'World first' underwater museum and gaming site to open at famous Eryri slate quarry
A 'world-first' underwater museum and escape room are to launch in a Gwynedd slate quarry. Unlike similar ventures around the world, both attractions will be easily accessible with youngsters as young as 10 able to take part after a brief introduction.
Diving operators say they will be using new technologies at Vivian Quarry, Llanberis, to bring 'next-level adventures' to the site. They hope the twin ventures will also showcase Welsh heritage to the world.
The quarry, on the edge of Eryri (Snowdonia) is part of the vast Dinorwig slate complex, once the world's second largest slate mine. For the new attractions, a winch machine weighing more than 10 tonnes has been rescued, renovated and relocated at Vivian Quarry.
Since the Gwynedd slate quarry closed in 1960, rain and underwater springs have filled it 19 metres deep, covering old buildings and mining equipment. The site is now an extraordinary time capsule for an industry that once roofed the world. For the past 12 years, experienced divers have been able to explore the quarry's depths but it's now hoped this lost world can be opened up to visitors without any specialist scuba diving knowledge.
Diving operations at Vivian Quarry are run by Phoenix Watersports, whose owners Leanne Clowes and wife Clare Clowes live in Llangefni, Anglesey. They've now partnered with the XPLOR Group, a consultancy whose CEO has a background in the oil and gas sector. 'This background has provided access to sophisticated offshore and deep-water technologies,' said Phoenix Watersports.
'Our collaboration has led to the commercialisation of a unique underwater gaming programme and innovative technology. This enables individuals as young as 10 to dive in as little as 10 minutes after a safety briefing. Over the past eight months, we have implemented intense safety procedures and conducted rigorous testing of every component in some of the harshest underwater conditions.
'Additionally, we are committed to accessibility. We are currently researching and testing for possible future growth into our underwater museum to allow full accessibility to everyone. The XPLOR partners and our team are dedicated to revitalising the quarry through substantial capital investments, ensuring a bright future for Vivian Quarry as a hub of adventure and innovation.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
An escape room concept, Scuba Escape, was first launched at the quarry in 2021 during the pandemic. Pitched at skilled scuba divers, this featured six, 240-minute games which tested diving skills such as buoyancy and navigation. The new attraction will offer an entirely different means of descending into the quarry's depths, obviating the need for specialised scuba diver training – though the partners are staying tight-lipped about the technology involved.
The site lies just 100ft from Llanberis Lake Railway station and the National Slate Museum beyond. Around the quarry's tree-lined lake, vast slabs of rock are mirrored on its still waters. As well as industrial relics, curiosities are submerged beneath its waters, from a miniature submarine to a skeleton and a surreal gnome garden. A ghostly quarryman haunts the depths and there's even a few fish - mostly European eels but also brown trout.
At the heart of the quarry's operations was a remarkable Blondin and winch machine, an overhead pulley system for transporting slate blocks. Installed around 1870, to boost productivity, it revolutionised the movement of heavy materials.
Originally steam-powered, the machine switched to electricity in the 1950s. While it remains in excellent condition, nature has begun to reclaim the building housing it next to the lake. Once the roof collapsed, urgent action was needed to preserve it before it was lost forever.
Phoenix Watersports said: 'Relocating the winch machine presented significant challenges, particularly as it weighed over 10 tonnes – the weight was unknown before the actual lift! It was situated beneath a collapsed roof and close to the water's edge leaving not much room for the crane to operate in.
'A large team of specialists undertook this enormous task, which took 14 hours to complete, even with machinery prepared in advance. The first step involved carefully removing the slate roof – a formidable task due to its substantial weight. Once cleared, the original wooden beams supporting the structure were dismantled.
"The machine was meticulously disassembled into four major components, each identified by clear break points for unscrewing. The largest wheel weighed around 3.5 tonnes, while the base weighed 4.5 tonnes.'
Each part was extracted sequentially, ensuring that the original base plate and timber beams were preserved. 'Remarkably, our team encountered minimal resistance when unscrewing the massive nuts and bolts, underscoring the machine's excellent condition and integrity despite years of inactivity,' said the company.
'These components were then reassembled in their new display location, maintaining the integrity of their original arrangement. During the mobilisation of the machinery, we also uncovered a number of relics such as victorian aged glass bottles, tools, and the heating system for when the machine was steam powered.'
More details about future plans for Vivian Quarry and its innovations are on the Scuba Scape website here. You'll be asked to sign up to a mailing list for updates. Its hoped escape room activities will be operational this summer.
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