Here you will find our most commonly asked questions when attending the centre for our Watersports activities and courses.

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Drop us an email at Watersportscentre@scll.co.uk

FAQ's

Due to our location, ever changing weather comes with the territory. All our activities can be performed in wind, rain, shine and sometimes snow!

We will continue to operate unless of extreme weather. In the event of pro-longed periods of thunder and lightning we will assess the situation, if it is in our area and not likely to pass over, we will most likely cancel activity and you will be provided with a refund. If this is the case, we will contact the lead person on your booking.

We will issue no refunds or transfers for rain / cold weather if your request is past the cancelation period. Unless of adverse weather and we deem it unsafe to operate.

We recommend checking the weather forecast in advance or booking closer to the time if you wish to take part during periods of better weather.

We have a car park located at the back of our building. The majority of the time, the barrier will be down. If you are booked onto a session, please press the buzzer on the barrier and wait for a member of our team to speak with you. Just say your name and session and we’ll let you in :) Parking here is free and you do not have to register your vehicle.

If our car park is full or not in use, you can park at the ‘Whitbread’ car park for FREE which is next door by the beefeater pub. If you park here, you MUST come to our reception and scan the QR code which is located at reception. This will take you to a page where you register your car for that visit.

We do not own or control this car park so please ensure you follow the above steps and register your car, make sure your phone has a QR scanner built in. Failure to do so may result in a fine.

Alternative parking can be found at the Lowry (chargeable)

 

Groups, Schools and Courses (Instructor led):

Children must be a minimum of 8 years old to participate in a watersports activity/session.

Sup/Kayak Hire: 

Minimum age is 8yrs old

Ages 8-11 must be ON the water with an adult ( ratio of 1 adult to 2 children)

Kata-canoe Hire:

Minimum age is 6yrs old

Open Water Swimming: 

12-16 year olds MUST swim with a competent adult (1 adult per 1 child). The exception to this is if you can provide a signed letter from a swimming coach (i.e Squad ability) that the child is suitable to train in open water, then that child can swim without an adult, this needs to be agreed prior to the session and an adult must be ‘on-site’.

 

We have changing rooms with showers to get changed pre / post session.

Plus 2 individual accessible toilets / changing

Male and Female toilets

Watersports:

This depends on what session you are taking part in, if you are on a session where the wetsuit is included, please bring appropriate swimming clothing as you will wear this underneath your wetsuit.

If you are not wearing a wetsuit, then you can wear shorts/gym leggings / t shirt. You must be suitably covered, we do not allow bikinis or bare chests.

ALL participants MUST bring shoes that can get wet. These can be old trainers or watersports shoes, must be secure and must be closed toe.

Open Water Swimming:

We recommend wetsuits, if you do plan to swim in skins, please check the requirements for the swim. This Varys throughout the season. For example when the temperature is 14 degrees or below, tow floats are compulsory for skin swimmers. During the ‘Cold Swim’ series in winter, tow floats are compulsory for all swimmers.

 

Hire/Wakepark/Swimming/Courses:

We recommend arriving 20 minutes prior if you have hired a wetsuit or need to get changed. The time stated on your booking is the time due to start on the water. It’s not possible to extend sessions.

If you don’t need to get changed, just check in at reception 5 minutes before the start

Schools/Groups/Parties:

Your arrival time is the time booked from and changing is built into your booking.

We have multiple lockers which are all £1 returnable – please ensure you bring a £1 coin as the centre is cashless and therefore we cannot change any money for you.

Alternatively, you can take your belongings over to the gated wake park area. Items left here are at your own risk however there are usually staff members in the area

There are boxes and lockable cages (bring your own padlock)

We cannot look after any belongings such as phones / keys behind reception

Schools:

Your instructors will assign an area to store belongings

There is no self launch on the inner basins of Salford Quays, only risk assessed, supervised sessions from authorised partners can take place.

We do have regular hire sessions where you can bring your own kit (paddle board / sit on top kayak), however you can also use our kit for the same price