Sherman tanks lie on the seabed beside the SS Empire Heritage
8–15°C · 46–59°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftadvanced
Country
Diving in Ireland
7 dive destinations in Ireland, up to 450 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 8–18 °C. All 7 are in season in May–Aug. 29 named dive sites have their own pages.
Malin Head · photo Chmee2 or Mates
- Destinations
- 7
- Dive sites
- 29
- Water
- 8–18°C
- Most in season
- May–Aug
RegionCold Water
Where are the dive destinations in Ireland?
- 1Malin HeadJun–Aug
- 2Donegal CoastMar–Nov
- 3Dublin BayJun–Aug
- 4Aran IslandsJun–Aug
- 5Kilkee & the Clare CoastAug–Sep
- 6Kinsale & Old HeadMar–Aug
- 7Baltimore & Cape Clear IslandMay–Dec
Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).
How do they compare?
| # | Destination | Best months | Water | Visibility | Depth | Level | Access | Sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malin Head | Jun–Aug | 8–15°C | 10–30 m | 25–70 m | Advanced | Day boat | 4 |
| 2 | Donegal Coast — Downings, Tory & Arranmore | Mar–Nov | 9–15°C | — | 6–25 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Day boat, Shore | 5 |
| 3 | Dublin Bay | Jun–Aug | 9–15°C | — | 6–25 m | Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced | Shore, Day boat | 5 |
| 4 | Aran Islands | Jun–Aug | 10–16°C | — | to 18 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Day boat, Shore | 2 |
| 5 | Kilkee & the Clare Coast | Aug–Sep | 10–16°C | — | to 30 m | Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced | Day boat, Shore | 3 |
| 6 | Kinsale & Old Head | Mar–Aug | 9–18°C | — | 5–25 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Day boat, Shore | 8 |
| 7 | Baltimore & Cape Clear Island | May–Dec | 10–16°C | — | 15–30 m | Intermediate | Day boat | 2 |
When is the best time to dive Ireland?
The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in May–Aug: 7 of 7. Each row is one destination's own season rating.
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Malin Head | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season | Off-season |
| 2Donegal Coast | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
| 3Dublin Bay | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
| 4Aran Islands | Off-season | Off-season | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Off-season |
| 5Kilkee & the Clare Coast | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair |
| 6Kinsale & Old Head | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
| 7Baltimore & Cape Clear Island | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Good or prime | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Which destinations combine into one trip?
Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.
183 km end to end
In season together: May–Aug
36 km end to end
In season together: May–Sep
All 7 destinations in Ireland
Cold Water
A cavern and swim-throughs off the walls of remote Tory Island
9–15°C · 48–59°Fintermediate
Cold Water
Dublin Bay
Ireland
Seals at the Muglins and drift dives through Dalkey Sound
9–15°C · 48–59°Fintermediate
Cold Water
Aran Islands
Ireland
Diving Poll na bPéist, the Wormhole of Inis Mór
10–16°C · 50–61°Fintermediate
Cold Water
Kilkee & the Clare Coast
Ireland
Swim-throughs and small caverns a 5–10 minute boat spin from Kilkee pier
10–16°C · 50–61°Fintermediate
Cold Water
Kinsale & Old Head
Ireland
Old Head reefs and the City of Chicago wreck, a short boat spin from Kinsale
9–18°C · 48–64°Fintermediate
Cold Water
The U-260 submarine and the Kowloon Bridge, both dived from Baltimore
10–16°C · 50–61°Fintermediate