Marl Bog & Small Lakes
Site Overview
The Marl Bog and other small lakes are mostly training and macro sites with limited visibility, perch, rudd, newts and abundant plant life. Free of salt and swell, they are practical for close-up work and open-water courses in the Irish Midlands. A simple, accessible way to build skills close to home. 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 very shallow profile given the limited visibility. Move slowly for macro, keep fins off the bottom, and use a torch. Watch for the shore entry, and ascend with a safety stop. Communication by touch or line is wise in the murk. 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
Perch
Perca fluviatilis
Best: Year-round
Rudd
Scardinius erythrophthalmus
Best: Year-round
Newt
Lissotriton spp.
Best: April, May, June
Freshwater Snail
Lymnaea stagnalis
Best: Year-round
Water Plant
Vegetation
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Very limited visibility
- Cold water
- Silt suspension
- Shore entry
- No surge
- Remote location
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Perfect for open-water students and macro photographers wanting an easy, local 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
- Marl Bog Dive
Photography Info
Best for: macro
Nearby Stay
The Lodge at Doonbeg
Doonbeg • 20km away
The Killaloe Hotel
Killaloe • 5km away