Inishturk & Clare Island
Site Overview
Inishturk and Clare Island are truly wild diving islands with pristine walls, kelp, seals and dolphins in clear Clew Bay water. Remote and beautiful, they reward confident intermediate to advanced divers with a sense of untouched wilderness. Reached by ferry from Roonagh, they are a scenic, life-rich counterpoint to the busy 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 wall, current and DSMB. Descend along the rock controlling buoyancy, keep fins off the kelp, and watch for seals and dolphins. Ascend at the planned point with a safety stop and deploy the marker for the boat. Mind the moderate current and remote island setting. 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
Pollack
Pollachius pollachius
Best: Year-round
Wrasse
Symphodus melops
Best: Year-round
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
Best: May, June, July
Anemone
Urticina felina
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Moderate current
- Surge at entry
- Cold water
- Ferry logistics
- Remote islands
- Fragile reef
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
For intermediate to advanced divers with drysuit experience who want pristine walls and seals. A wild, scenic dive. 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
- Clewbay Dive
Photography Info
Best for: wide_angle, macro
Nearby Stay
Ashford Castle
Cong • 15km away
Hotel Westport
Westport • 5km away