Scenic Dive Sites
Our main dive sites are in the area around the Saltee Islands – rocks such as the Coningmor, Coningbeg and Brandies and wrecks such as the Lennox, Lismore and Idaho. Tuskar Rock provides some challenging conditions and there is fantastic shore-diving around Hook Head peninsula for beginners and experienced divers alike. More details on each site can be found below.
Great Saltee
Coningmor Rocks
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
52.08.152N 06.37.465W |
| Location Description: | South West of the Great Saltee. Locally known as “the big rock”, it is visible above the waterline at a distance at all times. |
| Depth: | Average Depth of 25m but up to 30m possible on some sides of the Rocks. |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | Nearest point: Kilmore Quay |
| Tidal Considerations: | Prone to strong currents. Diving at slack water strongly advised. |
| Features: | Seals, gullies crammed with marine life |
| Description: | This dive site never disappoints. Kelp covers the rocks down to between 10m and 14m. There are then lots of gullies covered with beautiful anemones, sponges and other marine life. Fish life can be scarce but dogfish are commonly found on the rocky bed. The rocks are also home to a colony of grey seals, so expect some company on your dive! |
East Brandies
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
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| Location Description: | Come directly through the sound between the Saltee Islands. The Brandies are directly south of Kilmore Quay. The rocks are only visible as the tide falls so take care as you approach. |
| Depth: | Up to 35m |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | Nearest Point: Kilmore Quay |
| Tidal Considerations: | Prone to strong currents. Diving at slack water strongly advised. |
| Features: | Wreck of “Verfradio” |
| Description: |
West Brandies
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
52.05.847N 06.35.034W |
| Location Description: | Come directly through the sound between the Saltee Islands. The Brandies are directly south of Kilmore Quay. The rocks are only visible as the tide falls so take care as you approach. |
| Depth: | Up to 35m |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | Nearest point: Kilmore Quay |
| Tidal Considerations: | Prone to strong currents. Diving at slack water strongly advised. |
| Features: | |
| Description: |
Coningbeg Rocks
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
52.04.16N 6.38.517W |
| Location Description: | West of the Coningmor Rocks |
| Depth: | Up to 45m |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | |
| Tidal Considerations: | Prone to strong currents. Diving at slack water strongly advised. |
| Features: | Abandoned Lighthouse Build – discarded metal pylons, coral |
| Description: |
The Coningbeg rock covers at high water, so in rough weather is not easily visible. Drop in on the western side, then drop down the steep rock to a depth of around 35mts. Swim south and you will come across the remains of an attempt to build a lighthouse on the rock. Mother nature had other plans and all that remains are the metal pylons on the bottom and some small pieces of crockery. Close to the rock you will find a “Pink Sea Fan” which grows out of the rock base. Be careful! ...it only grows a centimetre or so every year. A careless fin-kick could wipe out hundreds of years of growth. Keep heading south and you get shallower, coming to a groove in the rock. Here, you can nearly sit and watch marine life swim by. As the dive gets shallower, anemones are found in abundance. |
Hook Head Peninsula
Easily some of the best shore diving in the country, Hook peninsula has a wide range of dive sites to offer for all levels. The southern tip of the peninsula is perhaps the best known site with a number of entry/exit points such as the “Bathtub”, the “Anchor Hole” and of course the “Tower Hole”.
Along the west side of the peninsula there is some wreckage of “the Royal Arthur” and the “Schlesien” as well as amazing caverns that are beautifully lit by the sun through the blowholes that are commmon along the western shoreline.
Not to be left out, the east side of the peninsula boasts a number of sites too, namely Solomon’s Hole, Carragahoy and Black Chan where the remains of a trawler wrecked in the 1960s are to be found.
Average Depth is 8m-12m
Wreck Dive Sites
SS Lennox
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
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| Location Description: | South side of Great Saltee |
| Depth: | Max 14m at the bow, most of the remaining wreckage lies in 8 to 10m |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | Nearest point: Kilmore Quay |
| Tidal Considerations: | Not suitable when winds are southerly. Generally not affected by tide. |
| Features: | |
| Description: |
SS Lismore
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
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| Location Description: | |
| Depth: | |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | Nearest point: Kilmore Quay |
| Tidal Considerations: | Prone to strong currents. Diving at slack water strongly advised. |
| Features: | |
| Description: |
SS Idaho
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
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| Location Description: | |
| Depth: | |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | Nearest Point: Kilmore Quay |
| Tidal Considerations: | Prone to strong currents. Diving at slack water strongly advised. |
| Features: | |
| Description: |
SV Invercauld
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
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| Location Description: | |
| Depth: | |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | Nearest point: Kilmore Quay |
| Tidal Considerations: | Prone to strong currents. Diving at slack water strongly advised. |
| Features: | |
| Description: |
Girl Arlene
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
52.04.16N 6.38.517W |
| Location Description: | West of the Coningmor Rocks |
| Depth: | Up to 45m |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | |
| Tidal Considerations: | Prone to strong currents. Diving at slack water strongly advised. |
| Features: | Abandoned Lighthouse Build – discarded metal pylons, coral |
| Description: |
The Coningbeg rock covers at high water, so in rough weather is not easily visible. Drop in on the western side, then drop down the steep rock to a depth of around 35mts. Swim south and you will come across the remains of an attempt to build a lighthouse on the rock. Mother nature had other plans and all that remains are the metal pylons on the bottom and some small pieces of crockery. Close to the rock you will find a “Pink Sea Fan” which grows out of the rock base. Be careful! ...it only grows a centimetre or so every year. A careless fin-kick could wipe out hundreds of years of growth. Keep heading south and you get shallower, coming to a groove in the rock. Here, you can nearly sit and watch marine life swim by. As the dive gets shallower, anemones are found in abundance. |
City of London
| GPS Co-Ordinates: |
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| Location Description: | |
| Depth: | Up to 8m |
| Boat/Shore: | Boat |
| Shore Details: | |
| Tidal Considerations: | |
| Features: | |
| Description: |
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