If you’re looking for adventure far from the beaten path, consider diving the Blasket Islands. This cluster of seven islands is the most westerly archipelago in Europe; exposed to swells and subject to strong tides, the dive sites here are extremely beautiful, but they are not for the faint-hearted. As the 100-meer contour is located a short distance away, divers often hear or even see whales between the months of August and October. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best sites the area has to offer.
Inistooskert
A rocky pinnacle with an adjacent wall, Inistooskert is spectacular. The top of the wall is covered in a brilliant mantle of jewel anemones, and at the bottom, you’ll find a sea cave which you can enter and swim through for a short distance before finding progress blocked by a massive boulder and needing to turn around. Crayfish, crabs, congers, wrasse, and other marine life is abundant here, and as depths vary from about 15 to 40 meters, the site is suitable for all divers.
The Three Brothers Wreck
The Three Brothers wreck sits just off Great Blasket Island. Though this wreck is a relatively small one at just 30 meters long, it is relatively intact and its hull is in sound condition so penetration is possible. You’ll find plenty of marine life aboard, including congers and the occasional dogfish. Depths are between 18 and 30 meters.
The Island Harbor
A fantastic site with a reef and a small wall, the Island Barbor has a white sandy bottom and is home to an abundance of fish and other creatures. Keep an eye out here, as it is a favorite hunting ground for seals! Rocks and gullies meander here and there, and it can be easy to wander a long distance. Use caution though, and use your SMB; this site is near the ferry’s path and there have been some close calls in the past. Maximum depth is 12 meters.
Tearaght Island
Crowned with a lighthouse, Tearaght Island also has a spectacular arch that rises up out of the sea. The nearby rocks, gullies, and walls are teeming with crabs, lobsters, and other creatures including some colorful nudibranchs; the area is also extremely active in terms of fish life. Maximum depth is about 20 meters and most features are in much shallower water.
USS Quebra
The USS Quebra was built in 1912. Measuring 377 feet, with a 53-foot beam, this massive ship ran into the rocks and sank on the night of August 23rd, 1916. Today, you’ll find the wreck at Lochar Rock at depths between 15 to 27 meters. The boilers are huge, and many features are still recognizable, though the ship was salvaged. The navy cleared live ammunition from the site in the 1980s, but touching any ammunition you find is not recommended as it has the potential to explode. If qualified and equipped, you can descend further down the gully to a depth of 40 meters, where a massive piece of the wreck sits.
The Blasket Islands are located off Dingle in County Kerry; diving in the area is affected by tides and weather, and it is vital that you work with a local dive guide or charter company. Dingle is a very colorful town with friendly residents, cozy accommodations, and outstanding pubs that serve up what might arguably be described as some of the best food in County Kerry. Though traveling to the Blaskets can be time-consuming, what you’ll find there is amazing and the hospitality you’ll receive upon returning to Dingle is fantastic. This is one journey you’ll certainly remember fondly for many years to come.