We dive locally from May to September / October. We have shore dives running 2-3 times each week and our dive boat runs each Sunday. On the East Coast we have quite strong tidal current, and so we always plan our dives around slack tide. Visibility on the East Coast tends to be around 3 - 8m and our water temperature tends to be 10-17 degrees centigrade. Divers can rent equipment from Adventure Diving for any of our local dives or dive trips. Briefings and shore supervision will be provided by a Divemaster or Instructor for each dive, and buddies can be organised.

We vary our dive location from week to week - just contact the Dive Centre to find out where we're diving this week. Or, check our Dive Calendar page for details of upcoming dives and trips. Hopefully this will help you plan your dives and training throughout the year.

Skerries

Skerries is just half an hour south of Bettystown. We use two dive sites here - one shore dive at the Captain's Swimming Area - Parking and access for the Shore Dive is from the public car park at Red Island. Our boat Dive is around Church and Colt Island - we launch from the RNLI Slipway at the back of the Harbour and the dive site is just a couple of minutes away.


Shore Dive
Location: The Captains, Red Island
Entry / Exit: Protected Entry and Exit Area at swimming platform
Depth: 8-10m at high tide
Tides / Currents / Hazards: Open to strong current on a running tide. Boats going overhead
Description: Easy shore dive in the right conditions. Rock / Kelp / Sand bottom with plenty of crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans, sea anemones and some Pollack or Wrasse.
Boat Dive

Location: Drift between Patrick's/Church & Colt Islands
Entry / Exit: North side of Church Island
Depth: 12-14m
Tides / Currents / Hazards: Drift on a outgoing tide
Description: Boat drops diver in on the north side of Church Island and divers drift gently along the island at around 14m.


Clogherhead

The village of Clogherhead is around half an hour north of Bettystown, and we dive from Port Oriel, the fishing port outside the village.

There's an easily accessible shore dive at the public slipway at the back of the dry dock, and from here we launch our boat for the 5 minute journey to the headland.

Shore Dive
Location: Public Slipway at the back of Port Oriel
Entry / Exit: Along the Slipway
Depth: 8m on High Tide
Tides / Currents / Hazards: Well protected site with little or no current. As it's a public slipway there's a possibility of boats or jetskis launching.
Description: Divers swim along rocks / sand teaming with life. Plenty of crabs, lobster, squat lobster, shrimp, conger eels, flat fish/plaice, Pollack and Wrasse, and of course, a few friendly seals!
Boat Dive

Location: Clogher Head
Entry / Exit: Along Cliffs at Headland
Depth: 12m on High Tide
Tides / Currents / Hazards: Can be open to current on a running tide. People line fishing from the rocks so sometime line left in the water - divers should wear a dive knife.
Description: Divers enter the water at the headland and swim with the cliffs on their left. Most life found where the rocks meet the sand. Plenty of crabs, lobster, urchins, anemones, butterfish and Pollack and Wrasse among the kelp in the shallows.


Lambay Island

We typically launch the dive boat from Rush Harbour or Skerries Slipway. The journey from Rush to the Northside of Lambay is just 20mins.

There are a great variety of dive sites around Lambay Island, and the site we choose depends on the prevailing wind for easy entry and exit. Here's just a few we dive regularly.




Boat Dive
Location: Unknown / Spanish Wreck
Entry / Exit: North Side Lambay
Depth: 21m on High Tide
Tides / Currents / Hazards: Always open to current - divers generally time their dive to dive with the current on a gentle drift. Sometimes other boats with line fishermen so possibility of fishing line in the water. Boats going overhead.
Description: Large rocks and boulders sloping down to 18-19m, where it meets sand. Rocks very overgrown with soft white and peach anemones and sponges. Some very big common edible crabs and large lobster in under rocks. Wreckage of a wreck from 1920's lies between 16-21m and is worth spending some time on. A Torch is definitely a must on this dive. Safety Stop in a small cove with large boulders and regularly friendly and inquisitive seals.

Location: The Shamrock
Entry / Exit: at Freshwater Bay
Depth: 16m on High Tide
Tides / Currents / Hazards: Reasonably well protected from current in this bay.
Description: Large rocks and boulders sloping down to 14-16m, where it meets sand. Wreckage of the Shamrock lies under a freshwater stream. Again, plenty of larger crustaceans including edible crabs and lobster, and Wrasse & Pollack in shallower water among the kelp.

Location: The Tayleur
Entry / Exit: South of the Nose of Lambay
Depth: 16-18m
Tides / Currents / Hazards: Protected from Current
Description: The Tayleur is a protected wreck and a licence must be obtained before diving her. However, the reef around the bay on the South Nose of Lambay is a lovely, well protected dive, particularly when northerly winds prevent us from diving other sites. Protected little cove for entries and descents, with great life both to sides of the cove.


Carlingford Lough - Greenore

Carlingford Lough has a number of sites long the shipping channel and outside the lighthouse.

Our choice of site depends on weather / surface conditions and whether we're on high or low slack. Below is a sample of some sites we use :
Shore Dive
Location: Public Slipway at Greenore
Entry / Exit: Enter to the right of the slipway along pebble beach
Depth: 21m on High Tide
Tides / Currents / Hazards: Carlingford is renowned locally for very strong tidal current. Diving near to public slipway with hazard of boats launching.
Description: Pebbles and kelp & seaweed to 5-7m, with sand and rocks sloping to 18m+ . This site is great for finding pipefish, dragonets, and smaller bottom dwelling fish. This site can be dived on either a high or low slack, but divers will nearly always encounter current during their dive.
Boat Dive

Location: Carlingford Lough - Marker Buoy 9 / Vidal Rock
Entry / Exit: 10 mins by boat from Greenore Slipway
Depth: 7m – 24m on High Tide
Tides / Currents / Hazards: Carlingford Lough is prone to very strong current. Divers should plan their dive either side of the shipping lane.
Description: Divers drop into 7m, sloping down a wall to max 24m. Plenty of life including congers, lobsters, the usual array of crabs, small codling and blenny.

Location: Carlingford Lough - outside the Lighthouse
Entry / Exit: 20 mins by boat from Greenore Slipway
Depth: 10m – 18m on High Tide
Tides / Currents / Hazards: This dive is in open water and divers should be able to navigate
Description: Divers drop into 10m and swim on a compass bearing to the edge of the channel, which then drops down to 18m. Plenty of crabs, lobster, dog fish, pipefish and butterfish, and lots of colourful anemones. Divers should navigate back to the 10m area before surfacing.


Divers are required to carry Delayed SMB on all boat dives, as current can be unpredictable and divers should be able to signal the dive boat on surfacing.