EMPRESS
Protected Area
Carnsore Point 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) - EMPRESS offers some of South Coast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 9-15°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Empress, a steamship lost in 1897, rests at 20 metres off the South Coast of Ireland. We usually find her fairly intact, given the time she's spent down there, a solid structure with a visible single boiler and some of the triple-expansion engine bits still identifiable. Shoals of pollock and coalfish often swirl around the main sections, especially near the bow, and we’ve seen plenty of conger eels poking out from beneath the larger plates. It's a proper wreck dive, more about the history and the structure than a riot of colour, but the marine life that has made it home adds real character. Good for divers comfortable with a deeper wreck.
Typical EMPRESS Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 20m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Cold water this month (avg 14°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Reviews for EMPRESS
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for EMPRESS
EMPRESS Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for EMPRESS, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (51.71, -8.38) (9km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
14°C
57°F · Range: 12.3–14.8°C
Air Temperature
12°C
54°F
Wind Speed
7.84 m/s
15.2 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1008.6 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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