From Drop Box

Published directly from an email from Ronnie:

 

Re. “The Quarry”

 

At this stage, with the exciting prospect of the commercial development of the Quarry in Portroe, it may be of some interest to place on record a little of the known origin of the area as a diving site.

 

In 1980, yours truly, as a diving equipment trader and member of a small diving archeological research group from within the L.S.A.C. heard about a firm based in Pallasgreen called “Location Technology Ltd” which was manufacturing underwater metal detectors. I called to see them and they told me of a spot where they were doing their product testing in a quarry beside the Tubex factory near Portroe. I went out to have a look, (can’t remember who was with me), and remember being awestruck by the amazing blue tinged visibility of the water. As I recall, Diving Officer Andrew Hendrick and Mike Kerrison, were first to dive it. This was truly an adventure because they had no foretaste of the awesome depths into which they were venturing. Accessibility and togging out arrangements were horrendous, as it was then mid winter. Believe me, it was worth it, as anybody who has dived there will testify! I remember Andrew being really adventurous in thoroughly exploring other diving locations within the quarry area.

 

I can find reference in official Club records to at least 3 Club dives in the Quarry during season 1980/81 and some water sampling undertaken by member Ute O’Gorman.

 

 In November 1999, Dr. Tom (McDonnell) undertook some further water sampling, assisted by Brian Kearney with Michael Hogan of Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club. This testing was written up by Dr. Tom in the Spring ’99 issue of “Subsea”, see copy attached. 

 

Finally, since there may very well be some further substantiated early references to The Quarry as a diving site, I would love to hear of them but that’s it, as far as this correspondent is concerned.