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an hour’ s drive from Belfast. It is believed to be the wreck of SV Zarina, a Swedish Barque that sank in the 1700s. It is referred to locally as‘ The Pins’ because of the copper or brass bolts and pins that can be seen.
A bit further afield, another popular shore dive is St John’ s Point, a headland in County Donegal, around a two-hour drive from Belfast.
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Club Dive on Empire Tana( aka Outer Lees), Portaferry
In September, we tend to hold a weekend of diving at Rathlin Island, just off the coast of Ballycastle. Here, we are spoilt for choice with dives including SS Lochgarry, a ferry that saw service in the Second World War, which sank during a massive storm in January 1942 while transporting troops from Oban to the Faroe Islands. She sits upright at about 32m and is largely intact with a wide variety of sea life,
Austyn Finnegan and other divers leaving Ardglass
Craig Cameron( kneeling centre) with newly qualified Sports Divers making this an exceptional and popular wreck with the locals and a must-dive for visitors. The Rathlin wall( 80m +) is also well loved. The Templemore wreck( around 18m) and the Drake( 15m) are also within a short RIB trip from Ballycastle Harbour.
Does the club own a boat?
Yes, we have owned and run many boats. In addition to the boats bought using the proceeds from selling the Elizabeth 1 cannons, in 1996 we obtained a grant from the Sports Foundation for our first RIB, and in 1997 we purchased a static compressor and air bank with our first Lottery Grant. The following year we were successful with our second Lottery Grant application for a second RIB.
What other resources are there for members?
We purchased a club car for towing the RIBs and transporting equipment. This is a great asset to the club and saves on wear and tear on members’ vehicles. We have recently replaced our portable compressor with a much lighter, more efficient model that enables us to independently fill cylinders when at remote dive sites without having to find local operators. We also have a wide range of training equipment used mainly by trainee Ocean Divers but is also available for any member of the club to use.
How do you manage the boats?
In 2025, for the first time, we took a new approach with our two club RIBs, booking one into Bangor marina for a month to give our members access to the many dive sites in Belfast Lough. The other was booked into Ardglass marina for three months, affording access to sites in the Irish Sea and Strangford Lough. It is much easier all around, with the boats launched and ready to use. It really has been a game changer; making organising dives easier. We hope to extend this next year to other marinas.
What are the plans for the future?
We are planning to establish a group to focus on fundraising to help achieve our ambitious plans for a new clubhouse. Funds are mainly raised through membership fees and boat dives and excursions. We would also like to buy new engines and secure new accommodation for the two club RIBs.
For anyone interested in knowing more about Castlereagh Sub Aqua Club, why not watch our anniversary video or contact us via our Facebook page or email. We look forward to hearing from you. �