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Figure 1: Mosaic poster of the Blue Scale Island Series
INFOMAR has launched the Blue Scale Island Series, a new collection of 12 high-resolution bathymetric maps showcasing the coastal waters around some of Ireland's most distinctive islands. Developed by INFOMAR hydrographers, data processors and cartographers, the series reveals the underwater topography of these island environments in striking detail.
Ireland's offshore islands are among the most remarkable places on the national coastline. Shaped by exposure to the Atlantic Ocean, Irish Sea and Celtic Sea, as well as by tides, geological change and long human connection to the sea, they form an important part of Ireland's natural and cultural heritage. The series includes Inishtrahull, Bere Island, Blasket Islands, Cape Clear, Dursey Island, Inishbofin, Lambay, Old Head of Kinsale, Saltee Islands, Scariff and Deenish, Skellig Islands and Valentia Island.
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Figure 2: Frist map of the series featuring Inishtrahull launched on 22/05/2026
The series brings these settings together through bathymetry, illustrating the seabed forms, slopes, channels and nearshore features that define each location. The Skellig Islands are associated with the early monastic settlement on Sceilg Mhichíl, Lambay is notable for its volcanic geology and seabird habitats, and Valentia Island is linked to the famous tetrapod trackway.
Released as a dedicated series, the maps will be freely available as high-resolution downloads, offering a new way to explore Ireland's island margins and seafloor. Read the full launch article to learn more and see the weekly release schedule.
Download the maps for yourself here and follow the series on social media (LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram) as each new island map is released!
INFOMAR is a national seabed mapping programme funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), and is jointly managed by Geological Survey Ireland and the Marine Institute. It has placed Ireland at the global forefront of marine stewardship, seabed mapping and marine data delivery.