Dorothea virgins need advice

womble · 24th July 2007, 21:07

Hi all,

Thinking about planning a weekend trip to Dottie. Never been there before, so I find myself in need of some info / helpful hints.

I've read numerous posts about the lack of facilities, the dumped cars, the pikey kids taking pot-shots at the bouys, the miles and miles of craply laid lines, dodgy bouys, etc etc . . .

Not to mention it's widow-maker infamy . . . .

I'm also aware of it's popularity, and it is this that attracts us there.

My questions are:

1) Where is the best entry into the water?
2) Is there anywhere to kit up at the waters edge or do you have to fully kit up at your car then walk down to the water? Is it safe to leave stages/fins down by the water while kitting up then putting stages on?
3) Are any of the bouys useable? Or would you recommend staying clear of all of them?
4) Do most people have surface cover / support divers for deeper dives?
5) can you get a mobile phone signal?
6) Finally, any recommendations for a B+B nearby??

Also, any other tips / hints anyone may have would be great.

Thanks in advance,

Womble

Sutty · 24th July 2007, 21:27

Quote: (Originally Posted by womble)

Hi all,

Thinking about planning a weekend trip to Dottie. Never been there before, so I find myself in need of some info / helpful hints.

I've read numerous posts about the lack of facilities, the dumped cars, the pikey kids taking pot-shots at the bouys, the miles and miles of craply laid lines, dodgy bouys, etc etc . . .

Not to mention it's widow-maker infamy . . . .

I'm also aware of it's popularity, and it is this that attracts us there.

My questions are:

1) Where is the best entry into the water?
2) Is there anywhere to kit up at the waters edge or do you have to fully kit up at your car then walk down to the water? Is it safe to leave stages/fins down by the water while kitting up then putting stages on?
3) Are any of the bouys useable? Or would you recommend staying clear of all of them?
4) Do most people have surface cover / support divers for deeper dives?
5) can you get a mobile phone signal?
6) Finally, any recommendations for a B+B nearby??

Also, any other tips / hints anyone may have would be great.

Thanks in advance,

Womble

If you're there on a half decent weekend then there are usually a fair number of divers about, so not too much trouble. There is a car park area, then a steep ramp down to a concrete platform at the water's edge. Most people walk down this though there are often a couple of 4x4s down there. I wouldn't be too worried about leaving kit at the bottom as long as there are divers around.
Certainly a lot of the buoys are useable, and many divers there can give you some recommendations as to where to dive, depending on what depth you want. If you keep to a heading of 150degrees from the entry paltform you should get to the little headland with stone huts at the bottom in 25m, there's a short tunnel at about 23m through the headland. Off the end of the headland is a platform at about 40m. I thik one of the buoys goes down to about there too.
There is another entry point too, but I'd use the platform for your first visit.
I can get a mobile signal (orange) at the car park, but only occasionally at the water's edge.

Hope this helps.
Neil

womble · 24th July 2007, 21:34

Neil,

Many thanks mate

narked at 90 · 24th July 2007, 23:12

the walk down to the waters edge down the slope is a good one! not much fun in the ice!!
and dont be stupid like me and stomp up there straight after a dive fully kitted with stages nearly did for me, where's the o2!....be aware the concreat platform at the bottom is under cut by wave action and has cracked across.....be carefull you are not under it or parked on it when it goes!!!
just because there are people down there dont just be trusting we have met the pikeys at the bottom having a little BBQ....not what you want in the rebreather BBQ smoke...as well as the pikeys!
at the end of the day the place is very speical above and below the water and if you get time go and have an explore of the pump house building on the other side of the pond.
the B+B we used has now closed as his misses run off with some one else! pitty as it was just around the corner and he had some very good insites to what has been going on there over the years!
do you have a map of the topography?
kind regards john routley

lizardland · 24th July 2007, 23:46

Quote: (Originally Posted by Sutty)

If you're there on a half decent weekend then there are usually a fair number of divers about, so not too much trouble.

The worse the weather then the less hassle from locals. It definitely peaks on sunny days.

Quote:

though there are often a couple of 4x4s down there.

Which is a pain in the arse because it means no-one else can drive down without having to reverse all the way back up.

Quote:

I can get a mobile signal (orange) at the car park, but only occasionally at the water's edge.

I get a signal with Vodafone at the top too, occasionally at the bottom (well, enough to send abusive/filthy text messages).

Quote: (Originally Posted by narked at 90)

at the end of the day the place is very speical above and below the water and if you get time go and have an explore of the pump house building on the other side of the pond.

Yep, there's as much to mooch around on the surface as there is underwater. I abseiled into the shaft under the pump house and dived there years ago. There's so many collapsed structure in it that it feels like diving in a giant Ker-Plunk set, especially when it all starts shifting

Quote:

the B+B we used has now closed as his misses run off with some one else! pitty as it was just around the corner and he had some very good insites to what has been going on there over the years!

Would that be the Bates Motel, the Nantlle Vale? They carted someone dead out of the bar once, great place. Full of riff-raff, lowlife and scumbags, my kind of place

I do miss a pint there!

I might be there on Saturday as I need a break from clearing out my house.

Cheers,

Stuart

womble · 25th July 2007, 19:39

Quote: (Originally Posted by narked at 90)

the walk down to the waters edge down the slope is a good one! not much fun in the ice!!
and dont be stupid like me and stomp up there straight after a dive fully kitted with stages nearly did for me, where's the o2!....be aware the concreat platform at the bottom is under cut by wave action and has cracked across.....be carefull you are not under it or parked on it when it goes!!!

just because there are people down there dont just be trusting we have met the pikeys at the bottom having a little BBQ....not what you want in the rebreather BBQ smoke..

and you definately don't want your Rebreather barbecued!!

at the end of the day the place is very speical above and below the water and if you get time go and have an explore of the pump house building on the other side of the pond.
the B+B we used has now closed as his misses run off with some one else! pitty as it was just around the corner and he had some very good insites to what has been going on there over the years!
do you have a map of the topography?
kind regards john routley

Thanks John. I've got the maps below, dunno if they are still correct or not. Of course, maps appearing courtesy of the people who drew them!

Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland)

The worse the weather then the less hassle from locals. It definitely peaks on sunny days.

Which is a pain in the arse because it means no-one else can drive down without having to reverse all the way back up.

I get a signal with Vodafone at the top too, occasionally at the bottom (well, enough to send abusive/filthy text messages).

Yep, there's as much to mooch around on the surface as there is underwater. I abseiled into the shaft under the pump house and dived there years ago. There's so many collapsed structure in it that it feels like diving in a giant Ker-Plunk set, especially when it all starts shifting

Would that be the Bates Motel, the Nantlle Vale? They carted someone dead out of the bar once, great place. Full of riff-raff, lowlife and scumbags, my kind of place

I do miss a pint there!

I might be there on Saturday as I need a break from clearing out my house.

Cheers,

Stuart

Thanks Stuart.

The "Bates" motel sounded perfect . . . . . shame its closed

I've only heard good things about Dotty, trying to sort out a few dates when we can make it up there. The plan will be a couple of 30m reccie dives on day one, then a deepish one on day 2.

Can't wait

Thanks again

Pete

divetheworld · 25th July 2007, 20:05

Heres a couple you might find interesting.
Theres a couple off bits missing of each map, i suppose you have to get down there if your going to map it right. This one has a few amendments to it. The tunnel at 87-88 is nice if your planning the sump.
For those who are interested, there is a phot of Dotty when it was dry. Gives you an idea of the topography.

Brent

womble · 25th July 2007, 23:01

Thanks Brent

Guys n gals, please keep the info coming in!!

zepp · 25th July 2007, 23:10

Make sure you take a bog roll, like you have been told...the amenities aint that good

, have a good time.

womble · 25th July 2007, 23:35

Quote: (Originally Posted by zepp)

Make sure you take a bog roll, like you have been told...the amenities aint that good

, have a good time.

best not have a ruby the night before, eh!!

24th July 2007, 21:07	#1 (permalink)
womble RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 201	Dorothea virgins need advice Hi all, Thinking about planning a weekend trip to Dottie. Never been there before, so I find myself in need of some info / helpful hints. I've read numerous posts about the lack of facilities, the dumped cars, the pikey kids taking pot-shots at the bouys, the miles and miles of craply laid lines, dodgy bouys, etc etc . . . Not to mention it's widow-maker infamy . . . . I'm also aware of it's popularity, and it is this that attracts us there. My questions are: 1) Where is the best entry into the water? 2) Is there anywhere to kit up at the waters edge or do you have to fully kit up at your car then walk down to the water? Is it safe to leave stages/fins down by the water while kitting up then putting stages on? 3) Are any of the bouys useable? Or would you recommend staying clear of all of them? 4) Do most people have surface cover / support divers for deeper dives? 5) can you get a mobile phone signal? 6) Finally, any recommendations for a B+B nearby?? Also, any other tips / hints anyone may have would be great. Thanks in advance, Womble __________________ "What could possibly go wrong?? . . "
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24th July 2007, 21:27	#2 (permalink)
Sutty Classic Kiss diver Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Glossop, Derbyshire, UK Posts: 831	Re: Dorothea virgins need advice Quote: (Originally Posted by womble) Hi all, Thinking about planning a weekend trip to Dottie. Never been there before, so I find myself in need of some info / helpful hints. I've read numerous posts about the lack of facilities, the dumped cars, the pikey kids taking pot-shots at the bouys, the miles and miles of craply laid lines, dodgy bouys, etc etc . . . Not to mention it's widow-maker infamy . . . . I'm also aware of it's popularity, and it is this that attracts us there. My questions are: 1) Where is the best entry into the water? 2) Is there anywhere to kit up at the waters edge or do you have to fully kit up at your car then walk down to the water? Is it safe to leave stages/fins down by the water while kitting up then putting stages on? 3) Are any of the bouys useable? Or would you recommend staying clear of all of them? 4) Do most people have surface cover / support divers for deeper dives? 5) can you get a mobile phone signal? 6) Finally, any recommendations for a B+B nearby?? Also, any other tips / hints anyone may have would be great. Thanks in advance, Womble If you're there on a half decent weekend then there are usually a fair number of divers about, so not too much trouble. There is a car park area, then a steep ramp down to a concrete platform at the water's edge. Most people walk down this though there are often a couple of 4x4s down there. I wouldn't be too worried about leaving kit at the bottom as long as there are divers around. Certainly a lot of the buoys are useable, and many divers there can give you some recommendations as to where to dive, depending on what depth you want. If you keep to a heading of 150degrees from the entry paltform you should get to the little headland with stone huts at the bottom in 25m, there's a short tunnel at about 23m through the headland. Off the end of the headland is a platform at about 40m. I thik one of the buoys goes down to about there too. There is another entry point too, but I'd use the platform for your first visit. I can get a mobile signal (orange) at the car park, but only occasionally at the water's edge. Hope this helps. Neil __________________ Never forget that life is a finite resource.
(Online)

24th July 2007, 21:34	#3 (permalink)
womble RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 201	Re: Dorothea virgins need advice Neil, Many thanks mate __________________ "What could possibly go wrong?? . . "
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24th July 2007, 23:12	#4 (permalink)
narked at 90 John Routley Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: middlands uk Posts: 1,073	Re: Dorothea virgins need advice the walk down to the waters edge down the slope is a good one! not much fun in the ice!! and dont be stupid like me and stomp up there straight after a dive fully kitted with stages nearly did for me, where's the o2!....be aware the concreat platform at the bottom is under cut by wave action and has cracked across.....be carefull you are not under it or parked on it when it goes!!! just because there are people down there dont just be trusting we have met the pikeys at the bottom having a little BBQ....not what you want in the rebreather BBQ smoke...as well as the pikeys! at the end of the day the place is very speical above and below the water and if you get time go and have an explore of the pump house building on the other side of the pond. the B+B we used has now closed as his misses run off with some one else! pitty as it was just around the corner and he had some very good insites to what has been going on there over the years! do you have a map of the topography? kind regards john routley __________________ *WWW.NARKEDAT90.CO.UK* *http://www.grpservices.com/pursuit/* Supporting Shearwater Research Products in Europe Narked at 90 Go Military Last edited by narked at 90 : 24th July 2007 at 23:15.
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24th July 2007, 23:46	#5 (permalink)
lizardland Yak Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North... Posts: 1,381	Re: Dorothea virgins need advice Quote: (Originally Posted by Sutty) If you're there on a half decent weekend then there are usually a fair number of divers about, so not too much trouble. The worse the weather then the less hassle from locals. It definitely peaks on sunny days. Quote: though there are often a couple of 4x4s down there. Which is a pain in the arse because it means no-one else can drive down without having to reverse all the way back up. Quote: I can get a mobile signal (orange) at the car park, but only occasionally at the water's edge. I get a signal with Vodafone at the top too, occasionally at the bottom (well, enough to send abusive/filthy text messages). Quote: (Originally Posted by narked at 90) at the end of the day the place is very speical above and below the water and if you get time go and have an explore of the pump house building on the other side of the pond. Yep, there's as much to mooch around on the surface as there is underwater. I abseiled into the shaft under the pump house and dived there years ago. There's so many collapsed structure in it that it feels like diving in a giant Ker-Plunk set, especially when it all starts shifting Quote: the B+B we used has now closed as his misses run off with some one else! pitty as it was just around the corner and he had some very good insites to what has been going on there over the years! Would that be the Bates Motel, the Nantlle Vale? They carted someone dead out of the bar once, great place. Full of riff-raff, lowlife and scumbags, my kind of place I do miss a pint there! I might be there on Saturday as I need a break from clearing out my house. Cheers, Stuart __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk Azerbaijani Association of Technical Divers Publicity Officer and Goat Wrangler
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25th July 2007, 23:01	#8 (permalink)
womble RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 201	Re: Dorothea virgins need advice Thanks Brent Guys n gals, please keep the info coming in!! __________________ "What could possibly go wrong?? . . "
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25th July 2007, 23:10	#9 (permalink)
zepp "Dyson with Death" daddy Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: midlands Posts: 284	Re: Dorothea virgins need advice Make sure you take a bog roll, like you have been told...the amenities aint that good , have a good time. __________________ I'm not a bad person.....HONEST my homebuild photos http://www.rebreatherworld.com/photo...ery.php/cat/48 CLASSIC KISS #052/shearwater The Dyson is back
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25th July 2007, 23:35	#10 (permalink)
womble RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 201	Re: Dorothea virgins need advice Quote: (Originally Posted by zepp) Make sure you take a bog roll, like you have been told...the amenities aint that good , have a good time. best not have a ruby the night before, eh!! __________________ "What could possibly go wrong?? . . "
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