Portballintrae & Portstewart
Site Overview
Portballintrae and Portstewart are sheltered bays on the Causeway coast, ideal for training, small wrecks, flatfish, rays and night dives. Gentle and easily accessed, they are the perfect counterpoint to the exposed headlands, offering reliable conditions for courses and relaxed exploration. Close to the Giant’s Causeway, they are a practical, family-friendly diving base. 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 shallow profile over the bay. Move slowly to spot flatfish and rays, keep fins off the bottom, and use a torch for night dives. Watch for boat traffic near the harbour, and ascend with a safety stop before a careful shore exit. 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
Flatfish
Pleuronectiformes
Best: Year-round
Ray
Raja clavata
Best: Year-round
Corkwing Wrasse
Symphodus melops
Best: Year-round
Edible Crab
Cancer pagurus
Best: Year-round
Snakelocks Anemone
Anemonia viridis
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Shore entry surge
- Boat traffic
- Cold water
- Limited visibility
- Slippery rocks
- Mild current
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Perfect for open-water students, refresher dives and night dives wanting an easy sheltered 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
- Portstewart Dive
Photography Info
Best for: macro, wide_angle
Nearby Stay
Bushmills Inn
Bushmills • 8km away
The Salthouse
Ballycastle • 3km away