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Newfie
Ireland · reef · beginner
2–10 mbeginnerOWshore entry
MEDIA2 items
Newfie
Kilkee's shallow training reef off the Duggerna Rocks — a sand runway from 2 m, kelp on top, and about 10 m at the deepest.
Max depth2–10 m
Required levelbeginner
Entry typeshore
Visibilitynot sourced
The dive
Newfie, spelled New Fee by Kilkee Sub Aqua Club, is the shallow reef inside Kilkee Bay that both the local club and the dive centre use when the rest of the coast is unusable. The club lists it as a possible shore dive: on the way out to the West End it is reached by a set of steep steps beside the bathing shelters visible from the road, and the site follows the Duggerna Rocks reef. They call it probably the most weather-proof of the Kilkee sites, and also plainly a shallow dive. Kilkee Dive Centre runs it as a boat checkout dive and describes a sandy runway starting at 2 m alongside a kelp-covered rocky reef, with a maximum of about 10 m, well protected by the surrounding headland at low tide and divable in most seas.
The two published verdicts on what it is worth do not agree, and that is useful to know before you go. Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club dived it in 2009 and were unimpressed: a shallow reef, more a pile of rocks than a reef really, with a flat sandy bottom running away from it, and the warning that if you miss the drop you will be swimming around in 3 m of kelp. Their write-up says outright that it is not a patch on the other sites. The dive centre, by contrast, calls it a nursery reef and lists common and snake pipefish, several wrasse species, dab, plaice and other flatfish. Both readings fit the same site: this is small-creature and sand-margin diving rather than wall and structure diving.
The occurrence records around the pin support the nursery description. They are dominated by the shallow, kelp-and-boulder fauna you would expect at 2 to 10 m — two-spotted gobies, tompot and red blennies, ballan and cuckoo wrasse, edible and purple sea urchins, common prawns, shore crabs, sea slugs including the orange-clubbed sea slug and sea lemon, and moon, blue and compass jellyfish drifting through in season.
The practical value of Newfie is that it exists on days the others do not. Kilkee is a fully exposed Atlantic coast, and this is the site inside the bay behind the reef.
- Sandy runway from 2 m alongside a kelp-covered rocky reef
- The dive centre's checkout and training site, and its most reliable one
- Pipefish, wrasse and flatfish on the sand margin
- Shore-accessible down steps from the West End road
Please note before you go
- The shore option is down a set of steep steps beside the bathing shelters, carried in full kit — the walk back up is the harder half
- Duggerna Rocks are slippery and moss-covered; Kilkee Sub Aqua Club warn about the footing on the neighbouring shore entries
- Kelp: DUSAC warn that missing the reef drop leaves you swimming in about 3 m of kelp
- It is the most weather-proof of the Kilkee sites, not a weather-proof one — this is still an open Atlantic coast and any real swell reaches into the bay
Access & rules
Getting there
Two ways in. Kilkee Sub Aqua Club describe the shore option: on the way out towards the West End, down a set of steep steps beside the bathing shelters that are visible from the road, then following the Duggerna Rocks reef. The dive centre runs it as a short boat dive from the East End pier, where Oceanlife has the dive centre, shop and café next to a slip and a large public car park. If you are carrying kit down the steps, plan the exit before the entry — the neighbouring Duggerna Rocks entries are noted by the club for slippery, moss-covered footing.
Operator
You can reach the site independently.
Season
Kilkee Sub Aqua Club is active March to October and Oceanlife on the East Pier opens May to September, seven days a week. Because Newfie is inside the bay and shore-accessible, its usable window is wider at both ends than the offshore sites, which is exactly why the club keeps it on the list.
Conditions
Visibilitynot sourced
Currentlight
Surgelight
WaterSalt water
Depth range2–10 m
Environmentreef
Coralnot sourced
Crowdsmoderate
The sheltered end of the Kilkee spectrum. The dive centre says the surrounding headland protects it at low tide and that it can be dived in most seas, and the local club calls it probably the most weather-proof site here. DUSAC describe Kilkee water generally as usually extremely clear when you get out at all, but no source publishes a visibility figure or a water temperature for this site, so both are left blank. Expect shallow, kelpy, sand-floored diving rather than structure.
On current: There is no current problem here to plan around. DUSAC record the Kilkee sites generally as non-tidal, with the dive boats running in and out all day, and the dive centre says Newfie is well protected by the surrounding headland at low tide and can be dived in most seas. Tide matters for access rather than for current: Kilkee Sub Aqua Club treat the Duggerna Rocks shore entries as low-water propositions, and the dive centre's shelter claim is specifically at low tide.
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Dives & underwater footage
Questions & answers
How deep is Newfie?
About 10 m at the deepest. Kilkee Dive Centre describes a sandy runway starting at 2 m alongside a kelp-covered rocky reef with a maximum of 10 m, and Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club recorded the same maximum in 2009. It is comfortably inside Open Water limits from end to end.
Can you dive Newfie from the shore?
Yes. Kilkee Sub Aqua Club list it as a shore dive reached by a set of steep steps beside the bathing shelters on the way out to the West End, following the Duggerna Rocks reef. The dive centre also runs it as a short boat dive from the East End pier, so you can do it either way depending on who you are diving with.
Is Newfie good for beginners?
It is the beginner site in Kilkee. The dive centre uses it as its checkout dive, the maximum is around 10 m, and it is well protected by the surrounding headland at low tide and divable in most seas. The only physical demand is carrying kit down and back up a steep set of steps if you go in from the shore.
Can you snorkel at Newfie?
Yes, in calm water at low tide. The sand runway begins at 2 m and the kelp reef sits well above 10 m, so a snorkeller sees most of what a diver does. The other Kilkee snorkelling spot is the Pollock Holes on the Duggerna Rocks, which also need calm water and low tide.
What will I see at Newfie?
The dive centre calls it a nursery reef and lists common and snake pipefish, several wrasse species, dab, plaice and other flatfish. Occurrence records around the pin add two-spotted gobies, tompot and red blennies, ballan and cuckoo wrasse, common prawns, shore crabs, sea slugs such as the orange-clubbed sea slug and sea lemon, and moon, blue and compass jellyfish in season.
Is Newfie worth doing if the weather is good?
Opinions differ, and both are worth knowing. DUSAC's 2009 write-up said it is not a patch on the other Kilkee sites and they would not bother with it. The dive centre keeps it as a nursery reef and checkout site. If Middle Rock or Illaunabaha are on and you have the training for them, take those; if not, Newfie is the one that stays open.
When can you dive Newfie?
Kilkee Sub Aqua Club runs from March to October and Oceanlife on the East Pier opens May to September, seven days a week. Because Newfie sits inside the bay behind the reef and is shore-accessible, its usable window is wider than the offshore sites at both ends of the season.
Life recorded at Newfie
60 species within 1.5 km · OBISAurelia auritaoccasional · 6 records
Asterias rubensoccasional · 13 records
Patella pellucidaoccasional · 10 records
Marthasterias glacialisoccasional · 9 records
Holothuria forskalioccasional · 9 records
Echinus esculentusoccasional · 9 records
All 60 species recorded in this area
| Species | How often | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Asterias rubens | occasional | 13 |
| Patella pellucida | occasional | 10 |
| Marthasterias glacialis | occasional | 9 |
| Holothuria forskali | occasional | 9 |
| Echinus esculentus | occasional | 9 |
| Patella vulgata | occasional | 9 |
| Pomatoschistus flavescens | occasional | 9 |
| Mytilus edulis | occasional | 8 |
| Steromphala umbilicalis | occasional | 8 |
| Cancer pagurus | occasional | 6 |
| Obelia geniculata | occasional | 6 |
| Aurelia aurita | occasional | 6 |
| Limacia clavigera | occasional | 6 |
| Steromphala cineraria | occasional | 5 |
| Clavelina lepadiformis | occasional | 5 |
| Carcinus maenas | occasional | 5 |
| Pollachius pollachius | occasional | 5 |
| Dysidea fragilis | occasional | 5 |
| Elysia viridis | occasional | 5 |
| Facelina auriculata | occasional | 5 |
| Parablennius gattorugine | rare | 4 |
| Botryllus schlosseri | rare | 4 |
| Galathea strigosa | rare | 4 |
| Luidia ciliaris | rare | 4 |
| Labrus bergylta | rare | 4 |
| Taurulus bubalis | rare | 4 |
| Pachymatisma johnstonia | rare | 4 |
| Cyanea lamarckii | rare | 4 |
| Chrysaora hysoscella | rare | 4 |
| Nucella lapillus | rare | 4 |
| Calliostoma zizyphinum | rare | 4 |
| Diplosoma listerianum | rare | 3 |
| Homarus gammarus | rare | 3 |
| Palaemon serratus | rare | 3 |
| Paracentrotus lividus | rare | 3 |
| Parablennius ruber | rare | 3 |
| Thorogobius ephippiatus | rare | 3 |
| Axinella dissimilis | rare | 3 |
| Cliona celata | rare | 3 |
| Archidoris pseudoargus | rare | 3 |
| Littorina littorea | rare | 3 |
| Littorina saxatilis | rare | 3 |
| Patella ulyssiponensis | rare | 3 |
| Trivia arctica | rare | 3 |
| Labrus mixtus | rare | 3 |
| Phorcus lineatus | rare | 3 |
| Aplidium punctum | rare | 2 |
| Ascidia mentula | rare | 2 |
| Cetorhinus maximus | rare | 2 |
| Porcellana platycheles | rare | 2 |
| Pagurus bernhardus | rare | 2 |
| Necora puber | rare | 2 |
| Velella velella | rare | 2 |
| Dynamena pumila | rare | 2 |
| Tubularia indivisa | rare | 2 |
| Idotea granulosa | rare | 2 |
| Asterina gibbosa | rare | 2 |
| Aslia lefevrei | rare | 2 |
| Conger conger | rare | 2 |
| Centrolabrus exoletus | rare | 2 |
Nearby sites in Ireland
Explore all sitesMiddle Rock0.8 km
The Kilkee wall you dive as one long ascent: cracks and overhangs from 35-40 m with something to look at all the way up to 6 m.
Outer Rock0.9 km
The seaward rock of the Kilkee pair, listed by the local club as its own boat dive and summed up in four words: only for the curious.
Tony's Crack1.0 km
A narrow rock canyon west of Kilkee worked at about 15 m, with kelp on the rim for the safety stop.
Chimney Bay1.7 km
A gently sloping kelp-and-boulder bay on the far side of George's Head, and the Kilkee site that stays divable when the others do not.
The Pinnacle1.8 km
A rock rising from 40 m to within 5 m of the surface, dived as a spiral from the bottom up.
Illaunabaha2.5 km
A reef that dries out at low water, with a sunlit south face, a torch-only swim-through on the north side, and a long record of swell trouble.
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