Diving with seals in England or diving of the west coast of Ireland

Smiley Lassie!

Hi everyone!

I just have a quick question regarding scuba diving in Ireland and England. Myself and my boyfriend both have our Open Water licence and are keen to use it here. I've heard that you can go diving with seals in England but does anyone know where the best places are and how expensive would it be?

Also, I can't seem to find much information about recreational diving off the west coast of Ireland, I would like to dive in Kilkee but the only information I can see is in relation to diving courses. We would like to go diving for fun there, does anyone know if this is possible or how much it would cost?

Thanks a mill in advance,
Claire

locum-motion

On the west coast, you've got PADI dive centres at ScubaDiveWest (Galway-Mayo border), Kilkee (Co. Clare), Waterworld, (Tralee, Co. Kerry), Kenmare Bay (Co. Kerry) and Aquaventures (Baltimore, Co. Cork), at least.

Any or all of them will help organise diving for you. Google and/or phone them.

You might find yourself diving with seals anywhere around the Irish coast. They're often quite shy, though, so they often don't approach too close. Occasionally, one might get a bit cheeky, however, and sneak up behind you. They might even have a sneaky little nibble on your fin.

seadeuce

Best place in the UK for guaranteed seals are the Farne Islands, off the east coast. On a map look for Newcastle and look right and up (from memory).

Google Farnes - seal diving and you will have it.


If you find a seal underwater let him come to you. In other words stop and kneel on the bottom, and wait.
Too many divers spoil a good opportunity by going to look for the seal.


Seadeuce

Pawwed Rig

locum-motion wrote: »

You might find yourself diving with seals anywhere around the Irish coast. They're often quite shy, though, so they often don't approach too close. Occasionally, one might get a bit cheeky, however, and sneak up behind you. They might even have a sneaky little nibble on your fin.

Had that happen in Dalkey. Thought I was kicking my buddy so stopped finning for a second but saw my buddy on the other side. Turned around and a big white seal was nibbling away. Is it Seal Harbour that it is called? Or Seal Bay something like that.

Oceanaddicts

Hi Smiley Lassie! My husband Graham and I run Oceanaddicts on the South Coast of Ireland if that would be of help to you. We operate out of Kinsale Co Cork and have a number of dive sites suitable for Open Water. We run Ireland's only scuba dive liveboard as well as day boats. We are a PADI registered resort. Where every you decide go dive in Ireland I think you will enjoy it the diving here is top class. Enjoy and have fun, Anne. www.oceanaddicts.ie

Smiley Lassie!

Thanks everyone for your responses!

Anne, I had a look at your oceanaddicts website, I think that is something we would definitely be interested in! Do you have a pricelist as I couldn't see anything on the website?

Thanks!

Smiley Lassie!

Also, one more thing Anne... our open water licences are with SSI, not PADI, does that make a difference?

Thanks!

Oceanaddicts

Hi Smiley Lassie Our Liveaboard trips are generally tailored to peoples requirements but to give you an idea our three day special costs €400 per person sharing. It includes three nights B&B and lunch, all your diving including fills, tanks and weights. We have nitrox on board and this is included for those qualified to use it. Accommodation is in twin cabins. The package does not include your dinner in the evening, but we can do dinner for you at a small extra cost if required. We find that most of our guests enjoy going ashore in the evening for dinner.

The diving we have on offer is a mixture of Wrecks and Scenic with lots to see. Diving takes place form either one of our large comfortable ribs or from the liveaboard itself. We have a wet room on the liveaboard for your equipment.

We also offer Day boat diving which is €35 per diver with €5 for air fills and €8 for nitrox fills. All prices assuming you have your own equipment except tanks & weights, but we can rent you equipment if required.

If your would like any more details drop me a mail anne@oceanaddicts.ie

sarenka

Hi Ann,

How much is equipment rental?
Hubby and I are PADI rescue but our scuba diving so far has been a holiday hobby, now we are looking into starting to dive in Ireland (in between holiday diving:-)). We haven't really got anything except for masks and fins, doubt the wetsuits we use for other sports would be warm enough for Irish diving :-)

Thanks

Kasia

sarenka

Ann, another question - what dates do you run Liveaboard trips?

Oceanaddicts

Hi Kasia,

We do not rent equipment ourselves but we can arrange rental from a local dive school. Last year they charged €60 for a full set of equipment incl. a suit. I don't have their prices for this year yet but I assume it will be the same or very close We only charge you what we are charged.

We run our Liveaboard anytime over the summer months when we have demand. If you are interested in a Liveaboard trip let us know when you would like to go and what type of diving you would like to do Wrecks reefs and your depth range. We try to match divers of the same experience level and interest.

Regards,
Anne