IRISH PLANE

Good diving all year

Protected Area

Ballycotton Bay 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) - IRISH PLANE 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 3m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Forget whatever the database says about this one. The "Irish Plane" is actually the *Irish Plain*, a huge steamship that ran aground in Ballycroneen Bay back in 1916. We love a good historical mix-up, especially when it leads to a dive like this. It sits in a ridiculously shallow 3m of water, practically begging for a snorkel or a leisurely, long-bottom-time dive. What you get here is a proper wreck, all 114 meters of her, broken up but still very much a ship. You'll kick over huge plates of rusted steel, see beams draped with kelp, and fin through shadows cast by the collapsed superstructure. We've spent ages just tracing the outline of the deck, imagining the scale of it before it broke apart. It's a fantastic spot for photography, especially on a sunny day when the light penetrates the water and illuminates the vibrant greens and browns of the sea growth. Look for the blennies darting between the crevices and the crabs scuttling amongst the metal. It’s an easy, fascinating dive, perfect for anyone who loves exploring history without the pressure of depth or strong currents.