Winter Dive, 1/17 (With photos!)

[North Shore Frogmen]

The North Shore Frogmen, January 17th

The weather forecast was predicting heavy winds and snow, plus winter "Parking bans" for this Sunday. Any chance of a winter dive at this location looked grim.
Regardless, the North Shore Frogmen and few visitors showed up for a nice splash in the ocean @ White Beach . We were welcomed with mild air temps,37, plenty of open parking, and calm, mild seas. We had a total of eleven divers, plus 1 wet diver(Mr. Jack.M), and 4 guests (NELD divers, who attended, please "Sound-Off").
Air Temp was 37. Not much in the way of marine life, except some hermit crabs and 2 large Sea Ravens, (HUGE!!!) one was caught and free'd from a ghost trap. The average dive was about an hour, Viz was an amazing @ 20-30 ft, with a depth of max 30 ft.
(See photos)


Sorry we couldn't do a group photo, it was cold and we usually do a 1-1/2 hour window for divers jumping in, so it is impossible to get a group shot.

Best Wishes

-THE FROGMEN

EST 1958

(Wet suit Diver-"Hard -Hat jack") is a regular @the "Dive Locker Museum" @ Harborloop, Gloucester Mass. Check it out if you have some free time when you're diving off Cape ann. Great time!!! The largest collection of Diving gear/ Helmets, books, and stories on the East Coast!

 

[bennsarrow]

Had a great dive yesterday. It was a nice day for a mid-winter dive. We went left while the Froggies mostly went right. Visibility was fabulous with 36 degrees on my computer. Thanks for coordinating...had a great time.

Sean

 

[reefseal]

I dove with several of froggies to the right side and then joined Erika for a 2nd dive. We dove the left side for the 2nd dive and came across a HUGE sea raven on the way back. ("Sea Ravenous Humongous") I confused for a big boulder as it was the same color and blended in with the other boulders. I swear the head was about 7 inches wide and length 12 inches. It was the biggest I ever saw.

Erika was getting comfortable with her new dry suit and for a dry suit diver, was a natural.

It would be a nice site to dive in summer but it's resident only May through October) Glad to have gone out.

 

[Lursxt]

NELD froggie here! I had a very good dive. Viz was awesome. I found a small fragment of a broken plate, which was interesting, although I wish I would have seen that sea raven! BTW regarding the parking, the manchester police told me this past summer they don't enforce residents only parking after labor day, so I'm not sure what's up with that sign.

 

[reefseal]

good to know on parking. tx

 

[trappist]

Adding up to the list ! The viz was greaaaaat I still need to practice my photography skills, but here are a couple I took, it gives an idea of the viz we had !

 

[dave4868]

It's always nice to see these dive reports and pics, thanks for posting!

I wish I could have been there, but it was not to be....

At White Beach, there's something special about the white sand and clear vis in winter; reminds me of the tropics in a way, although with a simpler beauty of patterns of sand and light!

Dave C

 

[fencingfish]

Nice! Thanks for the post and pics! Looks like you guys had some great vis and conditions! I was up at Lake Winnipesaukee ice diving Sunday. hopefully I can get out with you guys again soon.