CELTIC

Good diving all year

Protected Area

Cork Harbour SPA

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) - CELTIC 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 7m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Celtic, a grand old White Star Line vessel, sits in remarkably shallow water off the South Coast of Ireland. We love this site because it’s a proper piece of history, so accessible. Dropping down, you’re greeted by the sheer scale of it, even if she’s quite broken up. Think enormous plates of steel, a massive boiler, and twisted metal that tells a story of a ship’s final moments. She went down in 1928, and time, along with the Irish Sea, has done its work. Despite the damage, there’s still plenty to see and carefully poke around. We always find conger eels tucked into the darker recesses, and sometimes a dogfish or two resting on the sandy patches around the wreck. Visibility can be hit or miss here – if it’s been calm, you might get 10 metres, but a bit of swell can knock it down to 3 or 4. We’d suggest going on a slack tide for the easiest dive. This isn’t a penetration dive, but rather a chance to immerse yourself in a piece of maritime heritage, feeling the history in the cool Irish water. It’s perfect for divers who appreciate wrecks for their stories and the character they develop over decades on the seabed.