PERE CHARLES - South Coast

The Pere Charles, a twin-rig trawler that went down in a Force 7 gale back in 2007, sits upright and largely intact on the seabed at 27 metres. We love that you can still feel the story here, picturing the crew fighting that storm. Dropping down, you’ll first make out the wheelhouse, often wreathed in shadows from the stern mast. It's a proper playground for torch beams, poking into the open hatches and exploring the trawl deck. Our favourite part has to be the stern, where the twin-rigging gear remains, a jumble of winches and cables that have become home to some surprisingly bold conger eels. We’ve seen them peering out from every nook, alongside lobsters and edible crabs tucked into the deeper recesses. Visibility can be a bit of a lottery, as it often is on the South Coast, but on a good day, the light penetrating the superstructure gives the whole wreck an eerie, atmospheric glow. This site is a fantastic dive for anyone keen on wreck penetration and getting up close with coastal Irish marine life; just be sure to check the forecast for swell before heading out.

Location
South Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
52.085000, -6.905000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
27m

Marine Protected Area: Hook Head 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 PERE CHARLES

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 PERE CHARLES

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