Baltimore, Republic of Ireland
Overview
Baltimore is a small village in West Cork and is one of the southern-most places in Ireland. The diving here is among the best in Ireland and it is becoming a regular club trip destination during the summer months. Roaringwater Bay lies between Crookhaven to the West and Baltimore to the South-East and includes the "Carbery 100 Isles" and it is these islands that offer the varied and sheltered diving which makes this area so attractive. It is also these islands that also make for the many wrecks in the area.
Baltimore is an ideal base for diving the area. There are a variety of dive sites ranging from shore dives for the absolute novice to demanding dives off the famous Fastnet Rock 12km out to sea. Tides need to be watched at a few exposed points, but in general diving can be carried out at any state of the tide.
Contacts
All information from Dublin University Sub Aqua Club Website
Info
You can get more information about the area from the following sources:
Underwater Ireland book
Dive Ireland guide
Chart 2184 (Mizen Head to Gascanane Sound)
Chart 5011
Discovery Series Maps, No. 72, 84 and 89
Getting there
From Dublin, take the main Cork/Limerick road. When you get to Port Laois, take the off ramp and get onto the N8 to Cork. Follow this road all the way to Cork. Go through the Jack Lynch Tunnel and follow the signs for West Cork (N81), for Bandon and Skibbereen. Once you reach Skibbereen, follow the signposts to Baltimore. The hostel is signposted on the right-hand side as you enter the village.
Accommodation
DUSAC always stay in Rolf's Hostel. This large hostel is situated on a hill overlooking the town and is only about five minutes walking distance from the pubs. There are twin rooms, four-bed dorms and twelve-bed dorms available. There is usually plenty of parking at the hostel and they are well used to divers. There are also many B&Bs situated in the town along with holiday cottages.
Amenities
There is a small supermarket in the village centre.
Entertainment
There are many pubs and restaurants situated in the harbour area, not to mention the restaurant in the hostel itself which does a nice fry-up in the morning and some great seafood salads. The Algiers does nice enough food but it can be a long time coming. However, for really nice grub, the pizza place in the square is great and the open crab sandwich from Bushes is to die for. Usually the divers congregate in one of two pubs, either Bushes or McCarthy's. Bushes is covered in shipwreck memorabilia while McCarthy's often has live music.
Boats
You can launch boats in Baltimore Harbour, a very steep slip or in Union Hall if you're diving the U-260.
Sites
Lough Ine
Lough Ine is a marine preservation and has an abundance of unusual sea-life. The Lough is open to the sea and so has a mixture of fresh water and sea-water. Some of the creatures, eg. lobsters are extremely large as the area is not fished. It should be noted that Lough Ine is a marine preservation under Irish and international law. As such, permits are required to dive here. Applications forms may be obtained from the warden. Only 500 diving permits are issued in a year. Successful applications will be shown a map of the Lough by the warden clearly marking the areas of the Lough that may be dived. Certain areas are permently off limits. Please note that the warden has the legal power to confiscate the equipment of anyone found diving in the Lough without a permit. Stories abound of clubs who have had to buy their equipment back in a public auction.
Whirlpool Cliffs, Lough Ine
The Whirlpool Cliffs is a site close to the rapids in Lough Ine. As the name suggests, it consists of a cliff above the water which then turns into a steep slope to the bottom at approximately 18m. The water here is crystal clear and the life is amazing. There are two huge lobsters, named Breakfast (pictured below) and Dougal, who live here. In addition, sea urchins, crabs and other sea life abounds. As one drops into the water, the crackling of fish feeding on the seaweed comes from all directions. This is a very relaxed dive that can be done at any stage of the tide.
The Hole, Lough Ine
Just off the island in Lough Ine is a large hole where the depth drops to 40m+. Care must be taken diving here as its location is very close to the marine reserve. Dropping down into this depth of water is great fun as you pass through the thermoclines and salt/fresh water mixing zones. However, the bottom consists of a thick layer of fine white silt. There are holes spread out that when you shine your torch into that seem to go down forever. The only life observed by some of the divers here was large fat slugs. However, other divers reported great dives by taking a slightly different direction on the bottom. This site was not as nice as the whirlpool cliffs but is a good spot for the depth-freaks out there.
The Stags
Try diving the landward side of the Stags, dropping in and finning towards the rocks as there have been reports of lots of seals sun-bathing there.
Very pretty. Though it was kelpy there were lots of little gullies and pretty rock formations and a fair number of fish (wrasse of course) around. It would make a good novice/trainee dive.
Kowloon Bridge
The Kowloon Bridge is an enormous 300 metre super carrier that was wrecked on the Stags in 1986. It is the largest wreck, by tonnage, in the world. While her bow is intact, much of the wreck is hardly recognisable as a ship due its sheer size. Think football pitches. Highlights are the enormous, house-sized anchor and swimming up through the hole for the anchor chain. The bow is the most interesting, ship-like part of the wreck but there is still lots to see in different areas of the wreck.
U260
The U260 is a special dive: an almost fully intact german U-boat diveable on air. Lying in 43m, (35m to the conning tower), she is a dive leader dive, and the reason why many of us became dive leaders! With open hatches, torpedo tubes and a shiny periscope, this dive is really exciting. On a clear day, you can see the whole wreck lying below you as you descend the shotline. You won't want to leave. Below is some more detailed information.
The U-260 was a type VIIC u-boat and was commissioned on March 14th, 1942. She was originally assigned to the 8th U-boat Flotilla as a training vessel. In October, 1942, she was transferred to the 6th Flotilla where she served as a front-line vessel until October 1944. At this point, she was transferred to the command of Oblt. Klaus Becker with 33rd Flotilla. There is only one recorded sinking attributed to the U-260 for a total of 4893 tons. She met her fate off the south coast of Ireland on March 12th, 1945 where the crew claimed that she struck a mine at a depth of 80m. This was later disputed and it is thought that she actually ran aground near Union Hall. The crew attempted to return to deep water where they scuttled her. The crew made their way ashore where they were interned until the end of the second world war. There were no casualties and all 48 crew members survived. Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-260 did not suffer any casualties during the entire war (that are known of).
Safety
You need the usual boat safety equipment: O2, 1st Aid Kit, flares, VHF, GPS. Also make note of the following:
Mizen Head Coastguard
VHF Channels 04, 26, 16, 67, DSC 70
Emergency services
112 (or 999) on land
Recompression chamber
Dublin (private)
Galway, 091 524222
Weather
Weather Dial 1550 123 855 (or 853 for Ulster)
RTE Radio1 (88-89fm) at 0602, 1253, 1655, 2355
VHF 0103, 0403, 0703, 1003, 1303, 1603, 1903, 2203
Warnings on VHF (channel 16) 0033, 0633, 1233, 1833
Local Facilities
There are two dive centres in Baltimore if you need fills and Aquaventures do nitrox as well.
Jerry and Rianne, Aquaventures Dive Centre, The Stone House, Baltimore: +353-(0)28-20511.
Baltimore Diving Centre, Tel. +353-(0)28-20300
More Information:
Dublin University Sub Aqua Club:
Website
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