alistor

[paulo]

Just wondering if anyone could give me some details on the alistor in ringhaddy?

I only found out about this dive site today. Is is worth doing?

Is it far off shore? How feasible is a shore dive? Is it easy to find?

Has anyone been on it recently? Any ideas about water temp at the moment? What sort of vis do you normally get on it?

Alot of questions i know but i am itching to get back out diving soon

[emmbee]

All the info you need

It's a great shore dive, see link for instructions (and don't forget to branch left on the line ). Expect the viz to be cr*p, tho.

Note that the swim to the wreck is worth doing in and by itself, if your taste run that way. Crabs, nudibranches, shrimps, anemones, nudibranches .

And don't forget the pier itself is private property - you wouldn't want random eejits taking a shortcut through your garden, would you? Swim around.

Cheers,

Matthieu

[paulo]

Thanks. That is very detailed indeed

i am going to try portroe this weekend if i get my suit repaired in time. Hope to dive the alistor in the near future

[Tom Brett]

Would u believe that I have done 16 dives on the it over the last month - heading up there again soon - this time I will look at the temp, I never bother noting the temp - believe a lot of it is in the head!
It does be colder than the sea, last year it was just over 5degrees one day, it can also be warmer than the sea in the summer

The viz was quiet good up there on Monday - I would say the biggest concern with it is the amount of divers on it. Parking is very limited for example there was only about 8 cars there on Monday but we needed to park in the laneway leading to it - but a tractor was approaching and we had to move the cars - luckilly some were leaving and we could then take their place.

There is a very nice lady who lives in the house - please be nice and keep away from her house - some use her wall etc for kitting up - must be a nightmare for her - i was in her house with a friend who knows her 2 years ago and the stories would make u sick of divers.

also the viz on the wreck can be stirred up very quickly and there is alot of overhead areas leading to entanclement if the viz is very poor
I love the wreck - if it was in better viz it would be amazing - it can also be quiet challenging for a 21-23m dive because of the darkness and the swim out
The swim out is taking me (now with the rebreather) about 7 mins - as I am taking my time but on oc I was doing it in about 5 by ripping out!

Take note of the location of the line as there is alot of boat traffic overhead and there can be strong currents on the surface especially as you can generally find shelter on the wreck as you want to come back along it - you also need to account for the return journey for air consumption - it is a very mild ascent / descent except for the first 6m, which can be good for stops etc..

When you go in by the pier the thick black cable is on the left of the pier a few feet away from it to its left and towards the sea.

I hope this helps

Tom

[Turbo]

(and don't forget to branch left on the line )  +1 .....wise words

[Tom Brett]

if you dont i here the trip out to the island is quiet nice! 

[paulo]

Thanks for the tips lads. Appreciate it

[Stephen McMullan]

http://www.divernet.com/Wrecks/wreck_tours/159399/wreck_tour_80_the_alastor.html

http://dusac.org/dive_guide/strangford_lough#M.Y._Alastor_Ringhaddy_Sound

[Tom Brett]

http://www.mydivelocker.com/index.php?name=markerdetails&id=136

Tom

[Stephen McMullan]

By the way I echo Tom's comments about the lady who owns the house opposite the parking area. She's been nothing but very pleasant to me and anyone I've been with. I tend to meet her out walking the dog on winter Sunday afternoons when the locals have dispersed home and we're still hanging around for dive 2 having driven up from Dublin. She always stops for a quick chat and even offered the gals the use of her house to get changed on more than one occasion. Its like for any landowner you may encounter diving, caving, climbing, biking etc - park the car well, respect their property, don't make yourself overly noticeable (think compressors!) and smile and have a chat when you meet them. A winning formula! 

[Tom Brett]

Just back from the alastor with Paul today
A nice 78 min dive - viz was a bit down from Monday but still quiet do-able
We were looking at the temp 8.1 degrees if I remember - Paul was saying that it was 7.3 there last week when we dived it

Tom

[Andy_HFC]

Glad it's warmed up a bit!

I got 7.8C on Monday at the bow as well, always seems chillier down there. Shame the viz has deteriorated again, it was really excellent last Sat, and on Monday. It was clear enough to really get a chance to squeeze in amongst all the collapsed girders to look about; usually can't see squat in the mid section.

Well done Tom, i'd say you've done more hours on The Alastor than i have now! 

[paulo]

thanks for the input lads.

My schedule at work is pretty mental for the next few months so i hope to get a dive there in a few weeks all going well

[Tom Brett]

Yep Andy
In the last month - I have clocked up about 14 hours on it!

Think I know it too well now, need to find other shore dives - does anyone know of any other spots?

Tom

[paulo]

we had planned on going go Portroe in the morning but a check of their website showed that they are only open sundays in Jan.

Plan B is to go to the alistor. Is anyone else going that direction tomorrow?