Snorkling
Snorkeling is now growing within our club and offers unique, cold-water adventures along our coastline, with prime conditions from May to September. Key spots include West Cork (Lough Hyne), Kerry (Dingle/Valentia), and the Aran Islands, featuring kelp forests, seals, anemones, diverse wrasse and a wide variety of fish and plant life.
Top Snorkeling Locations visited annually by our club include
Cork and surrounding area. For example we have spectacular beaches like Loughbeg, Inch beach, Gyleen beach and along the coast towards Kinsale with Oysterhaven, Sandy Cove and Rockey bay.
West Cork: Known for the sheltered, marine-rich Lough Hyne, plus Baltimore and Roaringwater Bay. One of our most recent adventures took place in LOUGH HYNE. This is Europe’s oldest Nature Reserve – it’s a salt water lake,a place of peaceful serenity, steeped in local folklore and home to a unique eco system which sustains a huge variety of marine plants and animals. It is connected to the sea via a narrow tidal channel, known as the Rapids. Barloge Creek is the connection between the Atlantic Ocean and Lough Hyne, and a great place for enjoyable and calm snorkeling.
Kerry: Renowned spots include Dingle, Valentia Island, St. Finan’s Bay, and Derrynane.
Aran Islands (Galway): our club will visit this area and Killeany Bay this year with opportunities to snorkel with seals in clear,sheltered waters. One of our club’s favorite spots is Kilkee in Clare. The likes of the polock whole has an abundance of fish life
East Coast. Hook Head, Wexford, visited each year by our club for the East coast Diving and snorkeling rally weekend. This is a very popular area for challenging shore snorkeling. Further along that coast there are lovely snorkeling beaches including the likes of the Copper coast and onward towards Youghal.
Essential Information
- Best Time: Mid-May to late September, with water temperatures ranging from 10°C to 16°C.
- Marine Life: Kelp forests, anemones, shellfish, crustaceans, pollack, and grey seals.
- Equipment: Wetsuits (thick ones recommended due to cold water), mask, snorkel, and fins.
- Safety: Always check weather conditions and tides; the west coast is generally more exposed than the east, but both offer sheltered spots. Always snorkel with a buddy. Full training is offered to prospective new club snorkeling members.
Key Tips
- Wet Suits: Due to the cooler Atlantic temperatures, a 5mm to 7mm wetsuit is highly recommended for comfort.
- Wildlife: Always keep a respectful distance from seals and other marine creatures.
- Visibility: Best in calm, settled weather, often following a dry spell.
So grab your finns and mask make contact with our club and enjoy exploring what the coast and rivers have to offer both locally and further a field.