Overview

There are many excellent sites around Valentia that make the long drive well worth it. The Skelligs make a spectacular dive. Plenty to keep the sports divers happy.

Contacts

Tom McCarthy organised a trip here over the Easter weekend, 2005. Niamh Butler knows the area very well too.

Amy Donlon organised a trip here over the August bankholiday, 2023. Sarah Kingston was the trip AD.

Boats

Knightstown is the local port where the ferry arrives into. It has two or three slips one can launch off. Another slip on the Island is at Donnybrook which is reasonable close to where we are staying and closer to the dive sites. Portmagee on the mainland also has a slip. Both Donnybrook and Portmagee are difficult to retrieve from at low tides. Knightstown has piers that allows retrieval at any time.

There is also a slip in St. Finan’s Bay which allows easy access to Puffin Island and Lemon Rock as well as being closer to the Skelligs.

There are garages in Knightstown and Chapeltown if you need to get petrol.

Knightstown Harbour Master: 066 9476124 (Public mooring is free.) Cahersiveen Marina 066 9472777.

Sites

August 2023 – Sarah Kingston

Skelligs
○ Dived SE side, lots of pinnacles, covered in jewel anemones, dead man fingers,
lots of huge crayfish
○ Walls and pinnacles from 20 down
○ Kelp down as far as 20m
○ Site located below the helicopter pad on Skellig Michael

Bolus Head
○ Mixed reviews from divers
○ Nothing to see at the cliffs
○ Andy & Daire preferred it to skelligs
○ Locals out of portmagee don’t go around here. Nothing in diving Ireland book
either

Ballinskelligs Pier
○ Not usable at all states of the tide
○ Lots of space
○ Very shallow to the pier at 0.2m LW
○ usable 2hrs either side of high, 2m of water
○ Rocks on western side of the horse island sound.
○ BH instructions for exiting to be added

Glen Pier
○ Lovely possible shore dive/snorkel site. DCU dive off the pier
○ On the 2016 trip we had a night dive off Glen Pier. Loads of life and also John
Dories.
○ Good pier, 2 sets of parking, stunning view out to the skelligs. No turning room for
trailers unless it’s empty
○ Usable until at least mid tide, slippy at the bottom
○ One pier blocked by local boat

Cormorants Rock
○ Pinnacle with the top at 16m mid tide
○ Drop offs down to 35/40m and dramatic topography with lots of life all around it
○ Not particularly tidal

Cormorants Rock adjacent
○ Similar but shallower site dived
○ Dramatic topography but depths from 10-25m
○ Lots of gullies and dramatic walls covered in jewel anemones, crayfish, dogfish,
lobster
○ Not particularly tidal

Puffin Island
○ Dived SE side
○ Amazing drop offs, pinnacles, top at about 15m dropping to 45m
○ Experienced only, lots of drifts, tides around the head
○ All divers with a bag

2005?

Tides are not reported to be a problem in the area. The nearest tidal diamond is too far away to be of any use. Valentia Hrb is reported to be Cobh -0118 with a tidal range of MHWS 3.5, MHWN 2.8, MLWN 1.2 and MLWS 0.4.

Additional tidal information given on Imray Chart C56. Underwater Ireland Tidal Constant: Dublin +0458.

The Dive Ireland guide has quite a bit of information on the sites in the area, as well as a map.

Great Skellig Island 51°46.400N 10°32.200W

These are about 40min off shore (from Portmagee) by RIB which is approx. 8 miles. The most spectacular diving on these giant rocks is between 15m and 35m, but divers can choose their depth. There are sheer drop-offs, ledges crammed with marine life and an abundance of fish. Visibility is often 30m plus….a photographers paradise. The rocks are a home to a colony of inquisitive seals, who often play with divers.

Little Skellig Island 51°46.900N 10°30.400W

There are also the remains of an ancient wreck on little Skelligs and a large seal colony. The shelter of the South West tip is probably the best diving location.

Bray Head 51°52.800N 10°25.795W

Ledges at the western end of Valentia Island running from 10m to 40m with a kaleidoscope of colours, masses of fish and diving sea-birds, this site is best dived during slack water.

Just south of Bray Head there is plentiful diving along the cliffs. Possible dive sites include Long Island, Doon Point, Gull Point, Lamb Island, Dromgour Point and Lemontounagher Rock. Depths range from a nice shallow 20m to 50m deep.

Doulus Head 51°52.800N 10°25.795W

An area north of Valentia Island on the mainland. A shallow dive (around 20m) with plenty of colourful flora and fauna and caves to explore.

Oilean an Iasc (Fish Island) 51°52.800N 10°25.795W

To the north of Valentia harbour and just north of Doulus Head, this inlet is home to a wide variety of fish life and crustaceans including mussels, crabs and lobsters. The best diving is between 10m and 30m, with lots of nooks and crannies – a torch is a must on this dive.

Valentia Harbour

Includes Beginish Island and Lamb Island and give some sheltered diving during rough weather. A trawler wreck in the harbour gives a bit of variety.

A fantastic site for night dives and for novices, with clear, sheltered water, a wreck at 12m and lots to see including scallops, pouting, ling, lobsters, shrimps and conger eels.

Basalt Point on Beginish Island is an excellent dive site with lovely boulders at about 35m and plenty of gullies and swim throughs.

Knightstown Pier

Although shallow (approx 3m) there is a very worthwhile night dive around the pier in Knightstown, specifically the pier beside the public toilets. It would not be advisable to dive here during the day due to boat traffic. You can enter via the steps or walk down the slip into the water.

The stones of the pier are widely spaced and the gaps allow plenty of scope for fish and other animals to make their homes. Being a fishing harbour people tend to throw unwanted fish off the pier, leading to a proliferation of life. This combination makes this dive one of the best night dives in the country. There are congers, many active lobsters, flatfish and blennies in the gaps between the stones, and small pipefish that may be attracted to the beam of your light. The most striking feature of the dive though are the throngs of squat lobsters – literally dozens of them everywhere you look.

Safety

You need the usual boat safety equipment: O2, 1st Aid Kit, flares, VHF, GPS. Also make note of the following:

Valentia Coastguard
VHF Channels 16, 67, 24, DSC 70
Working channel
80
Emergency services
112 (or 999) on land
Recompression chamber
Galway, 091 580580, ask for Dept.of Anaesthesia
Craigavon Area Hospital Lurgan Road Portadown
Day time phone numbers +44 1762 334444, Emergency phone numbers +44 1762 336711, Principal medical director Dr John E Galway, 24 hour cover, on site hospital helicopter/winch point, 60 minutes chamber mobilisation time
Nearest hospital
Tralee general hospital, +353 (0)66 7126222 or 064 31076
Lifeboat (RNLI)
Valentia

Local Facilities

There are several local dive operators in Valentia.

Sandra and Martin Moriarty
Valentia Island Sea Sports
Tel: (00353) 66 9476204
Fax: (00353) 669476367
Mobile: (087) 2420714
info@divevalentia.ie

Also try the Lavelles.

Accommodation

Ballyhearney
Valentia Island
County Kerry
44131 3375097
447802 725364
diarmaid.osullivan@btinternet.com

Bright spacious house with panoramic views. 5 bedrooms, 3 ensuite. Downstairs bathroom. Large open plan kitchen, diner, seats 10. Cosy lounge and sunny family room opening onto Large patio. Peaceful location. Close to local amenities. Bed linen and towels are provided – but I would still bring some.

Normally 420 euro for 10 but were charged 450 euro for 12. Electricity and heating is operated on a meter – bring change.

To get there, take the road to the grotto from Chapel Town. Approx 1km on the right.

Diarmaid’s brother Mossie lives on the island and has three cottages that he rents to divers on a regular basis. He can be contacted for help at any stage.

This accommodation was booked in early December for the following March and was very difficult to get. It was actually the only accommodation that I could get to sleep 12 of us. Note for future trips: book early!

Also try Valentia Island Cottages.

Amenities

No restaurants were visited but there are a few around with possible the best being in Cahirciveen. This is also the location of the nearest Banklink.

There is a supermarket and garage in both Knightstown and Chapeltown.

Entertainment

Bostons pub and the Hotel/hostel are good evening spots for a drink or two. Bostons also has a pool table where you can show off your Steve Davis impressions while the Guinness in the hostel is top class.

Info

You can get more information about the area from the following sources:

Getting there

You can get directions from the route planner on the AA website.

Location

51° 55′ 33.6″ N, 10° 17′ 13.2″ W