Marble Arch - Cascades - Prod's Pot
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Description and history of diving
Marble Arch is operated as a showcave by Fermanagh District Council and permission must be sought for access.
Skreen Hill sump 2
At the upstream end of the showcave path the Owenbreen river sumps (sump 1) in the Skreen Hill passage. A short distance before the sump a dry bypass can be taken to Skreen Hill 2. Following the Owenbreen river upstream sump 2 is met. This is presently the only way to access Skreen Hill 3, some 650 m of well preserved and well decorated large stream passage.
References
Irish Sump Index, 1988.
The Caves of Fermanagh and Cavan, 1997.
Recent dives
Skreen Hill sump 2
28-03-10 - diver Al Kennedy; support Stephen Read, Emma Ross, Una Donoghue
As the showcave was open the Armco entrance was used and Journey's End speedily reached, and then Skreen Hill sump 2 via the bypass. An old dive line was running into the sump and this was followed. The first dive was aborted as the diver's 3L bailout bottle detached and the diver returned to correct the problem. The second dive was uneventful and quite pleasant, with visibility of over one metre. A fish was encountered. The line was in good condition, buried in the sand and gravel bottom in places which made the inward dive easier as it was otherwise unbelayed and floaty polyprop. The line is belayed to a bolt in the wall of Skreen Hill 3. A pleasant trip was had in Skreen Hill 3 before the diver returned, earlier than planned due to battery failure. No problems were encountered on the return dive although the line was very loose (no belays were placed in the sump). The sherpas were encountered in the bypass and after a speedy carry the cave was exited by the Armco entrance.
Sump is approximately 20 m long and 4.5 m deep, spacious, with a sand and gravel bottom.
