ZETA - South Coast
Dropping down onto the Zeta feels like stepping back in time, a substantial steamship resting at 60 metres, a sombre reminder of September 1917. She was torpedoed, and the wreck holds that story in her broken hull, still very much intact for her age and depth. We’ve found the stern section particularly interesting, with a good amount of structure to explore, the metalwork now home to plumose anemones swaying gently in the current. This is a deep dive, naturally, so it’s one for experienced technical divers who appreciate the history and the silent beauty of a well-preserved wreck. Visibility can be hit or miss, typical for the South Coast, but on a good day, the scale of the Zeta is impressive.
- Location
- South Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 51.867000, -7.567500
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 60m
Marine Protected Area: Ardmore 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
- ALFRED D SNOW - 30m (wreck)
- ALISON - 2m (wreck)
- ALIZE - 50m (wreck)
- ALLIANCE II - 4m (wreck)
- ALONDRA - 15m (wreck)
- AMARYLLIS - 45m (wreck)
- ANNE SOPHIE - 0m (wreck)
- ANTONY - 51m (wreck)
- ANTONY - 53m (wreck)
- ARDENT II - 35m (wreck)
- ARY - 25m (wreck)
- ASIAN - 10m (wreck)
- ASTRID - 0m (wreck)
- AUD - 39m (wreck)
- BANDON - 33m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to ZETA
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
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) - Reef Fish
- whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
- grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) - Reef Fish
- long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) - Reef Fish
- Common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) - Reef Fish
- megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) - Reef Fish
- Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
- lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena) - Reef Fish
- dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
- blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) - Reef Fish
- Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
- Boarfish (Capros aper) - Reef Fish
- witch (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) - Reef Fish
- Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Spotted Dragonet (Callionymus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Bastard Sole (Microchirus variegatus) - Reef Fish
- sprat (Sprattus sprattus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for ZETA
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