Rred
Contributor
Tom-
When you see a name like "Inlet"...that's often a crowded inlet channel. A lot of boating traffic, or fishermen on the rocks lining it. A fast tip-off that no one will be allowed in the water, diver or otherwise, because of that traffic. The water conditions in pretty much all of the NJ inlets also get outright dangerous if the tide and the wide are opposite each other, or in heavy weather of any kind. Currents and wave conditions get so bad that even the USCG does not send out SAR boats during storms, and swimmers/divers would be swept away in way less than that. Generally, if there's a one knot current? That's more than you can swim against, you'll need to be doing a drift dive.
It is also problematic if you are required to fly a dive flag and boats required to keep (100 feet?) away from it. I don't know what NJ law is about that, but the "keep away" radius makes diving unfeasible in any kind of narrow waterway, with two-way traffic requiring separation as well.
Sometimes you'll find "local beach diving" type booklets for sale, online or at dive shops. I know, everything is on the web these days, but the booklets are a great way to find dive spots too.
When you see a name like "Inlet"...that's often a crowded inlet channel. A lot of boating traffic, or fishermen on the rocks lining it. A fast tip-off that no one will be allowed in the water, diver or otherwise, because of that traffic. The water conditions in pretty much all of the NJ inlets also get outright dangerous if the tide and the wide are opposite each other, or in heavy weather of any kind. Currents and wave conditions get so bad that even the USCG does not send out SAR boats during storms, and swimmers/divers would be swept away in way less than that. Generally, if there's a one knot current? That's more than you can swim against, you'll need to be doing a drift dive.
It is also problematic if you are required to fly a dive flag and boats required to keep (100 feet?) away from it. I don't know what NJ law is about that, but the "keep away" radius makes diving unfeasible in any kind of narrow waterway, with two-way traffic requiring separation as well.
Sometimes you'll find "local beach diving" type booklets for sale, online or at dive shops. I know, everything is on the web these days, but the booklets are a great way to find dive spots too.