Downpatrick Head
Site Overview
Downpatrick Head is a dramatic sea stack and cliff with underwater caverns, macro life and lobsters, reached by boat from the exposed Mayo coast. The swell and overhead environments make this an advanced dive, best in calm conditions with a guide. Scenic and productive, it is a less-crowded alternative to the famous west-coast sites. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for the power of the Atlantic, and remains a favourite among Irish divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for the power of the Atlantic, and remains a favourite among Irish divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for the power of the Atlantic, and remains a favourite among Irish divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for the power of the Atlantic, and remains a favourite among Irish divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for the power of the Atlantic, and remains a favourite among Irish divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for the power of the Atlantic, and remains a favourite among Irish divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for the power of the Atlantic, and remains a favourite among Irish divers.
Dive Briefing
"Brief on the walls, surge and overhead risk. Descend along the rock with two torches, stay shallow in any caverns, and keep fins controlled to protect the substrate. Ascend with a safety stop and deploy the DSMB for the boat. Mind the swell on exit. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point."
Signature Marine Life
Lobster
Homarus gammarus
Best: Year-round
Anemone
Urticina felina
Best: Year-round
Wrasse
Symphodus melops
Best: Year-round
Pollack
Pollachius pollachius
Best: Year-round
Edible Crab
Cancer pagurus
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Big swell
- Moderate current
- Cold water
- Overhead environment
- Exposure
- Fragile reef
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
For advanced divers comfortable with surge and overhead environments within training. Good for those wanting dramatic walls away from the crowds. It suits confident cold-water divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich invertebrate life over tropical abundance. It suits confident cold-water divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich invertebrate life over tropical abundance. It suits confident cold-water divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich invertebrate life over tropical abundance. It suits confident cold-water divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich invertebrate life over tropical abundance. It suits confident cold-water divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich invertebrate life over tropical abundance.
Quick Stats
Dive Logistics
- Downpatrick Dive
Photography Info
Best for: wide_angle, macro
Nearby Stay
Ashford Castle
Cong • 15km away
Hotel Westport
Westport • 5km away