Strangford Dive Centre

Wreck and drift diving at the Narrows

The pull of Strangford is its wrecks and its current. The Alastor - a pre-war motor yacht that sank in the 1940s - lies in Ringhaddy Sound, a 20-30 minute boat ride up the lough. The Inner Lees sits in around 12m and can be dived at most tide states, while the Outer Lees and the Narrows wrecks are slack-water-only boat dives. These are dives for certified, experienced divers with the right training for depth and current. Surface marker buoys are expected, and drift diving in parts of the Narrows is considered dangerous. On a good day you may see conger eels, brittle-star beds, octopus and wrasse, but nothing underwater is guaranteed.

Dive operator Air fills Walk-on kit hire Wreck dives Qualified divers Slack water only

Good to know before you go:

Conditions here change with the weather and the tide, and visibility changes with them — clear and calm one day, murky and rough the next. Check a forecast and a tide table before you set off. Try-dives, courses and trips run on set days and tides, so book ahead rather than turning up.

What to bring

📱A bookingCentres and clubs run try-dives and trips on set days and tides — arrange it before you travel.

☕Warm layers and a hot drinkThe water is cold all year. Dry clothes and something hot afterwards make the whole day.

🏖️A towelAnd somewhere to put wet kit for the drive home.

🤿An honest look at your experienceMatch the site to the training you actually have. Plenty of people start with a try-dive instead.

Everything before you go

Type

Dive operator (qualified divers)

What you can do

Air fills, walk-on equipment hire, access to wreck and drift dives in Strangford Lough

Experience needed

Qualified, experienced divers - not a beginner activity

Conditions

Cold water year-round; strong tides in the Narrows; slack-water-only on deeper/Narrows wrecks; no lifeguard

Booking / access

Contact the operator ahead - confirm what is running and booking

Kit

Air fills and hire available; bring your own where you can

Cost

Check current prices

What you may see

You may see conger eels, brittle stars, octopus, cuckoo wrasse - never guaranteed

Parking

Not confirmed - check locally

Address / location

Strangford, Co Down, BT30 - by the Strangford Narrows

Questions

Before you go

Do I need experience?

Qualified, experienced divers - not a beginner activity

How much does it cost?

Check current prices

Do I need to book?

Contact the operator ahead - confirm what is running and booking

What are the conditions like?

Cold water year-round; strong tides in the Narrows; slack-water-only on deeper/Narrows wrecks; no lifeguard

What kit do I need?

Air fills and hire available; bring your own where you can

Getting there

Strangford Dive Centre is at Strangford, Co Down, BT30 - by the Strangford Narrows. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps Official website See it on our map

Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around StrangfordSee what else is close by More diving & snorkelling across NIDive centres, clubs and wild shore sites

The story

About it

Strangford Lough and the Lecale coast are one of Northern Ireland's best-known diving areas, prized for biodiversity, geology and maritime wrecks. The Narrows at Strangford carry some of the fastest tidal flows in these islands, which gives the area its current-swept drift dives and tight slack-water windows.

The lough's signature wrecks include the Alastor, a pre-war motor yacht that sank in Ringhaddy Sound, and the Inner and Outer Lees on the approaches to Portaferry. We could not confirm an independent website for this specific operator, so contact them directly for the current offer.