AMARYLLIS - South Coast

The Amaryllis sits upright on the seabed at 45 metres, a proper deep dive that’s well worth the effort. We love this trawler, a proper snapshot of a working vessel caught in time. She’s only 16 metres long, so you can really get a sense of the whole ship in one dive, especially on a good visibility day. Our favourite part is dropping down through the gloom to see her mast rise to meet you, a ghostly finger pointing skyward. The trawler capsized and sank back in 1992 after getting her gear snagged, and you can still see the trawl doors lying out to port. The wreck is slowly becoming part of the reef, draped in dead man’s fingers and home to plump conger eels poking out from every dark corner. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of squat lobsters tucked into crevices. If you’re lucky, you might spot a ling darting into the shadows. We’d suggest hitting this one on a slack tide to really appreciate her, as the currents here can be a bit of a push. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and enjoy the quiet challenge of deeper wrecks.

Location
South Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
52.050335, -7.250833
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
45m

Wreck History - AMARYLLIS

Year Sunk
1992
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
grounding

The Amaryllis was an Irish trawler that met a dramatic end in May 1992. While fishing approximately 10 miles east of Helvick Head, the vessel's gear snagged hard on the seabed, likely on rocks or another submerged object. The immense force caused the trawler to heel over, capsize, and begin its slow descent to the bottom. It took a full hour for the ship to sink, giving the crew enough time to abandon ship and be rescued from their liferaft.

Today, the Amaryllis rests at a depth of 45 meters in the Celtic Sea, placing it firmly in the realm of technical diving. This is a challenging dive for experienced, properly certified divers prepared for the depth and potential currents of the Irish coast. Those who make the descent will find a relatively modern fishing vessel, a solemn memorial to the perils of the sea, now being slowly reclaimed by marine life.

Marine Protected Area: Tramore Dunes and Backstrand SAC

Best Time to Dive in South Coast

The warmest water temperatures in South Coast occur in January, averaging 8.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 8.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 8.8°C (air: 7.0°C)
  • February: 8.8°C (air: 8.3°C)
  • March: 8.8°C (air: 8.1°C)
  • April: 8.8°C (air: 9.3°C)
  • May: 8.8°C (air: 11.8°C)
  • June: 8.8°C (air: 14.2°C)
  • July: 8.8°C (air: 15.6°C)
  • August: 8.8°C (air: 15.8°C)
  • September: 8.8°C (air: 14.6°C)
  • October: 8.8°C (air: 12.4°C)
  • November: 8.8°C (air: 9.9°C)
  • December: 8.8°C (air: 8.1°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in South Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to AMARYLLIS

Marine Life in South Coast

Home to 199 recorded species including 97 reef fish, 24 sharks & rays, 14 whales & dolphins, 14 other, 10 crabs & lobsters, 10 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for AMARYLLIS

Based on average water temperature of 8.8°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 9°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories