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Flights to Cork for the best diving in the southwest region, otherwise Shannon for the west coast or Knock. Don't fly to Dublin as you'll have a very long car journey ahead of you to reach the good dive sites! Public transport is not recommended so rent a car.
If travelling from the UK consider ferry crossings with Stena Line to either Dublin (Dun Laoghaire) or Rosslare.
Perhaps the Swansea-Cork Ferry will run again this year (2008) if the company have secured a new vessel after a gap of 2 years.
There aren't many motorways but the national roads aren't bad. Beware that speeds and distances are mostly in km except for the old signs which might still be in miles.

The best way to explore Ireland (both above and below the water) is to plan an itinerary beforehand as dive centres do not operate year round and need minimum numbers to run their boats. In the main summer season they may get booked out unless you reserve spaces for specific days in advance. Best options for accommodation is B&B when travelling / touring or self-catering is basing yourself in one location for a week's trip with rentals from Saturday to Saturday (and long weekends outside the main summer season).

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German submarine 'U260' lies in 38 to 44 mtrs of water off Glandor (nearest dive centre Aquaventures, Baltimore). Great dive, virtually intact wreck but requires slack and only suitable for well qualified divers. She's about 67 mtrs long and small enough to see all in one dive, although well worth diving several times if you get the opportunity. There's a few very big congers and ling hiding inside her. Hatch of conning tower is open but not penetrable. Outer casing of the sub is breaking away slowly which reveals torpedo tubes, ballast tanks. Propellors intact, lying slightly on her port side.
The other famous wreck is the biggest in the world 'Kowloon Bridge' which sank only 21 years ago. This iron ore carrier lies in 36 mtrs of water (the bow section collapsed or rather broke off and fell off two years ago) so now shallowest point is around 15 mtrs. Again dive only on slack as currents are too strong outside this. Teaming with life, but too big to appreciate her size in just one or two dives as she's 300 mtrs long. A 'must' for any wrecky!

The soutwest coast of Ireland offers great opportunities to dive or snorkel with whales, dolphins and seals. Basking sharks migrate through this area middle of May to early June and you can get very close up so bring your camera or video. They vary in size from 4-6 mtrs to 10-12 mtrs.
Year-round there are sightings of minke and fin whales. Seals live year-round in small groups (Calf Islands, Long Island, Stags, Kedges & Fastnet Rock) and are well used to divers nearby so play hide & seek quite happily.
Sunfish can be spotted normally between July and August and vary in size from 1 mtr to 2 mtrs (although can reach 3.5 mtr in diametre).

Most corals are the hard rose coral (particulary 20 mtrs and deeper) on nutrient rich sites where you have strong currents (Fastnet Rock, Kedges, Stags and Gascanane Sound - all from Baltimore). Soft corals also such as fan corals and unusual species in Lough Hyne (nature reserve for which you need a permit to dive, free of charge - see website of Aquaventures).

From May to September, and depending on weather obviously April and October or further into the winter months but fishlife and viz best in the main summer season.

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