CASTLE BAY - South Coast

Castle Bay is a classic South Coast wreck dive, a fishing vessel that went down after a collision back in '71. We love dives like this, where the wreck feels truly settled into its environment rather than just a recent addition. At a max depth of 24m, it's accessible for most divers, though we’d suggest good buoyancy control helps here. What you get is a substantial hull, mostly intact, lying on its starboard side. You can explore the stern, where the prop is usually still visible, and the gantry structure. Keep an eye out for the resident conger eels, they’re often lurking in the darker recesses. We also see plenty of wrasse darting in and out of the skeletal remains of the superstructure. The visibility here can vary wildly, as it often does on the South Coast, so pick a calm day with a good tide window for the best experience. Our favourite part? The way the light filters through the kelp on the shallower parts of the wreck, even on a cloudy day, it adds real character.

Location
South Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
52.058666, -6.934167
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
24m

Marine Protected Area: Hook Head 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 CASTLE BAY

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 CASTLE BAY

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