MA Diving - The Greatest Hits, vol.1

[MSilvia]

just my two cents.

Two cents I happen to agree with. People dive it because it's easy, convenient, and mostly harmless, not because it's cool or particularly interesting.

 

[PeaceDog]

Dude, I wasn't offended. I have no emotional ties to Hathaways Pond.

Don't get me wrong, it's not the most beautiful sight to dive in the country! I just know that it's an extremely popular training site not only for O/W, but as a check-out site for folks testing out new gear and configurations. To me, it would be like not mentioning Back Beach or Sandwich Town. Both of which I could pretty much do without, but they're all incredibly popular and active training sites.

I suppose I should have specified that I'm really looking for the most popular sites more than I am anything else. As much as our favorite dive sites need to figure into this list, I'm looking for a list that would interest both new divers and non-divers (students or otherwise) more than experienced divers. Students will most likely be diving some areas initially that aren't the most interesting places in the state, but to give them an idea of what they may encounter on their checkout dives might prove very helpful.

With that in mind, I'd like us to look through the eyes of the average non-diver or newbie; what 2 dozen or so dive sites make up the bulk of our activity? I'll be the first to admit that my list may need changing as a result.

Anyway, onto more lists. I'm enjoying the feedback.

 

[MSilvia]

I suppose I should have specified that I'm really looking for the most popular sites more than I am anything else.

Okay... I guess I didn't understand what you were looking for. I still don't understand why you'd want to list popular sites instead of cool ones, but you don't really need feedback for that. Just ask any dive shop.

In any case, here are the revised contents of my lists, with kickass unpopular sites removed:

My top 10 shore dives in MA (so far):
1. Old Garden Beach, Rockport
2. Pebble Beach, Rockport
3. Cathedral Rocks, Rockport
4. Norman's Woe
7. Gun Rock Beach, Hull
9. Back Beach, Rockport
10. Stage Fort Park, Gloucester

My top ten boat dives in MA
2. Pinthis
4. Chester Poling

 

[scubastew]

Hathaway is a nice change of pace dive and is good if coastal conditions are miserable but can't do it more than once or twice a year. I assume the initial "top 10" were not necessarily in order? Any dive is a good dive!! Better than being in traffic or jail right?

 

[bhapps24]

A boat dive that I have enjoyed was always off of misery islands near salem.

 

[Soggy]

Hathaway is a nice change of pace dive and is good if coastal conditions are miserable but can't do it more than once or twice a year. I assume the initial "top 10" were not necessarily in order? Any dive is a good dive!! Better than being in traffic or jail right?

In fact, I'm headed to Hathaway tomorrow to do some training with a couple buddies. The nice thing is you can get to 50 ft very quickly and practice skills like deco stops, ascent/descent drills, mid-water skills, shooting a bag, etc...all of those things are difficult to accomplish when you have to use up 20 minutes swimming to a reasonable depth...then you have to resist the temptation to grab that lobster you see, etc, etc

 

[MSilvia]

In fact, I'm headed to Hathaway tomorrow to do some training with a couple buddies. The nice thing is you can get to 50 ft very quickly and practice skills. all of those things are difficult to accomplish when you have to resist the temptation to grab that lobster you see, etc, etc.

Yeah... after a long drive in long weekend Cape traffic, nothing ruins a good practice dive like the distraction of having a good time. I hope y'all enjoy it though.

 

[Soggy]

Yeah... after a long drive in long weekend Cape traffic, nothing ruins a good practice dive like the distraction of having a good time. I hope y'all enjoy it though.

LOL...Eric is already down there and wanted to dive and try out some new equipment...beats staying dry.

 

[MSilvia]

LOL...Eric is already down there and wanted to dive and try out some new equipment...beats staying dry.

Definately!

 

[LobstaMan]

My all-time favorite dive is the one where I get wet. Serously, I haven't done enough to comment on the best, but I can tell you that Brant is okay, but not much depth or varied u/w topography to be had. But it does have one great advantage over a lot of MA dive sites...easy parking close to the entry point.

Hurleyskis is taking me on a tour of Folly Cove tomorrow...can't wait.

Lobstaman