Ft. Wetherill Question

[michaelp68]

Busraider, yes, I'm planning on going Saturday morning. My buddy and I are meeting up with a few others and diving early, I think.

From southern RI originally, now in the middle of nowhere (also a great breakfast nook off RT 95 in exeter RI)the left side of the entrance drops out onto the shipping lane.. Pretty dramatic drop off, you have to swim at least 1/2 mile or so until you hit the shipping lane, so don't forget to turn around and head back towards land, otherwise (look-out). If you start out on the left side of the cove, and swim along the pennisula you can make a very memorable dive by going all the way around to the right side near the boat ramp. Weekend dives there are hard during the summer (outta state certification) classes everywhere, but on a weekday, it's fairly empty. Access to a open kayak, will enable you to paddle out following the right side of the cove, heading south to the tip of jamestown. Large boulders and a steep drop off farther south of wetherhill is a great spot for every type of fish imaginable. And for comments about horrible visibility, you must be joking. That's ehy certification dives are done there by the masses. Some of the best vis in RI..can be found there. I've hard 30+ on many,many occasions. Stop by Ocean State scuba in jamestown, good advice about local spots. Dive at 45 minutes before slack.. won't have to worry about the current.


MichaelP68 you going to jamestown this weekend..???

 

[LobstaMan]

Give us a mini trip report when you get back. My brother and I are thinking of diving there since we're South of Boston. I'm particularly interested in the water temps since we're diving wet. Thanks and have a great dive.

By the way, I dove the fort on the opposite side of the channel, Fort Adams, in '02 and the viz there was horrible. Bottom is mostly mud and silt with a few rocks thrown in. You can get deep very quick though and the entry is very close to where you park your vehicle.

LobstaMan

 

[gfisher4792]

When I was there on the May 7, vis was great! 20-30', exponentially better than it was last year (I don't think I saw better than maybe 5' vis the whole summer/fall). Temps stayed around 43 degree, surface down to 40', but that's not bad for me (one of those hot temp people).And since it was a Friday, virtually no one around, no classes to stir up the bottom, and a ton of stuff to see, which included a lot of lion's mane jellies, so be careful when crusiing around.

 

[michaelp68]

I'm diving wet, too.
I'll post a report by Monday.

 

[rcohn]

When you click this link, you can hit the "Nautical Chart" Tab near the top of the page for more accurate depth readings and a closer zoom.

Thanks, I meant to use the nautical chart, but just did a quick search for the F Wetherill local.

Ralph

 

[Doder]

Devils_Advocate & I also went about a month ago and vis was spectacular! I have to say I have dove both coves and I definitely like the left side MUCH better. Too many new divers go to other side and silt it up too often.

 

[mikswi]

When I was there on the May 7, vis was great! 20-30', exponentially better than it was last year (I don't think I saw better than maybe 5' vis the whole summer/fall). Temps stayed around 43 degree, surface down to 40', but that's not bad for me (one of those hot temp people).And since it was a Friday, virtually no one around, no classes to stir up the bottom, and a ton of stuff to see, which included a lot of lion's mane jellies, so be careful when crusiing around.

I agree completely. Last year was Horrible! I couldnt believe it, I dove there 3 times and it seemed like the viz got worse each time.

I went there 2 weeks ago with the wife (her first time there) and I was so glad the viz was 25'-30'! I was really hesitant because of the probs prev year, and she heard me come home and piss N moan about the viz. My last dive there (late oct, early Nov) I aborted about 10 minutes into the dive, it was that bad. Virtually NO viz, although it was a good dive to work on navigation.

Anyways, blah-blah-blah. Enough about me.
Glad you had a good dive, maybe this year will be good for all.


Dont forget that last year, they were dredging the harbor. THAT had allot to do with the viz, the tide brought it in each cycle, no matter how careful people were-

 

[gfisher4792]

Dont forget that last year, they were dredging the harbor. THAT had allot to do with the viz, the tide brought it in each cycle, no matter how careful people were-

Actually, I didn't know that. That would explain alot. Let's hope for a good year!

 

[michaelp68]

This was my first dive at Ft. Wetherill.

My buddy and I entered the left cove Saturday morning at about 7:50.

Water temp was 52 degrees. I dove wet and never became cold. Exited the water at 8:40.

Visibility was about 20 feet for most of the dive. At times it was as much as 25 feet and at times it was as little as 10-12 feet.

We stayed along the right side of the left cove and went out around the island.

We returned in the right cove to the boat launch.

I definitely enjoyed the dive and look forward to returning, hopefully with similar visibility.

I noticed a number of classes in the right cove and the visibility became significantly reduced in that area.

The left cove was quite nice with lots to see and very calm clear water. Lots of starfish in the left cove and crabs in the right cove. Didn't see too many fish. A few jellies, and one was huge. Lots of growth running up and down the wall on the right side of the left cove.

Enjoy your diving and hope to meet and see some of you around.

 

[TTSkipper]

Anyone planning on diving here this coming weekend? I will be in RI visiting my family and it would be nice to get a dive in while I am there.

Thanks,
Ben