Aran Islands · Ireland · Cave & cavern · Channel & pass
Poll na bPéist (the Wormhole)
A rectangular rock pool joined to the Atlantic by hidden passages
Photo: Paucabot · CC BY-SA 3.0
Poll na bPéist, the Wormhole, is a natural rock pool on the Atlantic shore of Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands. It is a boat dive kept for advanced, experienced divers, with a maximum depth of 18 m. Divers come for the rare chance to scuba dive into the pool itself.
Also known as The Wormhole, The Worm Hole, Poll na bPeist, Serpents Lair.
Where it is and how deep
53.1216° N, 9.7548° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The Wormhole is a naturally formed rectangular pool on the south side of the island, and its water is fed by underwater channels that connect it to the sea. Depth varies with the tides and conditions, but the dive generally ranges from 10 to 18 m.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Off-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.
Know before you go
- Strong, hidden currents run along this coast, and unexpected large waves can overtop and flood the pool.
Dive videos
Wormhole - Diving Inis Mór · Paul Murphy on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is the Wormhole dived from shore or by boat?+
By boat: the ride from Kilronan takes about 25 minutes, and the dive is open only to experienced divers with advanced certification.
Sources
- Dive Sites of the Aran Islands — Dive Aran
- Scuba diving, Inis Mór — aranislands.ie
- The Worm Hole on Inis Mór — Galway Tourism
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap
Photo credits
- A rectangular pool of dark blue-green water cut into flat grey limestone, with layered rock ledges rising behind it by Paucabot, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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