Mid-Coast Maine - more info

[AlaskaDiver]

My folks have a house near Camden and I'll be up there for two weeks this summer. It's 100 miles north of Portland and 60 miles south of Acadia. I'm interested in renting some tanks (Nitrox ideally) and doing some shore dives. I'd be thrilled if there were any interested dive buddies. Any suggestions for reputable rentals and suggested shore sites?

 

[ericfine50]

York Beach Scuba - If I remember correctly, they offer a ton of rental tanks and have a lot of info on shore diving.

Eric

 

[AlaskaDiver]

Thanks, but York Beach is one of the first exits over the NH border into ME. I'm almost 100 miles north of Portland. Somehow a 5 hr RT driving fighting cone-eater traffic each day no longer qualifies as a fun two weeks of diving. I am truly amazed that there are no shops locally who rent tanks. I confess, I am a Nitrox junkie and would prefer Nitrox. There appears to be a huge business opportunity in the mid-coast area for dive shop owners to make their mark.

 

[spectrum]

I was told by a Maine dive shop that in Maine oxygen cannot be dispensed without a prescription, essentially forbiding nitrox blending. Oxygen suppliers do not want to supply shops due to this. I suppose using a membrane system might be a work around since the oxygen is not dispensed but rather some of the nitrogen is stripped away. I also got the impression that for most of the diving done in this area Nitrox was not in big demand anyway. I'd be intersted to hear if anyone has knowledge contrary to this.

On a related note we're getting certified (OW) this spring and also are intersted in locating dive shops /air fill locations throughout the state but especially up the mid and down east coast. We have the south coast covered. As I get into diving I may do a webpage on it and an air station directory seems like a desirable featture.

One of the harbors on Mt Desert island has an air fill station SouthWest harbor? There was also a dive shop in Bar Harbor but we failed to find it this summer.

There's a lot of urchin diving and boat work going on so there must be compressors here and there, they can't all own them. They may be at marinas more than dive shops.

Pete

Thanks, but York Beach is one of the first exits over the NH border into ME. I'm almost 100 miles north of Portland. Somehow a 5 hr RT driving fighting cone-eater traffic each day no longer qualifies as a fun two weeks of diving. I am truly amazed that there are no shops locally who rent tanks. I confess, I am a Nitrox junkie and would prefer Nitrox. There appears to be a huge business opportunity in the mid-coast area for dive shop owners to make their mark.

al

 

[AlaskaDiver]

I did a 411.com search for scuba diving shops in Maine. I then sorted by a map. I too found one in Bass Harbor (near southwest harbor). That would be cool as well since my uncle has a house in southwest.

Near Camden (actually Lincolnville beach), is the Aqua Tech Marine Construction in Warren. A place called Diver Ed is in Bar Harbor on Mt Desert and another called Harbor Divers in Southwest harbor. These three are within a reasonable drive and if necessary I could stay in Southwest harbor a few days.

I grew up in Massachusetts (23 yrs in Paxton) and spent every summer at Lincolnville Beach. I just can't shake that wicked cool accent. My annual summer trips back east have been cut short over the past few years by my desires to see and dive the rest of the world. Summer in Alaska is gorgeous. I really think that Maine would have some phenomenal dives. I am amazed that there has not been much in the way of exposure on the wreck diving there - nevermind the anemones.

My niece is turning 17 this spring and wants to get her OW. She'll do that in central Mass (somewhere) so she can come for a few dives with me in Maine. I would love to do some shore dives with her in the less-kelpy areas for some 40'-50' dives.

Thanks for giving me some insight into the quirky state laws regarding Nitrox. Reluctantly, I could dive air - as long as it is a reputble shop. BTW- Nice avatar of the Beluga.

 

[muckle]

I have dived in Maine for two years, and have never heard of any laws restricting Nitrox to prescription. You may want to contact Aqua City shop in Waterville, ME at (800) 244-7282. They don't have a website, last I checked. They seem very professional , in my limited experience. I took AOW from one of their instructors, and he used Nitrox on the deep dives. His wife uses Nitrox almost exclusively, so I assume there is a source nearby.
I dove in Rockport Harbor last November, but that would likely have too much boat traffic in July. I know people dive in Rockland, at the foot of the breakwater.
I have been working on a website for a shop (no Nitrox there) closer to my home:
www.mainelyscuba.com . That website has a partial list of sites in Maine. Also, that shop sells copies of a book listing sites in Maine in some detail. I could get one for you if you could re-imburse me, or call the shop and I assume they would sell you one. The phone number is on the site.
I have a summer place maybe 20 miles from Camden, on Swan Lake. Maybe we could dive together when you come to Maine.

 

[STOGEY]

I tried that mainely scuba.com site. I could not get that sight so I think it may not be one line anymore.

Just to let you know, the pprevious reply spelled the site in correctly. It should be spelled mainelyscuba.com. Not mainleyscuba.com.

 

[Danny D]

York Beach Scuba is closed sadly

 

[scubastew]

I'm sure you'll get some good info here...not sure what's close to you though!! goodluck

ME Dive Sites
http://www.scuba-newengland.com/DiveSiteList.asp?StateID=ME
ME Dive Shops
http://www.scuba-newengland.com/DiveCenterList.asp?StateID=ME
ME Dive Boats
http://www.scuba-newengland.com/DiveBoatList.asp?StateID=ME

 

[Green_Manelishi]

My folks have a house near Camden and I'll be up there for two weeks this summer. It's 100 miles north of Portland and 60 miles south of Acadia. I'm interested in renting some tanks (Nitrox ideally) and doing some shore dives. I'd be thrilled if there were any interested dive buddies. Any suggestions for reputable rentals and suggested shore sites?

Contact Dave and Anne Sinclair at DiveFishMaine
and visit Monhegan, etc. They run a top-notch outfit out of the Port Clyde/Tenants Harbor area. They can probably point you at some EAN filling shops in the Camden area. There is a Johnsons Sporting goods in Rockland that might fill EAN.