Slyne Head
Site Overview
Slyne Head is an exposed offshore reef with dramatic walls, lobsters, crayfish and seals, and seasonal blue sharks. Fully open to the Atlantic, it is an advanced boat dive reached only in calm summer windows from Connemara. For confident divers it offers thrilling, current-swept scenery and a real sense of the wild west. 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 exposed descent, current and DSMB. Drop onto the reef at slack, control buoyancy against the rock, and watch the lobsters and fish. Ascend at the planned point with a safety stop and deploy the marker for the boat. Stay close to the skipper’s plan given the remoteness and current. 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
Lobster
Homarus gammarus
Best: Year-round
Crayfish
Palinurus elephas
Best: Year-round
Grey Seal
Halichoerus grypus
Best: Year-round
Pollack
Pollachius pollachius
Best: Year-round
Blue Shark
Prionace glauca
Best: August, September
Safety & Hazards
- Strong currents
- Big swell
- Cold water
- Exposure
- Long boat ride
- Remote location
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
For advanced divers with strong buoyancy and boat experience who want an exposed, seal-rich reef. Not for inexperienced divers. 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
- Slyne Head Charters
Photography Info
Best for: wide_angle
Nearby Stay
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Recess • 10km away
Abbeyglen Castle Hotel
Clifden • 4km away