Lough Rea
Protected Area
Galway Bay Complex
Why dive here
With 169+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and octopuses - Lough Rea offers some of West Coast's richest diving. Water ranges 8-17°C, warmest July, August, September.
Lough Rea is a freshwater dive on Ireland's west coast, often used for training and getting comfortable in colder conditions. Visibility can vary quite a bit, but we’ve generally found it to be decent enough for navigation and spotting the occasional resident fish. It’s a good spot for newer divers, or those looking to test out new gear without the added challenge of ocean currents.
Safety Notes
Cold water this month (avg 14°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Reviews for Lough Rea
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Lough Rea
Lough Rea Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Lough Rea, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (53.32, -9.66) (22km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
14°C
56°F · Range: 11.7–15.4°C
Air Temperature
12°C
54°F
Wind Speed
8.2 m/s
15.9 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1007.4 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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