Diving Cork & the South Coast

About Cork & South Coast

Cork and the South Coast hold some of the most famous wreck dives in the British Isles, anchored by the Lusitania off the Old Head of Kinsale and the intact U-260 U-boat nearby. Kinsale is a historic harbour town that doubles as a diving hub, with the vast Kowloon Bridge bulk carrier, the largest shipwreck at recreational depth in the world, lying nearby at 15-38 m. Rock Island Reefs and the Baltimore and Cape Clear channels offer jewel-anemone walls, drift dives and seals, while Fastnet Rock rises as a sheer Atlantic pinnacle. The region blends world-class technical wreck diving with vibrant reef life and a lively maritime culture, all within easy reach of Cork city and its airport. Conditions are exposed and tidal, so local knowledge is essential.

Highlights

• ✓Lusitania Wreck: the famous 1915 Cunard liner at 87-93 m (technical)
• ✓U-260: an intact German U-boat at 40-45 m, one of Europe’s best
• ✓Kowloon Bridge: the world’s largest wreck at recreational depth (15-38 m)
• ✓Baltimore & Cape Clear: drift dives, jewel anemones and seals
• ✓Fastnet Rock: sheer pinnacles with huge schools of pollack

Getting There

Fly into Cork Airport (ORK), then drive to Kinsale, Baltimore and Schull. Dive boats launch from Kinsale, Union Hall and Baltimore, with the Fastnet and islands reached after a longer crossing.