Pollaphuca Reservoir (Blessington Lakes)
Site Overview
Pollaphuca Reservoir (the Blessington Lakes) is a flooded valley with old buildings and bridges underwater, plus pike, perch and trout. Popular with Dublin divers for training and night dives, it is a practical inland site free of salt and swell. A fascinating, accessible lake for building skills and exploring the submerged village. 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 the dive around the flooded bridge or buildings and brief on visibility and silt. Descend slowly, control buoyancy to avoid kicking up mud, and use a torch for the structures and fish. Watch for boat traffic on the reservoir, 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
Trout
Salmo trutta
Best: Year-round
Roach
Rutilus rutilus
Best: Year-round
Flooded Bridge
Structure
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Limited visibility
- Cold deep water
- Silt suspension
- Boat traffic
- Entanglement
- No surge
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Ideal for open-water students, night dives and refresher dives wanting a calm freshwater site near Dublin. 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.
Quick Stats
Dive Logistics
- Pollaphuca Dive
Photography Info
Best for: wide_angle, macro
Nearby Stay
The Lodge at Doonbeg
Doonbeg • 20km away
The Killaloe Hotel
Killaloe • 5km away