A rough guide to water sports in Ireland
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Being a small island nation, Ireland is watersports mad. Whether it's scuba diving, canoeing or kiteboarding, there are oceans of water sports on offer in Ireland. No part of Ireland is more than 70 miles from the sea. So wherever you are, you're bound to be less than a few hours’ drive from the coast.
Scuba diving has become very popular in Ireland and dive centers have sprung up all along the coast. Canoeing is a year-round sport in Ireland so there's never a bad time to do it. In fact, Ireland is home to the huge Lough Neagh, in Co Tyrone, and there are several excellent canoe trails across the country.
Finally, two newer water sports in Ireland include kiteboarding and wakeboarding. Counties Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal are the best places for kiteboarding while Castleblayney in Co. Monaghan is the go-to spot for wakeboarding.
So, if you can brave the freezing cold Irish water, get into that wet suit, and get going!
Scuba Diving
Oceandivers is based at Dún Laoghaire harbor, just six miles south of Dublin city. It caters for all levels. The school dives at several locations in Dublin Bay and also tours dive spots around the country. The school dives all year, although easterly gales tend to limit local diving during the winter. The season usually runs from early April till mid October during which time the visibility averages about 10 to 26 feet.
Dalkey Island and the Muglins Rock lie within 20 minutes of the dive center, with depths ranging from 26 to 85 feet. There are several wrecks to visit, including the RMS Leinster, which was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1918 off the Kish Bank and the Bolivar which sank in 1947. Marine life is excellent throughout the bay with shoals of pollack as well as plenty of anemones and crustaceans.
The school says that the Atlantic coast offers world-class diving; visibility can reach in excess of 98 feet and the waters are teeming with life. The underwater scenery is every bit as dramatic as that above, with wall dives,wrecks and amphitheaters.
