Ballycastle Beach is a shallow site located in Strangford Lough, featuring a mix of reef and seagrass habitats. With an average depth of 3 metres, it provides a sheltered entry point directly adjacent to the marina pier. The site is suitable for beginners and those practising basic skills, offering shore access with mild currents. Divers and snorkellers should be prepared for cold water temperatures ranging from 8C to 14C throughout the year. Hazards at this location include cold water, potential entanglement, low visibility, and surf. Facilities available at the site include parking, toilets, showers, changing rooms, a rinse station, air fills, a cafe, a dive shop, and boat charter services.

Coastguard Hut Cliffs in Strangford Lough features a limestone baserock topography characterised by a series of small caves and crevices. This shallow site is suitable for beginners, with depths ranging from 0 to 10 metres and an average depth of 5 metres. Divers access the site via a shore entry. Conditions include mild currents and visibility typically between 3 and 10 metres. Water temperatures fluctuate between 8C and 14C throughout the year. Hazards at this location include sea urchins and sharp coral. A typical dive duration is 45 minutes, and the site is also suitable for snorkelling.

Pans Rock is a rocky outcrop situated at the eastern end of Ballycastle Beach in Strangford Lough. Accessible via a wooden footbridge, the site features a series of gullies and rock pools. It is best explored at high tide when the water covers the inner reefs. The site is suitable for intermediate divers and snorkellers, with depths ranging from 0 to 2 metres and an average depth of 1 metre. Entry is from the shore, though visitors should be aware of strong currents and surf conditions. Parking is available nearby for convenience.

Kinbane Head offers shore-based snorkelling near the ruins of Kinbane Castle. Access to the water is via a steep path leading down the cliffs to the old fisherman's pier. The site is characterised by white limestone reefs and kelp forests. Water temperatures at this location vary throughout the year, ranging from 8C in March to 14C between August and October. Due to the nature of the terrain and the coastal environment, this site is best suited for intermediate snorkellers. Snorkellers should be prepared for variable conditions typical of the Northern Ireland coastline.

Fair Head is a dramatic snorkel site situated at the base of Northern Ireland's tallest cliffs. The underwater topography features massive submerged boulders and dense kelp forests, mirroring the vertical columns found above the surface. Divers and snorkellers navigate through deep gullies and canyons created by the rock formations. Due to the challenging nature of the environment and the variable conditions, this site is suitable for advanced snorkellers. Access is exclusively by boat. Water temperatures fluctuate between 8C and 14C throughout the year, requiring appropriate thermal protection for extended time in the water.

Fair Head Base is a boat-access site situated at the foot of massive dolerite cliffs. The underwater topography is defined by large boulders and steep drop-offs. These structures are covered in a dense faunal turf consisting of sponges and bryozoans. Due to the nature of the terrain and the exposed location, this site is suitable for advanced snorkellers. Water temperatures at this location vary between 8C and 14C throughout the year. Access is strictly by boat, and the site offers a challenging environment for those exploring the base of these significant geological formations.

Fair Head Base, located in the Coal Mine Area of Strangford Lough, is a dramatic site situated beneath 600ft cliffs. The underwater topography is defined by massive fallen boulders and deep kelp forests, creating a rugged environment. Due to the challenging nature of the terrain and the exposed location, this site is suited for advanced snorkellers. Access is possible via both shore and boat entries. Water temperatures in this marine environment vary throughout the year, ranging from 8C in March to 14C during the late summer and autumn months.

Murlough Bay, located south of Fair Head, provides a shore entry point from a small beach situated behind a shore-side cottage. The site features interesting rock formations and is suited for intermediate snorkellers. Water temperatures at this location range from 8C to 14C throughout the year. Species recorded around this area include harbour seals, grey seals, wrasses, European spiny lobsters, sea stars, brittle stars, various crab species, snails, shannies, rockpool prawns, sea squirts, and hard coral. Access to the water is via a steep, winding road leading to the shoreline.