ANNE SOPHIE
Protected Area
Ardmore Head SAC
Why dive here
With 185+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - ANNE SOPHIE offers some of South Coast's richest wreck diving. Water sits around 9°C.
The *Anne Sophie* isn't your typical deep wreck, and that's precisely why we love it. This 30-meter fishing vessel went aground on the rocks southwest of Mine Head in 1984, the crew airlifted to safety. Now, she lies very shallow, almost entirely exposed to the elements, yet still holds so much character. We’d suggest hitting this site at low tide on a calm day; the visibility can be spectacular then, allowing you to really appreciate how the sea has twisted and torn the metal. What’s left of the hull is completely encrusted in colourful anemones and dead man's fingers. You'll see blennies darting into every crevice and crabs scuttling across the seabed next to the broken superstructure. It's a fantastic site for photographers, especially macro enthusiasts, or anyone who enjoys seeing a wreck slowly reclaimed by nature, right on the shoreline.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Cold water this month (avg 9°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
ANNE SOPHIE Wreck History
Year Sunk
1984
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
grounding
In the harsh weather of January 1984, the 30-metre fishing vessel Anne Sophie fell victim to a combination of navigational errors and unforgiving conditions. The ship went hard aground on the rocks southwest of Mine Head, near Dungarvan on Ireland's south coast. The situation was perilous, but a dramatic helicopter rescue successfully airlifted the entire crew to safety, leaving the vessel to be battered by the relentless waves.
Lying at a depth of 0 metres, the Anne Sophie is not a traditional wreck dive but a fascinating scatter site. The powerful surge and currents of the Irish coast have broken the vessel apart, spreading her remains across the shallow, rocky seabed. This makes for an excellent snorkel or a very shallow dive, especially for underwater photographers. Divers can explore the debris field, discovering pieces of the hull, machinery, and fishing gear reclaimed by the vibrant local marine life in the high-energy coastal zone.
Reviews for ANNE SOPHIE
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ANNE SOPHIE
ANNE SOPHIE Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ANNE SOPHIE, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (51.55, -8.99) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
8.81°C
48°F
Air Temperature
15.85°C
61°F
Wind Speed
6.71 m/s
13.0 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1014.5 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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