PATRIARCH - West Coast
The Patriarch, a 24-meter fishing vessel, rests hard aground on Ireland's west coast, a casualty of a fire back in 2004. It’s an unusual dive, really. Because it burned and drifted ashore, the wreck is now half-submerged, with parts of the hull and superstructure still breaking the surface. This makes for some really interesting light play through the remains of the deck and wheelhouse. You’ll find wrasse darting between rusty beams and anemones clinging to every available surface inside the shallow sections. It’s a compelling explore for those who appreciate wrecks with a bit of a story and don’t mind a shallower dive. We'd suggest checking it out around mid-tide for the best combination of access and underwater visibility around the structure.
- Location
- West Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 53.366665, -9.925000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 0m
Marine Protected Area: Dog's Bay SAC
Best Time to Dive in West Coast
The warmest water temperatures in West Coast occur in January, averaging 8.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 8.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 8.9°C (air: 7.2°C)
- February: 8.9°C (air: 8.0°C)
- March: 8.9°C (air: 8.0°C)
- April: 8.9°C (air: 9.8°C)
- May: 8.9°C (air: 12.0°C)
- June: 8.9°C (air: 14.2°C)
- July: 8.9°C (air: 15.2°C)
- August: 8.9°C (air: 15.9°C)
- September: 8.9°C (air: 14.8°C)
- October: 8.9°C (air: 12.4°C)
- November: 8.9°C (air: 10.3°C)
- December: 8.9°C (air: 8.1°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in West Coast
- Alain Dominique Wreck - 14m (wreck)
- ANGMERING - 5m (wreck)
- Aran Islands - 10-35m (wall)
- AROSA - 40m (wreck)
- Aughnish Drift (drift)
- Back of Lime Rock - 32m (wall)
- BARRISTER - 0m (wreck)
- Biraghty Mor - 33m
- Bridges of Ross - 19m (reef)
- Carraig Cois Ceim
- CARRAIG UNA - 0m (wreck)
- Chimney Bay - 18m (pinnacle)
- Coral Beach (reef)
- CRETEBOOM - 0m (wreck)
- C S PARNELL - 6m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to PATRIARCH
- Dive Aran - SSI
- Kilkee Dive Centre - SSI
Marine Life in West Coast
Home to 183 recorded species including 86 reef fish, 20 sharks & rays, 15 whales & dolphins, 12 other, 10 seagrass & algae, 8 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) - Reef Fish
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) - Reef Fish
- whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
- Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
- megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) - Reef Fish
- Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
- Common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) - Reef Fish
- poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
- blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) - Reef Fish
- Boarfish (Capros aper) - Reef Fish
- Protestant (Clupea harengus) - Reef Fish
- lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena) - Reef Fish
- Soldier (Chelidonichthys cuculus) - Reef Fish
- Angler (Lophius piscatorius) - Reef Fish
- dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
- Cape Shark (Squalus acanthias) - Sharks & Rays
- sprat (Sprattus sprattus) - Reef Fish
- Bastard Sole (Microchirus variegatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for PATRIARCH
Based on average water temperature of 8.9°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