Cliff Pond Dive Report

[MASS-Diver]

I made the trek down to Nickerson State park on the Cape yesterday. The park was very beautiful. There are several ponds within its gounds. We dove in the largest pond - Cliff - there was a nice sand beach to enter from and then a walk on a sand flat (about 3' deep) to a very sharp drop off about 40' - almost vertical. We saw numerous fish (trout, catfish, a huge school of tiger perch). Temp was 55degs at 50'. Cliff pond has a max depth around 80' and two of the smaller ponds have depths between 60-75' - one of the other pond is a cath-and-release site, so I suspect there are alot of big in there.

Despite the long ride, this park was really spectacular and would be a cool place to camp out with a bunch of tanks.

 

[reefseal]

Where on cape is Cliff pond? Can you give directions? Would like to try next time on cape in spring. Is this a site where there are boaters during season?

Luis

 

[MASS-Diver]

Hey Luis,

Cliff pond is way the hell down on the Cape, I belive in Brewster or Orleans - about 20-30mins south of Hathaway Pond. It's in Nickerson State Park (so there are good directions to be found on the internet). I think you can use small boats on Cliff pond - but I don't think you can on the smaller ponds. I would say take a flag along - but - my guess would be that boat traffic (max 10horse power on cliff) remains pretty light year round.

This really a crazy setting to be diving in - very "woodsy" I'm researching what the deal is with night diving there.

 

[reefseal]

Like to find an alt to hathaway pond. one that can have access to after hours. It seems not too far from where I am on Cape. (Dennisport)

 

[ericfine50]

Cool report,

My wife's Mom lives in Harwhich.. Gotta check this pond as when I am down there.

Eric

 

[MASS-Diver]

My buddy showed to Cliff with contour maps of all 3 ponds, next time I go I'll track them down online and throw a link up - but - if someone is heading down in the meantime - I think it's a MA Wildlife/fisheries site.

 

[ericfine50]

http://www.state.ma.us/dem/parks/nick.htm

Eric