Group or Commercial Charter
- Book as a group or individual spaces for diving & eco / whale & dolphin watching and sunset tours
- Corporate groups, family outing or group of friends for a half day coastal trip (whale & dolphin tours)
- Private charter for half or full day
- Diving or angling charter for half or full day
- Commercial charter for TV / Film or PR work
- Survey inspections, placement of buoys (with video or stills coverage)
- Guard duty
- Crew transfers
- Safety boat for races & ocean / open water swimmers
Contact us to book or enquire about any of the above.
Diving Boat Enquiry Form
Diving
Baltimore in West Cork offers something for anyone interested in diving adventure. The coastline lies squarely in the path of the Gulf Stream thereby offering unpolluted waters with an underwater flora and fauna that are luxuriant and colourful - a diver's paradise with spectacular drop-offs and an abundant marine life. Aquaventures offers qualified divers the charter of individual spaces or full boat hire, subject of course to numbers. The dive centre has a well stocked shop, compressor room and equipment room. Your equipment can be serviced and your cylinders tested by the in-house technician.
If wreck diving is what you're looking for then this section of coastline will not disappoint you. Most wrecks are between 10 minutes and 1 hour's boat journey from Baltimore harbour and lie in depths from 10 mtr to 90 mtr.
With the Gulf Stream warming these waters there is an abundance of marine life. Many divers now have their digital cameras and every nook and cranny of reef, wall and wreck will offer great photographic opportunities. Whether you choose the macro lens or wide angle be prepared for the unexpected colourful interactions that diving in these waters will throw at you!
As a sea-faring nation Ireland has many wrecks which in themselves attract an eco-system and there are numerous close to Baltimore suitable for all levels of qualified divers.
Additional Information
- The best months to dive are between May and October, when the sea has had time to warm up and the visibility is at its best. Visibility is on average 10 mtrs and can reach 20+ on good days but less of course after stormy conditions.
- The water temperature ranges from 9 degrees C in the winter (February is normally the coldest month) to 17 degrees C in the autumn (September). Surface water temperatures can reach slightly more which makes it very pleasant for snorkelling in these waters. We need minimum numbers to run the boat(s) so check for availability and prices.
- The shop, with compressor and servicing of equipment is open year-round.
- West Cork is the feeding ground for some large species such as fin, humpback and minke whales. We also have sightings of dolphins, harbour porpoises, sunfish, basking sharks and leatherback turtles during our boat journeys out and an opportunity to swim with seals. Those not wishing to get in the water can enjoy Whale Watching or Eco Tours including sunset trips tot he Fastnet by bookings spaces on the boat(s) subject to weather of course and minimum numbers.
- We happily accommodate individual divers or groups. Single divers will be buddied up with another diver of a similar or higher grade of qualification & experience. However, logbook and qualification must be presented for the pre-dive registration (first time each year). Some dive sites and in particular wrecks offshore require high or low water slack, we will check tides for you. We strongly recommend that dive buddy pairs have an SMB & Reel between them for delayed deployment on ascent / deco or safety stop. These can be rented from us.
- A diver making a reservation who has not been diving recently or lacks diving experience in cold water conditions must book to dive with a guide (divemaster) and this is subject to availability.
- Shore diving is also an option and particularly useful for inexperienced divers wishing to build up their ability to dive independently with another qualified dive buddy. Aquaventures provides rental of all diving equipment and happily advices you on the best shore dive sites with easy access, depth, compass headings, likely marine life and topography etc. One of these is Lough Hyne, a nearby Nature Reserve. Permits must be obtained at least 14 days in advance and are rarely denied. No fee applies but each diver must have insurance cover of at least €3,000,000 (form).
