EXPEDITION
■ Giant ’ s Rump , which we dived in heavier north-westerlies by staying in the lee
■ Gloster Rock , which is more exposed and has even more life .
These dramatic dives suited their windswept and exposed locations and had us thirsting for more , so we decided to keep exploring along the coast to see what else it had in store .
Out of Donegal Bay
Outside of Donegal Bay the sites were more exposed and deeper so had an even more substantial profusion of life . The sharply angled cliffs and sea stacks show the full impact of the Atlantic . The dives we did here were in about 40m . We did two dives on Rathlin O ’ Birne island and three on steep walls at the base of the massive sea stacks that pepper this stretch of coast – Rossan Point , Tormore ( Ireland ’ s highest sea stack ) and Enchanted Rocks .
As they were more exposed , the walls were absolutely crammed with jewel , plumose and dahlia anemones . When we descended we reached the bottom of the wall to find beautiful boulders and gullies to glide through . As well as being mesmerised by the beauty of the underwater scenery in general , there were wrasse and smaller fish resident on the sites and you could feel the energy of the location . We saw crab and lobster , scorpion fish , a lot of dog fish , very large ballan wrasse , pollock , nudibranchs , and sea hares . On one dive a buddy pair was buzzed by a pair of dolphins , which we also saw at the surface .
Flat fish on the Giant ’ s Rump
Week One divers under the Sliabh Liag cliffs
PHOTO : MICHAEL HOLLIDAY
PHOTO : CK
PHOTO : CK
Plumose anemone on Rathlin O ’ Birne
Limacia clavigera on Carrigan Head
PHOTO : CW
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