PK
Contributor
Just curious:
What is your favorite dive spot in New England and why? Shore or boat.
What is your favorite dive spot in New England and why? Shore or boat.
Your favorite New England dive spot?
- Thread starter PK
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raxafarian
Contributor
So far:
1. Folly Cove - shore
2. Ft. Wetherill - shore
3. Idene - boat
Sites I haven't dove yet, and want to:
1. U853 - boat
2. Cathedral - shore
Sites I have no interest in visiting again:
1. Pebble Beach - shore
2. Back Beach - shore
3. Block Island Pinnacle - boat
4. Potter Cove - shore (pumpkin dive)
1. Folly Cove - shore
2. Ft. Wetherill - shore
3. Idene - boat
Sites I haven't dove yet, and want to:
1. U853 - boat
2. Cathedral - shore
Sites I have no interest in visiting again:
1. Pebble Beach - shore
2. Back Beach - shore
3. Block Island Pinnacle - boat
4. Potter Cove - shore (pumpkin dive)
raxafarian
Contributor
didn't see the "and why"
folly: good vis, good topography, lots of macro photo subjects
ft. weth: it's the most convienent for me. PLUS the boulders and nooks and crannies on the seaward side of the island between the 2 coves is a seldom visited spot (at least relative to the 2 coves themselves.) KKMatt and I were out there, and there are HUGE boulders. Only been there twice, but this area is calling out to me to explore it
Idene: nice, intact, upright wreck.
For the why of the sites I don't want to visit again, just insert the phrase "it sucked" after each site.
folly: good vis, good topography, lots of macro photo subjects
ft. weth: it's the most convienent for me. PLUS the boulders and nooks and crannies on the seaward side of the island between the 2 coves is a seldom visited spot (at least relative to the 2 coves themselves.) KKMatt and I were out there, and there are HUGE boulders. Only been there twice, but this area is calling out to me to explore it
Idene: nice, intact, upright wreck.
For the why of the sites I don't want to visit again, just insert the phrase "it sucked" after each site.
U-853, without a doubt.
This is an advanced boat dive.
Reasons. You are diving on a largely intact WWII submarine. You are literally diving on a piece of history. Amazing stuff inside and out, with large blast holes providing relatively easy entries/egresses for those with overhead/wreck penetration experience.
Even better, due to the depth (115 to the deck, 130 to the sand), the wreck is usually not that crowded. There are only a few boats that make regular runs to it.
Best of all, if you're trained, equipped and willing to do a decompression dive, you can get a good 35 - 40 minutes on the wreck with doubles and still not incur a huge obligation (meaning that I'm willing to put up with it in order to get the bottom time). That gives you enough time for some nice exploration (My last dive on it went completely around the hull and into the control room).
My second choice would be the Idene. Historically less than significant; however, its intact and very good for penetration training.
This is an advanced boat dive.
Reasons. You are diving on a largely intact WWII submarine. You are literally diving on a piece of history. Amazing stuff inside and out, with large blast holes providing relatively easy entries/egresses for those with overhead/wreck penetration experience.
Even better, due to the depth (115 to the deck, 130 to the sand), the wreck is usually not that crowded. There are only a few boats that make regular runs to it.
Best of all, if you're trained, equipped and willing to do a decompression dive, you can get a good 35 - 40 minutes on the wreck with doubles and still not incur a huge obligation (meaning that I'm willing to put up with it in order to get the bottom time). That gives you enough time for some nice exploration (My last dive on it went completely around the hull and into the control room).
My second choice would be the Idene. Historically less than significant; however, its intact and very good for penetration training.
notabob
Contributor
Favorite:
Cathedral Ledge - shore. Some of the most varied and interesting terrain, no matter which direction you head out on. You can go as deep or as shallow as you like - drops down to 85ft or so at high tide. Always something new or interesting to see there.
Folly cove - shore. Lots of sea life and variety. Very pretty wall on left and very interesting terrain on right.
Nubble Light - shore. Same as Folly, very pretty dive, lots of life, crevaces to explore, etc.
Boat dives - haven't done enough of those in NE to have many favorites.
Polling was nice, despite it being so popular. It's a very pretty site, with lots of varied sea life down there.
Outer Brewster is a cool site. Very rugged underwater terrain, lots of life, tons of bugs.
Sites I want to visit in the near future -
Idene - heard lots of good things about it. Everyone says it's a great wreck to dive.
Ft. Wetherill with more than 2-3ft vis.
U853 will have to wait a few years.
Cathedral Ledge - shore. Some of the most varied and interesting terrain, no matter which direction you head out on. You can go as deep or as shallow as you like - drops down to 85ft or so at high tide. Always something new or interesting to see there.
Folly cove - shore. Lots of sea life and variety. Very pretty wall on left and very interesting terrain on right.
Nubble Light - shore. Same as Folly, very pretty dive, lots of life, crevaces to explore, etc.
Boat dives - haven't done enough of those in NE to have many favorites.
Polling was nice, despite it being so popular. It's a very pretty site, with lots of varied sea life down there.
Outer Brewster is a cool site. Very rugged underwater terrain, lots of life, tons of bugs.
Sites I want to visit in the near future -
Idene - heard lots of good things about it. Everyone says it's a great wreck to dive.
Ft. Wetherill with more than 2-3ft vis.
U853 will have to wait a few years.
MSilvia
Contributor
Top 5 (in no particular order and why:
1. Cathedral Rock - shore
The sttep dropoff at these rocks means you can get to deep clear water fast... a few hundred feet from shore, and you can be at 75'. I've also seen huge schools of fish every time I've been there.
2. Minot Light - boat
A great range of depths from 5' to 50', and the vis is usually excellent. Tons of fish, including stripers, dogfish, cod, etc... and the biggest flounder I ever speared. It fed four of us. The remains of the old scaffold lighthouse are still there, as well as debris from the many ships that have wrecked on the ledge. It looks like a good spot for lobstering too, but I haven't fully explored that option yet for want of a boat. Definately my favorite site so far, and one I grew up with... it's right off my home town, and relatives helped design and build the new stone lighthouse.
It can be tricky to approach though. I recommend taking a Zodiac launch from a larger boat.
3. Idene - boat
Very nice, for all the reasons described in previous posts.
4. Chester Polling - boat
It's a cool half wreck, and the first deep New England dive I ever did. I find that it continues to be a good skill-building dive for me, and I hope one day to break "the curse" and get a good night dive in on her.
5. Ft. Wetherill - shore
I saw a spotted butterfly fish here... in Rhode Island. 'Nuff said.
1. Cathedral Rock - shore
The sttep dropoff at these rocks means you can get to deep clear water fast... a few hundred feet from shore, and you can be at 75'. I've also seen huge schools of fish every time I've been there.
2. Minot Light - boat
A great range of depths from 5' to 50', and the vis is usually excellent. Tons of fish, including stripers, dogfish, cod, etc... and the biggest flounder I ever speared. It fed four of us. The remains of the old scaffold lighthouse are still there, as well as debris from the many ships that have wrecked on the ledge. It looks like a good spot for lobstering too, but I haven't fully explored that option yet for want of a boat. Definately my favorite site so far, and one I grew up with... it's right off my home town, and relatives helped design and build the new stone lighthouse.
It can be tricky to approach though. I recommend taking a Zodiac launch from a larger boat.
3. Idene - boat
Very nice, for all the reasons described in previous posts.
4. Chester Polling - boat
It's a cool half wreck, and the first deep New England dive I ever did. I find that it continues to be a good skill-building dive for me, and I hope one day to break "the curse" and get a good night dive in on her.
5. Ft. Wetherill - shore
I saw a spotted butterfly fish here... in Rhode Island. 'Nuff said.
MSilvia
Contributor
I'd love to check this site out... after I get at least another 50 dives or so under my belt.
MASS-Diver
Contributor
Boat Dives:
Poling - she's sees alot of divers for a reason, very nice wreck w/ a short boat ride, goto love all the anenomes on the cat-walk and of course there's the inside
Pinthis - only dove her a few times (scituate MA, 100') but, I like her too, last time I dove her the whole inside was filled with big cod
Paddock Rock - wall/trench dive to 80'
Halfway rock - 100' dive, lots of life
Shore Dives:
Old Garden (Rockport) - lots and lots of divers, but, tons of lobster
Bass Rocks (Rockport) - pretty dive, lobsters
Gunrock beach (Hull) - great night dive spot
Dives I want to do soon:
U-853
Delaware off scituate MA, anyone dover her?
Poling - she's sees alot of divers for a reason, very nice wreck w/ a short boat ride, goto love all the anenomes on the cat-walk and of course there's the inside
Pinthis - only dove her a few times (scituate MA, 100') but, I like her too, last time I dove her the whole inside was filled with big cod
Paddock Rock - wall/trench dive to 80'
Halfway rock - 100' dive, lots of life
Shore Dives:
Old Garden (Rockport) - lots and lots of divers, but, tons of lobster
Bass Rocks (Rockport) - pretty dive, lobsters
Gunrock beach (Hull) - great night dive spot
Dives I want to do soon:
U-853
Delaware off scituate MA, anyone dover her?
MSilvia
Contributor
Haven't done the Deleware, but I'd love to. I also wouldn't mind poking around for the Daniel Tenny, though without a magnetometer it might be kind of a crap shoot.
large_diver
Contributor
Folly Cove -- always lots of life, especially at night. I have seen squid on every night dive I've done there (probably about 8-10 night dives). If you dive the left wall, no need to navigate. Bad -- humping over the rocks at night can be a killer.
Halfway Rock -- dramatic drop-off makes for a great dive.
Pickett's Ledge (off of Gloucester, I think -- south of CAD dock) -- I did this dive 2x this summer with CAD and it is a great site. Granite rock formations with lots of peaks and valleys, overhangs, crevices, etc. On the second dive, experienced a "drive-by" of a school of bluefish -- 200-300 fish....and the fish were relatively sizable (I would say most were in the 6-10 lb range). Depths are relatively shallow (50 ft max), but it is a great dive
Halfway Rock -- dramatic drop-off makes for a great dive.
Pickett's Ledge (off of Gloucester, I think -- south of CAD dock) -- I did this dive 2x this summer with CAD and it is a great site. Granite rock formations with lots of peaks and valleys, overhangs, crevices, etc. On the second dive, experienced a "drive-by" of a school of bluefish -- 200-300 fish....and the fish were relatively sizable (I would say most were in the 6-10 lb range). Depths are relatively shallow (50 ft max), but it is a great dive
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