wreck

Log This Dive

HMS SAFEGUARD

The HMS Safeguard is one of our favourite Irish wrecks to spend time with, though 'wreck' is almost a misnomer here. We’re talking about a salvage vessel that met its own end on the rocks at Portmagee in 1919. It was built in Southampton, a solid piece of kit at 48.8m long, and it's certainly had a life. What you get today isn't a pristine ship sitting upright, but a wonderfully broken-up collection of hull plates, ribs, and machinery parts scattered across the seafloor. It’s like a giant’s jigsaw puzzle, and the way the light filters through the gaps in the metal, catching the schooling pollack, is something we always appreciate. We love seeing how the kelp has started to take hold on the more exposed sections. Look for the nudibranchs clinging to the anenomes and the blennies darting into crevices. This site is less about penetration and more about exploring the nooks and crannies created by the collapse, making it a good choice for divers who like to take their time and observe the smaller details.