Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club

08/03/2025

Huge Congratulations to Ádam Ó Gonaile & Aaron Rooney on Completing Their Level 1 CCR Training! 🎉🤿

It’s fantastic to see new blood coming into the world of technical diving. With their rebreather training complete, Adam and Aaron now have the ability to explore the underwater world with no limits on gas supply or time—opening the door to deeper, longer, and more immersive dives.

CCR diving has always been a massive part of our club. In fact, not long ago, we were the largest rebreather diving club in the UK! It’s great to see this tradition continuing as more divers take on the challenge of technical diving.

If you’re interested in pushing your limits and taking your diving to the next level, get in touch today—your next adventure starts here!

08/03/2025

Happy International Women’s Day! 🌊💜

Today, we celebrate the incredible women making waves in the world of scuba diving! From passionate instructors and fearless technical divers to dedicated marine biologists and conservationists, women continue to push boundaries and explore the depths of our oceans.

Diving has no limits—just like the women who take the plunge every day, breaking barriers, discovering new worlds, and inspiring others to do the same.

To all the women in scuba diving: Keep diving, keep inspiring, and keep making a difference—one dive at a time.

Whether you’re already a diver or thinking about taking the plunge, there’s no better time to start your underwater journey.

If you’re ready to dive in, get in touch — the ocean is waiting!

24/12/2024

🎅 Merry Christmas from Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club! 🎅

To all our members, friends, and supporters, we want to wish you a very Happy Christmas and thank you for being part of our underwater adventures this year. 🌊

This festive season, we’ve got a special message from the big man himself – Santa! 🎄🎅 He’s been brushing up on his dive skills, and he’s making sure everyone stays safe and enjoys the magic both above and below the surface.

Here’s to a joyful Christmas and an exciting year of new dives, friendships, and discoveries in 2024! 🐠💦

Stay safe, stay warm, and we’ll see you all soon!

17/12/2024

🌊 The Hidden Dangers of Discarded Fishing Gear 🎣

While exploring a wreck underwater, divers from Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club discovered something troubling: discarded fishing gear tangled around the structure, with a codling caught on the line—likely for who knows how long. Thankfully, the divers safely removed the gear, but it’s a stark reminder of the ongoing impact abandoned angling equipment has on marine environments.

The Impact of Discarded Fishing Gear:
🔹 Entanglement: Lost monofilament lines, hooks, and nets trap fish, marine mammals, and birds, leading to injury or death.
🔹 Marine Debris: Clear monofilament line takes 600 years to decompose, creating long-lasting hazards.
🔹 Diver Safety Risks: Hooks and fine fishing lines are nearly invisible underwater and pose a serious threat to divers exploring wrecks or reefs.

Codling Populations in Irish Waters
Codling, a smaller cousin of the cod, is already under pressure in Irish waters due to habitat loss, climate change, and overfishing. Recent assessments show cod stocks in many areas, including the Irish Sea, are critically low. Adding the threat of entanglement from discarded fishing gear only compounds the problem.

At Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club, we are committed to making a difference. By safely removing debris like this, we’re taking steps to clean and protect our underwater environment—one dive at a time. But we can’t do it alone:
✔️ Anglers, please retrieve your fishing line and hooks.
✔️ Properly dispose of damaged or unwanted fishing gear.
✔️ Help raise awareness of the impact of marine litter on ocean life and diver safety.

Together, we can protect our waters for future generations. Every small step makes a big difference. 🌊

10/11/2024

🧠 November is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month 🧠

This month, we’re taking a moment to raise awareness about an issue that impacts so many lives here in Northern Ireland: men’s mental health.

💙 Men’s mental health struggles often go unnoticed. Tragically, Northern Ireland has one of the highest rates of male su***de in the UK. In recent years, around 75% of all su***des here have been men – husbands, fathers, sons, friends. These statistics are a stark reminder of the hidden pain many endure.

💬 Too often, men feel they have to face their problems alone. But the truth is, you are never alone. Talking can be the first step toward finding support, understanding, and hope. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out. Our team is here to help, and we’re committed to supporting the wellbeing of our community, both physically and mentally.

Let’s break the stigma together and encourage open conversations. By raising awareness and offering support, we can help save lives. This month, and every month, let’s stand together for men’s mental health.

13/10/2024

On Sunday, members of Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club were approached by a local fisherman who had lost some fishing gear, including lobster pots, in Strangford Lough. Concerned about the potential harm to marine life, he asked us to open the trap doors and release any creatures that may have become trapped. Our divers were happy to help! Instead of becoming stuck, the marine life was freed to live another day, continuing to breed and survive in the harsh underwater environment. 🌊

Check out the video below showing one of our divers approaching a lost pot snagged on a rock. While it’s not in the footage, the diver was able to open the bottom of the pot, allowing a few crabs to escape back into the wild. 🦀

Plans are also being put in place to return at a later date and remove the ghost gear from the sea entirely, ensuring it can be recycled and safely taken out of the ecosystem. ♻️ Ghost fishing gear is a major issue in the UK, with thousands of traps, nets, and lines lost at sea each year, continuing to trap marine life long after being abandoned. This “ghost gear” is responsible for killing millions of marine animals annually and poses a serious threat to biodiversity.

We’re proud to do our part in helping protect our local waters and wildlife! 🐟

📹 Ádam Ó Gonaile

13/10/2024

What a fantastic morning for a dive in Strangford Lough! 🌊 With 10-15m of visibility, our members had clear views as they explored the stunning drop-off. 🐠 Plenty of wildlife was out to greet us – crabs, wrasse, lobster, and even a special visit from some playful dolphins! 🐬

Our divers enjoyed a nice bounce to 50m and took in the breathtaking scenery as they ascended along the reef wall. A truly beautiful day beneath the waves! Looking forward to the next adventure with Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club. 🤿

13/09/2024

Justica, a 32,234-ton steel , originally built by Harland & Wolff for the Holland-Amerika Line as the Statendam, was designed to carry 3,430 passengers. Launched on July 9, 1914, it was intended for transatlantic passenger service. In 1917 the British Government requisitioned the vessel, renamed it Justicia, and repurposed it as a troopship under the management of the White Star Line.

Justicia entered service on April 7, 1917, successfully completing several transatlantic trips. However, on July 19, 1918, while en route from to in convoy, it was attacked by UB-64. Though initial torpedo attacks were diverted by gunfire and the U-boat was forced to retreat, the next morning UB-124, on its first patrol, launched two torpedoes at the damaged vessel. Justica eventually sank stern first at 12:40 pm with the loss of 16 lives. The rest of the crew was rescued by nearby ships.

The collaboration between INFOMAR (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland's Marine Resource) and the National Monuments Service is a pivotal alliance for preserving Ireland's submerged cultural heritage. This partnership facilitates the detailed mapping of underwater archaeological sites, including historic shipwrecks. INFOMAR contributes advanced marine mapping technologies and expertise, which enable precise documentation and monitoring of these sites.

National Monuments Service, through its Underwater Archaeology Unit, provides regulatory oversight, ensuring that all exploration and conservation efforts comply with Ireland's archaeological heritage laws. This cooperative effort aids to protects these vulnerable sites and serves to enhance our understanding of Ireland's maritime history, offering insights that are crucial for both educational and conservation purposes.

Wrecks over 100 years old and archaeological objects underwater, irrespective of their age or location, are protected under Section 3 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987. A license is required to dive these sites which can be obtained from: https://www.archaeology.ie/underwater-archaeology

Download the Image here > https://www.infomar.ie/galleries/shipwrecks

Learn More about Ireland's Shipwrecks Here > https://www.infomar.ie/maps/downloadable-maps/shipwrecks-viewer

National Monuments Service - Archaeology

INFOMAR is a Government of Ireland Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications funded programme jointly managed by Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute - Foras na Mara

23/07/2024

It’s with our deepest sympathies that we at Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club learned of the tragic loss of a diver off the northwest coast of Donegal. A man in his 50s encountered difficulties during his dive and, despite the swift response and efforts of the Irish Coast Guard he was pronounced dead at Letterkenny Hospital a short while later.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. This tragedy is a stark reminder of the inherent risks in our sport. We urge all our everyone to always dive safely and stay within their limits.

With deepest sympathies,

Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club

FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint A man in his 50s has died while diving off the coast of Co Donegal. The man had been…

02/07/2024

Great day out for the family Kilkeel RNLI 👏🏻👏🏻

02/07/2024

🚗 A huge thank you to Adam at AG Alloy Wheel Repairs for sponsoring us! Your support is much appreciated, and every little bit helps us reach our goals.

If any other companies are interested in participating in sponsorship, it would be greatly appreciated. Your contributions make a big difference!

🚨🚤 AG Alloy Wheel Repairs is Proud to Support Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua! 🚤🚨

We’re thrilled to have recently sponsored the incredible team at Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua - Search & Rescue by providing them with some much-needed wheel repairs. While wheels might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to search and rescue, in today’s world, every bit of financial savings helps!

In addition to wheel repairs, we’re committed to supporting this dedicated team both financially and through providing mechanical and automotive work to the best of our ability. By taking care of their wheel repairs and other automotive needs, we hope to help this dedicated team focus more on their vital life-saving missions and less on vehicle maintenance. Every little bit counts when it comes to keeping our community safe!

Thank you, Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua - Search & Rescue, for your unwavering commitment to safety and rescue operations. We’re proud to support such a dedicated group.