Inisboffin (island of white cow) is where I got back into diving with the club. It is a long story, Paul Conroy happened to say to me at work one day that the club were heading over for a week. I was told to go to Kilkee and get a dive in and they would see if I was good to go. It is the trouble with being a trainee - tests ahead of you. I duly went and did a couple of dives and was given the OK to book into Murray’s (Doonmore hotel).

I had a brilliant time and haven’t stopped diving since. That was over 10 years ago and I hadn’t been back again until I had to do another test to be allowed dive in Boffin in June.

Aude didn’t think she would be going to Boffin but went with me on the theory bit of the Mon3 over the winter, ‘something to do’ she said but though of leaving it after the theory part of the test.  After much studying , lots of lifting metal objects from the sea bed (on paper), I passed . In order to prepare for the week on Boffin, we were invited by the Curragh SAC to join them for a weekend diving and they would show us the sights and point out the pit falls, like where not to leave the boats.

We met up with Stephan Smith (Wexford SAC ) in Cleggan  and got the ferry over to the island. This was the first eye opener for us, getting all our diving gear over and ensuring not to forget anything. Fuel for boats, compressors, rebreathers, first aid, O2 and emergency kits, plans, suits and spare everything. Once on the island if you forget it you have to do without. The ferry is about a 40 min trip. The hotel sends a van to collect you and your gear at the pier and take you to your new home. Once the gear was dropped we got ready for our first dive.

Inisboffin - scuba diving

Murray’s have a wet room for all your dive gear and they also have their own electric compressor. Boats can be left on the south beach (1 min) or the north beach (10 min) walk. The diving is some of the best to be got on the west coast. My favourite dive site ‘Friar Island’, which is about 5 miles south of Boffin. Wall dives with depths straight to 50 meters. The ground is shear walls with life competing for every square inch.

When the dives are over boats refuelled and bottles filled you can chill out with a pint and crab sandwich watching the walkers, cyclist and gannets pass by. Trips to Inishark and Inishturk can be done if the weather is right, but with islands you have shelter on one side regardless, so keeping an ear to Met Eireann is a must.

For our trip to Inishturk we packed a small lunch and ate on the pier. After a little walk you begin to realise how hard a life it must of being before the motor was attached to a boat. On Boffin and Ark helicopter pads are very visible, we are so lucky to have hospitals on our door step. If diving isn’t your thing or you only fancy one dive a day there is lots to do on the islands. I would recommend bringing a bike but walking is also a good option as the islands are not too long and you can always stop on route for refreshments in the local pubs.

Things to do in Inisbofin

The beauty of the islands is the remoteness of them, no bad news for a week, papers, TV and mobiles can all be left behind, cars are left at Cleggan. There are a few moving about the island rarely out of second gear. Traditional music is available every night somewhere, or you can just sit in good company and have a chat. The exams went well for us all but it just left me with the longing to go back.

Inish Boffin has being great to me and I would love to show some of you new guys (less than 10years) around the fabulous dives sites and enjoy the island without the pressure of a test.

Keep a week of holidays for June 2011, if there are enough interested we will be going there for a club holiday.