Dalkey Island lies just offshore in the Irish Sea south of Dublin and offers one of the more varied dive rosters on the east coast of Ireland. The site list includes reef dives, kelp forest bays, drift dives through Dalkey Sound, and several wrecks, among them the RMS Leinster, which lies well offshore at depth and is rated for advanced divers only. Seal Bay and Sorrento Bay offer shallower, calmer water for beginners, while Muglins Rock and the Bolivar Wreck suit intermediate to advanced divers comfortable with currents. Sites are boat-accessed or reached from shore, with diving typically most active through the summer months. Grey and harbour seals are regularly encountered.
Monthly water temperature across Dalkey Island's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water stays cold from late autumn through spring, climbing to its warmest in late summer. Current is a significant factor at several sites, particularly Muglins Rock and Dalkey Sound, and timing dives to slack water improves both safety and bottom time.
5 operators
Water temperature around Dalkey Island ranges from about 9°C in January to 16°C in August, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 16°C) a 7mm or semi-dry suit is comfortable in Dalkey Island; in the coldest months (about 9°C) step up to a drysuit.
Fin maps 7 sites in Dalkey Island (7 scuba diving sites).
7 more sites to explore
