About Us
Discover Divers Cove: a stunning wild swimming venue nestled in Godstone, Surrey.
Wild Swimming in Surrey
Divers Cove is a beautiful 7.3-acre reservoir formerly used for sand extraction in Godstone, Surrey.
Due to the lake’s natural biodiversity and sandy bottom, the water quality is exceptional. It glows a beautiful turquoise green in the summer or winter sun making the site a wonderful place to participate in the various leisure activities we offer.
We have two swim circuits available – 450m and 650m both marked by large buoys. All sessions are operated by our fully trained open-water lifeguards.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Divers Cove uses CCTV to ensure the safety and security of our visitors, staff, and premises, especially at entrances and key activity areas. We believe it's in everyone's legitimate interest to maintain a safe environment. The CCTV footage is kept for 20 calendar days. After this period, it's automatically overwritten and permanently deleted. However, in the event of a legal requirement or a formal investigation, the police may be granted access to relevant footage.
Yes, you have the right to request access to footage in which you are clearly identifiable, but you must make this request within the 20-day retention period. To do so, please contact us at info@diverscove.co.uk and provide enough information for us to locate the footage and verify your identity. Please be aware that we can only provide footage that clearly shows you and does not infringe on the privacy of others. It's important to note that CCTV monitoring is a condition of entry to Divers Cove. Due to the inherent risks of an open water swimming facility, we require CCTV for everyone's safety and security. If you do not consent to being recorded by our CCTV systems, we are unable to permit you access to our venue. By entering Divers Cove, you agree to this condition.
We have swimming marshalls at every session, keeping track of swimmers. If you’re just tired but don’t need assistance, rolling onto your back is a good way to save energy and have a rest. If you decide you do need help, whilst on your back raise your arm and our safety team will be able to assist you. If starting out, it’s important to understand your limits and stay close to the lakeshore.
Each swimming session is one hour long. You can spend time at the Cove after your swim by warming up at our onsite cafe serving hot and cold drinks and delicious food. We regularly have pizza nights with stone-baked pizzas to be enjoyed after a refreshing dip in the lake. Facilities include a mixed shower block, male and female heated changing rooms with lockers, male and female toilets and onsite parking.
All swimmers must be able to comfortably swim a minimum of 450m without stopping.
Lake water is natural water which may contain bacteria harmful to the health if ingested, therefore we recommend not ingesting the water as you swim. (We do carry out regular water tests to ensure the water is as safe as possible for you to swim in).
No, unfortunately, we do not allow dogs on site. This is to protect our natural wildlife and bird life down at the shore.
For swims, no. When booking your first swim on our new system, you will be asked to make an account and complete our one-time safety form. Whether you are a member or not, we recommend making an account to check out faster in the future. For sauna sessions, yes - this will be emailed to you once you have booked your sauna session.
It is key to develop a good sighting technique, as knowing where you’re going is a lot more difficult than following a lane in the pool. It’s also important to acclimate yourself to the temperature of the water. For more information please check out our Introduction to Open Water Swimming courses.
Yes! Like many gyms and subscriptions, our Divers Cove memberships are set to renew 1 year after purchase. If you do not want to renew your membership, you can cancel this at any time in your account. We'll be sad to see you go, but you can cancel your renewal at any time via your online account: Log in by clicking here. Go to "my tickets" and find your latest membership on the left-hand side. Click "view details" then click "manage" on the right, you will then have the option to cancel your membership.
Click here to create your account. Choose “sign up with email” and use the membership associated with your previous account. You will then be emailed a verification code which you need to enter, followed by your name and phone number. After following the above steps, click home to choose your swim date and time, then click checkout. In the checkout, you will be asked to redeem your membership, please select “redeem membership” to get your discounted price. Then, enter your name under “ticket holders”. After entering your name, you will see the "safety form" with the question "are you a member who has completed this safety form before?" please choose no and enter your safety details. PLEASE NOTE: You must select "no" for your first booking so that we can capture your most up-to-date safety details ahead of your swim. Once you’ve added all of your safety information and clicked continue, you will be able to pay for your swim. You will then receive an email confirmation with a QR code that you will need to scan on the day of your swim. This can either be saved to Apple or Google Wallet on your phone, or you will need to have your email to hand ready to check in for your swim. To book any future swims please click here to log in. Please always log in using the email associated with your membership.
To log in on mobile, please head to our new booking system, scroll to the bottom of the page and select the third icon that looks like a ticket. Existing members should always log in with the email address associated with their membership. This area will also allow you to see your tickets for any bookings.
Just email diverscoveupgrades@childsey.com and we will be able to help you with this!
No, you don’t - but if you’re planning on visiting regularly then these work out cheaper in the long run as you will get discounted swim and sauna rates. Plus, with our Gold and Silver memberships, you can enjoy year-round swims and discounted food in our cafe.
Making an account is free of charge and will make your next checkout a lot easier as you won't need to re-enter your medical information. It will also allow you to reschedule any sessions you have booked. You don’t need a membership to have an account.
No, they need to purchase their membership and make an account. If you’d like to gift a membership, gift cards can be purchased and emailed directly to the person.
Yes, just like adults, all children wishing to swim at Divers Cove must be current members. Membership ensures they are covered by our insurance and have agreed to our safety guidelines.
We understand why you might ask about a discounted rate for children, but as a small, independent business, we do not currently offer special pricing for junior members. The operational costs, including maintaining water safety standards, providing trained lifeguards, and managing the facility, remain consistent regardless of the swimmer's age. Our focus is on providing a safe and well-staffed environment for all our members.
Yes, all sessions must be pre-booked on our website.
After booking your swim, you will be sent a confirmation email with a QR code, you will need this when checking in for your swim at Divers Cove. Please either save this to your Apple or Google Wallet or keep the email ready to present when checking in for your swim.
Go to our website, and click “Book Now”. If you had a valid membership on our previous site, follow the steps above for “I already have a membership, how do I log in and book a swim for the first time?” to log in and book your discounted swims. If you don’t have a membership but would like to purchase one, add one to your basket, and create an account. Please purchase your membership and log in before adding any swims to your basket to enjoy your discounted price. If you aren’t a member and don’t want to purchase a membership, simply click “Swim Session” and choose the date you’d like to visit, then check out. After this, you will be prompted to make an account, please do this for a faster checkout next time and to ensure you can cancel any sessions you may need to. Please note, that you can only book a swim for yourself.
Follow the steps above for “How do I book a swim?”, except choose “Sauna Session” in our booking system. You will be prompted via email to fill in a waiver for your sauna session, please fill this in before arriving on site. You will also be provided with a link after completing your waiver to share with any other people booked onto your sauna with you. The waivers must be completed before your visit.
You can only book a swim session for yourself. If you’d like to gift a swim, please purchase a gift card - these are emailed directly to the recipient, making them the perfect present for any lover of wild swimming!
If you’d like to book a sauna for yourself and up to 15 friends (depending on availability), click “Book Now”, select “Sauna Session” and then once you have selected your time and date click the “+” icon next to the “1” to increase the number of people you’re booking for. You will be prompted by email to fill in a waiver for your sauna session, please fill this in before arriving on-site, and share this with anyone attending with you so they can fill it in. If you have a membership, this will only discount the price of your sauna. If your friend has a membership and would like to book a discounted sauna, they will need to log in and do this themselves.
In the “My Tickets” section of our booking system, you can simply reschedule your booking for another day by clicking “Edit booking” and then clicking “Reschedule".
Our system allows you to cancel your visit and enjoy a credit for the same amount so that you can rebook your session (if done outside of 48 hours of the session). Please note you are not eligible to cancel within 48 hours of your session.
More swim times, including in the week, will be added as the water and weather temperatures rise and we are able to increase our operating hours.
We don’t offer trial sessions, but you do not need a membership to swim with us. Simply book your swim & enter your safety details and you’re good to go!
Competent children over 7 years of age can swim with us if they are capable of swimming 650m unaided but must be accompanied by an adult in the water at all times and must swim with a tow float. A Pay As You Swim membership is best for children – a one-off £2 registration fee followed by £9.90 per swim session.
You only require a tow float if you are swimming without a wetsuit or are under 16 years of age. You can hire or buy two floats from us. You can also hire wetsuits on-site for just £15 per session.
All swimmers require a wetsuit when the water temp is under 16 C unless they are experienced at swimming in cold water. If swimming without a wetsuit you must wear a tow float. You can hire a wetsuit on-site for just £15 per session.
Wetsuits come in different thicknesses and the thicker they are the warmer they keep you. The fit of your wetsuit should be comfortable and ‘snug’ with no wrinkles and creases when you are standing upright. You should be able to comfortably take a full-depth breath when wearing your outdoor swimming wetsuit. When it comes to the material opt for rubber as opposed to fabric, you may see manufacturers and eCommerce stores referring to them as triathlon wetsuits, triwear, wiggle suits or open-water swimming wetsuits. You can hire a wetsuit on-site for just £15 per session.
Yes, all swimmers must wear a brightly coloured swim hat at all times. You can hire or buy swim hats from us on arrival. This is to ensure the visibility and safety of all swimmers at all times.
We have a range of wetsuits available to hire on-site for £15 per person, per hire.
Children must be at least 7 years of age to swim at Divers Cove. This age requirement ensures they have the foundational skills and maturity necessary to be a capable swimmer in an open-water environment.
For children, a "capable swimmer" means they can comfortably and safely swim a minimum of 450m without stopping. They should also be confident in open water and able to follow safety instructions from our staff. This is the same standard we apply to adult swimmers for their safety.
If a child meets our age (7+) and swimming capability (450m non-stop) requirements and is a current member, they are welcome to participate in any of our general swimming sessions. However, some specialised events or coaching sessions may have additional age or skill prerequisites, so please check the specific event details.
Open water swimming is a supervised swimming activity which takes place outside of a standard swimming pool environment. Wild swimmers at Divers Cove enjoy a relatively informal swim (around a marked course) in natural lake water.
When open water swimming the temperature will vary from March through to September. Early in the season when the water is below 14℃ you will really need to slowly acclimate your body to the coldness of the water to be safe. As the water heats up through the year and reaches around 18℃ it’s chilly but if you keep moving you will start to feel warmer. As the water reaches over 21℃ in our summer months the water will quickly start to feel warmer as you are in it.
No, unfortunately, we are only open to members who class themselves as capable swimmers, able to swim a minimum of 450m without stopping. Children must be over 7 years of age, a member and a capable swimmer.
The course is £39.99 and lasts for 1 hour. Find out more about our courses here.
Yes, our Gold & Silver members can swim all year round including the winter months. All of our memberships run annually, meaning that you can enjoy a year of swims within our Summer season from the date of signing up. To swim when the water gets much colder through the Winter is only for Gold & Silver members who have taken the time over months to swim very regularly and fully acclimatise their bodies to cold water.
Lake Rules: While Open Water Swimming at Divers Cove
- All swimmers must have a pre-booked session to be allowed entry.
- All swim sessions will start and finish at the time booked.
- No swimmer is to enter the water before our safety team has taken to the water and advised you to enter.
- Children of 7 years and older are allowed to swim in the lake if accompanied by an adult and can demonstrate they are experienced at open water swimming.
- Children are not permitted to play on the beach or pontoon at any time. Divers Cove does not permit paddling sessions.
- All swimmers must wear a wetsuit when the water temperature is 16°C or below unless agreed with management. If swimming without a wetsuit (when the water temperature is OVER 16°C) you must wear a tow float. (Our website is updated daily with current water temps)
- A brightly coloured swim hat must be worn at all times in the water so that you can be seen.
- If, at any time, you hear a loud hooter/whistle being sounded you must immediately leave the water at the nearest exit point. You should stay on land and make your way back to the beach area to await further instructions. Raise your arm for attention if you cannot make it back to land.
- Please swim responsibly, respectfully and know your limits.
- If you see anyone in trouble you must alert a member of the safety team as quickly as possible.
- Swimmers must stick to the swim courses set out by coloured buoys.
- Swimmers should swim parallel to the bank when possible.
- If staff ask you to leave the water please do so immediately (your safety is our priority).
- Safety cover will be provided at all sessions and this will not be below the required minimum standard identified in the venue risk assessment.
- Try not to ingest water whilst swimming.
- When on land footwear must be worn at all times.
- Cover all cuts and abrasions, however minor, with sticking plasters. Do not swim if you have deep cuts.
- In the unlikely event that you develop any flu-like symptoms after swimming with an open cut/wound please tell your doctor that you have been swimming in open water.
- A first aid kit and the defibrillator will be on site.
- Any accidents no matter how small must be reported to staff and will be logged.
- Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult in and out of the water at all times.
- Personal belongings are left at your own risk whilst on site.
- Cars are parked at your own risk, please be considerate when parking.
- Noise must be kept to a minimum whilst on site and in the water
- All swimmers must respect the wildlife and ensure they take home all litter
- No picnics or BBQ’s
- No dogs
