National diving event comes to Nenagh
All are welcome to Diving Ireland Expo 2025, Ireland's biggest diving and watersports show, which is coming to the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh on the weekend of March 29 and 30.
Hosted this year by Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club, the weekend event is a trade show that coincides with the annual convention of Diving Ireland - the national governing body for recreational underwater sports in Ireland.
A key feature of the weekend event is the series of talks on topics that will be of interest to a wide audience. They range from stories of deep dives in exploration of famous shipwrecks, to women in diving, to even a talk about living on Fastnet Lighthouse.
Speakers confirmed for this year's event include Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, recently in the news over the appearance of a humpback whale in the Shannon Estuary. Also sure to capture interest is Michael Loftus, key player in the much-publicised sinking of the MV Shingle off Mayo last year, leading to the creation of Ireland's first artificial reef for divers to explore.
A further talk will be given by popular Kilkee man Manuel Di Lucia, who last year - at the age of 83 - published a book on his life as pioneering diver, fisherman, lifeguard, restaurant operator and Marine Rescue Centre founder.
Local man Páraic Slattery will be there to give a talk about his role as a helicopter pilot with the Irish Coast Guard, while Andrew Ryan of Revenue Customs will have an engaging presentation about drug smuggling in the maritime domain.
Diving Ireland Expo '25 will also feature a series of talks dedicated to technical diving - dives to incredible depths of well below 100 metres in search of the world's most iconic shipwrecks. One of these will be delivered by deep sea explorer Barry McGill, who will be sharing his images of many previously unphotographed shipwrecks.
WOMEN IN DIVING
A number of the talks will focus on women in diving. One that has already garnered interest from around the country is ‘An Insight into Military Diving’ with Irish Navy Lieutenant Tahlia Britton, the first and only female to qualify since the birth of the Navy diving unit in the 1960s.
Watch out too for the underwater photography exhibition at this year's event. The 2024 exhibition was recently on display at Nenagh Library and the Civic Offices; a new one will be presented at the Abbey Court for the expo, where you can marvel at more images captured throughout Ireland and abroad by the Diving Ireland Underwater Photography Group, members of which will also be giving talks.
Meanwhile, the trade show is the best place in the country for people interested in scuba-diving, free-diving, snorkelling and similar watersports to avail of great deals on gear. Some of the biggest names in the business will be there and you can find out about the latest products on the market, as well as offerings from dive holiday providers.
A quirky addition to proceedings will be the assortment of art & craft stands - most of which will have an aquatic theme - involving several well-known local artisans.
Everyone who attends Diving Ireland Expo in Nenagh will be entered into a prize draw for a Red Sea holiday in Egypt, while there is also a raffle with some truly fantastic prizes to be won. Note that raffle tickets will also be on sale outside Applegreen, Birdhill, this Sunday. It's all happening at the Abbey Court Hotel on Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30.
For further details, visit the website divingirelandexpo.ie and check out @diveirelandexpo on Facebook, Instagram and X.