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New Quay Click here for photos |
| New Quay is a little harbour village
in North Clare. It is located by a narrow strait which fills and empties
Aughinish Bay. As the strait is narrow and shallow, the current is
very strong except for slack water. Hence this dive should only be done exactly
at slack water. Tide tables for Galway Docks can be used in conjunction with
a careful eye. Maximum depth here is 10M at high tide. There are some shallow
reefs (6ft/7ft) in about 8 metres on the southern side of the strait
which are home to an abundance of life. The sea-bed is a carpet of crabs,
anenomes and urchins etc. The reefs themselves are home to lobster,
brown crabs and many others. This is a sheltered site and can be dived in
almost any conditions. Directions: The Galway Club usually do this dive from the Galway side (Aughinish Island), as parking etc., is better. From Kinvarra, Co. Galway, take the road for Ballyvaughan (south) and turn right after approx. 2 miles. There is a signpost pointing to Doorus Hostel. After about 1.5 miles, turn left just before the pub (Fahy's Travellers Inn) beside the thatched cottage . Follow this road for a few miles, and cross the causeway. When you reach the 'T' junction, turn left. This will bring you to the dive site. |