Dalkey Island

Amazingly, one of Ireland’s top dive sites is only about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of the capital of Dublin. Dalkey Island is a small, uninhabited island that is only accessible by boat – perfect for a day trip! With a long history dating back to the Stone Age, the only above-surface residents today are wild goats and lots of sea birds.

The remote setting of Dalkey Island enables a wonderful variety of marine life to flourish below the surface. Each side of the island offers different opportunities – from lush kelp forests to rocky reefs complete with ledges and boulders. Divers here are often delighted by invertebrates like anemones, sponges, crabs, lobsters, and brittle stars. Scorpionfish and dogfish are also regularly spotted. But certainly, no dive trip to Dalkey Island is complete without a visit from the local, very playful, grey seals. Diving is possible on all sides of the island, but strong rip tides and currents are ever-present and ever-changing here. Be sure to plan carefully before descending.

Location: Co Dublin, Ireland.