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South Wales and Mendip, Great Britain · about 5 km from Coleford

Noxon Park Iron Mine

  • Max depth50 m
  • CertificationFull cave
  • Water temperature≈ ~7 °Cestimated, no reports yet
  • SpecialSidemount
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Diving and fills

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Fills nearby

  • Fill stationThe Lake (Cromhall Quarry)~29 min drive (estimate)Air (232 and 300 bar), nitrox (22–100 %), oxygen and 'mixed gas'; which mixes exactly is not stated — askRoute ↗
All fill stations and places to stay ↓

The dive

Behind Bream quarry you dive openworks, caverns and flats. The water is ~7 °C and visibility very good. Navigation is complex, and long and deep dives are possible.

The water level varies ±10–15 m by season: depth (to -50 m at high water), gas planning and deco depend on the current level. Complex navigation in an extensive system.
Source: TDI – Mine diving in the UK (M. Thomas, 2019, upd. Sept 2021) ↗Source: UKMC – Mine/cave diving sites in the UK ↗
Diving only for members of the Cave Diving Group (CDG): that is the main stipulation of FoDCCAG's access agreement for cave diving.
Source: FoDCCAG (mededeling, okt 2026) ↗
At high water the mine reaches -50 m: plan your gas and your turn depth for that.
Source: TDI – Mine diving in the UK (M. Thomas, 2019, upd. Sept 2021) ↗
Profile and sections

Behind Bream quarry you dive openworks, caverns and flats. The water is ~7 °C and visibility very good. Navigation is complex, and long and deep dives are possible.

This iron mine shows traces of more than 2,000 years of mining; the last working stopped after World War II. Next to it is the Bream iron mine: also complex, with passages still to be rediscovered.

Practical: the Bream iron mine has the same access arrangement.

Depth and profile
Down to ~-50 m at high water; the level varies ±10–15 m with the seasons. Very extensive system; lengths not published.
Configuration
Sidemount is the most practical given the access; CCR for long, deep dives if you can get it in. Backmount only if you can handle the awkward carry.
DPV: DPV possible (estimate)
Large system with long dives, but the scooter has to go in through difficult access; gain uncertain.
Who can dive where
  • CaveAt least Full cave
  • Whole caveConfigurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
  • Whole caveGoes down to 50 m (trimix or deco may be needed) · doesn't decide who may dive
  • Whole caveExperienced divers only · doesn't decide who may dive
Flooded mine or quarryDry sections / haulingExperienced diversDepends on water level or swellPermission needed

This is how the planner decides who in your team may dive this cave. Rules your own trip adds (organizer, a mail, the AI) show with your trip.

How to get there

Cave Diving Group (CDG) members only: caves and mines in the area are covered by a formal access agreement through FoDCCAG (Forest of Dean Cave Conservation and Access Group), and its main stipulation for cave diving is that all divers are members of the CDG. FoDCCAG's permits are for BCA members (permits@fodccag.org.uk). Ask for the current conditions in advance. The mine lies behind Bream quarry, reached from the B4231. Difficult access: dry-caving skills needed to get your kit to the water.

Plan your route ↗

Around Noxon Park Iron Mine

Fills1 fill station · 18 km

  • The Lake (Cromhall Quarry)

    ~29 min drive (estimate)

    Cromhall Quarry, Wotton Road, South Gloucestershire GL12 8AA

    Air (232 and 300 bar), nitrox (22–100 %), oxygen and 'mixed gas'; which mixes exactly is not stated — ask

    Workshop Wed, Thu, Sat and Sun 8:00–15:00

    Dive lake in a former quarry (max -17 m) with a technical department (IDEST-certified) for fills, servicing and cylinder testing; the workshop is by the quarry entrance. Diving at weekends, no solo diving. Not a dive school. No phone number or e-mail address on the website: contact through the form.

    Website ↗Navigate ↗
Where to sleepAround Coleford on Booking.com ↗

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Caves nearby6 within 53 km

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Sources, sharing and disclaimer

Sources

Current conditions

Visibility, flow and water levels change quickly. Right before your dive, check what other divers report:

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Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training. Compiled from public sources (Cave Diving Group, InDEPTH 2020–2021, TDI/Scubaverse 2019–2021, UKMC, ogof.org.uk, the Cambrian Cave Registry of Caving Wales, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority 2009, Wikipedia, aditnow, Coflein, Natural Amenities Ltd, cave-dive-make, FoDCCAG, mindat, Martyn Farr/Vertebrate 2024, British Caving Association, British Hyperbaric Association, DDRC, NDAC, divernet, Vobster Quay and Cardiff Scuba; Sept 2026). The other Mendip sites come from the Mendip Cave Registry, the CSCC access guide and Wikipedia, only where those name a sump or a dive; Cave Diving Group / Wookey Hole Caves (message, Oct 2026). Pins converted from grid references (ogof.org.uk, aditnow, mindat, Cambrian Cave Registry; ~100 m) or taken from Wikipedia and the Mendip Cave Registry; the Noxon Park pin is accurate to ~100 m. ~ = estimate. Access and rules change — check locally.