Poll na bPéist; The Wormhole - West Coast
Diving the Wormhole on Inis Mór isn't your typical reef dive. It's a unique geological formation, a rectangular tidal pool carved into the limestone cliffs by the relentless Atlantic. We’d classify it more as an exploratory, atmospheric dive than one for spotting loads of critters. Getting in can be a bit of an adventure, often involving a walk across the rocky shelf at low tide, then a descent into the natural rectangular pool itself. Below the surface, it’s all about the rock formations, the light filtering in, and the sheer coolness of being inside this famous landmark. It’s an intermediate dive, really, more for those who appreciate unique topography and the raw power of nature than those chasing pelagics. Visibility varies a lot with the swell.
- Location
- West Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 53.121000, -9.755400
- Type
- cave
- Maximum Depth
- 18m
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Marine Protected Area: Inishmore SPA
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 Poll na bPéist; The Wormhole
- 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 Poll na bPéist; The Wormhole
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