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Malin Head, Co. Donegal

Malin Head is easy to get to, just keep going North! When the tarmac runs out there is an old tower and beyond that a massive cleft bisecting the headland. This has high vertical sides plunging straight to 20m at the Western end and to a modest 2m at the Eastern end.
The Western end is about 5m wide. The seabed here is covered in massive slabs of rock. the scenery is stark with splashes of colour provided by hundreds of large Daliah anemones. Higher up, the walls are covered with sea firs and anemones associated with high energy sites. Kelp can only survive in the top few metres.

A short swim into the the gullies will reveal the first two large caverns. The entrance to the first is at 7m, dropping down to 15m. It gets quite dark inside and a torch is a must. The solid rock bottom is totally devoid of marine life. The roof, unlike the floor, is covered in a thick blanket of sponges and red turnicates.

The second cavern is bigger and has a forked entrance at the seaward side. Here, amongst the weirdly carved rocks, is a pot hole of edible crabs. This natural trap had probably been the final home and resting place to thousands of crabs over the centuries.

Back in the gully the sides narrow to around 2m wide and huge blocks of stone are in the way. You can fin under these in excellent visibility. A cave two-thirds of the way along the gully displays superb rock formations. The that the roof is not under water makes it a little less exciting than the two caverns. However the smooth rock indicates one thing - an awful lot of the Atlantic ocean hits this site.

Continuing Eastward, the gully gets narrower and shallower and the swell, barely evident at the west end, becomes quite noticeable. the exit at the East is easy and the walk back to the carpark much easier than the trip down ... no holding onto blades of grass for balance on the two inch sheep trail!

Malin Head is probably one of the most dramatic shore sites in the country. But with a Westerly swell it can be hazardous. It is a "calm" site only and the dry suited diver is advised to use a boat for entry to avoid overheating on the long walk to the site. Portmore harbour is only about a mile to the East and boasts Ireland's most Northerly pub.