Kish Sub Aqua Club and the 2009 Dive & Snorkel Season
Introduction
As usual, the 1st of January saw the usual Kish SAC ‘hard’ men, women and children brave the elements at Sandycove Harbour beside the wonderful James Joyce Tower in South Dublin. The conditions and weather was favourable and although not all who turned up actually got into the water as the children had to be supervised on the beach, we were suitably warmed up by appropriate seasonal fare afterwards.
Snorkelling continued on each Sunday for the following weeks until the water visibility cleared up although there were many mornings when the surface conditions and visibility were almost Mediterranean, and then the water temperature reminded us we were indeed far, far away from it.
The highlight of the first half of the year was the arrival of our new 7 metre XS RIB and many of us got our first dive out of it in late April at the Muglins, off Dalkey Island. Although visibility was poor, we enjoyed the varied life already abundant on the bottom. The large RIB is a long way from what many of us started with 30 years ago with lots of shore diving and close inshore activities in a 4 metre inflatable and 30 horse-power outboard.
Dublin Diving
When not on away trips and when the weather permitted, we held our weekly Sunday dive outing. Our decision to moor the new boat in Dun Laoghaire for the season paid off as it allowed us to hold regular Thursday evening dives coordinated by Peter McNally. Having worked out of Howth for years and predominately staying at ‘north side’ sites, we enjoyed our varied diving at Dalkey Island and The Muglins as well as visiting local wrecks. The most local of these wrecks is the ‘Guide Me II’, a small drift net steamer built in 1907. During WWI it was converted to an anti-submarine armed vessel and sank about 1.5 miles SE of The Muglins in 1918 after a collision. It is intact and sits upright in about 35 metres and was located in 1990 when the gun was lifted and is now located at the Maritime Museum, Dun Laoghaire.
We gave the Kish Bank several visits during the year and dived many of the wrecks on and near it. These included the MV Bolivar, sunk in 1947 after hitting the Bank during a severe snow storm and the HMS Vanguard, which sank in 1875 after being hit by her sister ship the Iron Duke during close manoeuvres. The former is broken in two and is about 12 metres maximum depth, whereas the latter is virtually intact on a bottom that is about 42 metres deep. As with all our diving in exposed locations, careful planning and timing was required.
Some north Dublin sites visited included Ireland’s Eye and the wreck of the Tayleur at Lambay Island, which sank on its maiden voyage in January 1954 with the loss of almost all on board.
Equipment/Towing
Without the efforts of our Equipment Officer, John Bolger and his cohort of able assistants, the Clubs’ activities would be greatly curtailed if our expanding equipment portfolio was not carefully managed and maintained as required. Thanks also to Robbie Bolger, John Bolger, Owen Murray and Pat Corcoran for all the towing for the away trips this season.
Summary
I do hope that you enjoy my summation of the years diving trips and enjoy reading back on the highlights from our trips during the year. Below are hot links to each of the locations for the year.
Castlegregory 2009
Ballyvaughan 2009
Innis Boffin 2009
Valentia Island 2009
Club Certifications 2009
Peter Brady
January 2010