DUSAC

Overview

Portroe is an inland site in an old quarry in Tipperary. It’s not too far from Dublin, usually has good clear water, and offers a range of depths going from 3m to 39m. It has recently (2010) opened as a dive centre, having been used unofficially by various clubs – including DUSAC – as a training site in the past. It now has a platform for getting in and out (the mud bank is no more) and offers fills

Contacts

Andrew Thomson recently brought a club group to Portroe (Oct 2011). If planning to dive there, contact the dive centre to check on opening times and documentation required.

Boats

No need for these here!

Diving

The site is a disused quarry flooded by a freshwater spring. The area is fairly compact, and has different levels for training dives at varying depths. Interest is provided by an assortment of sunken things including an old boat and – from memory – a van and a car, as well as the old quarry workings.

Visibility is generally good: the website reports 3m to 15m, and anecdotal reports from old DUSAC divers say it’s generally towards the higher end of the range. The water does get very cold in winter, though, with temperatures from Dec to Feb often around 4 degrees C.

Costs

Rates are available from the dive centre website. As of Aug 2011, dives were 20 euro per day, or 15 per person for groups of over 10. There’s an annual fee of 5 euro too, and fills are charged at 5 euro each.

Dive centre facilities

• Fills provided at 5 euro per fill (bottle bank on site).
• Free tea and coffee!
• Changing rooms
• Toilets

Safety

The dive centre has a cover boat and O2.

(Details from from www.diveportroe.com)

Exit junction 26 on N7/M7. Follow signs for Tullamore on N52. Take first exit at roundabout sign for Portroe, R494. Left turn at crossroads after garage in Portroe village. Follow this road for 2k until T junction. Dive Centre is through gates opposite junction. Total distance from motorway 15k.