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North West Connemara

In good weather these sites are well worth a visit for the experienced diver with a boat.

How to get there: From Clifden, take the Westport (T71), turn left at the signpost for Claddaghduff. This road runs parallel to Streamstown Bay. Go through Claddaghduff past the Strand Bar and Sweeney's shop. Turn left at the Y fork and take the next left down a narrow lane which leads down to the pier at Aughrus More and the beach. First check that there are no large rocks on the dip down to the beach. Please remember that this pier is used by fishermen, so don't block the roadway!

1. Cruagh Island
Cruagh is 5km from Aughris Pier with an area of 34 hectares and is best dived along it's North shoreline. The bottom is mostly rock with some deep gullies which run out to meet a bottom of fine sand. Depths of 34m can be achieved. There are no currents and with a coastline of 800m to choose from, the diving is excellent, with prolific marine life and good visibility in fine weather. It is best to make your first visit to Cruagh on low water as all of the reefs from Aughris to the islands are exposed.

2. High Island
High Island is 8km from Aughris pier with an area of 32 hectares. Once owned by the poet Richard Murphy, it is now a sea bird sanctuary. In calm weather the best diving is on the South West of the island (site A). 10m from the cliff face the wall drops to 26m with depths in excess of 40m if you dive in a NW direction from the cliff face. The marine life is abundant with shoals of mackerel in season swimming above you. This side of the island is very exposed to Westerly swells and winds, so only dive this side in calm weather.

The East coast of the island is over 900m long and has some varied good sites and the bottom is not as deep as the SW side. There are rock gullies on this side which run NW-SE to the coast. This whole area is a photographer's dream, with prolific and varied marine life and visibility in good weather in excess of 30m.

Note: These dive sites are well out to sea, therefore all standard safety measures for offshore diving should be adhered to.