Isle of Man Dive sites
Port Erin Bay, Crab Row and the Outer Breakwater
The old T-blocks from the ruined outer breakwater help create a very sheltered bay on low tide. This is one of the main reasons why many Open Water divers take there first steps on there new adventure here. Crab Row, as Port Erin's local dive is commonly known by, is sheltered by most winds except W and Sw which can affect the visibility.
.jpg "Port Erin Jetty") You have two choices at this site. You can either enter from the jetty and travel west along Crab Row towards the old breakwater and back east again, or you can enter from the old steps of the outer breakwater and journey north along the old T-blocks, and back south again. Either way, it is an easy site to navigate, with lots of nooks and crannies to investigate. Your max depth will be around 12m along Crab |Row and around 14m along the outer break water.
You will have a great view of Wrasse (including Cuckoo, Balan and Corkwing), Lobsters, Crabs, Tompot's and the occasional Conger Eel. At night, this site comes alive with squat lobsters feeding on the sandy bottom and if you're lucky you might see a number of small bright orange Octopus.
Please note: Due to the boat traffic in Port Erin bay, SMB's are required by local law to be carried by all divers in the Bay
Peel Castle
 This dive is best started at Fennela Beach and is simple to navigate by keeping the rocks on your right on the way out and returning with the rocks on your left. On your way around the castle you will en counter a number of different backdrops, starting with a sandy bottom before hitting the rocky sides of the cliff face, then a few caves and ending with a kelp forest. You can spend a good hour exploring this dive site, anything less then 45 min is pushing hard and won't give you a chance to see all the sites.
Peel is home to a number of seals, which can be very playful - you can spend over an hour playing hide and seek and nibbling your fins. Just give them a chance to warm to you and then they won't leave you alone!
The South side of Fenella Beach also provides an easy dive,
just following the rocks out in a straight line. There's a number
of rock channels around here which make exploring good fun.
Sugar Loaf Caves
The Sugarloaf Caves, situated just around the corner from Port Erin, are only accessible by boat and make an excellent dive for all levels of experience. Behind the Sugarloaf rock itself, you have some shelter for an easy kit-up and entrance. Once in, you have a couple of choices of which way to go to begin your dive.
 thumb.jpg "Entering the Cave of Birds, Sugarloaf") The more popular route is to journey between the Sugarloaf rock and the cliffs before entering the cavern system.The first cavern you enter is Fairy's Cave, which has a direct access to the surface but the sheer walls cut out all natural light, except for a gap about half way through which provides some stunning light effects as shafts of light penetrate through. Here you will find hydroids, sponges and anemones. After exiting, it is just a short trip though a kelp forest before you reach the main "cave", the Cave of Birds. Again, the surface is always accessible, except for the very back of the cavern and you will often find a friendly seal playing around here and hunting the numerous mackerel. On the way back, keep a look out for diving Guillemots, which can sometimes be seen as deep as 10m, chasing after the mackerel!
Wreck of the Citrine thumb.jpg "Citrine Propeller")
The Citrine, a steamer, ran aground just off Bradda Head in the 1930's. She lies in approximately 14 to 16m of water on a sandy bottom, just of the rocks at the base of Bradda. Although she is largely broken up now, you can still make out the outline, and both the boiler and propeller are prominent.
.jpg "Wrasse on the Citrine") Swimming around the wreck you can catch glimpses of the shy Pollock and you will see plenty of Baleen and Cuckoo Wrasse. The broken up wreckage offers plenty of nooks and crannies to explore where you will find Lobster, Crabs and the odd Conger Eel.
Wreck of the Dunglen
The Glendun, a Belfast steamer, ran aground back
in 1940. She lies just south of  Maughold Head, on the east coast
of the Isle of Man, and is only accessible by boat.
Lying right up close to the cliffs this dive provides
some spectacular views for the journey there and for any surface
intervals - which can of course be spent sunning yourself on the
nearby private beach!
 Lying in about 10m of water, a large majority of the structure has broken up,
and scattered around the area, which can easily turn the dive into a fun hunt,
scavenge and rummage as divers shoot off in all directions looking for bits and
pieces of brass glistening in the sun. There is still a large boiler fairly well intact, which can be seen from the surface on a low tide.
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.jpg "Port Erin Jetty")
.jpg "Entering the Cave of Birds, Sugarloaf")
.jpg "Citrine Propeller")
.jpg "Wrasse on the Citrine")
