The choice is between Hook Head and Kilmore Quay.  Both have advantages and disadvantages.  WSAC do the majority of our diving out of Kilmore Quay where our boat is moored on the marina.

KILMORE QUAY

The Saltee Islands

The Saltee Islands lie about 5km South of Kilmore Quay which is 23km from Wexford at the end of the L29. The islands are renowned for their bird life and it is a sanctuary.  As they are situated at the South Eastern corner of Ireland tidal currents affect diving in the area and it is only advisable to dive during slack water.

Kilmore Quay is a busy fishing port and holiday area with good all weather launching slips, toilet facilities and parking. Boats may be chartered, but the islands can be dived by an independent , well equipped and led group.

GPS for Dive Sites

Advantages: Excellent modern marina.  Launch any hour of tide.  Boat can be left in the water overnight (call harbourmaster for permission / fees on 053 9129955).  Hotels, pubs and restaurants within minutes walk of slipway.  There is also a marine chandlery.  Fantastic diving on wrecks and rocks. 

Disadvantages: No shore diving.  Stronger tides, so dive pairs would be advised to bring a SMB.  Little shelter from strong winds, except northerlys.

West Brandie

This is a spectacular dive site. The rocks are covered in anenomes. The seaward side has a very dramatic drop off to a depth of 35m.
It is advisable to seek local knowledge on slack tide times due to strong currents in this area.

East Brandie

Lying to the East of West Brandie, this is another good dive site, but again is prone to strong currents.  The rock shape is not as sharp as the West's but it goes down to 33m.  The wreck of the "Vifredo" lies at it's centre at a comfortable 20m.

Coningmor Rock

This is the larger of the two Coning rocks. It is easily seen behind the Great Saltee island it can be seen as it stands high above water.  The area is full of seals which can be observed underwater close to the rock.  The general depth is around 20-30m with good fish life and rock formations. As with all the rock dive sites, an SMB is advisable.

Coningbeg Rock

The rock is submerged at high water, but can clearly be seen when the sea breaks over it.  Depths up to 45m can be obtained here.  The large rock formations can also make for a shallower dive, providing buoyancy icontrol is good.  Our club normally enter the water on the western side and then swim either north or south.  There is a beautiful, but delicate red fan coral at this site.  We ask all divers to be very careful when diving here not to touch it.  The remains of a lighthouse foundations may be seen around the bottom.  Like it's larger namesake the Coningbeg is prone to strong currents. 

Lennox wreck

When we start to dive from Kilmore, you’ll find some of the best dive spots in the country.  As an introduction to boat diving, which is different than shore diving (you don’t have as much space to kit up, seasickness, etc) we’ll dive in a sheltered region just behind the Greater Saltee Island.  Here lies the wreck of the SS Lennox that went down in 1917 when it hit a rock as it tried to flee a German U-boat.  This wreck is in around 15meters and is in good condition.  The boilers lie close to shore and the bow is further out to sea.  A nice video of a trainees encounter with a seal on the wreck can be seen herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STGvWTXjhEA&NR=1

  Girl Arlene wreck

A small trawler sank in 1989 lies in 28 meters in Ballyteigue Bay.  Free from currents, this wreck is a great learning step in deeper diving for novices.  It is always well populated by shoals of fish.  The pictured cabin is home to a conger eel.  Some video clips of the conger can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NGqrgMT_6E

Hook Head / Slade arbour

Advantages: Use of the Hook Sub Aqua Club compressor & clubhouse if necessary.  Excellent shore diving for trainees. It is a very un-crowded place to launch boats from.

Disadvantages: Slipway is very tidal. Not as varied amount of dive sites as Kilmore. Not as many pubs!

Sample dive sites

Lighthouse / Hook Head. This is the channel that heads out to sea below the Lighthouse. Because it is shallow at the point of entry, it’s ideal for your first dive and night diving. As you head outward, a large cave lies on your left which is “guarded” by a Conger eel. For the more experienced, they can head out, turn left and return via a different channel called the Anchor hole. Remember when diving in the Hook, to ensure that you can get out as easily as you can get in. Watch out for Cuttlefish.

Grogan wreck / Hook Head. After a two-minute walk you can dive on the wreck of this old coal ship. She lies in around 5m of water so again is very safe. A lot of the wreck remains to be seen, her large propeller being intact. This wreck is also occupied by a Conger. The gully to the left of this one has one of the most awesome sights to be seen on a sunny day. Light spills into an underground cave through the blowholes on the surface giving the cave the appearance of being a foreign dive site.