CITY OF CHICAGO

Good diving all year

Protected Area

Old Head of Kinsale 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) - CITY OF CHICAGO 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 10m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The *City of Chicago* isn't a single intact behemoth resting on the seabed. Think of it more as a sprawling underwater archaeological site, scattered across the shallow, often surge-kissed seabed off the Old Head of Kinsale. We love it because it’s a proper dive into history, a stark reminder of the power of the sea. You'll spend your dive exploring a vast debris field rather than penetrating a hull. Giant plates of steel, massive ribs, and other structural elements are strewn across the flat sand. Keep an eye out for the colossal prop shaft, a truly impressive piece of engineering, often draped in kelp and swarming with inquisitive wrasse. While the visibility can be fickle, especially after a good blow, when it’s clear, the sheer scale of the wreckage is striking. It’s a great site for photographers who enjoy macro work, as the crevices and nooks formed by the twisted metal are perfect hideouts for blennies and small crabs. We’d suggest diving this one on a calm day, close to slack high water for the best light and least surge. The maximum depth of 10 metres means you get plenty of bottom time to really soak it all in.