NUESTRA SENORA DE GARDOTZA - South Coast

The Nuestra Senora de Gardotza, a Spanish trawler, met its end on the rocks here during a gale back in 1990. It’s a shallow dive, just 8m at its deepest, which makes it incredibly accessible and a really forgiving introduction to wreck diving. The whole thing is surprisingly intact for how it went down, with the stern section still clearly identifiable and a good chunk of the hull remaining. We love how the strong Irish currents have scoured the metal clean over the years, leaving it a perfect substrate for soft corals and anemones. You’ll find plenty of crabs tucked into the nooks and crannies, and often a grumpy conger eel peering out from under a plate. It’s not a massive wreck, 34m long, but there’s enough structure to explore for a solid 40 minutes, weaving in and out of the ribs and cargo holds. Visibility can be a bit variable here, so we always check the forecast for a few days of settled weather beforehand – that’s when it truly shines. Our favourite part? Seeing the light filter down through the kelp, illuminating patches of the wreck and the flashes of silver from coalfish darting past. It's a proper atmospheric dive, great for anyone who enjoys history and doesn’t mind a bit of chill.

Location
South Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.656030, -9.749528
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
8m

Marine Protected Area: Farranamanagh Lough 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 NUESTRA SENORA DE GARDOTZA

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 NUESTRA SENORA DE GARDOTZA

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