Diving
Discover a world of colour, history, and adventure beneath Ireland’s surface with Blackwater Sub Aqua Club. We believe that Ireland’s underwater world is one of the country’s greatest hidden treasures, our coastline is wild, vibrant, steeped in history, from reefs alive with marine life to iconic shipwrecks steeped in story, we explore some of the most breathtaking dive sites in the country, every dive is a new memory. Whether you’re new to diving or a seasoned explorer, our club opens the door to unforgettable underwater experiences along the beautiful south coast and beyond. We welcome you to discover why Irish diving captures the hearts of those who experience it.
Training is at the heart of everything we do. As a club, we place a strong emphasis on safety, skill, and confidence in the water. Our experienced instructors and dive leaders give each trainee the time, attention, and guidance they need to progress at their own pace. From beginner snorkel and one-star training right up to advanced diving, rescue skills, and boat handling, we pride ourselves on thorough, high-quality instruction. The goal is simple: to help every diver become capable, confident, and ready to explore Ireland’s incredible underwater world with enjoyment and safety at every step.
There is something unmistakably special about diving in Irish waters. The Atlantic breathes life into our coastline, creating underwater worlds that feel untouched, authentic, and exhilarating. The colours are more vivid than most expect, the wildlife more abundant and the sense of exploration ever-present.
Diving here is not just a sport; it’s an experience of immersion in nature at its most elemental. The moment you descend, you’re greeted by a burst of colour that surprises even seasoned divers.
The seabed becomes a living canvas, jeweled anemones shimmer under torchlight, each one a miniature galaxy. Dahlia and plumose anemones dot the rocks like wild daisies in a spring meadow. Starfish, in shades of blue, orange, and red, climb slowly across the reefs. Wrasse, Pollock, mackerel, and cuttlefish glide gracefully through the mid-water. Nudibranchs, tiny, neon works of art hide among the sponges for those who seek them.
Above the water, the magic continues. It’s not unusual for dolphins to race the RIB, weaving across the bow like playful escorts on the way to a dive site. Their curiosity and energy bring a sense of excitement before your fins even touch the water.
On rare and special days, a sunfish drifts by on the surface, slow, majestic, and otherworldly.
And beneath the waves, seals often become our most memorable companions. They glide past with gentle confidence, occasionally circling around to inspect us, tug a fin, or “buddy up” for part of the dive. Their curious, almost cheeky interactions add a dimension of warmth and connection that makes every encounter unforgettable.
This is the living, breathing underwater world that keeps giving and keeps us diving year-round.
Many of our dives take place in the iconic waters of Cork Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world and a haven for both scenic and wreck diving. Its sheltered bays, rich marine ecosystems, and long maritime history make it an extraordinary diving destination.
Scenic Diving
Scenic diving around Cork Harbour offers dramatic underwater terrain, towering kelp forests that move like underwater meadows, rocky gullies filled with marine life, and colourful reefs alive with corals, sponges, and anemones. Visibility often opens to reveal entire amphitheatres of natural beauty, perfect for underwater photographers and nature lovers alike.
Wreck Diving
Ireland’s maritime past rests quietly beneath the waves, providing divers with world-class wreck sites. Some of our favourites include:
Cork Harbour and its surrounding waters are home to some of Ireland’s most fascinating wrecks, each offering a unique underwater adventure. UC-42, a German WWI mine-laying submarine, lies remarkably intact, its torpedo tubes and propellers a haunting reminder of history while providing shelter to a variety of marine life. The SS Aud, famous for its role in the 1916 Easter Rising, rests as a dramatic wreck teeming with fish, anemones, and crustaceans, turning this historic vessel into a vibrant artificial reef. Further out, the SS Santo, a bucket dredger wreck, offers adventurous divers sprawling structures to explore, from boilers to dredging buckets, all encrusted with colour and bustling with underwater life. Smaller but equally intriguing are the Westwick and Star Immaculate, both of which provide excellent opportunities for divers to discover hidden nooks, observe abundant marine growth, and appreciate the rich maritime heritage of Cork Harbour. Together, these wrecks combine history, mystery, and the beauty of Ireland’s underwater world, making the area a premier destination for wreck diving enthusiasts of all levels. Each wreck is teeming with life, transforming history into a living, breathing ecosystem.
Irish diving has a character all its own, raw, unspoiled, and filled with wonder. Here, vibrant marine life rivals even warmer waters in colour and diversity, while dramatic seascapes carved by the Atlantic offer breathtaking underwater vistas. Our coastline holds a remarkable concentration of historic wrecks, unmatched, each one a story waiting to be explored. The wild, natural conditions keep every dive exciting and unpredictable, and it’s this unique blend of history, nature, and adventure that makes diving in Ireland truly unforgettable. Here, every descent feels like stepping into a world few have seen, one of colour, movement, history, and life.
Blackwater Sub Aqua Club is a welcoming community of divers who share a passion for exploration, adventure, and the beauty of Ireland’s underwater world. We offer training, support, club trips, and a warm atmosphere for divers of all levels.