Popular Portroe Dive Centre to close
Sadness and disappointment has greeted the news that Portroe Dive Centre is to close next month. Opened in 2010 as Ireland's first inland dive centre, the dedicated facility based at a former slate quarry site overlooking the village has attracted divers from all over the country. It has been used all-year-round and in all weather conditions by dive clubs and as a training facility for water-based emergency services.
But in a statement issued on Facebook last week, Portroe Dive Centre cited insurance costs and claims as the reason for its closure on November 5th. It said it would not be possible to continue insurance coverage of the centre in 2020.
Members of the diving community around the country have joined with the local Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club in expressing sorrow at the news - and hope that a solution can be found. Portroe native Alan Kelly TD also regretted the closure, which he said demonstrates the need for an urgent overhaul of Ireland's insurance industry.Managed in recent years by highly-experienced diving specialist Piotr Dybikowski, Portroe Dive Centre has also been a greatly-valued facility for the servicing of diving equipment.
With oxygen on standby, a purpose-built access platform, changing facilities and other features, the unique centre allows divers to explore the flooded quarry site and the many interesting facets added by management over the years.
“We are looking very intensively for an alternative cover but we have no certainty that it will succeed,” Mr Dybikowski said on Facebook. He said the last dives at the centre would be held on the weekend of November 2nd and 3rd.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to have met so many of you during all those years and will be honored to personally say thank you to all of you on the 2nd and the 3rd of November.”
In its statement, Lough Derg SAC spoke of the close association its members have had with the Portroe site, where the local club recently celebrated its 25th anniversary: “Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club was saddened to learn of the impending closure of Portroe Dive Centre. Members of our club have been regular visitors to the centre over the years. It is a great place to dive and it has served as an excellent training facility for local divers as well as those coming from all around the country.
“The closure of this facility will be a great loss to Lough Derg SAC along with the many other diving clubs and emergency services that come to Portroe to use it. We hope that a way can be found to open Portroe Dive Centre again in the future.
“Lough Derg SAC would like to thank Piotr Dybikowski for all his assistance and friendship over the years.”
Dublin-based Flagship Scuba, the company that set up the Portroe centre in 2010, also expressed sorrow at last week's news, recalling the amount of effort, time and money that went into the original ground works, cleaning of rubbish and preparation of the site.
Local TD Alan Kelly said the situation underlines the need for insurance companies to be brought to task where small-scale business is concerned.
“This is another blow for one of our local small and medium enterprises, which are being absolutely crucified by an insurance industry that is behaving like a cartel,” Deputy Kelly said. “The Government has still not got to grips with it. The problem is having a massive impact on small businesses in rural areas, whose margins are tighter and who have less capacity to grow.”