant “Safe Diving Practices” as specified by their training agency. This includes “Fit to Dive”. Any breaches of the relevant code of conduct will be brought to the attention of the diver in question and/or their instructor or diving officer.

Proof of Qualifications

• Divers must always have their diving qualification and proof of diving experience/logbook when visiting Dosthill Quarry, as they may be asked to produce them as evidence of identity and diving experience.

No Solo Diving

• Divers must always dive with a buddy unless they hold a recognised Solo Diver or Self-Reliant diver qualification. If you do not have such a qualification, please do not attempt to dive as a solo diver.

Groups

• If you are part of a club or school, you should be very clear who your buddy is at the time of entering the water, as this will be the first question asked of you in the event of diver separation.
• Dosthill Quarry does not encourage diving in a threesome, and if divers are in a threesome, they should have a clear agreement as to what action each will take in the event of diver separation.

Diver Training By Amateur Clubs (e.g. BSAC or SAA branches)

We expect all amateur clubs to adhere to the standards and procedures of their respective training associations. In particular, the person(s) in charge of the training activity (Diving Officer/Training Officer/Dive Manager/Instructor) must advise the Dosthill Quarry Duty Manager.

Diver Training By Commercial Dive Schools and Independent instructors

We expect all commercial enterprises to adhere to the standards and procedures of their respective training agency.

• We additionally expect all commercial enterprises to adhere to Health and Safety Executive regulations as applied to diver training

Rescue Training

• We are sympathetic to dive schools and clubs now being required to perform “realistic” rescue assessments and practices. However, other site users should be able to recognise that these are not real emergencies. While we accept that the word “help” may need to be used to enhance the realism of the exercise, we suggest that other measures be taken at the same time to ensure that other site users and bystanders do not misconstrue the situation. All rescue groups should carry out an adequate risk assessment to this end.

Junior Divers (10 – 15 year Olds)

Dosthill Quarry admits divers under 12 years of age under strict criteria:

• All diving equipment should be of the correct size and fit.
• For juniors under 12 years of age, entry is only permitted in the quarry from late June to the end of September (phone to check water temperature)
• Juniors above 12 years of age may dive all year round, but should be wearing dry suits once the water temperature drops below 10 degrees. (phone to check water temperature)
• All relevant standards of the diver training agency must be strictly followed.

Rebreather Divers

• We recognise that rebreather divers mainly use Dosthill Quarry to test equipment and equipment configuration. However, rebreather divers are still subject to site rules; in particular that they will not be permitted to dive as solo divers.
• All rebreather divers should carry a delayed SMB (one each). In the event of diver separation, this should be deployed immediately.

Emergency Procedures

• All divers should take time to read the emergency information boards and be familiar with Dosthill Quarry procedures.
• In the event of an emergency, please follow instructions from the Dosthill staff members.
• In an emergency, all diving is suspended until divers are advised that the emergency is resolved.
• Particular attention is drawn to the use of thunderflash in certain instances of diver separation. On hearing the thunderflash, all divers must surface. In this case a safety stop should only be taken if believed to be absolutely necessary, and the procedure outlined below should be followed.
• If it is not possible to surface immediately as requested by the thunderflash (e.g. safety stops), divers should deploy an SMB to alert the rescue teams that they are there and aware of the emergency.
• In the event of a diver separation, the diver at the surface must remain at the surface, clearly respond to the questions asked by the emergency team and obey their instructions.

Refund Policy

Diving and Swimming Bookings

Cancellations of future bookings by you: If you book and pay for a dive or swim booking and subsequently are unable to attend, please notify our admin section by email to pauline@divein.co.uk or by telephone to the mobile number 07421 908757 BEFORE the date of your booking. Please indicate whether you would like to rearrange the date of your booking or whether you require a refund. Please quote your Order Number. We will then change the booking or process the refund as per your instructions. Please note that we will not accept on the day cancellations or changes to bookings

Non Attendance: If you do not attend for your dive or swim booking and do not notify us in advance by telephone or email, it will be regarded as a “No Show” and there will be no refund, or rescheduling of said booking, unless you provide an exceptional reason for not attending. In such a case, any refund or rescheduling of a past booking is entirely at the discretion of Dive In Ltd.

Cancellations of future bookings by Dive In Ltd: From time to time, and due to unforeseen circumstances, such as adverse weather conditions, staff illness, extremely low attendance, and other force majeure factors, we may have to close the quarry for certain sessions. In such circumstances, we will contact you to offer either to reschedule your booking or to refund the amount paid. We will give you as much notice as we can, taking into account the reason for the cancellation.