Swindon Area Diving

ppo2_diver · February 2nd, 2006, 10:43 PM

This is targetted to the Brits on the board.

It looks like I maybe taking a few trips over to the UK during the year. The company I work for has our European headquarters in Swindon. I don't know anything about the area. Since I'll have to be away from the things I love the most (i.e. my wife and daughter), I might as well try to do the thing I love the most (diving). Are there any diving spots around the Swindon area? I'll have a rental car and can drive if there is anything within 2 hours away. The diving doesn't have to be anything fancy. I'll take a good quarry, river, or mud hole. I have no problems blowing off work and leaving early, like 2 or 3 in the afternoon, to go diving.

Any help would be great.

Regards,

Duane

BTW, I need an English to American translation. What is a "bloke"? I've got a guy that I'm on the phone with a lot for work and he calls me a bloke. I have no idea what it means. Pardon my ignorance, I'm an American and I went to public schools.

Tricky · February 2nd, 2006, 10:59 PM

Vobster is a favourite haunt of the guys over here and woudn't be too far away.

[EDIT]
Bloke is slang for man. I suppose it's a bit like 'mate'.

**Alastair** · February 2nd, 2006, 11:59 PM

Hi Duane,

Well Swindon is somewhat landlocked and 2 hours in the car doesn't get you that far with UK roads. I've worked out some approximate drive times.

Inland diving you have:
Vobster - 1 hour
http://www.vobsterquay.co.uk/
NDAC - 1 hour
http://www.ndac.co.uk/

If you are prepared for a bit more a drive then you have some coastal spots
Weymouth - 2 hours 15 minutes
http://www.divedorset.com/
Swanage (recommend Killer Prawn) - 2 hours 30 minutes
http://www.diversdownswanage.co.uk/

Most of the time people try and make a day of it so it's usually a whole day or weekend activity. You will be affected by weather no matter what time of year it is! There's quite a few active divers about so if you wanted to just have a couple of intro dives in the UK to start with then let us know when you are going to be over and I'm sure someone will be diving.

HTH
Al

wilbo · February 3rd, 2006, 05:08 PM

As someone who lives in this retched town, I can confirm we are indeed landlocked.

Vobster is about an hour is you know the way and don't get lost on the country roads (GPS wont help you..!)

The NDC is about 45 minutes away via Motorway (toll bridge)

Weymouth and the south, as Al says about 2-2.5 hours depending on time of day and traffic load.

Stoney Cove - about an hour and a half to 2 hours - along the fosse way.

So where are you working then.. can't be Honda - must be Motorola/Lucent or similar Tech company?

ppo2_diver · February 21st, 2006, 05:48 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by wilbo)

So where are you working then.. can't be Honda - must be Motorola/Lucent or similar Tech company?

I work for the big M. Looks like I may be there sometime in late May. Unfortunately, the company won't pay for my scuba gear to make the trip with me and a bag for my clothes. So I'm going to try to squeeze in as many work clothes as I can into my gear bag along with my dry suit. I'm sure I can find a place to buy more clothes once I'm there.

I gotta have my priorities.

**jb2cool** · February 21st, 2006, 06:10 PM

I'm going to Stoney cove on Sunday and will be staying not far from Motorola in Swindon. I'll try and let you know how long it takes me.

Vobster is probably your best bet.

February 2nd, 2006, 10:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
ppo2_diver(Offline) DIR Practitioner Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Naperville, IL USA (Chicago Suburb) Posts: 108	Swindon Area Diving This is targetted to the Brits on the board. It looks like I maybe taking a few trips over to the UK during the year. The company I work for has our European headquarters in Swindon. I don't know anything about the area. Since I'll have to be away from the things I love the most (i.e. my wife and daughter), I might as well try to do the thing I love the most (diving). Are there any diving spots around the Swindon area? I'll have a rental car and can drive if there is anything within 2 hours away. The diving doesn't have to be anything fancy. I'll take a good quarry, river, or mud hole. I have no problems blowing off work and leaving early, like 2 or 3 in the afternoon, to go diving. Any help would be great. Regards, Duane BTW, I need an English to American translation. What is a "bloke"? I've got a guy that I'm on the phone with a lot for work and he calls me a bloke. I have no idea what it means. Pardon my ignorance, I'm an American and I went to public schools. __________________ Duane A. Johnson Precision Diving

February 2nd, 2006, 10:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tricky(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posts: 555	Vobster is a favourite haunt of the guys over here and woudn't be too far away. [EDIT] Bloke is slang for man. I suppose it's a bit like 'mate'. __________________ "I know that you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant." "Make me one with everything" said the Mystic to the Hamburger vendor. Sigmastorm RPG - Play online now free! UK Diving Forum Sryth: A Free Online Text RPG Join the Adventure! Fallen Sword: Free online RPG

February 2nd, 2006, 11:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Alastair(Offline) DIRX Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 693	Hi Duane, Well Swindon is somewhat landlocked and 2 hours in the car doesn't get you that far with UK roads. I've worked out some approximate drive times. Inland diving you have: Vobster - 1 hour http://www.vobsterquay.co.uk/ NDAC - 1 hour http://www.ndac.co.uk/ If you are prepared for a bit more a drive then you have some coastal spots Weymouth - 2 hours 15 minutes http://www.divedorset.com/ Swanage (recommend Killer Prawn) - 2 hours 30 minutes http://www.diversdownswanage.co.uk/ Most of the time people try and make a day of it so it's usually a whole day or weekend activity. You will be affected by weather no matter what time of year it is! There's quite a few active divers about so if you wanted to just have a couple of intro dives in the UK to start with then let us know when you are going to be over and I'm sure someone will be diving. HTH Al __________________ Helium is our friend - GI3

February 3rd, 2006, 05:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
wilbo(Offline) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 877	As someone who lives in this retched town, I can confirm we are indeed landlocked. Vobster is about an hour is you know the way and don't get lost on the country roads (GPS wont help you..!) The NDC is about 45 minutes away via Motorway (toll bridge) Weymouth and the south, as Al says about 2-2.5 hours depending on time of day and traffic load. Stoney Cove - about an hour and a half to 2 hours - along the fosse way. So where are you working then.. can't be Honda - must be Motorola/Lucent or similar Tech company? __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

February 21st, 2006, 05:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
ppo2_diver(Offline) DIR Practitioner Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Naperville, IL USA (Chicago Suburb) Posts: 108	RE: Swindon Area Diving Quote: (Originally Posted by wilbo) So where are you working then.. can't be Honda - must be Motorola/Lucent or similar Tech company? I work for the big M. Looks like I may be there sometime in late May. Unfortunately, the company won't pay for my scuba gear to make the trip with me and a bag for my clothes. So I'm going to try to squeeze in as many work clothes as I can into my gear bag along with my dry suit. I'm sure I can find a place to buy more clothes once I'm there. I gotta have my priorities. __________________ Duane A. Johnson Precision Diving

February 21st, 2006, 06:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
jb2cool(Offline) Padawan learner Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire Posts: 803	I'm going to Stoney cove on Sunday and will be staying not far from Motorola in Swindon. I'll try and let you know how long it takes me. Vobster is probably your best bet. __________________ http://jb2cool.bulldoghome.com