Dive boat off of Beavertail

[RIHappyDiver]

Anyone know who was operating the dive boat off of beavertail point, Jamestown, today? I’ve heard the diving could be good, but shore entries could be dangerous, so boat charter seems a good way to go.

Thanks,

Erik

 

[Sean222]

Anyone know who was operating the dive boat off of beavertail point, Jamestown, today? I’ve heard the diving could be good, but shore entries could be dangerous, so boat charter seems a good way to go.

Thanks,

Erik

That was John Langella's boat. I went by them when were heading back to Dutch Harbor yesterday. Talk to Red at Giant Stride. He runs the charters on John's boat for Newport area stuff and Wayne Gordon's Canned Air or the "Priority" for Block Island

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

but shore entries could be dangerous

What makes Beavertail shore entries dangerous?

 

[RIHappyDiver]

That was John Langella's boat. I went by them when were heading back to Dutch Harbor yesterday. Talk to Red at Giant Stride. He runs the charters on John's boat for Newport area stuff and Wayne Gordon's Canned Air or the "Priority" for Block Island

Thanks! John taught my Nitrox class. I had seen on facebook that Red was going to the U853, so I didn’t even think of John.

What makes Beavertail shore entries dangerous?

It’s all rock shore with a south facing point, so the waves are always pretty strong, as is the current. I’ve been told that there are a lot of nooks under the rock that you can be drug into, as well. Having never done it before, I can only go by hearsay, but I have never seen anyone shore diving there even when Ft. Wetherill is packed.

 

[Sean222]

You are quite welcome. Yup i had just talked to Red. We were on the sub on Saturday and he was asking how it was.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

One of these days I’ve got to do that dive. Is it as great as I’ve heard?

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

One of these days I’ve got to do that dive. Is it as great as I’ve heard?

Yes but it is deep and the viz is hit or miss... Only did it once and will be back...

 

[Sean222]

Yes it is pretty interesting, more so if you are into history. I have my own diveboat so we hit it a couple times each season. Its an easy 16 mile run from the mooring. After 30 years and multiple visits to the wreck i would say that basking ridge diver is dead on. It can be great and it can be pretty sucky.3rd

 

[AfterDark]

What makes Beavertail shore entries dangerous?

Strong currents, rocky shore line limits ingress and egress points, slippery rocks, unexpected large swells, and unexpected squalls. That's on the EAST side. The West side isn't as bad but during a west wind it's "tricky" also requires climbing up and down rocks with full gear to get into and out of the water. I did many shore dives there both day and night dives in my youth. I wouldn't even attempt the east side these days the west side is an all day affair for me these days. It's a lot of work for an average dive, no wrecks, no reefs, really nothing special to see in return for the work and danger. I did get a lot of bugs there on night dives there. Anglers get swept off the rocks and into the sea there every now and then.

The last time I dove there was January 1988. A unexpected squall kicked up some pretty large swells. It took 20 min for me to swim about 15' fighting the surge to a rock to hold onto and crawl onto the rocky shore during the time the water recced. Also as I was struggling to reach shore my wife kept inching down the rocks approaching the slippery black zone on the rocks to "help" me. This is how anglers wind up in the water, one slip and the waves take them out and gone. I got her to stop and go back up to safety. It was quite a harrowing experience,

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

So it seems you want to do Fort Weatherill if you want to live to see another dive... Got it...