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Aran Islands · Ireland · Wall · Cave & cavern

Inishmaan

A roomy cave full of jellyfish and tiny white starfish

Inishmaan is a boat dive along the cliffs of the middle island of the three Aran Islands, a short ride from Kilronan. It suits beginners and reaches 22 m at most. Divers come for the varied rock underwater, and an ocean sunfish around 3 m across has been seen near the island.

Also known as Inishmann, Inis Meáin.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Inishmaan: typical dive to 22 m (to 72 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit22 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

53.0837° N, 9.5892° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The dive runs alongside the island's cliffs, where the ground below is a mix of high walls and steep ridges. Along the way lies a large, spacious cave, crowded with hundreds of jellyfish and thousands of tiny white starfish. Nowhere on the dive goes past 22 m.

Marine life and season

  • Mola mola
Month-by-month season rating for Inishmaan
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Off-seasonOff-seasonGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodGoodOff-season

Season follows Aran Islands: The only dive centre opens from March to November and is shut in winter; summer, with the warmest water, is the best time to dive.

Dive videos

Scuba Diving Inis Meáin – Atlantic Adventures on Aran Islands · Domo Dives Ireland 🇮🇪 on YouTube

Questions divers ask

What certification does the Inishmaan dive need?+

Open Water, the minimum the dive centre asks for on its daily boat trips. The site is rated for beginners and reaches 22 m at most.

Sources

  1. Dive Sites of the Aran Islands — Dive Aran
  2. Aran Islands diving guide — Diving Squad
  3. OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap

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