FULMER

Best months: Jul–Aug

Protected Area

Kilkee Reefs SAC

Why dive here

With 169+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and octopuses - FULMER offers some of West Coast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-17°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Aug

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeDolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) and Octopuses · 169+ species recorded

Water8-17°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 58m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Fulmer, oh, the Fulmer. This one’s a real deep dive, literally, sitting at 58 metres off the West Coast of Ireland. Built way back in 1868 and sunk in 1888, it’s a proper piece of history down there. We’re talking about a steamship, one boiler, a single shaft engine, lying pretty much intact on the seabed. Dropping down, the first thing you notice, once you hit the thermocline, is the sheer scale. It’s not a small boat. The visibility here can be decent, but it’s still Ireland, so prepare for that cooler, greener light filtering down. Our favourite part has to be the engine room, or what’s left of it. You can imagine the crew working there, almost feel the vibrations of that single expansion engine. The wreck structure itself is heavily encrusted, with plumose anemones waving like miniature feather dusters in the gentle surge. Keep an eye out for conger eels peering from every dark recess; they’re quite numerous here and surprisingly bold. This site really suits experienced wreck divers, those who appreciate the history and have the training for deeper decompression dives. It’s a journey into the past, cold but utterly compelling.