June Bank Holiday - Malinbeg
Lovely weather, great scenery, good diving conditions and great craic – what more could a diver ask for?
Malinbeg Harbour
The weather came good for us as we set off on our journey to Donegal on Thursday. We eventually arrived at the hostel about 10 hours after leaving Kildare – not for us the mad rush of a bank holiday Friday evening! On our odyssey North, we dropped into Sligo in search of a book, St. Johns Point in search of a beach, Killybegs in search of dinner and Glencolumbcille in search of a good sunset. We weren’t disappointed on any account. After a few bevvies back at Glencolumbcille hostel we were out for the count.
Had a bit of a late start the next day which meant snorkelling in mid-tide in Malin Beg Harbour. This did not prove to be a problem as there was very little current in the harbour. The water was crystal clear and armed with an underwater camera we went in search of some marine life. What we didn’t expect to see was a hand lying in a few metres of water! And this was after emerging from a pretty dark swim-through. No doubt we didn’t go looking for the rest of the body! Other ‘live’ marine life included crabs, fish, sea urchins, and sea anemones of all different colours.
After the sightseeing below the water level, we drove up to the Sliabh League lookout point to view the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The tourist boat was only a speck on the sea compared to the highest of the cliffs. A sight to recommend, but a drive not for the learner driver!
Back at the hostel, the peace and tranquillity was being broken by the arrival of the rest of the gang! As always the craic was great and we had a very comfortable stay at the Glencolumbcille hostel.
Teelin Harbour
Fortunately for us there was a shortage of accommodation in Glencolumbcille so there were only ourselves and Monaghan SAC using Malin Beg Harbour, which obviously made access much easier than last year.
Our diving over the weekend was marked by blue skies, sunshine, light to non-existent wind, and good visibility – ideal conditions. We had two dives at Rathlin O’Beirne on Saturday and one on Sunday. Very scenic diving including some lovely drop-offs covered in jewel anemones. Depths from 25m to 50m (yellow-pack divers only at deeper depths!). I managed to spot a torch in the rock face on my first dive which I quickly nabbed. However, within ten minutes of the dive its owner spotted it and after a bit of sign-language, the lost property was returned to its rightful owner!
We dived at Candle Rock on Sunday afternoon which provided me with a lesson in why you look beneath you as you are dropping down – I nearly landed on an octopus! Only for its quick retreat between two rocks, I would never have seen it.
5 of us did a night dive in Malin Beg Harbour. Matt spotted a pipefish with leopard-skin-like colouring. I think the others thought we were having them on!
Our dive at Sliabh League sea cliffs provided the best sight of the weekend – a basking shark! A lovely end to a lovely weekend.
(Thanks to all who organised accommodation, towing and diving – and, of course, thanks to the weather Gods!)
Joan McElwain.
Photo's: Mirak