• Diving Ireland

South Cork


South Cork


The Celtic
The Celtic lies off Roche’s Point and can be located by boat some 15 minutes from Crosshaven, which is well equipped to handle boats having both a marina and a good slip. Local knowledge is required to locate the wreck. The wreck can be affected by a strong easterly current therefore slack water is essential.
Man of War Cove
About 4km south of Robert’s Cove is a Man of War Cove. From Robert’s Cove take the road for Nohaval, at the first corssroads turn left and continue for about 1km and work your way down to the cove. The roadway is narrow and little room for parking.
Dive south along the rocks, expect about a depth of 10-12m. The bay is so named because a warship the “Zorro” was wrecked here.
Ling Rocks
This is a very spectacular dive site. The Lings are a series of rocky underwater peaks, some of which sit in 55m water with the tops of the peaks in only 26m of water, they are some 9km south-southeast of Oysterhaven. This makes any depth from 26-45m available to the more experienced diver and requires slack water. It therefore requires some extra preparation which should include SMBs. This is also a popular angling spot.
Ballymaccus Bay
Ballymacus Bay directly opposite the slip in Oysterhaven and makes for a good safe night dive, plenty of life to be seen.
Sandycove Island
Head out of Kinsale Harbour and turn to starboard and head for Sandycove Island. There are plenty of gullies to move in and out of which run in a south-easterly direction with a maximum depth of 15m. Sandycove can also be used for shore diving with easy access by car.
Bulman Rock
This is a fabulous scenic devi, conveniently located at the mouth of Kinsale Harbour. Ideal for trainee divers, it experiences very little tidal flow. It has a rocky terrain and depth ranges are from 22m-5m. This site is teeming with marine life and is superb for marine biology enthusiasts and photographers.
City of Chicago
This is a very safe (12m) and pleasant wreck situated on the west side of the Old Head of Kinsale. There is plenty of wreckage lying about. Make sure you have a permit if you intend to dive this wreck as it dates back to 1892.
The Stonewall Jackson
North from the Speckled Door and off the Red Strand the wreck of the Stonewall Jackson is supposed to lie – as it has not been found, there’s a quest! This area may also be accessed from Kinsale. Depths around 12m on a mixed bottom.
Robert’s Cove
Robert’s Cove is situated on the southern approach to Cork Harbour off the L67 Kinsale to Carrigaline Road and is mainly shore diving. Park opposite Robert’s Cove Inn on the road and work your way along the cliff, access to be found at the side of a boat house. At the entrance to the cove you can access to the water’s edge. Snorkel the width of the cove, and dive in about 6m of water working due south out to the eastern headland.
Boat diving may also be undertaken from Robert’s Cove. The Daunt Rock is 5km offshore and well worth a visit but it is very exposed and subject to a strong easterly current so diving at slack water is essential. The bottom at 30m+ is rough and broken rock with many brittle starfish.
Nohaval Cove
Nohaval Cove is a shore dive, a car may be taken down to the site, but there is no access for boats. Work out of the cove and head east, again expect a depth of 10-15m.
Sovereign Island
These two island are much closer inshore and there are the remains of several wrecks one of which is a Dutch trawler “The Nelly” on the south side of the big Sovereign. The small Sovereign has a grotto which is located at the eastern end, this takes some finding but once found it makes for a sweet dive. Once can swim in one end and out the other. Around the Sovereigns depths are approx 12-15m.
Charles’ Fort
On the north side of Kinsale Harbour, near the Youth Hostel is Charles’ Fort. The route is well signposted with plenty of parking. A good shore dive, plenty to see on a potter.
Bream Rock
Continue on to the Speckled Door Pub at Garretstown where a boat can be launched, for a dive on Bream Rock on the eastern side of the Old Head of Kinsale. Watch the tides when diving the rock, always dive on a slack or flooding tide. SMBs are essential.
Black Head
Another safe pleasant dive opposite the harbour. Depths range from 10-15m. The tide is not a problem here and the site is well suited to novice divers, but with plenty to interest the more experienced dives. However, if you are allergic to kelp, skip this one.
Holeopen Bay West
This is an exciting dive! Have a flooding tide, a westerly wind and shoot through the hole and find yourself in Holeopen Bay East, the other side of Kinsale Head. This dive varies in depth 12-2m in the middle, but a lot of fun.

Tide Predictions

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