ASIAN

Best months: Jan–Dec

Protected Area

Lough Hyne Nature Reserve and Environs 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) - ASIAN offers some of South Coast's richest wreck diving. Water sits around 9°C.

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 185+ species recorded

Water9°C · warmest January, February, March

CharacterWreck dive · max 10m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The ASIAN wreck, off Ireland’s South Coast, sits shallow at just 10 metres, making it surprisingly accessible given its history. This 128-metre steamship, an ex-COLUMBIAN, went down in 1924 and is now well-broken, but still very much a wreck, not just a debris field. You’ll find two large boilers, an engine, and plenty of plates, all home to the usual suspects: conger eels tucked into crevices, dogfish often resting on the sand nearby, and plenty of crabs scuttling over the metalwork. We’ve found the stern section particularly interesting, with some scattered cargo still evident if you look closely. It's a solid dive for those who enjoy exploring a piece of maritime history without the need for deep technical skills.