Somes sound Maine anyone?

[Allam]

Does anyone have experience diving Somes sound Maine (Bangor area)?

According to theory, it should have good marine life as there is a lot of tide current flushing through this only east coast fjord.

Is this correct, anywhere near as beutiful as Eastport?

Thanks guys

Martin

 

[costi]

Does anyone have experience diving Somes sound Maine (Bangor area)?

According to theory, it should have good marine life as there is a lot of tide current flushing through this only east coast fjord.

Is this correct, anywhere near as beutiful as Eastport?

Thanks guys

Martin

I grew up in the Bucksport/Bangor but unfortunately didn't dive back then. I did, however, frequent Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. I believe you will find Somes Sound there. It is a beautiful area down there. I don't believe you would be disappointed.
If you looked at the Maine Atlas and Gazetter Map 16 it gives you a pretty good picture of how to get there.
Also, (of course I didn't keep the listing), I noticed a couple of informative websites when I looked it up. Good luck! I've been wanting to get up (down) that way but living in Sounthern Maine now so it would have to be a three or four day trip.....Which isn't a bad thing!
There are also some good campsites up there if you are into that.
Bob

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I dove the Somes sound in Arcadia a few times when it was too rough to dive elsewhere in that area. My recollection was that I liked the open ocean areas better. The bottom was less muddy and the visibility also seemed better. When the visibility is decent, I still think that Maine has the best "beach" diving that I have done on the East Coast.

I think my favorite spot was off Schoodic Point where there was a lot of relief above and below the water line. The end of the point was very nice, but the wave eneregy concentrates there, so it is probably not divable from shore all that often.

 

[Allam]

My recollection was that I liked the open ocean areas better.

Why do I get this feeling that all Maine dive sites tend to be forgotten? Are they all that bad, or just ordinary?

I think my favorite spot was off Schoodic Point where there was a lot of relief above and below the water line.

Why it this your favourite? Better life, better visibility? Please explain!

Thanks all,
Martin

 

[ScubaSarus]

I did my research project on Acadia for my Tourism/Nat. Prk Geo class in hopes to also consider it a dive spot. The area is very busy with lots of ships and questionable water quality. The sound is quite deep also obviously. I would consider Freeport first. The area is rocky like Beavertail and shore access can be tough. I believe it is divable; but there didnt seem to be any support or reinforcement of diving in Acadia.

I'de like to know because there is plenty of lodging in the area around Acadia.

 

[spectrum]

In 2004 my wife and I were big into skindiving and did a week of camping and skin diving from Schoodic to Deere Isle. We did not get into Somes Sound. It was on the list but we didn't find a good access point.

I can say without a doubt that in simple skin dives of 60-120 minutes we were seeing more amazing sea life than I can find in most hour long scuba dives in the southern part of the state. We're planning a scuba trip for this summer.

I love beach diving here in Southern Maine but the sea life is certainly turned up a notch down east. I will also say that while Nubble is a nice site there are plenty of hidden jewels that I enjoy sharing.

Pete

 

[spectrum]

I would consider Freeport first.

Care to share a nice access point?

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I did mostly freediving in Maine, so access points are pretty much anywhere you can scramble down the rocks to get in and also more importantly finding a place to get out without getting hammered. I had a friend who was a commercial diver in the Arcadia area when I was there last, so air fills were not a problem.

As I recall Schodic point just had good vis, interesting rocks that went deep and the above water sites are beautiful... Thank God the water is freezing or it would be over-run with divers!

 

[Allam]

I will also say that while Nubble is a nice site there are plenty of hidden jewels that I enjoy sharing.

Hidden jewels? Which hidden jewels? Care to share?

 

[ScubaSarus]

Hidden Jewels? Can I point you to the Portland Quarry. I get first dibs as soon as it opens in May