A list of the best rated scuba dive sites in Ireland.
HMS Vanguard
The H.M.S. Vanguard was built by Cammell-Lairds at Birkenhead, and launched on January 3rd 1870. She was one of a group of four ships in the 'Audacious' class (named after the first of the four to be launched). She was the 7th ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name 'Vanguard' (the name currently belongs to a Trident nuclear submarine). The Vanguard was a 'central battery' ironclad battleship. She represented an intermediate step in battleship design between the earlier 'broadside' ships, whose ...
MVS Leinster
The MVS Leinster was a Dublin Steam Packet vessel carrying 796 passengers, 501 were lost after the ship was struck by two torpedoes of UB-123 14 knots from Dublin on 1 October 1918 one month prior to the end of WW1. The ship was carrying troops making it a viable target for the U-Boat captain. Captain Birch of the Leinster could not secure an escort and was advised by the Admiralty to use the boats speed (avg 20 knots) and to a zig-zag maneuvering technique to avoid attack. The sister ship Ulste...
Sovereign Islands
The Sovereign Islands are little more than very large rocks and as they are located much closer inshore they are only a very short boat spin from Oysterhaven. There are two Islands the Big and Small Sovereign. Diving at the Sovereigns is suitable for all grades of divers. On the South side of the Big Sovereign is the remains of a Dutch trawler "The Nellie" which is in about 15meter of water. The anchor of the Nellie was raised by some local divers a number of years ago and now stands at the top...
Ling Rocks
The Ling Rocks are some 9km South-South East of Oysterhaven. The rocks are not exposed on the surface, rising from the sea bed the shallowest point is at about 22m at Low Water. The depths around the rocks go down to 70m. A GPS mark is required to locate the rocks and diving at "the Lings" must be undertaken at slack water and it is advisable to drop a shot line. It may or may not be necessary to reel off the shot depending on visibility and the distance you wish to travel on your dive. There i...
Killary Fjord
The Killary Fjord, Ireland's only fjord, winds its way 9 miles inland from its mouth at Inis Barna (island of the gap) to the village of Leenane, a rural hamlet made famous from ‘The Quiet Man' film. One side of this watery inlet is entirely shielded by Mweelrea (rising 814 metres above sea level), the region's highest mountain. Sheltered entirely as it is, The Killary Fjord offers diving throughout the year. At its mouth, Inis Barna is a dive site with something for everyone....
Inis Boffin
Inis Boffin (Island of the White Cow) sits 7 miles off the coast and measures 5 miles x 3 miles. Approximately 200 islanders call this offshore hamlet home. Inis Boffin is steeped in history, with experts estimating that it was first populated as far back as 8000 – 4000 BC. The entrance to the main harbour is impressively overlooked by Oliver Cromwell's stone fort; used as a prison for Catholic priests throughout the 17th century.The island hosts a startling variety of flora and fauna....
Around Connemara
Connemara is a mystical region, which encompasses a significant portion of County Galway and some of County Mayo. Considered by many devotees as the spiritual home of Ireland, Connemara retains a unique sense of Irish heritage that draws visitors in their droves. Mountain ranges; namely the Twelve Bens and the Maumturks; dominate the skyline, while pristine sandy beaches make intimate bedfellows for the indomitable Atlantic Ocean. Offshore, the horizon is dotted with innumerate islands; some inh...
North
West of North Ireland lies the county Donegal with its mythical atmosphere, its misty mountains, quiet towns, serene lakes and green fields. Its windswept peninsulas, steep cliffs and golden beaches with plenty of water activities have made it one of the most popular holiday destinations in Ireland. Scuba diving is famous around Malin Head, Tory Island and St Johns Point. Divers are blessed with shipwrecks, tales about smugglers and undiscovered treasures. Natural highlights are the more than 3...
Aud, Libau
Without doubt the Aud is the most famous ship wreck in the Cork Harbour area; she was in fact a ship called the Libau. She was carrying a cargo of arms to Ireland, to aid the 1916 Easter rising. Masquerading as the Aud, an existing Norwegian vessel of similar appearance, she left the Baltic port of Lubeck on April 9th 1916, under the Command of Karl Spindler. The Aud, was carrying an estimated 20,000 rifles, 1000,000 rounds of ammunition, 10 machine guns, and explosives. The Aud now lies in 36M...
Morococala
The Morococala, was built by Alexander Hall and Co, Aberdeen, in 1915, for the Ross Steam Trawl Fishing Company Ltd. She was 264.5 tons of steel construction and length was 125ft. The Morococala was taken up by the Admiralty in May 1915. She was assigned to Patrol area 21, that of the Queenstown Command, in Cork, and armed with a 6lb Hotchkiss quick fire gun, and two type D depth charges. In May 1915 the Morococala hit a mine and sank; none of the 13 crew survived the sinking....