Diving Arranmore Island, Donegal

[walkerbob]

Hi I am new to the site and am hoping that someone has dived the around Arranmore Island? If you have can you please let me know any details as I am thinking of organising a trip next year for Portway BSAC in Bristol.

I have read that there are some great dives around the Island and am looking forward getting in to the water around the Island. I know that thereis plenty of accomodation on the Island and can arrange a boat.

I would be very interested in where is the nearest filling station and which dives you did and what you thought of them......any info will be great.

Regards
Walkerbob

[ardhill]

Shame on me - I've never heard of it

I Googled a bit for it, so I would now be interested in how you get on over there if you make it.

There are some other Irish divers on here, so hopefully some of them will know.

[walkerbob]

Hi Mate

Thanks for your reply. I will let you know how I get on

Regards

Bob

Originally Posted by ardhill

Shame on me - I've never heard of it

I Googled a bit for it, so I would now be interested in how you get on over there if you make it.

There are some other Irish divers on here, so hopefully some of them will know.

[Wil B]

My branch dive there every easter on our Trainee Training trip.

But there is plenty of stuff for the more experienced as well.

The Diving is fantastic and no matter how bad the weather there is some top quality site you can try.
We have had viz of over 20metres every year we have been in both Easter and August.

Here is the e-mail I sent our club this year before the trip, the shallow ones are used for training and you could probably ignore!

In addition to the sites mentioned there is also the Stags, which lie about 4-5 nm from Burtonport Harbour. Some fastinating walls and shelves going to whatever depth you want. It isn't on the e-mail as it is too far away on our busy trip.

--- In qubsac Wil Bateman wrote:
Here is some info on the diving at Easter.

Although with the wind at the minute the only watersports will take
place here:

Gym, pool, jacuzzi, steam room in the Ostan Na Rosann Hotel Dungloe


MALIN WEST GALE 8 OR SEVERE GALE 9 DECREASING 5 TO 7. RAIN THEN
SHOWERS. MODERATE BECOMING GOOD



Wil

--- In qubsac Wil Bateman wrote:

For those people who haven't dives with us at Burtonport before here
is a
brief insight into the various sites.

1) 'The Harbour'- This is where the Trainees get their first
dunking, not
really a harbour, more a sheltered Bay. Easy Entry off the pier.
Sandy
bottom, rocks around the edge provide interesting havens for life.
Max
depth 6m

2) The Greek Wreck- Site for Trainees first boat/wreck dive. Called
the
Greek wreck as the Ships real name is unpronounceable! Short hop by
boat
from the Harbour. Interesting if well broken up wreck. Boilers and
engine
block still visible. Make sure you get to see the propeller which is
still
attached. Max depth 8m. See below link for more information:
Irish Wrecks On-Line - Eleftherios M. Tricoglu SS (No. 347)


3) Greg's Rock: Named in honour of one of the Instructors who on a
night
dive found himself perched on top of the rock rather than in the
sea :-) he
will kill me for talking about it.

Lies on a bearing of 135º from the edge of the pier. plenty of
anaemonies
and life to look at. Makes for good navigation practice! Max Depth 9m

4) Skijford: For the more experienced Divers, Sports Diver and Above
the
Skijford is a fishing trawler. Sank in 1981 on Halloween night.
Depth 27m
Irish Wrecks On-Line - Skifjord MFV (No. 690)


5) Torneady Point/Around Aran Island: Provided interesting scenic
diving. A
few interesting walls round the back of the island. Including one very interesting 25-30m wall which is a narrow chasm in the rock with a boulder the size of a landrover lodged half way down, absolutely stunning
scuba diving ireland</title>
<meta name="keywords"
content="scuba, scuba-diving, diving, ireland, sub aqua, sub-aqua,
underwater, cft, padi, PADI, diving holidays ireland">
<meta name="description" content="Scuba Diving Directory of Ireland">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="dive.css" type="text/css">
<script language="JavaScript">
<!--
function openPictureWindow_Fever(imageName,imageWidth,image Height,alt,posLeft,posTop) {
newWindow = window.open("","newWindow","width="+imageWidth+",h eight="+imageHeight+",left="+posLeft+",top="+posTo p);
newWindow.document.open();
newWindow.document.write('<html><title>'+alt+'


6) Rutland Sound: Dive Site of last resort!! Very sheltered Narrow
channel
(we were able to dive here in the strongest of winds last year).
between
two islands/ Lies on the main ferry route between Burtonport and
Aran
Island. Sandy walls line the channel, dropping onto rock ledge at
about 14m
plenty of life to have a look at. DON'T Surface mid channel at the
ferry
has to pass right over the top of you and there is little room to
manouever! max depth 18m
-----
I accept no responsibility for an factual inaccuracies. Irish Wrecks
is
notorious for it!

Wil

[walkerbob]

Hi Will

Sounds Great thanks very much for the reply. I am thinking of now going over at Easter but am thinking of staying on the Island.

Where do you get your fills from? I did see something about a filling station not a million miles away maybe Glenties (I think from memory)

Which boat did you use? as it your own rib or was it a charter?Walker

Regards

walkerBob

[Wil B]

We bring our own compressors and boats on this trip.

There is a charter boat operating out Of Burtonport and there is a dive centre there. As far as I can remember they have their own compressor, it is on the pier right beside where the ferry for the Island leaves. I have had friends in the club use this crowd I will find out what they are like for you.

Glenties is a fair wee drive away along some pretty hairy roads (although the Irish have no concept of distance and I include myself in that comment!)

I think we have already booked our trip for next Easter so i might see you there!

Wil

[Wil B]

Oh I should point out that this is a Gaeltacht area of Ireland, so the principle language of all the roadsigns (including the ones warning Road turn to dirt track NOW or extremly dangerous bend ahead) is Irish (Gaelic)

This makes life a little more interesting for the English visitor.

Burtonport on all the road signs is Ailt an Chorrain, Dungloe-major town in the area 'An Clochán Liath'

It does make navigation a bit more interesting!

[walkerbob]

Hi Will

Thanks for the two emails I am very interested in the Dive Filling station! I should say that my father lives on the Island and I have been over many times but will agree totally with you about the sign posts! I think I have now got the route sorted after years of going wrong out of Letterkenny. This is the 1st time that I have been over as a BSAC Sports Diver and can not wait to get in the water.

If you can let me have the charter boat details and any comments from you and your club about how you find / found it (if you have used it). What is the hotel like that was also on your 1st email. We are thinking of booking the Island holiday cottages, a bit rough but quite cheep!

My only concern is if the winds are blowing we might bet stuck at Burtonport! It has happened in the past but not since the bigger ferry has been running I have not had a poblem....touch wood.

Anyway thanks for all your help and yes we might meet at Easter.

Bob

[Wil B]

Here you go:

Inishfree Charters Donegal

Apparently they are very good, their boat looks very nice.

The blokes name is liam miller
liam.miller@lyit.ie
Inishfree Charters
The Pier
Burtonport
Co Donegal

Hope this helps
Wil

[Donal]

I dived with Liam this year around Easter. They are very good alright. Had an excellent time diving out of Burtonport