QUEENSMORE

Good diving all year

Protected Area

Three Castle Head to Mizen Head 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) - QUEENSMORE 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 55m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Queensmore, a colossal steamship that went down in 1891, is our pick for a proper deep wreck dive off the South Coast. We love how intact she is for a wreck of her age; dropping down, you’ll start to pick out the distinct lines of her bow or stern, often shrouded in a light haze of plankton that gives the whole dive a wonderfully atmospheric feel. She sits upright at 55 metres, so this is definitely one for advanced technical divers comfortable with the depth and potential for low visibility. Exploring her structure is fascinating. You can often make out the massive boilers, standing proud amidst the general collapse of the deck. Keep an eye out for conger eels tucked into any available crevice – they’re a common sight here, and sometimes you’ll spot a squat lobster clinging to the metalwork. The scale of the Queensmore is what really impresses; her 122-metre length means you’ll need multiple dives to even begin to get a sense of her. We'd suggest checking the tides carefully; slack water makes a massive difference to the enjoyment here, as currents can pick up. This isn't a dive for casual exploration; it demands respect and careful planning, but the rewards are substantial.