Radstock, England, United Kingdom

Vobster Quay

Vobster Quay is a flooded former limestone quarry near Radstock in Somerset, southwest England, that has been operated as one of the United Kingdom's premier inland dive training centres since 2000. The site is a deep, clean freshwater lake reaching 36 metres at its deepest point, fed by groundwater and known for its consistently good visibility, often 8 to 15 metres on a calm day. The quarry has been deliberately stocked with submerged attractions for training, including a Hawker Hunter jet, a Bristol freighter aircraft fuselage, an SR44 helicopter, several boats, an underwater BMX track and a large container that doubles as a swim-through. Marine life is freshwater: rainbow trout, brown trout, perch, roach, pike, ducks, freshwater crayfish and signal crayfish in the shallows. Water temperatures range from 4 degrees Celsius in winter to 18 degrees in late summer at the surface, with thermoclines dropping to 4 to 6 degrees below 18 metres year-round. The site is open year-round, runs facilities including a dive shop, classroom, cafe and air fills, and is a major BSAC and PADI training centre.