Howth – Ireland’s Eye
Site Overview
Howth and Ireland’s Eye offer a protected channel with good visibility, kelp and frequent seals, making them ideal for courses and casual dives close to Dublin. The sheltered setting keeps conditions forgiving, while the rocky reef and weeds hold wrasse, anemones, lobsters and nudibranchs. Easily reached by DART and shore or short boat, it is the east coast’s most convenient training ground. 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
"Plan a shallow profile around the island, moving slowly through the kelp to spot the small life. Keep fins up to avoid entanglement, use a torch for colour, and watch for seals and boat traffic. Ascend with a safety stop and exit carefully at the harbour or boat. 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
Grey Seal
Halichoerus grypus
Best: Year-round
Corkwing Wrasse
Symphodus melops
Best: Year-round
Snakelocks Anemone
Anemonia viridis
Best: Year-round
Lobster
Homarus gammarus
Best: Year-round
Nudibranch
Aeolidiella spp.
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Boat traffic
- Mild current
- Cold water
- Limited visibility
- Slippery entry
- Kelp entanglement
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Ideal for open-water students, refresher dives and photographers wanting an easy, wildlife-rich 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
- Howth Dive School
Photography Info
Best for: macro, wide_angle
Nearby Stay
Merrion Hotel
Dublin • 6km away
The Marker Hotel
Dublin • 8km away