With three lighthouses to caution and guide ships, Wicklow Head is located just 1 ½ miles outside Wicklow Harbor. Home to a large sea colony, as well as puffins, gannets, gulls, and other seabirds, it is about 400 meters long and at its highest point, it rises to 80 meters above the waterline. There is no shore diving as the entire head is bordered by sheer cliff faces. Sometimes challenging, and only diveable during the best conditions, the head is offers several fascinating dive sites. Let’s take a look.
Captain’s Planet
Unlike most other sites in the area, Captain’s Planet can be dived at any tidal stage. Suitable even for novices, the area features intriguing topography, with gullies and rock formations, plus a lovely sand flat where you can find wrasse, dogfish, flatfish, Pollock, and plenty of crustaceans and shellfish. In addition, the seals like to visit this site, and as maximum depth is just 12 meters, you can take your time to enjoy a leisurely exploration.
The Pond
Check tides before diving the pond, as during southerly currents, the cave here acts like a funnel, creating a spectacular effect to watch, but not safe to dive in. With its mouth at a depth of 15 meters, the cave runs all the way through the rock, and is used as a shortcut by the seals in the area. Besides the cave itself, you’ll find a kelp bed in just 10 meters of water, plus a wonderful reef covered in shellfish and crawling with crabs and lobsters. Look for conger eels, wrasse, and many other fish species.
Gull Rock
Named for the gulls that use it for a nesting ground, Gull Rock is a fantastic site for snorkeling and diving alike, and as maximum depth is only 10 meters, it is a great place for novices to work on their skills. Featuring a sheltered bay area that is often the site of first dives, plus some huge rocky structures where crabs and lobsters can be found in abundance, it is also home to sand dabs, dogfish, wrasse, and other fish.
Carraigwee
Fantastic lichens cling to the rocks here, giving them a distinct yellow color. The deepest point you’ll find at the entire head, Carraigwee offers maximum depth at 20 meters. Along the rock face, you’ll find plenty of crustaceans and a wealth of fish, including a few very large congers. Be sure to check tides before diving here as it is only suitable when the tide is running south.
The Head
At times, you can enjoy a spectacular drift around Wicklow Head itself. The main attraction is the underwater topography, which undulates with rock formations and gullies providing contrast to one another. While the area is remarkably clear of seaweed growth, it is home to a bounty of shellfish, including winkles, whelk, and lots of sharp-edged mussels.
Boats may be launched at Wicklow Harbor. Be sure to check navigational charts and carefully plot your course as there are hazards along the way, including Black Castle, which is a barely submerged plateau of sharp rock. In addition, watch carefully for the small buoys that mark lobster pots and fishing nets. Last but not least, never dive without SMB’s at any time, as divers have been swept away in the past. With vigilance and attention to detail, you can enjoy a fantastic experience among spectacular surroundings.