ISOLDA - South Coast

The Isolda is a real testament to Ireland's wartime history, resting upright at 55 metres off the South Coast. We love how intact she is for a wreck of her age. Dropping down, the bow is often the first thing to loom out of the gloom, usually with a decent current pushing you along her length. You’ll spend most of your time around the superstructure, feeling the cold water on your cheeks, imagining what it was like for the crew when she went down in 1940. The wreck is quite penetrable if you know what you’re doing, with plenty of entry points around the midsection. Inside, the darkness is absolute, broken only by your torch beam picking out pipework and bulkheads. On the outside, we always find conger eels tucked into every nook and cranny, and sometimes a few lobsters scuttling across the deck plates. Visibility can be a challenge here, often sitting around 5-10 metres, so we’d suggest timing your dive for slack water to really appreciate her scale. It’s definitely one for experienced cold water wreck divers who appreciate a bit of history with their dive.

Location
South Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
52.057000, -6.554167
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
55m

Marine Protected Area: Saltee Islands SPA

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 ISOLDA

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 ISOLDA

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