Cape Cod: Questions about New Seabury

[cbborromeo]

Hi! I've never been diving in the NE before, so pardon the ignorance. I will be taking a week trip to the Cape this July/August and was thinking about diving while there. I've only dove tropical waters so I am completely oblivious to requirements, dive shops, etc. Can anyone point me in the right direction as to a good SCUBA shop that I can ping for more information?

Some basic questions I have are: Water temp in July/August? Does it require 3,5,7mm wet or dry suit? Visability? What are closest sites to New Seabury? Average cost of 2 tank dive, etc.

Any non-Scuba tips for New Seabury are appreciated too (local lobstah market, etc.)

thanks!!!

 

[paulthenurse]

That side of the Cape is mostly all sand. Not too much to see.

There is a shop in Barnstable (The Dive Locker http://63.74.120.153/divelocker/) and one in Plymouth (Divers Market http://www.diversmarket.com/) I live right nearby Divers Market and have always been happy with them. I don't have much experience at all with the Dive Locker so I can't say. For charters, the biggest operation in the area is Cape Ann Dive in Rockport (http://www.capeanndivers.com/) or you can try Easy Diver (http://www.easy-diver.com/) or Flounda Pounda. (http://www.coastaldivecenter.com/index.htm) I've gone out with all of them and each has it's good points. I love diving on the south shore, others swear by Gloucester/Rockport. CAD is the most commercial of the operations but goes to some great sites. Easy Diver is more laid back and generally keeps shallower if they don't know you. The captain is a bit of a throwback to an earlier age but I really enjoy him. Flounda Pounda is a realtively new operation. I've only been out with him once and had a good time and will go again. He is on the south shore, closer to the Cape, the others are a good 2 hour drive away. If you want to do tech diving, try Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions (http://www.northernatlanticdive.com/) another class outfit on the north shore.
As far as what you need, that's a loaded question. Wetsuit requirements are really based on your idea of cold. Most folks up here dive a 7 mm with hood, boots ands gloves. At least on the North side of Cape Cod and assuming you go deeper than 30-40 feet. South and shallow you can get by with less, but you will always need the hood, gloves and boots.
As far as things to do in the area, Falmouth is a great town, Woods Hole is neat. A court order couldn't get me to go to Hyannis in the summer, I'd rather stick needles in my eyes. The Cape Cod baseball league will be in full swing then, tomorrows big leaguers today, and it's free. Plymouth, MA is 1/2 hour away, come see some Pilgrims and our world famous caged rock.
Paul

 

[cbborromeo]

Thanks, I appreciate the information.

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Here are some more resources: CAPE COD SEASPORTS and AQUA CENTER

 

[Rig Diver]

Paulthenurse is correct there is lot of sand on the southshore of the Cape but there is some great diving (lots of wrecks and the occasional rock formations) and in August and September there are small tropical fish. Water during those times can get as high 73-75 degrees (July is in the high sixties); however, there is usually a thermo cline at 60’-70’ that drops the temp about 10 degrees –I dive with a 3 mill with hood and light gloves. Currents are also brutal so you can only dive a slack tides or risk getting blown out. That being said I don't know of any dive charters near New Seabury on the south shore -I use my own boat out of Falmouth.

There are a couple of charters on the north shore of the cape and off cape as listed above–lot colder water. One is listed under the link above (Cape Cod Sea Sports). If you can get gear at one of the recommended dive shops listed above I would recommend diving Sandwich Beach (near the north mouth of the canal), Junk Beach in Woods Hole (can get to about 70&#8217 or Nobska Point right below the light house. These in NO WAY compare to the tropics but if you must get wet… Vis can be real hit or miss I have seen as much 30’ and little as a blackout’.

Good luck and go to the Raw Bar in New Seabury and order a Lobster Roll –largest ones I have ever seen!

 

[reefseal]

i suggest either two shops on cape. Cape cod sea sports or dive locker can fix you up with what you need to rent and they do have guided shore dives. Dive locker goes to places like Garbage Beach in woods hole. (don't be freaked out by name, it's good dive site) Go Red Sox!

 

[mfalco]

I wouls recomend the 7mm suit. As someone mentioned Sandwich Town beach is a nice dive that is fairly close to there.

The aquacenter (down the street from sandwich beach), usually offers a few dive charters during the summer. If you get on their email list they eamil you schedules.
The dive locker in hyannis also organizes shore dives. I would get on bothe their mailing lists.

 

[cbborromeo]

Great information in the last few days, thanks to all!!!