'Knowledge is power': Showing off the undersea wonders of Cork Harbour

A new marine experience has opened up on Cork's coast, spearheaded by local man Dave Quinlan, who tells MARGARET DONNELLAN how the fishing industry has helped provide many of the fascinating exhibits

A spider crab at Oceans of Discovery at Fort Camden, Cork

A CHILDHOOD spent exploring the Cork coastline sparked a life-long passion for marine life in Dave Quinlan.

“I was very close to the sea,” recalls Dave, from Myrtleville. “We grew up down at the beach, out fishing, things like that, always underwater.”

The marine scientist is now inspiring younger generations through his business Oceans Of Discovery, near Crosshaven, which offers an engaging, hands-on experience of Cork Harbour’s native sea creatures and their habitats.

Oceans Of Discovery began as a PADI Dive Centre back in 2017, before evolving into a marine education experience. Dave and his team launched a series of summer camps in 2025 along with a roadshow of schools across Cork and the wider Munster area. Then the opportunity arose for a more permanent exhibition.

"We did three-day summer camps in and around Crosshaven last summer,” said Dave, “teaching young people about the marine world through a lot of activities."

A highlight of the camps was a visit to the historic Camden Fort Meagher. 

“We’d bring the kids in for the day and go on scavenger hunts, learn about the fort, things like that. So then, at the end of last summer, I did a pilot there. I came in with a mobile aquarium, the one I go to schools with, did an open day, and it was hugely popular.”

Such was the success of the open day, fuelled by the support of Camden Fort Meagher management and local councillors Jack White and Audrey Buckley, that Oceans Of Discovery secured a more permanent home.

“We were given a short-term lease on a room [in Fort Camden] for the season,” explained Dave. “And so far, so good!”

Councillor White agreed. “The Oceans Of Discovery experience is a fantastic addition to Camden Fort Meagher and a strong example of how local entrepreneurship is being supported by Cork County Council,” he said.

“It’s always encouraging to see new businesses investing in our communities, creating attractions that will bring visitors to Crosshaven and support the local economy.”

He credits Dave with creating “an experience that is educational, engaging, and adds another dimension to one of Cork’s most iconic heritage sites”.

Dogfish at Oceans of Discovery at Fort Camden, Cork

The Camden Marine Experience has proved popular with visitors. Entry to the fort is included with the ticket price, so people can make a day of it.

“Lots of people who come into me now are families or people who wouldn’t have really thought about visiting Fort Camden before, but it gives them a reason to come and explore the fort,” said Dave. “So it seems to be very positive so far. Well, everyone tells me that anyway — no one’s told me otherwise yet!”

Visitors to the exhibits can discover native marine species from Cork habitats, ranging from the intertidal shoreline to the deep ocean. Highlights include dogfish, lobsters, hermit and spider crabs, blennies, and starfish.

Marine scientists from Oceans Of Discovery are on hand to guide visitors through the different tanks, answering any questions they may have. 

Touch tanks allow people to get up close and personal with starfish, hermit crabs, and other species, and interactive activities like a marine plastics treasure hunt, virtual reality dive experience, and water play table in the shape of Cork Harbour keep visitors of all ages entertained.

The welfare of the creatures in the exhibition is a high priority for Dave and his team, and they do not stay on display for long, as he explains.

“We aim to not hold onto the species for long. 

We keep them a few weeks, maybe a month, and then we let them back [to the sea]. I’m rotating things continuously just so they stay healthy, and we’d only put things back if they’re actually healthy.

A real community initiative, Oceans Of Discovery works closely with local fishermen to source species for the exhibition.

“The local fishermen and lobster men in Crosshaven,” said Dave, “they’re very good. If they catch anything kind of strange, they’d always give me a shout, or if I need anything in particular I just give them a text. I’ll get a phone call then or a text saying, ‘Dave, down the pier there, there’s a couple of fish waiting!’”

As huge proponents of the harbour and its importance to Cork, the local fishing community is very supportive.

Dave explained: “They’re very proactive, because I think that fishing gets a bad name. Obviously, big commercial fishing is a different story, but the in-shore smaller boats here have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years, so they’re hugely important to local communities. This is their livelihood and they want to see a healthy ocean.”

Dave is grateful for all the local support he has received, not just from fishermen, but from a welcoming community as a whole — volunteers at Camden Fort Meagher, Cork County Council, “and the local community across Crosshaven”.

Dave Quinlan and daughter Daisy at the Oceans Of Discovery marine centre at Fort Camden, Cork

He continued: “Crosshaven has been great. Everyone’s very supportive because they see it as a positive for tourism and for education as well. It’s kind of a win-win!”

From working as a diving instructor in Thailand to supervising marine science projects in Indonesia, Dave has explored oceans and their wildlife around the world. There’s no place, however, like home.

“There’s such a diversity of creatures in Cork Harbour,” he explained. “Obviously, very, very large commercial fishing has had an impact on things like sprat and mackerel, but there’s still an incredible amount to see.

"From my years of scuba diving as well, I can see the variety of creatures here. Once people can actually see it for themselves, particularly by coming to us, it gives them a much better appreciation."

Dave is passionate about marine education, as evidenced not just by the Fort Camden exhibit, but also his company’s school roadshows and summer camps.

“Once people are informed, they become better advocates — particularly young people — and that will help to safeguard our coastal areas. Be it as simple as not littering, picking up rubbish, and the impacts of marine litter — all these little things go up the line,” he said.

Looking into the aquarium at the Oceans of Discovery marine centre at Fort Camden, Cork

The children visiting Camden Fort Meagher this summer, or engaging with the Oceans Of Discovery roadshows and summer camps, are our next generation of marine biologists, said Dave.

“Knowledge is power. If you have 100 kids in a school and one or two of them perk up at the roadshow, marine science could be their future.”

Oceans Of Discovery is open at Camden Fort Meagher daily throughout July and August and on Saturdays and Sundays in September and October. For more information and to book, visit oceansofdiscovery.ie