ILLYRIAN

Good diving all year

Protected Area

Roaringwater Bay and Islands 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) - ILLYRIAN 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 15m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Illyrian isn’t about big schools or blazing colour. It’s a proper dive into history, a moody, atmospheric wreck off Ireland’s south coast. We love the feeling of descent here, dropping onto something that once moved under its own steam, now completely reclaimed by the sea. This 118-meter steamship ran ashore in fog back in 1884, and what’s left spreads out over a flat seabed at 15 metres. You’re exploring ribs and plating, sections of deck, and the occasional boiler poking up, all draped in a thick fur of anemones and dead man's fingers. Our favourite part is nosing around the deeper sections, where conger eels often lurk in crevices, and lobsters eye you from under ledges. It's a great spot for photographers who appreciate texture and composition over bright subjects. Visibility can be a bit hit or miss, typical for the region, but even on a greener day, the wreck’s presence is undeniable. Best dived on a neap tide for minimal current, allowing you to really soak in the wreck's scale and the quiet drama of its resting place.