Lough Erne (Fermanagh)
Site Overview
Lough Erne is a flooded drumlin lake in Fermanagh with many islets, submerged structures, pike, eels and perch. Calm and excellent for training and macro, it is a practical inland dive free of salt and swell. A relaxed, family-friendly site for building skills and enjoying the quiet beauty of a lakeland landscape. 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 or boat and plan a shallow profile around the islets. Move slowly to spot the small life, keep fins off the bottom, and use a torch for the submerged structures. Watch for boat traffic on the lake, 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."
Signature Marine Life
Pike
Esox lucius
Best: Year-round
Perch
Perca fluviatilis
Best: Year-round
Eel
Anguilla anguilla
Best: Year-round
Roach
Rutilus rutilus
Best: Year-round
Submerged Structure
Archaeology
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Limited visibility
- Cold deep water
- Silt suspension
- Boat traffic
- Entanglement
- No surge
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Perfect for open-water students, refresher dives and macro photographers wanting an easy 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
- Erne Dive
Photography Info
Best for: macro, wide_angle
Nearby Stay
The Lodge at Doonbeg
Doonbeg • 20km away
The Killaloe Hotel
Killaloe • 5km away