large_diver
Contributor
My buddy Mike and I met at 7AM yesterday for 2 dives at Cathedral Rocks. Skies were cloudy, but other than a few scattered rain drops, weather conditions were calm and dry. There was somewhat of a long shore current running left to right (as you face the water) close to shore, so all of us ended up to the right of the exit point when we surfaced. Low tide yesterday was at 9:03 in Rockport harbor, so we were diving in low tide conditions (love those slippery rocks).
Max depth was 65 feet. Water temp at the bottom was about 52, 59 above the thermocline. Nothing particularly noteworthy below the water, but 2 nice, enjoyable dives. We kept the flag with us on both dives due to multiple lobster boats operating in the area. At this site, flag management unfortunately becomes the focal point of the dive given all the criss-crossing trap lines in the area. The Cape Ann Divers "big boat" also showed up between dives 1 and 2 and anchored about 200 yards offshore....another reason to keep the flag.
We had a visit from the Rockport Police between dives (he made the trek all the way down the rocks) -- he was checking to see if any of us were lobstering (there were 4 other divers there -- none of us were bug hunting). He hung around and talked with us for about 15 minutes. I asked him about the situation at Old Garden beach.....he didn't have much to add, other than to say that it's human nature that the residents living in that area obviously don't want the beach overrun with divers. On a separate topic -- He also told us that anytime a boat anchors in an area with lobster traps that lobster boats in the area will "call it in" to the harbormaster. He said that the lobster boats in the area had already called in the Cape Ann Diver II as soon as it dropped anchor. As to whether the harbormaster responds to the call -- he said it depends on who the caller is and who the offender is. Not sure if his presence was the result of the lobsterman's call....I assume the lobster boats in the area were in a doubly foul mood after being (1) disrupted by the CAD boat, and (2) seeing multiple divers in the water. When I suggested that the lobstermen represent the most powerful voice in town, he chuckled and said, "Oh, yeah, without a doubt." He did say that he has been a diver his whole life and understands both sperspecives (diver vs. lobstermen). Nice to know there is a diver on the RPD.
Max depth was 65 feet. Water temp at the bottom was about 52, 59 above the thermocline. Nothing particularly noteworthy below the water, but 2 nice, enjoyable dives. We kept the flag with us on both dives due to multiple lobster boats operating in the area. At this site, flag management unfortunately becomes the focal point of the dive given all the criss-crossing trap lines in the area. The Cape Ann Divers "big boat" also showed up between dives 1 and 2 and anchored about 200 yards offshore....another reason to keep the flag.
We had a visit from the Rockport Police between dives (he made the trek all the way down the rocks) -- he was checking to see if any of us were lobstering (there were 4 other divers there -- none of us were bug hunting). He hung around and talked with us for about 15 minutes. I asked him about the situation at Old Garden beach.....he didn't have much to add, other than to say that it's human nature that the residents living in that area obviously don't want the beach overrun with divers. On a separate topic -- He also told us that anytime a boat anchors in an area with lobster traps that lobster boats in the area will "call it in" to the harbormaster. He said that the lobster boats in the area had already called in the Cape Ann Diver II as soon as it dropped anchor. As to whether the harbormaster responds to the call -- he said it depends on who the caller is and who the offender is. Not sure if his presence was the result of the lobsterman's call....I assume the lobster boats in the area were in a doubly foul mood after being (1) disrupted by the CAD boat, and (2) seeing multiple divers in the water. When I suggested that the lobstermen represent the most powerful voice in town, he chuckled and said, "Oh, yeah, without a doubt." He did say that he has been a diver his whole life and understands both sperspecives (diver vs. lobstermen). Nice to know there is a diver on the RPD.
