CASTAWAY

Good diving all year

Protected Area

Farranamanagh Lough 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) - CASTAWAY offers some of South Coast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 9-15°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeYear-round

WetsuitA drysuit

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

Water9-15°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 44m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Castaway isn't your typical Ireland wreck dive. We’re talking about a small cruiser, only 4.1m long, that went down in 2010. It’s a tragic story, with three lives lost, which always makes us pause for a moment of reflection when we descend. Dropping down to 44m, you find the Castaway sitting upright, surprisingly intact for its size. The deckhouse is still there, and you can peer into what was once the cabin. It feels less like a wreck and more like a lost toy boat. The short length means you can spend time really scrutinising it. We've seen conger eels poking their heads out from beneath the hull, and the brass fittings are still catching the light, surprisingly shiny. It’s already attracting a decent growth of dead man's fingers and anemones, which glow under a torch. It's a deep dive, definitely one for experienced divers comfortable with extended bottom times and good buoyancy. Our favourite way to dive it is to take our time on the descent, ensuring we get a full 15-20 minutes on the wreck, then make a slow, controlled ascent, enjoying the open water for a bit before our safety stop. We’d suggest going when the current is minimal; it’s a small target and can be easy to miss if there’s a strong push.