Glendalough Upper Lake
Site Overview
Glendalough Upper Lake is a small, clear, cold mountain lake with granite boulders, brown trout and a lovely altitude-type setting (though moderate elevation). Free of wrecks but beautiful and tranquil, it is a practical inland dive for training and relaxed exploration in the Wicklow Mountains. A scenic, family-friendly site for building skills. 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
"Enter from the shore and plan a shallow profile over the lake. Move slowly to spot the trout and boulders, keep fins off the bottom, and use a torch for the low visibility. Watch for the shore entry, and ascend with a safety stop. 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
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Best: Year-round
Perch
Perca fluviatilis
Best: Year-round
Eel
Anguilla anguilla
Best: Year-round
Stickleback
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Best: Year-round
Granite Boulders
Substrate
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Limited visibility
- Cold water
- Silt suspension
- Shore entry
- No surge
- Remote location
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Perfect for open-water students, refresher dives and casual divers wanting an easy, scenic freshwater site. Suits all levels in calm conditions. 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
- Glendalough Dive
Photography Info
Best for: macro, wide_angle
Nearby Stay
The Lodge at Doonbeg
Doonbeg • 20km away
The Killaloe Hotel
Killaloe • 5km away