Planning a dip in the Irish sea? You’ll need this app before you head out

One for swimming and watersport enthusiasts (especially as we come into the summer months), a new interactive, geo-location app called The Sea features vital information for all sea users in Ireland, including water temperature, tide times, swell height and wind speed for all sea activity spots around the country. For the first time ever, the sea user can add locations, information and images about their favourite sea spots and save it all on the app so they are all safely prepared before they take go to take a dip.

The app, divided into four sections – Activities, Environment, Culture and Advocacy – also contains podcasts, blogs on swimming and watersport safety and offers ways to get involved with environmental issues relating to the sea in Ireland.

Environmentalist and long time daily sea swimmer Peter O’Brien created The Sea for two reasons: to provide the necessary information for all sea users on one app and to create a space for conversations about environmental issues around the sea in Ireland.

“This is a one-stop-shop for everything related to the sea in Ireland. As well as providing useful information on the best spots for swimming, surfing and kayaking, I wanted to gather like-minded people, who firstly love the sea and want to use it for their well being, I know the benefits and so do all regular sea users. But also it is for those who are concerned about our seas, it is also, therefore, a space for action and education.,” he said.

“This is not just an app, we are gathering all the sea communities into one place and creating a marine movement. Our seas are in danger, the Irish sea has lost 90% of its biodiversity in 100 years and we need marine protected areas, so I’m also providing a platform where these issues can be highlighted and discussed.”

Individuals can submit their own favourite spots for swimming and sea activity, as well as provide information on environmental, cultural and advocacy issues. “The Sea is interactive, people can add to it and engage with us, this app will grow as people add to it. My aim is for it to be the best information and educational resource for sea enthusiasts in Ireland,” Peter added.

To download for Android and IOS please visit www.thesea.ie