Boston area diving
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Tall Tails
Guest
Boat being trailered or moored in Boston harbor? i.e. do you need driving directions to ramps and dive site or chart directions from Boston to dive sites?
North shore has great scenery and selection of fishes. Rocky areas in Marblehead, Salem, Manchester, Gloucester, Rockport hold all types of fish from flounder to striper, tautog, cod, pollock, sea raven, ocean pout, etc...
Jon
North shore has great scenery and selection of fishes. Rocky areas in Marblehead, Salem, Manchester, Gloucester, Rockport hold all types of fish from flounder to striper, tautog, cod, pollock, sea raven, ocean pout, etc...
Jon
large_diver
Contributor
Amy,
Your boat or a charter boat?
Welcome to New England!
-Chris
Your boat or a charter boat?
Welcome to New England!
-Chris
krustykrab
Contributor
Yeah, there is some great diving around here!
There is some diving in the outer Boston Harbor, by the Harbor Islands. There are a few old wrecks - pretty bad shape, and some people know of scallops out there.
If you want to see lots of fishes, you'll probably need to head to the North or South shore. I guess it depends (as Jon said) on what your boat situation is - where is it, trailered, etc?
See the other thread on Cathedral Rocks - that's a very nice site, but anywhere on Cape Ann is great for diving scenery. With a boat you'll be able to get to some of the less frequented dive sites not accessible easily from shore. Also check out the Cape Ann divers website ( www.capeanndivers.com ) - they have a description of a lot of dive sites around cape ann, both shore and boat accessible.
There is some diving in the outer Boston Harbor, by the Harbor Islands. There are a few old wrecks - pretty bad shape, and some people know of scallops out there.
If you want to see lots of fishes, you'll probably need to head to the North or South shore. I guess it depends (as Jon said) on what your boat situation is - where is it, trailered, etc?
See the other thread on Cathedral Rocks - that's a very nice site, but anywhere on Cape Ann is great for diving scenery. With a boat you'll be able to get to some of the less frequented dive sites not accessible easily from shore. Also check out the Cape Ann divers website ( www.capeanndivers.com ) - they have a description of a lot of dive sites around cape ann, both shore and boat accessible.
RIDIVER501
Contributor
Hey Amy,
If it fish you want to see then I would recommend Diving the Newport area. especially in the late july timeframe.
The gulf stream runs close to the southern tip of Rhode Island here and that carries the eggs of various species up this way so by late july the eggs have hatched and tropical fish not indiginous to this area can be seen. Over the past few years the area that these fish are seen in have grown from just a small slice off of gooseberry island all the way over to the dive sites off of fort wetherhill and fort getty.
Newport is about an hour-hour and a half ride from boston...FYI
John
If it fish you want to see then I would recommend Diving the Newport area. especially in the late july timeframe.
The gulf stream runs close to the southern tip of Rhode Island here and that carries the eggs of various species up this way so by late july the eggs have hatched and tropical fish not indiginous to this area can be seen. Over the past few years the area that these fish are seen in have grown from just a small slice off of gooseberry island all the way over to the dive sites off of fort wetherhill and fort getty.
Newport is about an hour-hour and a half ride from boston...FYI
John
MSilvia
Contributor
Where's your mooring Amy? That'll make it easier to recommend good sites nearby.
scubastew
Guest
AmyDiver,
Mr. Tall Tales is correct the North Shore features a number of beautiful dives, but lets not discount the South Shore, fellas. Plymouth and Cape Cod have a number of nice dives and plenty of wrecks to discover. Though most South Shore shore dives dont get very deep. Either way the Massachusetts waters will be quite a bit colder than you may be used too. Be sure to get a 6.5mm+ wet suit, gloves, hood, etc. or consider going to a drysuit (if the cold bothers you). Temps at depth dont get much over 55 degrees, especially on the North Shore.
I'd recommend three excellent resources:
1. http://www.scuba-newengland.com
2. Beneath the Waters of Massachusetts Bay (Cape Ann to Plymouth) and
3. Exploring the Waters of Cape Cod
[Both books are by Donald L. Ferris and can be purchase at most local shops]
Also if you are in the Somerville area you might like United Divers they have a bunch of female employees (which may make you a tad more confortable) in addition the shop is a wealth of knowledge. If you are on the South Shore I recommend South Shore Divers in Weymouth. There are GREAT folks at SSD and also a friendly dive club (http://www.massbaydivers.com) !!
Mr. Tall Tales is correct the North Shore features a number of beautiful dives, but lets not discount the South Shore, fellas. Plymouth and Cape Cod have a number of nice dives and plenty of wrecks to discover. Though most South Shore shore dives dont get very deep. Either way the Massachusetts waters will be quite a bit colder than you may be used too. Be sure to get a 6.5mm+ wet suit, gloves, hood, etc. or consider going to a drysuit (if the cold bothers you). Temps at depth dont get much over 55 degrees, especially on the North Shore.
I'd recommend three excellent resources:
1. http://www.scuba-newengland.com
2. Beneath the Waters of Massachusetts Bay (Cape Ann to Plymouth) and
3. Exploring the Waters of Cape Cod
[Both books are by Donald L. Ferris and can be purchase at most local shops]
Also if you are in the Somerville area you might like United Divers they have a bunch of female employees (which may make you a tad more confortable) in addition the shop is a wealth of knowledge. If you are on the South Shore I recommend South Shore Divers in Weymouth. There are GREAT folks at SSD and also a friendly dive club (http://www.massbaydivers.com) !!
MAsharkDiver
Contributor
amydiver:I'm new to the Boston area from Florida and wanted to do some New England diving, do people have recommendations on where to go by boat from the Boston area, I prefer to see fish more than lobsters
Any help you boys could provide would be great.
amy
Hi Amy.... seems you've done the opposite of what I've been trying to do for years.....trying to GET TO Florida! Anyway, welcome to Taxachusetts and New England diving.
The Boston Diving Company offers charters out of Quincy Harbor. Their boat is similar to a Boston Whaler and, from what I understand, is a center console, open bow - makes windy days on the water a bit interesting.... I've never gone out on their boat, so I can only speak from what I'm told from my dive buddies.
If you have your own boat, sorry, I can't help you.
If you're interested in diving north of Boston (Gloucester, Rockport, etc.) I can give you some leads in that area as well.... maybe check out a couple of the dive clubs until you learn some sites:
New England Aquarium Dive Club.... about $95 to join ($15 to join the dive club, but in order to join the dive club, you must be a member of the Aquarium, $80)
Merrimack Valley Dive Club.... based in Lowell and only $25 to join....I'm bias toward this club since I belong and have been on the board off and on for the past 3 years.
Good Luck.
:dazzler1:
Tall Tails
Guest
quote:"Mr. Tall Tales is correct the North Shore features a number of beautiful dives, but lets not discount the South Shore, fellas. "
Sorry, Stew. No disrespect to southie, I have just never dove down there. Maybe someday I will.
TT
Sorry, Stew. No disrespect to southie, I have just never dove down there. Maybe someday I will.
TT
PK
Contributor
MAsharkDiver:
Hi,
For Amy or anyone else who is a certified diver, feel free to dive with the New England Aquarium Dive Club (NEADC)! There are advantages to being a member but we don't force it on anyone if you want to dive with us while considering membership.
It's true that you must be a member of the New England Aquarium (NEAq) to join the dive club. However, the NEAq "individual" membership is only $45 and $15 to join the NEADC, so that's a total of $60. As a member, you get to listen to interesting speakers at our monthly speaker series plus enter our free membership raffle to dive in the Giant Ocean Tank at the NEAq. We're giving a private tour of NEAq's "Amazing Jellies" exhibit at our July meeting. Hope to see some of you there!
Membership Director
New England Aquarium Dive Club
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