Sandycove

Located in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin the well-known horseshoe-shaped bay known as Sandycove is a popular spot for sea users. Towards the back, near the James Joyce tower, you will find the well known Forty Foot. Swimmers are there all year round, even in the depths of winter. Would you be brave enough for a dip in December?

Back to Snorkelling on East Coast

General Information

The great advantage of Sandycove is that it can be broken up into both small and long snorkels with the advantage of an abundance of exit points from the Victorian Baths all the way down to Mourners Point (See Map). Taking an initial entry point between the piers from Sandycove Strand, the first visible buoy is approximately 150 meters offshore.

There is plenty to see within the confines of the buoys if you do not want to venture out too far. To the right of the cove towards the Victorian Baths there is a shallow seaweed forest with plenty of sea life and to the right, two sizeable anchors (See map and image carousel).

Sea Life

The Irish sea hosts an abundance of sea life including some species you would not imagine would be found in Irish waters. In an article by Dublin Live from 2018 some of these amazing creatures can be seen from the locality of Sandycove. Click here to view the article.

A grey speckled seal lies on a rock in the water of Sandycove Bay. The sun is shining down and the Victorian Baths and the beach in front of them are visible in the background.

A common shore crab sits on the sea floor, it is brown in colour and at an angle, the pincers are visible in the foreground.

Close up image of a common lobster spotted in Sandycove Bay on the sea floor. It is facing the camera, claws outstretched towards the camera. It is dark grey in colour with white markings.

Pink plumed anemone in a very dark sea, looks fluffy and bright against the rock and sea behind it.

Four small fish swim through the long, straight, string seaweed in green water at Sandycove Bay, Dublin.

Grey seal swims with just his nose and eyes visible above the water on a sunny day at Sandycove Bay. The rocks at the shore are visible in the background.

A bright red starfish lies stretched out on the sandy sea floor at Sandycove Bay, Dublin.

Round, plump, pink sea anemone with darker pink stripes sits under the sea at Sandycove Bay, Dublin.

Common crab making it's way along the sea floor among sea weed at Sandycove Bay, Dublin. The crab is dark with some lighter markings on it's back.

A striped wrasse fish barely visible swimming among a variety of differently coloured seaweed.

Sea Conditions

Sandycove, while sheltered, is also subject to swells and unexpected strong tidal currents. Caution should be taken when planning any trip. Water temperature at the surface can vary greatly from winter (as low as 5 - 6 degrees ) to summer (as high as 19 degrees). Tide information for the Dun Laoghaire area is available at the following link. - Click here.
For up to date weather reports - Click here.

Water Safety Information

When making your way around to the Forty Foot from Sandycove or vice versa be aware of strong cross-currents that are in the area, they can catch you unawares. There is a lifeguard station at the bayside where the conditions in the area can be checked. In case of emergency, the nearest RNLI station located in Dun Laoghaire can be contacted on (01) 280 2667 or the Irish Coast Guard can be contacted by phoning 999 or 112.

Entry and Exit Points

The cove makes things very easy for getting into the water. There are 2 points where you can walk directly from a beach into the water - at the cove or at the old Victorian Baths. Alternatively, there are 3 points where you can get in via steps around the back of Sandycove in the Forty Foot (See map below).