Diving the Bolivar

scubagit

Hi Guys,
Just looking through the posts and someone mentioned diving the Bolivar.
Have always been curious about this wreck and was wondering if anyone has advise on diving it?
e.g Anybody dived it in the last few days and would it be suitable to bring 1 stars etc.
Any info would be appreciated.

Benny-c

Never dived it, but check the link below-might be of assistance.

http://www.irishwrecksonline.net/details/Bolivar121.htm

smcmullan

I've dived it once recently and found it thoroughly enjoyable at the time. It's suitable for novice and experienced diver alike. There's something there for everyone. The viz was great, the wreck is presently well exposed and was very interesting and teeming with life. There was a shot line to some scattered wreckage and a travel line to the main part of the wreck in place. It is a relatively shallow dive but hey that gives you a lot more no-deco time to explore. You do need to get your timing right to hit a high water slack preferably during neap tides.

Check out: http://www.dusac.org/Guide/Dublin_Bay/

The only drawback is that its a little ways out on the Kish bank, but then again all the other dive boats will be at the Muglins

wasabi

Like smcmullan says, the Bolivar is shallow, you're talking a max depth of about 14m. Unless the vis is very bad in the bay the light levels will be good, though a torch is still useful for poking about.

Because the wreck is on the Kish and the sands shift covering and uncovering it, the wreck is not completely 'sweatered' in anemones in the same way as most Irish wrecks are.

It is pretty broken up, I believe it was exploded as it was posing an obstacle to shipping.

There's a main section where you can see the hull, there's a lot of scattered bits of decking on it (look down there for congers) and parts of the superstructure. Look for large crabs who've made their homes in the various nooks and crannies of the wreck. Lots of fish life round about as well. If you leave the main section of the wreck and look at the scattered bits (take a bearing) there's a bathroom on its side (unless it's been covered) that looks brand new.