Scallops

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

johlar

Contributor
Messages
147
Reaction score
0
Location
No. Attleboro, Mass
# of dives
100 - 199
Hello all

I recently purchased a small boat for diving. I was getting too old for shore dives. Now I'm looking for some sites in Massachusetts or RI for scallop diving. The boat has GPS so I'll take suggestions in any format.

thanks for your replies
 
johlar:
Now I'm looking for some sites in Massachusetts or RI for scallop diving.

Good luck... the tricky thing about scallops is that the little buggers move around. A buddy and I have put together a drop camera to help look for them, and will be testing it out in a couple of weeks. If we have any luck, I'll keep you posted on how to cobble one together.
 
Try Salem sound (inside of 1/2 rock), look for "flat" areas on the botom in 50' + of water.

Like Matt said, the bed move.
 
Salisbury has huge Scallop beds, and they don’t move around much. But I’m not telling you where they are, because.......THERE MINE ALL MINE !!!!! LOL
 
Arduous:
Salisbury has huge Scallop beds, and they don’t move around much. But I’m not telling you where they are, because.......THERE MINE ALL MINE !!!!! LOL

Ouch

I've never done scallop diving so how about some general advice. Do I need to go 10 miles offshore or in close. I don't mind hunting but I hate wasting gas!!
 
Are you sure you really want to find scallops? I've spent hours and hours driving, submerging and finding lots of "Nope. No scallops here" spots. That's the reality of scalloping. They move, you drive and dive until you find them.
 
Arduous
I know where they are. Some public safety divers In the area dive them regularly.
 
Okay johlar, you have your own boat so you're halfway there. What you do is spend some time following the scallop draggers out of port and see what they're lifting. If they get a good lift, you can bet your bottom dollar that there are many more that they missed. Some of the most productive scallop dives I've had have been in areas where the draggers have recently left. When you get down, look for the area they've raked. You won't be able to miss it. The rakes leave very distinct grooves in the sandy bottom. Don't waste your time where the grooves are but head to either side. If it's been a good drag, the overflow spills out either side of the rake leaving long rows of easy pickings ... very similar to a snowplow. I'm so sure you'll appreciate this advice that I want you to Email me after your try this and I'll tell you where to send a styrofoam cooler full of iced scallops.
 
having seen a dragger go by me about 15' away (while I was under), I can tell you that the commercial guys aren't real particular about whether or not a diver is below. Be very, very careful! My "surface support" yelling to them only resulted in the universal finger gesture from the crew :)
 

Back
Top Bottom