RMS Laconia - West Coast
Diving the RMS Laconia off Ireland’s west coast feels like stepping into a historical archive. This old liner, pressed into service as an armed merchant cruiser during WWI, now rests broken and spread across the seabed. You’ll find sections of hull plating, twisted metal, and the ghostly outline of what was once a grand vessel. The wreck is well-colonised by plumose anemones, and you often see conger eels peering from dark crevices. It’s a dive for those who appreciate maritime history and enjoy piecing together the story of a wreck rather than just observing its form. Visibility here can be temperamental, so picking a calm weather window is key.
- Location
- West Coast, Ireland, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 52.000000, -13.666667
- Type
- wreck
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 RMS Laconia
- 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 RMS Laconia
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