Diving Rockport for the 1st time? Read this

[AfterDark]

Such things seem illegal--like putting a bear trap on your property to get trespassers figuring it's OK because it's on your own property. The pots aren't on the owners' property as well if that means anything. Is it true that divers are raiding the pots? You wouldn't think it would be the thing to do since just catching them in the wild is probably legal for a diver there???

Yeah well, those pots are out there and anyone can do anything to them, so just how do you prove that the lobster man did the bobby traps? What if he claims that some must have done it to hurt him? Good luck!

 

[macado]

Honestly, Old Garden Beach is not a bad or necessarily dangerous site. I think the OP just had a bad luck.

I would agree that you definitely need to be careful when diving up in Cape Ann (Rockport or Gloucester) a lot of popular sites have lots of lobster pots and some heavy boat traffic. In some cases, carrying a dive flag can be more dangerous than not carrying one.

If I bring a dive flag I will usually tie it off somewhere. Otherwise, I'll just dive with an SMB and use that if I have to ascend.

Technically you're supposed to always have a dive flag in Rockport but try having 5 divers towing flags between lobster buoys. You're just asking for entanglement.

I've actually had some good experiences with lobstermen there (at Old Garden) Helped one guy unfowl line from his prop. He was very friendly and grateful; They're not all *ssholes.

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Such things seem illegal--like putting a bear trap on your property to get trespassers figuring it's OK because it's on your own property. The pots aren't on the owners' property as well if that means anything. Is it true that divers are raiding the pots? You wouldn't think it would be the thing to do since just catching them in the wild is probably legal for a diver there???

I personally have never seen a diver raid a lobster pot; I'm not saying it doesn't happen but I think claims of divers stealing from lobster pots are highly exaggerated.

None of the people I dive with would even consider doing it. Much easier to hunt for yourself and there would be no fun in just taking something out of a pot.

In Massachusetts divers are legally allowed to hunt bugs if they posses a non-commercial lobster license that is endorsed for diving. Many divers up here do it for fun; There is no fun or challenge it taking something out of a lobster pot.