The Rez
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DARKNESS: Total darkness diving. The Rez is a 40m x 20m pitch black diving environment.
DEPTH: At only 2m the dive experience is relatively safe but very deceptive, spatial awareness is altered by the darkness and the internal structure of the facility.
DANGER: Even the shallowest of water presents a danger, so The Rez has a full 0.5 m of airspace throughout.
Due to its nature, The Rez is a serious undertaking and can only be dived by suitably experienced and qualified divers.
All divers must…
All of the staff are friendly and you are made to feel welcome from the moment you first call to book in even more so when you meet them for the first time. Once you've checked in you are given a tour of the site from the surface whilst entry and exit points are discussed and emergency procedures explained along with a very interesting history of the site itself.
The former aeration tank is used for buoyancy checks on the surface prior to entry next to the chlorination building. The entry point links to a small chamber underneath this building where final checks can be carried out or, in the event of a problem, the dive aborted. From here you then enter the main underground reservoir and greet one of the Rez's resident skeletons, to whom Matt tried unsuccessfully to donate his alternate air source. Judging by the subsequent picture I'm not sure who was more nervous the rescuer or the rescuee.
The Rez itself is split into four main chambers each divided from the others by a baffle wall with a large pass through to the next at one end and a narrow concrete pipe at the other; these access points alternate from end to end forcing a zig-zag swim through the site. The bottom is covered with a thin layer of concrete dust so unless you want to go for complete disorientation you'll need to be mindful of your finning technique.
If you should raise your head above the surface at any point you will clearly be able to see your exit point and, if all else fails, there are reflective markers on the roof to guide you to safety. Once you enter the last chamber the exit point is clear to see along with another of the skeletons... this time wearing nothing but mask, fins and snorkel and demonstrating to all who find him/her that they weren't happy when they shook off their mortal coil. Let this be a warning to anybody who would want to attempt this dive with anything less than the correct kit!
There are many skills that can be practised here: ranging from basic buoyancy through to total darkness navigation, cave/cavern/wreck penetration and of course night diving. I would suggest though, that on your first dive you just enjoy the fact that you have an opportunity to dive a very unique site and get a feel for the surroundings.
Because of it's location and the facilities available The Rez is a good spot for non-divers, they can enjoy food and drinks in the cafe, or outside in the gardens if the weather is fine and/or exploring the local canals and countryside.
Sue and I returned to The Rez on 28/01/06; this time Keith and Cate were with us and a good time was again had by all.