Saturday 1/21 dive on the Cape

[MSilvia]

Folly's a nice dive, and I've been there a bunch of times, but I still don't see what all the excitement is about. It's a pain to park, and there are much easier places to enter. I haven't seen anything there that's substantially different from what I've found at other sites that are closer and less hassle.

Despite this, I often hear people rave about it, call it their favorite site, and recommend it over what IMHO are superior dives, like Old Garden. What am I missing?

Is there some unique topology I haven't seen? More legal lobsters despite the site's popularity? Are folks just super fans of the torpedo ray, or am I just missing the "free post-dive backrub" sign? I'm honestly starting to think folks just like it because they either were told how great it was or don't have much experience with sites other than Folly, Back Beach, and Stage Fort Park.

 

[matt_unique]

Folly's a nice dive, and I've been there a bunch of times, but I still don't see what all the excitement is about. It's a pain to park, and there are much easier places to enter. I haven't seen anything there that's substantially different from what I've found at other sites that are closer and less hassle.

Despite this, I often hear people rave about it, call it their favorite site, and recommend it over what IMHO are superior dives, like Old Garden. What am I missing?

Is there some unique topology I haven't seen? More legal lobsters despite the site's popularity? Are folks just super fans of the torpedo ray, or am I just missing the "free post-dive backrub" sign? I'm honestly starting to think folks just like it because they either were told how great it was or don't have much experience with sites other than Folly, Back Beach, and Stage Fort Park.

What is junk to some is treasure to another or something like that....ditto with dive sites.

I think most people like Folly because it's the closest thing we have to a wall dive (from shore).

Cat is my favorite shore dive site because of the dramatic topography, depth, and sea life. Back Beach and Niles Beach are my least favorite sites because they lack these things. (Though Niles is the most protected if you need to get wet with bad weather).

Some people prefer a dive site based on the entry, parking, and small critters for example. Back Beach is perhaps the best with this in mind. Cat has limited parking, it's a ball buster to lug the gear up and down, at low tide or with decent surge it's a difficult entry/exit, etc. Some of my buddies hate this site for these reasons.

--Matt

 

[NAVY21]

hey lisa, let me know when you and jeff are going to be diving on cape again...I would love to head back to my old area and do some diving...

 

[localdivah]

I don't hear people talk much about Salt Island, which is accessible from shore at low tide. I dove it once, didn't realize how large it was and thought it would be easy to swim around. The fog was so thick that we really couldn't even see where the island was from 40' off shore. That was a bad dive, but not because of the site. Has anyone had a very good dive there?

Here's what Cape Ann Divers' site says about it:

12) Salt Island
Directions: Starting from the store, take right out of lot near Market, take 1st left onto 127A. Go 1/4 mile enter Good Harbor Beach Lot.
Parking: Fee Mem. Day - Labor Day., off season Free.
Description: Salt Island is just off shore of Good Harbor. Low tide you can walk to it, swim to ocean side. Long walk from lot.
Depth: 10' - 40'
Feature: Dramatic drop offs on ocean side of island. Great lobster, Best Beach on the North Shore. Bathrooms.

 

[lisa_j]

hey lisa, let me know when you and jeff are going to be diving on cape again...I would love to head back to my old area and do some diving...

Navy - i'll PM you when we go, but if you ever get an urge to come this way...let me know and I'm sure you can twist our arms!!