Folly cove dive report

[Gabriel90512]

Hi All,
This is my first post - been lurking for a while.
I'm in the midst of my Advanced Open Water cert, and had my first ever shore and night diving experiences at Folly Cove Sat night 8-14. I have to admit that was the hardest I have ever had to work for a dive -- yeah, I am a warm-water boat diving girl... Those slippery rocks (at low tide) almost did me in - had the requisite "I've fallen and I can't get up" moments. But my buddy (the fabulous Malissa), instructor (TX Joe B.) and classmates (intrepid Jim & Alex) were very patient and encouraging, and by the end of the second dive, I made it back up the shore on my own with full gear on.

The weather was a bit wonky - very warm and humid - with 55 degree water so had some major foggy mask issues on both dives which sure made the natural navigation and night dive an extra challenge

Note to the two helpful divers my buddy and I ended up with instead of our group at one point during the night dive --thanks for sorting us out! Does everyone up here wear the same grey & black Mares fins for gosh sakes?

So aside from being a bit disoriented and having buoyancy issues since I couldn't really see the bottom (until I ran into it!), I did manage to see a bunch of beautiful starfish and some big bugs and skates - looking forward to a less "foggy mask" dive so I can see what the heck you all rave about up here.

I ache in places I didn't even know existed, but I feel great since I kept my head and didn't give up when things got uncomfortable

Any hints for getting in and out over those slippery rocks sure would be appreciated...
Ann

i have to say the rocks were killer ...
my girl friend was on the beach as me and my DB want on our 2 dives she said about 15 people went down as they were walking out on the rocks.
i dont know if there is a trick .. if there is i would to hear it
nice job your night dives

Gabe

 

[hurleyskis]

I find that this is the one time carrying the dive flag is better! You can use it as an extra contact point to help balance yourself.

The best way to get over those rocks in my opinion is the same technique i've used for climbing steep snow covered mountain faces....In the case of mountains you always keep three points of contact and don't take the weight off of anyone until you've tested the new one out with a bit of weight first.

The same can apply here...take it slow and test each step before committing to it. This takes a little more time, but a lot less time than a trip to the local hospital!

Once you get near the edge of the water is where it gets more difficult. I try to get down into the water and floating ASAP on my way in, and on the way out i float as far as i can before trying to stand on those ball bearings.

Also try staying crouched a bit so that if you start to fall you can put a hand out for balance.

And remember .....everyone has taken a fall so your not alone!

 

[michaelp68]

I am not a particularly experienced diver, and I've only been to Folly Cove once, this past Saturday.

Those slippery rocks were definitely a challenge.

I put on my whole gear set-up and just entered the water carefully, very carefully. It was a pain for me because I tried to dive with less weight than what I've been using, and I ended up needing a bit more weight, so I had to exit and enter an extra time to get the weight. Big bummer.

The other 3 people I was with all entered different from how I did it. They all carried their gear into the water already set-up, using the bc/tank to lean on. Once they were in, they floated it and put it on in the water.

I liked my way better, but what they did worked very well for them. Figured I'd pass it on....

Michael

 

[Gabriel90512]

I was thinking .. i wonder if you can get in the water next to the little red resturant around the it looked like there might be a boat ramp there ?

ill have to look next time ...

 

[Chebby]

Hello!

This is my first post as well (well almost, as my first post was unilaterally ingored ).

I was at Folly Cove this Saturday as well. So that's what that stink was. I didn't see the seal-otter-hamster...or whatever it was but the smell got to me too.

Hi Gabriel, I recognized you from the pic in your profile. You were sitting to the right of me. I was the tall guy with a dorky spear.

Had a good second dive on the right side of the FC, practiced my air control and magaged a 54 minute dive on the rental AL80. My new record! At least that's what my computer says (of course I switched to a snorkel a couple of times while swimming in 12 feet of water.) Got 2 lobsters and 3 flounders. Yep, I'm a hunter. If I see a critter swimming joyfully around I just have to wack it and put it in my catch bag

Gene

 

[krustykrab]

I was thinking .. i wonder if you can get in the water next to the little red resturant around the it looked like there might be a boat ramp there ?

ill have to look next time ...

You can get in the water in between the 2 restaurants, although I've heard the owners don't appreciate it much...
at least not during business hours...

Here's what I've done: dropped off a tank, etc at folly, then parked at the corner, suited up (note, this is way early - before anyone is even at the restaurants) at the car and walked right into the water next to the seawall, dove along the wall, then swung over to the cove, changed tanks and did dive 2 in the cove/ along the left wall and exited at the cove. The big granite chunk wall is a nice dive, lots of stuff in the crevices! Swim across mostly sand to get back to the rocks along the right of the cove, though.

 

[hurleyskis]

Just my $0.02.
I have found that at least with mountain biking, we find a great spot to ride, where no one bothers us as far as parking and access....then....someone decides to just park over here and cut through there etc. and next thing you know the whole place is at risk of closure.

I tend to park/enter/dive where i know the potential of getting someone p'd off doesn't exist. This helps with the relationship between the divers and the residents/business owners/police etc.

 

[krustykrab]

I tend to park/enter/dive where i know the potential of getting someone p'd off doesn't exist.

Does this place exist in Rockport/Gloucster???


:thinkingo

 

[hurleyskis]

I hear ya!

If you think Rockport and Gloucester are bad you should've seen what me and my buddy went through down in Nahant the other night Talk about no place to park! Even when we got permission it was revoked just as we were about to get into the water! Out of our gear, and off we went..no diving for us that night...now we know!

 

[Chebby]

I was just behind you to the left if you are looking out into the cove. It was just myself and my girlfriend.

P.S. Where was your flag

Hey, I think I figured out who you are!

You were the one that I asked to turn on my air because my buddy ran off into the water before I had the chance to ask him. I also used your lobster gauge to measure off 16.5" flounder limit on the spear, remember?