Cape Ann information

[ScubaJag]

Hello,

We plan going to Cape Ann area may 22-24. The plan was to do 2 shore dives Saturday and 2 boats dive Sunday. It’s a relatively long drive from Canada and we never dive in this region before, so we need some help to planning it.

For the shore dive we look for easy entry at any recreational depth. Which shore dive did you recommend?

For the boat dive we look for wreck in 80-120 feet range. If you can only make 2 dives in the area, which wrecks would you choose?

Finally, all our tanks are O2 clean so where can we find the nearest air station with nitrox or at minimum clean air (O2 compatible).

Thank you in advance.

 

[matt_unique]

Hello,

We plan going to Cape Ann area may 22-24. The plan was to do 2 shore dives Saturday and 2 boats dive Sunday. It’s a relatively long drive from Canada and we never dive in this region before, so we need some help to planning it.

For the shore dive we look for easy entry at any recreational depth. Which shore dive did you recommend?

For the boat dive we look for wreck in 80-120 feet range. If you can only make 2 dives in the area, which wrecks would you choose?

Finally, all our tanks are O2 clean so where can we find the nearest air station with nitrox or at minimum clean air (O2 compatible).

Thank you in advance.

For shore dives I would recommend Folly Cove for one. I read once it is the most photographed dive site in New England. (I have a picture blown up on the wall myself). It is a protected cove with a nice wall on the left side. Dive along the base of this wall. It's right on Rt. 127. You enter in the shallows/rocky beach and can hit 70' if you swim far enough. This will probably be a max 40' for you unless you swim a long way. For a second shore dive site I would recommend Magnolia. It is a little tougher an entrance than Folly but not bad at all. Decent site....

For boat dives I would definitely recommend the Chester Poling wreck and Halfway Rock. Chester Poling has an interesting history and the max depth is 100' at high tide. It's a relatively intact wreck with lots of sea life. Halfway Rock is a pinnacle that rises 30' above the surface from about 105' at high tide. I was diving there yesterday afternoon in fact. We maxed out at 102' to the sand and circumnavigated the pinnacle. There is all kinds of sea life and it is very dramatic topography. It is my favorite Cape Anne dive site at the moment. If your dive boat goes to Paddack Ledge that is pretty good too. I have only been there once but I remember I liked the topography - drops down to 80' +/- the tide.

I would suggest Cape Anne Divers for the charter. It's a relatively short boat ride and they do a good job. I have never had fills there but I assume they offer Nitrox. Check the website to be sure. I get my Nitrox fills at Northeast Scuba in Chelmsford off Rt. 495 and Mass Diving in Natick off Rt. 9.

Enjoy the dives.

--Matt

 

[MSilvia]

I would suggest Cape Anne Divers for the charter. I have never had fills there but I assume they offer Nitrox.

That would not be a safe assumption. Cape Ann Divers neither offers nitrox nor O2 compatable air fills.

For what it's worth, I prefer Capt. Fran Marcoux's Daybreaker for my charters. You can contact him at franm52@aol.com.

For shore dives, I like Old Garden Beach in Rockport.

 

[ScubaJag]

That would not be a safe assumption. Cape Ann Divers neither offers nitrox nor O2 compatable air fills.

Thank you matt_unique and MSilvia.

So Where is the nearest place to have nitrox or clean air in Cape Ann?

Mario

 

[LLyod Bridges]

Northeast Scuba I believe is the closest Dive Shop that can fill Nitrox to Cape Ann, they are located in Chelmsford which is around 45-50 miles from cape ann, off of exit 34 on I-495. Or I don't know if it helps but there is also Aquanuts in Concord, NH who have Nitrox fills. Both have websites.
Matt

 

[Soggy]

For shore diving spots, I'd recommend Cathedral Rocks and Old Garden Beach. If you make it to Cathedral Rocks, you might want to go with someone who has been there before, as getting down to the entry point can be challenging without a guide. It has depths from 20ft-80ft along with amazing topography. Old Garden Beach is a very easy entry which can reach 45 ft if you swim far enough, but is usually a 20-35ft dive.

As far as boat dives, I'd highly recommend the Chester Poling stern wreck. The deck is usually around 75-80' with the sand getting to 95'-100'. It is the stern half of an oil tanker that sank in January of 1977 during a bad storm. It was then dragged several hundred yards underwater during the blizzard of 1978 where it rests now.

Cape Ann divers runs 2 top-notch boats and a mediocre shop with no clean air or nitrox. They hot fill even aluminum tanks, so you're lucky to walk out of there with 2600 psi in an Al80. I personally get my nitrox fills at United Divers in Somerville, MA. They do partial pressure filling and have clean air in the back room.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Just an FYI, DUI is having their annual DOG days at Stagefort Park in Gloucester, MA May 22nd and 23rd. So, if you want to see some cool gear, try out a drysuit or an underwater camera, it might be worth checking it out!!!

 

[MASS-Diver]

Just an FYI, DUI is having their annual DOG days at Stagefort Park in Gloucester, MA May 22nd and 23rd. So, if you want to see some cool gear, try out a drysuit or an underwater camera, it might be worth checking it out!!!

I might have to go to that and check out some of those zip seals - I'm yet to even see a pair in person.

 

[ScubaSarus]

First off don't forget any gear the dive shop in town is a bit expensive.

We dived Folley cove at low tide and made it out to 65 FT on the wall on the left. Stay near the wall if youre new to the cove. You can get lost beyond the wall. If you have a camera, your'e in fat city. The anemones are awsome. I saw the largest anemone I've ever seen that lookeds like a large bowl of peach-vanilla ice cream. Vis was maybe 30-40 ft. Water temp at depth was 42 ft.

Oh and thankyou to the diver that assisted me in getting my BC on and handing me out flag when I was overheating. Funny how only 60 mins later I was shivering. What a way to beat the heat wave.

It was a great dive that I'll remember for ever.

 

[Clutchcargo]

I've only been on two of Cape Ann Divers charters and they were excellant. From my limited sample, I highly recommend them. The shop is a little pricey, but if you forget your weightbelt or something they're nice to have around the corner. The most expensive airfills that I've found though.