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Hook Head, Co. Wexford

Hook Head peninsula is situated on the South East coast of Ireland and is accessed from the L159 Wexford/Duncannon Road. Follow the L159 A road to Fethard on Sea and turn right in the village for Hook Head. This road ends at a T-junction, turn left for Slade Harbour or turn right for Churchtown and the Hook Lighthouse.

Boats may be launched from the slipway in the harbour, but this dries out 2 hours before low water. All the dives mentioned below, and more, may be reached by boat. The coastline between Black Chan (see map) and the lighthouse, which may only be accessed by boat, is interesting, colourful and about 20m max..

There are three main diving areas on the "Hook", the coast to the South of the harbour, Doonage Point near Churchtown and under the lighthouse. The visibility on the Churchtown/Hook side of the peninsula can sometimes be affected by silt from the confluence of 3 rivers in Waterford Harbour.

All the dives may be accessed, weather permitting, from the shore. Care must be taken in selecting exit points to allow for any change in the tide.

1. Slade Harbour
The shoreline may be reached through an arch in the harbour wall, taking care to walk on the headlands. There are least 3 shore dives. all of which offer interesting, safe and shallow dives ideal for the inexperienced or early season divers.

The sea bottom consists of rocky gullies, kelp and sand with plenty of sea life. these gullies continue as ridges, about 2-3m high, for several hundred metres out to sea. It is possible to fin out on one ridge and return on another one almost without the use of a compass! Near the shore the tidal current is always fairly slack.

2. Solomon's Hole
About 250m from the harbour there is a natural rock arch, under which there is a flat ledge. This ledge is one side of a gully which runs East for about 20m from the shore to a maximum depth of 12m before opening out onto sand and rock. The ledge is covered by about 1m at high tide.

3. Carraig Ahoy
Continuing a further 150m along the coastline there is a promontory one side of which is straight and stepped. These steps make dive entry and exit easy in all tidal stages.

4. Black Chan
200m in from Carraig Ahoy there is a natural slope in the cliff face. a steel hulled trawler was wrecked here in the late 60's, the remains of which can still be seen. The slope facilitates entries and exits. The slope shows the general terrain of the underwater ridges.

5. Doonage Point
Having turned right at the T-junction, continue through Churchtown to a point where the sea nearly bisects the road. Park wherever possible. The dive site, to the right of the inlet, is accessed through a gate and a rough track across the fields.

The area has several gullies, some of which terminate in caves or blow holes. these make an interesting night dive. The gullies, in one of which there are the remains of a wreck of a German lugger, The "Slazine", continue for about 50m before opening out. The bottom again consists of kelp, rock and some sand patches near the shore, but further out the bottom is affected by river silt. To the left of the inlet, about100m out, there is another trawler wreck. tides in this area are stronger than in the Slade area.

6. Hook Head
Continue along the road until reaching the car park. There are several entry/exit points in the area below the car park. In 1850 the "Royal Arthur" was wrecked here with a cargo of walrus tusks. None have been found recently, but you might get lucky! The sea bed is similar to the previously mentioned dive sites with the attraction of "tame" seals.

There is a tidal race off the point so it is advisable to dive this area ONLY at slack water.