Our Rules & Hazards You May Encounter

The Rules and Regulations - Diving

  • All visiting divers must sign in to the day log as they arrive at Stoney Cove. If you have a Stoney Cove Diverlog registration card, carry it with you at all times, even in the water.
  • Always follow the Stoney Cove recommendations for responsible diving and safe diving practices of your diving associations e.g.: BSAC, PADI, SAA, SSI etc.
  • Do not dive solo,and if you become separated from your buddy or group, ascend and rejoin at the surface.
  • You must meet the minimum age requirement of your training association and be no younger than 12 years old.
  • Junior participants must be closely supervised by adults.
  • All diving schools, instructors and other divers, who use Stoney Cove in an ‘at work’ situation, i.e. receive payment or some other form of favour or reward must operate within the requirements of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and notify us of any diving project conducted at Stoney Cove.
  • The use of images still or moving of any part of Stoney Cove for commercial purposes requires specific permission.
  • Wear a buoyancy aid at all times.
  • Plan your dives with consideration to our regulations, recommendations and information we provide.
  • Read our notices, if unsure ask us, assess the risks associated with Stoney Cove and its features, if in doubt don’t dive!
  • Diver propulsion vehicles can only be used with extreme caution, and never in poor visibilty.
  • Do not dive outside the displayed opening times.
  • When using a rebreather, use either a Surface Marker Buoy throughout your dive or use a delayed SMB to mark your ascent.
  • Used Sodalime from rebreathers must be a disposed of away from Stoney Cove.
  • Do not run, shout, wave of blow whistles unless there is an emergency.
  • Do not damage or remove pieces from the objects of interest in the water, or cause any harm to the wildlife above or below the water.
  • Keep the volume of car radios down.
  • Do not leave children unsupervised.
  • All dogs must be kept on a lead – please clean up after them.
  • Do not use any naked flame device, including BBQ,s.
  • Please drive vehicles slowly with care, do not obstruct any roadway or access and have respect for each other and our neighbours.
  • The decanting of oxygen or the use of portable compressors is not permitted anywhere on the site.
  • Please follow all directions given by Stoney Cove staff.
  • Stick to the rules.
  • We reserve the right to refuse entry, suspend or cancel the Diverlog registration of any diver or contractor who contravenes the Stoney Cove regulations.

We try to make Stoney Cove as safe as possible, but there are a number of hazards that you may encounter and should be prepared to avoid. These may seem obvious, but they are highlighted here to help you enjoy a safe dive.

Slip and trip hazards

Walking in heavy, cumbersome dive gear is hazardous and the approaches to the water entry points are slopes or steps, which can become slippery when wet. The slipway should be avoided, as this slope is always wet and slippery.

Water

Breathing water may result in drowning.

Falling rocks

Rocks may fall from the cliffs surrounding Stoney Cove, both above and below the water, so keep away from the base of any cliff.

Entanglement

A number of areas and some of the underwater features have entanglement hazards. Do keep a safe distance from the features and the lake bed.

Entrapment

Some of the features have accessible interiors. If you venture inside the feature, you may become trapped.

Silt

Some areas of the lake bed are covered in a heavy deposit of silt. Disturbing the silt will impair your visibility and you and others may become lost or disorientated. To avoid this, swim at least a metre above the silted lake bed.

WARNING
Scuba diving can be dangerous, incidents can occour, sometimes with fatal consequences. All divers have the responsibility for their own safety. Instructors, dive guides and diving buddies have a duty of care for those who are diving with them. divers are reminded that they have the resposibility for the first actions to effect a successful rescue

The Rules and Regulations - Swimming

  • All visiting swimmers must sign in to the day log as they arrive at Stoney Cove.
  • Do not swim solo. Swimmers must always swim in groups of two or more – never swim alone.
  • Swimmers must be no younger than 12 years old. Junior participants must be closely supervised by adults.
  • A brightly coloured, towable buoy system must be carried for visibility and emergency buoyancy.
  • All swimmers are advised to wear a wetsuit for warmth and buoyancy.
  • An emergency whistle must be carried by all swimmers.
  • Swimmers are advised to wear a brightly coloured swimming hat.
  • Do not swim outside of the displayed opening times.
  • Do not run, shout, wave or blow whistles unless there is an emergency.
  • Do not cause any harm to the wildlife above or below the water.
  • The use of images still or moving of any part of Stoney Cove for commercial purposes requires specific permission.
  • Keep the volume of car radios down.
  • Do not leave children unsupervised.
  • All dogs must be kept on a lead. Please clean up after them.
  • Do not use any naked flame device, including BBQs.
  • Please drive vehicles slowly with care, do not obstruct any roadway or access and have respect for each other and our neighbours.
  • Please follow all directions given by Stoney Cove staff.

IMPORTANT
Stick to the rules. We reserve the right to refuse entry, suspend or cancel the Diverlog registration of any diver or contractor who contravenes the Stoney Cove Regulations.
RESCUE & FIRST AID PROCEDURES
Stoney Cove staff will respond at once to any emergency, either in or out of the water. In the event of an accident, alert the staff immediately.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR BUDDY GETS INTO DIFFICULTY…
Underwater: Wherever possible, help them to the surface.
On the surface: Raise the alarm AT ONCE by blowing a whistle, shouting and waving.
At the water’s edge: If you see someone in trouble, raise the alarm immediately. While someone else alerts the staff in the shop, stay where you are, monitoring the position of those in the water.

WARNING
Open Water Swimming can be dangerous, incidents can occur, sometimes with fatal consequences. All swimmers have responsibility for their own safety. Instructors and swim partners have a duty of care for those who are swimming with them. Swimmers are reminded that they have the responsibility for the first actions to effect a successful rescue.