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Markethill Scuba

Markethill SCUBA Quarry

Average score: 4.1

Weather Forecast Tide times Sea Temperature
Site name: Markethill Scuba
Location: Descriptive location referring to nearest landfall i.e. town, village, harbour or island
Markethill SCUBA Quarry
Type: Describes whether this dive site can be dived from the shore, from a boat, or both
Fresh Water Quarry
Wreck: Dive sites which include a shipwreck (or part of a shipwreck) are labelled with a ‘Yes’
No
Min. dive depth (m): The approximate minimum depth of the dive given in metres
1
Max. dive depth (m): The approximate maximum depth of the dive given in metres
20

Max. seabed depth (m): The maximum depth of the seabed at the site taken from the intersect between the dive site point and the depth contour on an Admiralty Standard Nautical Chart
21

Diving experience (min level): The recommended minimum level of diving experience for a specific site, described as Novice (<50 dives in temperate/cold waters and minimum certification of PADI Open/Advanced Open Water, BSAC Ocean Diver or CMAS 1 star), Intermediate (50-100 dives in temperate/cold waters and minimum certification of PADI Rescue Dive, BSAC Sports Dive or CMAS 2 star) or Advanced (>250 dives in temperate/cold waters and minimum certification of PADI Divemaster, BSAC Dive Leader or CMAS 3 star
Novice

Optimal wind direction: The general wind direction which causes minimal exposure at the site, corresponding to 8 points of the compass: North (N), North East (NE), East (E, South East (SE), South (S), South West (SW), West, North West (NW)

Exposure: The approximate level of exposure to wind and wave action at the site on any given day, described as Sheltered (inshore sites surrounded by a form of shelter on all sides), Moderate (sites which are partially sheltered) or Exposed (sites with little to no shelter)
Sheltered

Tidal strength: Anecdotal description of tidal strength at the site

Marine Protected Area: A Yes or No highlighting whether or not the site occurs within a Marine Protected Area

Visibility: Anecdotal description of the typical underwater visibility at the site
Markethill Scuba is the first dedicated inland dive site in Northern Ireland. This disused quarry offers great visibility in a safe and sheltered environment. With different areas to suits all divers needs.
Best time to dive: Anecdotal recommendation for the best time to dive the site for optimal underwater conditions. This typically relates to the stage of the tide
Markethill Scuba can be dived all year round, day or night. Best time to dive is when the wind is howling, the swell is crashing with no chance of sea diving. When the coast is closed Markethill Scuba is open!
Getting There: Directions for getting to the site

Site is located on the Coolmillish Rd, County Armagh. Access is via a gate on a bend in the road.

Facilities: Details of nearest facilities to dive site i.e. public car parking and toilets, slipways etc

Toilet

Changing rooms

Tea and coffee facilities

Helpful and friendly staff

Car parking

Multiple staging areas for gear

Compressor

Not far from Markethill town with a good amount of coffee shops, restaurants, takeaways and a grocery store with hot and cold delhi  Ideal for having a multi dive day

Hazards: Anecdotal information on possible hazards at the site for divers and snorkellers

Being a quarry the water temp at depth is very low. Hood and gloves are highly recommended. Distinct thermoclines are visible at all times.

At the bottom(20m) of the quarry from approx 18m it is very dark practically zero. Great for practicing navigation and slit out conditions but should you get lost you just ascend a meter or two to get out into the light.

Description: A general description of the physical features of the dive site

Markethill Scuba is a disused flooded quarry.

You are able to walk in or giant stride and either follow the road around and down or drop over the shear sides to your desired dept.

Going from large spongy grass areas to white sandy sunken beaches to boulders to shear drops and overhangs

Biodiversity: A description of the species composition at the site. Species of interest are highlighted. Follow the links for more information about the species on the NBN Atlas Northern Ireland website

Large amounts of perch and bream

Crayfish have also been spotted

View all species records from this site

A link to the dive site location on the NBN Atlas Northern Ireland website, showing all species records from within a 1km boundary of the site centroid. Any new species records from the site submitted to Seasearch, iRecord, CEDaR Online Recording or iNaturalist will appear here
Local Charters: A link to the website for the nearest Dive Centre to the site. A map of all dive centres is provided under ‘Go Diving’

Environmental and Historical Designations: A list of any environmental or historical designations attributed to the site, or overlapping it. Follow the link for more information

More Information: Links to additional information found online for the dive site

Markethill Quarry is a freshwater site offering 6-7 meters viz. No need to wash your gear afterwards.

Ideal for keeping skills sharp over winter, testing new equipment, training or just a fun day diving.

With no tides you are able to meet up and dive at the time thats suits you and your group for as long as you wish.

Clubs wishing to train students are welcome, please contact us to arrange. Markethill Scuba believe scuba diving is a fantastic sport and everyone should get the opportunity to experience it.

Dives cost £30 Per person + £60 one off Annual Membership fee. Price will drop by £10 after every 2 months passed January. Contact Markethill Scuba for more details.

Safety: Safety tips

  • In an emergency call 999 
  • Find nearest defibrillator (AED) here.
Latitude, Longitude: The approximate XY coordinates for the dive site in Decimel Degrees (DD). These can be converted to DMS or DDM by following the link below
54.274800, -6.620470
Open in Google Maps Convert coordinates to DDM/DMS
Markethill Scuba Markethill Scuba Markethill Scuba Markethill Scuba Markethill Scuba Markethill Scuba Markethill Scuba Markethill Scuba

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  1. Phillip Sinfield says:
    3rd November 2025 at 7:17 pm

    New Quarry opened, the people who run this site a great helpful people, the site is amazing plenty to see already especially the fish, would recommend this place to anyone

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