DIVE IRELAND

Home

Dive Centres

Dive Clubs

Dive Sites

Links

click to enlarge

Waterford

Dunmore East
In Waterford at the traffic lights at Reginald's Tower on the Quay take the R684 to Dunmore East (about 16km). It is a small seaside towns with plenty of holiday accommodation much frequented by the National and International sailing community. There are 3 small beaches and plenty of small rock coves where families can swim. Most can be seen from the Lighthouse on the pier. Choose your site and ask directions how to get there. There is an easily accessible public slipway in the harbour behind the sailing club building. This slip, which is accessible at all stages of the tide, is very busy. Please do not obstruct it.
There is ample parking in and around the harbour area beside the Sailing Club building.

The Flat Rocks
Between Black Knob and Red head going through the village on the way to the harbour you will see a large building immediately in front of you just before you descend into the harbour. Take the right turn here. Just at the back of the restaurant there is a dirt track on your left. follow this down to a flat area of limited parking. The Flat rocks are now below you. This dive is not to be attempted in rough weather as there is a wash up and down the rocks, but on a good day it is a lovely dive (depth 10-12m) with plenty of sea life, big rocks, sea weed. a nice dive for beginners.

Falskirt Rock
Boat dive. Exit the harbour, around the Lighthouse and head West along the coast for about 1km. You will see the water breaking on the top of the rock on full tide and you will see the rock at low tide. This is an excellent dive, depth 10-15m, possibly 20m on the seaward side of the rock. Long gullies run parallel to the coastline and there is an abundance of sea life. A very enjoyable dive.

During the mid tide there is a current running West up as far as Brownstown Head particularly from mid water to the surface. Go down one gully, cross over the top and back down the next gully to the rock to do your decom. stops. for beginners and experienced.

Three Mile Rock - Location S.E. of Hook Head. GPS: N52 54 65 W 6 51 47
This is definitely a boat dive. It is about 20min out of Dunmore in a RIB. Some of the local clubs have a marker buoy on the rock. Contact a local club if you want to dive this site, if the marker is not there you need sonar to locate the rock. Depth 20-35m, an excellent dive, plenty of life and not much weed. It is a large plateau of rock approximately 15m off the bottom. you have a very enjoyable dive at 20m all around the top of the rock. Experienced divers only.

Western Rock - Location: S.E. of Hook Hd. GPS: N 52 49 38 W 6 51 14
Boat dive. Again another plateau of rock West of Three Mile Rock and to the seaward. It is about 30 min out of Dunmore East with the same boat as above. With depths in the range of 20-45m, an excellent dive. Same type of rock as Three Mile Rock. Sonar required to find it. This rock is not normally marked. With both of these dives you can get a Westward run on the surface during half tides. In these areas the sea is nearly always a little "lumpy". Experienced divers only.

Tramore
In Waterford take the R675 coast road to Tramore about 11km from Waterford. this is the main holiday resort for the area and totally commercialised, plenty of amusements and a 7km long beach.

There is a slipway situated in the pier which goes almost dry when the tide is out, but as cars can be driven on the sand down to the water's edge, boats can be launched without difficulty. The R675 is the coast road to Dungarvan and the pier is situated on the Dungarvan side of Tramore.

Enter the town from Waterford side, avoid the amusement area to your left, go straight up the hill, left at the top, carry on for about 1.5km (still in the built up area). you come to the Ritz pub, a thatched house on your left. At the cross roads take a left turn, go left again at the "Y" junction just 25m down. Go down the hill onto the pier, parking is available on either side of the hill.

The Metal Man
From the pier, head due South along the coastline you will see the 3 towers of the Metal Man. Go around the big rock and into the little bay just under the towers. Here lies the remains of a wreck called "Oasis", depth 10-12m, and a good interesting dive.

The wreck is located approximately halfway between the big rock and the cliff on the left. It is right in close to shore about 10m or so from the rocks where it lies in an East-West direction. Plenty of rocks, not much weed, plenty of sea life and good for beginners and experienced alike. This is a safe area unless there is a South or South East wind or sea running.

Green Island
This is not really an island but a large rock outcrop about 500m up the coast from the Metal Man Bay. If there is any wave action you can see a waterspout coming from the middle of the rock. Depth 10-15m, good dive, plenty of sea life, large rocks and crevices. Plenty of weed, suitable for beginners and experienced. 30m can be obtained a little further out, but is on sand.

Newtown Cove
When you reach the "Y" turn (on the way to the pier) take the right fork and drive along the coast road for about 1.5km and you will come to a large parking area on your left. This is Newton Cove. A shore dive, easily accessible with steps down to the pier, then ladders to the water. It is a well frequented bathing area. Snorkel out to the mouth of the cove and take a bearing either left or right. Either is a good interesting dive for beginners and experienced. Depth 10m, large rocks, crevices, plenty of weed, plenty of sea life.

Helvick Head
Helvick is situated on the R674. The N25 is the main road from Waterford to Cork. On the Cork side of Dungarvan about 3km out, there is a junction (R674) for Helvick. This is a small fishing village right at the Head of Helvick. It is about 16km from Dungarvan and about 14km from the main road.

The slip is situated in the harbour, which is at the very end of the R674. It is only possible to launch or retrieve a boat for one hour on either side of the full tide.

In the lower parking lot at the top of the slipway there is a pathway that leads to a small sandy cove right at the Head. You can walk this path and do a shore dive by snorkelling out about 100m to the rock at the Head. Depth 10-12m, good dive for divers at all levels with plenty of sea life, rocks, weeds and gullies. If you have a boat there is a good dive further along the coast to the West or out to sea about 400-500m.

Black Rocks
These rocks can be seen from the pier in Helvick.Depth 10m, good dive for divers at all levels with plenty of sea life, rocks, weeds and gullies.

Ardmore
Ardmore is situated on the R673 off the N25 approx. Halfway between Dungarvan and Youghal. It is a nice sea side holiday resort with a large beach and some amusements.
There is a slipway at the pier. Go down through the main street and you will see the pier on your left. It is only accessible above half tide water.

This is a small village, although the street is wide, parking is limited.

The shore diving is not very adventurous and is limited to the back of the pier, however, boat diving is good. There is a good dive straight out to sea in the mouth of the bay, 10-12m on rock and sandy bottom with not much weed and some marine life.

The Folio - Location: G.P.S. N 51 52 86 W 7 41 34
This is a good wreck dive, 36m and plenty of sea life. The wreck is well flattened but large chunks are still around. It needs fair weather and is a dive for experienced divers only. There is a light current mid tides 1-1.5kns approx.