WESTWICK

Good diving all year

Protected Area

Cork Harbour 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) - WESTWICK 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 6m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Westwick isn't your typical Irish wreck dive, and that's precisely why we love it. Sunk by a mine in 1917, this 123-meter steamship drifted ashore, breaking up into a scattered, shallow playground. At a maximum depth of 6 meters, it’s less about penetration and more about exploring the jumble of plates, beams, and machinery spread across the seabed. We've spent hours here, meticulously combing through the remains. You'll find sections of the hull, perhaps a boiler, and countless bits of mangled metal. The real magic, though, is how the ocean has repurposed it all. Lobsters poke their antennae from beneath twisted steel, and we've often seen schools of pollack darting through the clearer patches. Sunlight filters down, illuminating the anemones that coat every available surface – a vibrant contrast to the rust. It’s a site that rewards slow, deliberate exploration. Our favourite approach is to pick a section and really examine it, imagining the ship as it once was. You'll want to time your dive for slack water to get the best visibility; a falling tide can kick up a bit of sediment, making things murkier. It’s perfect for newer divers looking for a wreck experience without the depth, or anyone who just enjoys a relaxed, investigative dive among history.