GIRL ARLENE - South Coast

The Girl Arlene is one of those wrecks that just makes for a good dive, especially when the weather plays ball. This 21-metre trawler went down in 1989 after a foggy collision, and she’s settled upright at 25 metres. We love how intact she is, still looking very much like a fishing boat, just a little squatter on the seabed. Dropping down, the bridge is often our first stop. You can peer inside, though penetration isn't really the game here. Instead, we weave around the deck, past the winches and where the nets would have been. What really brings her to life are the conger eels; they’re residents, big ones too, often peeking out from pipes and crevices. The wreck itself is covered in dead man's fingers and anemones, a proper explosion of white and orange against the darker metal. It’s a site for divers who appreciate a relatively intact wreck and the life that makes it home, rather than big pelagics. Visibility can be a typical Irish mixed bag, so pick a calm day if you can, and you’ll get the most out of her.

Location
South Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
52.103670, -6.895834
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
25m

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 GIRL ARLENE

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 GIRL ARLENE

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