Recent Vis in Cape Ann

[jnersasi]

I know we've been having a lot of bad weather and angry seas lately, but has anyone been out in Cape Ann in the last few days? I'm hoping to get a dusk/night dive in tomorrow night but want to get some first hand info on how bad the vis might be.

Thanks in advance to anyone with any info!

Also, if anyone wants to join, I'm planning on getting fills at Burlington Scuba around 3:30-4:00 and heading up from there. Shoot me a PM.

Jeremy

 

[Danny D]

I am very curious as well might be heading to Cape Ann this weekend

 

[jnersasi]

To answer my own question - bad...

We went to Folly (admittedly a bad choice) and vis was about 5 feet until you got to about 35 feet of depth, at that point it was about 2 feet. We were having trouble following the wall with those conditions. Wave action was pretty high. We drove by Plum cove which looked perfectly calm, but couldn't find a good place to park. If anyone has info on that, I'm all ears.

I think given the conditions, I'd try Magnolia or one of the really sheltered sites like Stage Fort next time.

 

[dave4868]

To answer my own question - bad...

We went to Folly (admittedly a bad choice) and vis was about 5 feet until you got to about 35 feet of depth, at that point it was about 2 feet. We were having trouble following the wall with those conditions. Wave action was pretty high. We drove by Plum cove which looked perfectly calm, but couldn't find a good place to park. If anyone has info on that, I'm all ears.

I think given the conditions, I'd try Magnolia or one of the really sheltered sites like Stage Fort next time.

I really appreciate these reports, as it's a long drive for such lousy vis. Thanks.

It's been a very unusual weather pattern the past three weeks, more like November than June, because of east and northeast winds....

NOAA's 5-day forecast is for more of the same.

I was hoping for better since my wife and I will be on vacation in Rockport all of next week and I was planning to do a few dives.... in between good "quality time", of course....

Unfortunately (for me), I think it will take a week of west winds to sweep the cloudy water out.... Without those winds, I think the whole Cape will be murky for a while. :depressed:

Dave C

 

[mello-yellow]

I think given the conditions, I'd try Magnolia or one of the really sheltered sites like Stage Fort next time.

I tried Magnolia today, and it was bad. Five feet vis, and heavy surge on top of it.

Then I went to Lane's Cove, and while sea was relatively calm -- much easier getting in and out than at Magnolia, -- visibility was no better. I am putting off shore dives for at least three weeks.

Water was warm, though -- 57 F at 35'.

 

[reefseal]

Wow.. This blows. Can't stand it when surgy.

Places like Clarks point lake Winnepsaukee, New found lake and Hathaway pond are looking good options now. I wonder if the piscataqua river dives are impacted. (swift currents usually mean clearer vis when seas are pounding) I will look at doing Pierce Island wall dive next week.

There has to be one place on Cape ann where vis should be OK.

 

[fencingfish]

I'm doing paddock rock and egg island tomorrow (conditions permitting...), I'll post how vis is for a boat dive.

 

[reefseal]

Confident enought to bring the camera? Do take those pics. If vis is bad, don't worry about naviation. Stay at depth of the anchor line and go around the pinnical. You come across the Anchor, you've done one circuit. I suspect should be dark and gloomy at depth.

Keep looking to horizon and stay away from fumes from back of boat

 

[fencingfish]

Did Plum and Folly last Saturday and trusted the camera enough to bring it on both dives, no problems. Vis was great and though there weren't too many interesting critters to take pics of, the pics I took came out pretty decently. I'll see what it looks like tomorrow. If it's sunny, I'll bring the camera, if it's cloudy, then there won't be enough light to take photos.

 

[DavidInNH]

Walt and I did Old Garden Beach yesterday and visibility was much better than we had anticipated. Full dive report here: UDNH Message Board :: View topic - Old Garden Beach, Rockport, MA - 6/26/09