So Shore Dive Mini-report

[yak]

I was able to get three dives in this weekend.

Went to my bud Jim's private beach in Manomet on Friday afternoon. (Not the bug condo area) Wallowed in about 15 feet max in a field of boulders about 3 hours before low tide. Grabbed a couple keepers. Saw lots of smalls, but no eggers. Saw a humongous starfish on the bottom side of a boulder - had to be about 2 feet across. At the end of the dive, I started to get a bit of water with every inhale - hmmm. Thought it might be from looking into hidey-holes upside down, but it was still happening when I was paddling into the beach.

Next day, I filled my tank, brought it home and hooked up my reg. As soon as I tapped the purge button, it started free-flowing. I closed the valve, opened it, purged, same thing. Hmmm, this is 5 dives on this reg after having it serviced (4 in fresh water). Off to the shop we'll go.

Swapped in my old octo reg this morning and went out to Smith Rocks. Decided to try the North side of the rocks as the wind and current were from the South. First dive, Jim was still finalizing his buoyancy while I was measuring the first keeper of the day that I practicallly landed on! We were a bit unsure of depths in approaching the rocks at low tide, but dropped into 32 fsw, and headed south to the rocks. There were lots of bugs hiding under the kelp, many shorts. Bottom temp was 46, viz was 12-18 feet. The nice thing about being close to the rocks at low tide was that even the commercial guys weren't working the trap lines with the water that low.

Surfaced to a mild rain, with the wind picking up.

On the second dive, the viz had started to deteriorate to 6-12 feet. We worked our way south to the wall, and found that with the poor viz and the kelp layer it was hard to spot anything underneath, so we backed off and headed back to the flats where the kelp wasn't so thick. We only nabbed a couple of bugs. Surfaced to a steady rain and nasty wind.

Interestingly, we didn't see a single egger on either dive, and we released a lot of "close-but-no cigars".

Kept the wetsuits on for the ride back - nasty waves and icicle-like driven rain. Hoo-boy we were glad to see the North River!

Left the gear out in the driveway in the driving rain and enjoyed a Cohiba on the tailgate in the garage while mother nature did the preliminary gear rinse.

Gotta go steam a couple!

 

[MASS-Diver]

I was able to get three dives in this weekend.

Went to my bud Jim's private beach in Manomet on Friday afternoon. (Not the bug condo area) Wallowed in about 15 feet max in a field of boulders about 3 hours before low tide. Grabbed a couple keepers. Saw lots of smalls, but no eggers. Saw a humongous starfish on the bottom side of a boulder - had to be about 2 feet across. At the end of the dive, I started to get a bit of water with every inhale - hmmm. Thought it might be from looking into hidey-holes upside down, but it was still happening when I was paddling into the beach.

Next day, I filled my tank, brought it home and hooked up my reg. As soon as I tapped the purge button, it started free-flowing. I closed the valve, opened it, purged, same thing. Hmmm, this is 5 dives on this reg after having it serviced (4 in fresh water). Off to the shop we'll go.

Swapped in my old octo reg this morning and went out to Smith Rocks. Decided to try the North side of the rocks as the wind and current were from the South. First dive, Jim was still finalizing his buoyancy while I was measuring the first keeper of the day that I practicallly landed on! We were a bit unsure of depths in approaching the rocks by boat, but dropped into 32 fsw, and headed south to the rocks. There were lots of bugs hiding under the kelp, many shorts. Bottom temp was 46, viz was 12-18 feet. The nice thing about being close to the rocks at low tide was that even the commercial guys weren't working the trap lines with the water that low.

Surfaced to a mild rain, with the wind picking up.

On the second dive, the viz had started to deteriorate to 6-12 feet. We worked our way south to the wall, and found that with the poor viz and the kelp layer it was hard to spot anything underneath, so we backed off and headed back to the flats where the kelp wasn't so thick. We only nabbed a couple of bugs. Surfaced to a steady rain and nasty wind.

Interestinglg, we didn't see a single egger on either dive, and we released a lot of "close-but-no cigars".

Kept the wetsuits on for the ride back - nasty waves and icicle-like driven rain. Hoo-boy we were glad to see the North River!

Left the gear out in the driveway in the driving rain and enjoyed a Cohiba on the tailgate in the garage while mother nature did the preliminary gear rinse.

Gotta go steam a couple!

Sounds like some nice diving.

I think I saw you guys anchored off the Smiths. That's a cool spot - it's pretty deep as well (60'plus).

 

[yak]

Sounds like some nice diving.

I think I saw you guys anchored off the Smiths. That's a cool spot - it's pretty deep as well (60'plus).

Were you diving or fishing? There was a boat trolling along the rocks before our first dive - wuzzat you? We forgot our big flag (doh) so we had a small flag flying at the wheel of the pilot house.

Actually, we froze our asses off on the second dive. I hoovered my tank for about 10 minutes until I warmed up.

We think (so far) we like the south side of the rocks better. There's sandy flats on the approach for floundering, and the wall (and hidey-holes) are a lot more exposed vs. the 3+ feet of kelp on the North side. Maybe we should check out a few 100 yds N-NE where the depths are?

You mentioned Collamore Ledge a while back. Have you been out there this year? Any advice for approaching it by boat with no depth finder =-0

 

[MASS-Diver]

We were just passing by going to pull our traps, having left from Cohasset and heading near the mouth of the north river. I haven't been to colomore yet. Another place I want to try is Sunken Ledge - it's inside of the Smiths to the South - it looks cool. I wrote a dive report on The Scuba Stop about a dive a did on the Smiths a few weeks ago. We went off the outer rock basically swimming straight out. We hit 57' at low tide. I'm sure there's a scallop bed in the area.

My DS is in the shop and I'm been miserable diving with my old wet suit. Once I get my act togher and the water warms up we should met up out there somewhere.

In the mean time, keep your eyes out for us - we are in a custom built 17' Novi skiff "Paradigm"

Safe diving.

Were you diving or fishing? There was a boat trolling along the rocks before our first dive - wuzzat you? We forgot our big flag (doh) so we had a small flag flying at the wheel of the pilot house.

Actually, we froze our asses off on the second dive. I hoovered my tank for about 10 minutes until I warmed up.

We think (so far) we like the south side of the rocks better. There's sandy flats on the approach for floundering, and the wall (and hidey-holes) are a lot more exposed vs. the 3+ feet of kelp on the North side. Maybe we should check out a few 100 yds N-NE where the depths are?

You mentioned Collamore Ledge a while back. Have you been out there this year? Any advice for approaching it by boat with no depth finder =-0

 

[yak]

We were just passing by going to pull our traps, having left from Cohasset and heading near the mouth of the north river. I haven't been to colomore yet. Another place I want to try is Sunken Ledge - it's inside of the Smiths to the South - it looks cool. I wrote a dive report on The Scuba Stop about a dive a did on the Smiths a few weeks ago. We went off the outer rock basically swimming straight out. We hit 57' at low tide. I'm sure there's a scallop bed in the area.

My DS is in the shop and I'm been miserable diving with my old wet suit. Once I get my act togher and the water warms up we should met up out there somewhere.

In the mean time, keep your eyes out for us - we are in a custom built 17' Novi skiff "Paradigm"

Safe diving.

I checked it out http://thescubastop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=920

Sounds like I had a good day compared to yours (no chumming)

How far off the rock do you think you went? Sounds like a good drift dive opportunity if the current is running strong.

 

[yak]

I wanted to share what Jim told me about his Saturday dive off Manomet. He and his bud Jeff were working their favorite honey hole. It rises to about 10 feet of water and there's lots of traps there. They were in about 5 feet of water when this outboard started buzzing their flag at full speed. Jeff surfaced and asked him wtf he was doing. The guy was a 10 potter and he had his kid on board. He said "you don't belong here". Jeff didn't get his numbers, but Jim wanted to go chase him down and sink him.

This is insane. The worst part is there's no real teeth in the law, which states that a boat must proceed with caution and stay within 3mph when near a dive flag. What will it take to amend the law, someone getting killed?

I told him that he should carry red dye pepper spray for this guy and mark him for the cops. Then go file an assault charge.

 

[MASS-Diver]

I wanted to share what Jim told me about his Saturday dive off Manomet. He and his bud Jeff were working their favorite honey hole. It rises to about 10 feet of water and there's lots of traps there. They were in about 5 feet of water when this outboard started buzzing their flag at full speed. Jeff surfaced and asked him wtf he was doing. The guy was a 10 potter and he had his kid on board. He said "you don't belong here". Jeff didn't get his numbers, but Jim wanted to go chase him down and sink him.

This is insane. The worst part is there's no real teeth in the law, which states that a boat must proceed with caution and stay within 3mph when near a dive flag. What will it take to amend the law, someone getting killed?

I told him that he should carry red dye pepper spray for this guy and mark him for the cops. Then go file an assault charge.

Ya, it's a huge problem. I was diving off Cohasset a few weeks ago while flying our huge dive flag. I guess some guy came screaming in real close to us. My buddy who was out bubble watching for us almost shot him with the flare gun. The main thing that we do is grab the MS numbers and call the CG (they are everywhere out there).

It's really scary, I would never dive in shallow (10' or less) water out there for fear of getting run down.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure a guy was killed a few years in MA by a boat.

 

[scubastew]

Hello Gents, just thought I'd join the thread seeing as though we are all based on the southshore. I've talked with some old school divers on the south shore and there has been historically bad blood between divers and potters. Even heard of potters dropping M80's over dive flags, like a depth-charge (not sure thats legit but one Navy Diver from Cohassett told me that happend to him. This must have been in the mid-late 70's) . Most are great now-a-days but there are a few old-schooler out there. It's not like a diver really takes all that much anyway. The potters score way more hits. And honestly no diver in his right mind would rob a trap. It's just not even worth it.

As far as us "not belonging" thats CRAP too!! We have the same rightsas them, it's the same license aint it?

Anyway definitely call the coast guard next time and perhaps we should write someone in the local government or at the Mass Marine Fisheries? Any Ideas?

 

[johlar]

Hello Gents, just thought I'd join the thread seeing as though we are all based on the southshore. I've talked with some old school divers on the south shore an there has been historically bad blood between divers and potters. Even heard of potters dropping M80's over dive flags, like a depth-charge (not sure thats legit but one Navy Diver from Cohassett told me that happend to him this must have been in the mid-late 70's) . Most are great now-a-days but there are a few old-schooler out there. It's not like a diver really takes all that much anyway. The potters score way more hits. And honestly no diver in his right mind would rob a trap. It's just not even worth it.

As far as us "not belonging" thats CRAP too!! We have the same rightsas them, it's the same license aint it?

Anyway definitely call the coast guard next time and perhaps we should right someone in the local government or at the Mass Marine Fisheries? Any Ideas?

Must be the area! My wife and I were diving about 400 yds outside Flag rock on Thursday when were were buzzed by 3 idiots in a boat. I've got a really big dive Flag on a 10 foot pole plus we run another flag on a float about 50 feet off the back of the boat. One or the other is impossible to miss.

I'm fairly new at diving but I'm learning to come up the anchor line as close to the boat as we can.

 

[MASS-Diver]

Hello Gents, just thought I'd join the thread seeing as though we are all based on the southshore. I've talked with some old school divers on the south shore and there has been historically bad blood between divers and potters. Even heard of potters dropping M80's over dive flags, like a depth-charge (not sure thats legit but one Navy Diver from Cohassett told me that happend to him. This must have been in the mid-late 70's) . Most are great now-a-days but there are a few old-schooler out there. It's not like a diver really takes all that much anyway. The potters score way more hits. And honestly no diver in his right mind would rob a trap. It's just not even worth it.

As far as us "not belonging" thats CRAP too!! We have the same rightsas them, it's the same license aint it?

Anyway definitely call the coast guard next time and perhaps we should write someone in the local government or at the Mass Marine Fisheries? Any Ideas?

It's really, really bad around here. My buddy work off a lobster boat, and we each 25 commerical trawls on the side off his small boat. People know that we are divera as, there's alot of bad blood - even with people we knowm, nothing I want to go into on SB - but most lobsterman really don't like divers.