Diving

DIVING IRELAND TOP DIVE SITES - SOUTHERN IRELAND

TOP DIVE SITES – SOUTHERN IRELAND




78 Rock – this pinnacle rises from the sea bed and creates an amazing scenery. The rocks are covered with anemones and there are also wrasses, pollock, crabs and sea urchins in this area. This zone is exposed to strong currents.
Location: Castletownshend, County Cork
Type of dive: boat dive
Sea bed: sand/rock
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water
BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water


Alondra – the wreck of a huge steamer lies at a maximum depth of 26 m. The ship hit the rocks in fog and sank in 1916. Parts of the wreck litter the rocky sea bed. The wreckage is inhabited by abundant marine life, including large congers, crabs and prawns.
Location: Kedge Island, County Cork
Type of dive: boat dive
Sea bed: rock
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


Bardini Reefer – the wreck of a Panamian cargo lies at a depth of 15 m. The wreck is complete and partially visible above the surface (the mast and funnels). The ship sank in 1982 due to an explosion.
Location: Bantry Bay, County Cork
Type of dive: shore dive
Sea bed: sand
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


Dido – the wreck lies at a depth of 2 m. The barque was on her way from Liverpool to New York carrying salt when it sank in 1883. The wreck is broken up but there are some parts and anchors which create a picturesque scenery. Another attraction of this site is rich marine life – especially lobsters, starfish, wrasses and anemones.
Location: Kedge Island, County Cork
Type of dive: boat dive
Sea bed: rock
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


Fastnet Rock – there is an impressive lighthouse on top of this rock but the underwater scenery is even more impressive. This is a weather dependent dive because the site is exposed to strong currents. The attractions of this zone are the boulders, reefs and rich marine life – anemones, crabs, starfish, pollock and many others.
Location: 6 km southwest of Cape Clear, County Cork
Type of dive: boat dive
Sea bed: sand
Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water


Garnish Pier – a great spot for beginners, training, as well as for more advanced divers. Everyone will find something for their level and skills. Beginners can learn in a sheltered quiet bay and experienced divers can swim outside the bay where they will find some underwater walls and plenty of marine life at depths up to 40 m. Lucky divers may meet a basking shark.
Location: Bantry Bay, County Cork
Type of dive: shore dive
Sea bed: sand
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


Illyrian – this old and broken shipwreck lies at a maximum depth of 20 m. The four masted steamer was on her way from Liverpool to Boston when she hit the cliffs in fog and sank in 1884. The wreckage and anchors can be found on the sea bed. Inhabitants of this area include scorpion fish and wrasses. A permission is required to dive this wreck.
Location: Clear Island, County Cork
Type of dive: boat dive
Sea bed: sand and pebbles
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


Kowloon Bridge – this is one of the largest wrecks in the world. The super bulk carrier had problems with weather when she was sailing from Quebec to Hunterston. She had to look for help in Bantry Bay and ran aground after leaving the bay. The ship sank in 1986 and now lies upright at an average depth of 20 m. All crew members were rescued. The catastrophe caused serious water pollution in this area. The wreck is covered with plenty of marine life – anemones, wrasses, pollock and congers. This site, however, is exposed to strong currents. The maximum depth is 36 m. That is why this is a spot for very experienced advanced divers.
Location: Stag Rocks, 13 km southwest of Baltimore, County Cork
Type of dive: boat dive
Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water


U260 – the wreck lies almost intact at a depth of about 40 m. This German submarine hit a mine and sank in 1945. The inhabitants of this area include conger eels and dogfish.
Location: Glandore, County Cork
Type of dive: boat dive
Sea bed: sand
Requirements: CMAS 3 stars, BSAC Advanced Diver, PADI Rescue Diver


Zetland Pier – a great site for beginners. There is plenty of marine life to be seen – sea horses, crayfish, crabs and many others. There are also rock formations and caves which can be explored by more advanced divers.
Location: Bantry Bay, County Cork
Type of dive: boat dive
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water