Irish GPS Coordinates

[SeaHound1]

I'm planning some diving in Ireland this summer and I'm researching sites. Some of the Irish web sites list GPS coordinates but when I plug their numbers in to my Garmin Mapsource program some of the sites show up on dry land! I'm trying to figure out what datum they are using and what format they list the coordinates in. Is it: dd mm ss (degrees, minutes, seconds) or what?

Heres and example:
The Folio - Location: GPS: N 51 52 86 W 7 41 34
Three Mile Rock - Location S.E. of Hook Head. GPS: N 52 54 65 W 6 51 47


Notice the third pair of number is greater than 60 (seconds)



Anybody?
Michael

 

[rongoodman]

Coordinates can be of the form XXX degrees YY.YYY minutes, ie, decimal minutes instead of minutes/seconds. It should be possible to change your GPS unit or program between the two formats. If that is what they're using, though, leaving the decimal point out makes things confusing.

This site has the location for the Folia mentioned above with the decimal point left in, which makes much more sense.

 

[Zerovis]

What site did you get these off i will have a look and get back to you

 

[SeaHound1]

Zeroviz, thanks for the interest.

When I started researching I saw a list of wreck on Waterford Harbor SAC's website. I was confused by the format they had listed the coordinates (two sets of three pairs of digits without any decimal point). When I entered the numbers for the sites they listed some of them showed up on dry land. I sent them emails questioning this and they never replied. They have since removed the list.

I've since found some of the same wrecks listed on IrishWrecksOnline.net and Irishshipwrecks.com. The information here seems to be clearer, but they never state what coordinated system they use i.e. WGS 84 etc. For one site they will show the coordinates as dd mm ss (degree, minute, seconds) and the next site will be listed as dd mm.mmm (degrees, decimal minutes).

This whole process proved very confusing. I now have three different sets of numbers for The Folia; all about a quarter mile apart. I don't know who to trust.

Right now I'm more concerned about simply finding an outfit I can dive with. I'm having real trouble finding a dive operation in the Waterford area where I can rent gear and get a boat to go see these wrecks. If you know anyone I'd appreciate the info. I'll be in Waterford in July 2010.

Thanks
Michael P Murphy

 

[Zerovis]

hi there
you could give these guys a try Waterford Harbour Sub Aqua Club, still trying to track one guy in Ardmore near Waterford