Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Essex County

Front Beach is best as a swimming beach for the kids. The area is mostly sandy and shallow, with a few patches of rocks. It is, however, an excellent starting point for those willing to make the swim around the point to the left and end up in the next cove over, Back Beach. At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), turn South on SR 127A (Beach Street) to head into Rockport. In .3 miles, Front Beach will be on your left. You will pass Back Beach along the way.

Plum Cove is a relatively easy entry and is generally shelter from ocean swell when other sites may be undivable. With a maximum depth of 35 feet, it is great for novices just wanting to get web for a couple of hours. At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), continue North for 4.2 miles. The Cove will appear on your right.

This is fine cove for casual diving. Easy entry and mostly sheltered from the sea. Coming from Boston, take 1A North. It will become North Shore Road, and then Lynnway. Continue to stay on Lynnway, wrapping around the coast, bearing right onto Nahant Road. From that intersection, the site will be on your left in 3.25 miles.

Back Beach is a very easy site and should be interesting for all skill levels. Because of the easy of entry and proximity to parking, many come here watch the squid perform their antics during a night dive. At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), turn South on SR 127A (Beach Street) to head into Rockport. In .2 miles, Back Beach will be on your left.

Old Garden Beach is in a small and very scenic residential area of Rockport. It used by divers of all skill levels due to its ease of entry. This is a small, secluded beach with a sandy shore near Rockport Harbor. By swimming 100 yards or so straight out from the beach you can reach depths of 50', and the bottom topography includes huge boulders. Following the shoreline to the right, depths are considerably shallower – around 15-25 feet max – and the bottom is rocky. Both areas are home to many lobsters. This site has a very easy entry – there is a ramp from the street to the beach. There is a lot that is residents only during the summer, but parking is available on Old Garden Street during weekdays. On weekends, you can drop your gear off at the top of the ramp, and then park the car on adjacent streets (Atlantic Ave. is unrestricted). They will tow cars that are parked illegally. There is a "No Night Diving" sign posted – this contradicts MA state law and is unenforceable. At high tide the water level is right at the base of the ramp, and low tide reveals a stretch of sand. There are no restrooms or other amenities here. This site generally has very good visibility. Exposure is Northeast. At the end of SR 128 in Cape Ann, turn Left on SR 127A (Cross Street). In one half mile, turn left (following SR 127A) onto Thatcher Road. After 4.3 miles, turn right onto Calebs Lane, and travel almost to the end (.25 miles), turning left on Old Garden Rd. The Beach will be on your right.

Folly Cove is one of the finer dives on this part of the peninsula due to the accessibility of a spectacular wall just outside the cove. Any life indigenous to the New England area can be found here. At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), continue North for 2.3 miles, turn right onto Gott Ave. Parking will be on your right in about 200 yards.

Head northeast on MA-128 N At Grant Circle, take the 2nd exit onto MA-128 At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and stay on MA-128 Turn left at Eastern Ave/MA-127 Turn right at Barn Ln Turn left at MA-127A/Thatcher Rd Turn right at Tregony Bow Turn right at South St Turn left at Old Penzance Rd Park along the pebbles (free).

Halibut Cove is a fairly easy dive (if the conditions are right), but can be physical demanding to get the entry. You'll have almost a mile hike from the parking area, so you will definitely need a three or four wheeled equipment cart. Only do this dive if you are good shape. Remember that the effects of nitrogen are magnified by physical exertion. At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), continue North for 1.8 miles, turn right onto Gott Ave. Parking will be on your right in about 200 yards.

Salt Island is an easy dive, however, the hike out is not! For the best diving you'll need to walk out to the far side of Salt Island during low tide, so make sure you are in shape! At the end of SR 128 in Cape Ann, turn Left on SR 127A (Cross Street). In one half mile, continue straight onto Nautilus Road for another quarter mile. Alternatively, in one half mile, turn left on Thatcher Road and turn right in .7 miles into the Good Harbor Beach Lot. The latter is closer to Salt Island.

One of the more popular dives in Cape Ann, Cathedral Rocks is known for its abundance of lobsters and for its deep dives. If you consider yourself an advanced diver, you'll feel at home here. At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), continue North for 1.2 miles, turn right onto Cathedral Ave, and continue further for another .1 mile.

Another good area for lobster, Magnolia Rocks can be a great dive once you get past the rocky entry. You can descend down to about 45 feet where you'll find boulders, sand and crevasses. Perfect for exploration! Lots of lobsters, too close to rocks for boats to drop their pots...large stripers, not afraid of you...easy to spear..delicious..cold and when algae bloom, no vis..but can get dinner there in 15 minutes At the end of SR 128 in Cape Ann, turn right on SR 127A (Cross Street), and then bear left onto SR 127 South. In 1.3 miles, you will cross a bridge. In another 2.3 miles, turn left onto Magnolia Ave. In .6 miles, turn left onto Raymond/Norman. In 300 yards, turn right onto Lexington Ave. and go to the end.

Stage Fort Park offers an easy entry and a shallow dive. Mostly sandy throughout the center of the cove, the edges offer more exciting exploration. Diving is only permitted here during the off-season, so call ahead to get the exact dates. At the end of SR 128 in Cape Ann, turn right on SR 127A (Cross Street), and then bear left onto SR 127 South. In 1.3 miles, you will cross a bridge. The park will be your first left after the bridge (.22 miles). The dive site is .36 miles further.

Long crevice to swim through varying from 6m / 20ft deep to 11m / 35ft deep. Boat access by Cape Anne Divers boat charter.

Launched in 1901 by the Eastern Steamship Company to ferry passangers between Boston and Maine. In 1923 she ran aground in the Kennebec River. Coupled with a decline is passenger service the company sold her. When the new owner couldn't find a buyer he had the ship stripped of its fixtures and towed to Misery Island and set on fire to salvage any remaining items. Today all that remains are some ribs and parts of the boilers. Source:wreckhunter.net This wreck is located in Manchester Bay between Misery Island and Little Misery. A boat is needed to access the main island. The wreck is an easy shore dive, once you have reached Misery Island. City of Rockland Wreck is also known as Misery Island.

This is the spare tire of dive sites - when everything else is blown out, Niles is often okay to dive. This is a great back up site for instructors with classes. There is not a lot to see, although photographers claim the eel grass offers a lot of small marine life. The bottom is a combination of sand and mud. The long sandy beach offers easy entry and depths can reach up to about 20-25 feet. This site is very sheltered and has Western exposure. Parking is restricted to residents, but this is only (usually) enforced during the summer. There are no public facilities at or near the beach. You may want to lock up any valuables as it is quite an isolated area.

Burnham Rocks is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, Massachusetts, Cape Ann which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Deep wreck dive. This is a crane that fell off a barge. It is sitting on its back, intact, in 150' of water. Covered with marine life. Very impressive, but small wreck. Can only be accessed by boat. Southeast of Rockport.

Head northeast on MA-128 N At Grant Circle, take the 3rd exit onto MA-127/Washington St Turn left at Andrews St/MA-127 Follow Andrews street around to parking area and walk over rock wall for dive entry.

Wall dive with lots of marine life. Can have stronger currents than most dives in the area. Boat access by Cape Anne Divers boat charter.

Saturday Night Ledge is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, Massachusetts, Cape Ann which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Lots of crevices and large rocks. Following crevices makes for easy navigation. Boat access by Cape Anne Divers boat charter.

Stern of the Chester Poling sits upright in about 28m / 90ft. Broken in half, it makes for an awesome dive around the perimeter and over the deck. Can also be penetrated, but sediment settling in the boat could be stirred and obscure visibility. Boat access by Cape Anne Divers boat charter.

Pinnacle dive with steep walls and crevices. Easy to navigate and circle around. Boat access from Cape Anne Divers boat charter.

For advanced divers and hikers! East of magnolia; at the end of Strawberry cove road. A good 300-400 yard hike from the parking spot to the dive entry.

This site is excellent as a second dive especially because it is shallow and the visibility is usually excellent for the NE(20 - 30ft). Enter Brace Cove, Brace rock will be to your left (south). Motor in and look to anchor yourself about 100 feet beyond Brace Rock on the south western end. I would usually dropped anchor in about 13 ft. of water just as I could start making out the rocky bottom. The bottom is a mix of large smooth flat rock with lots of rocks with sparse vegetation mixed in and sea life of all descriptions. I have never been disappointed with this dive especially on sunny days. I have dived the other side of the cove also which is less spectacular. I am only familiar with this dive site by boat and dove primarily the south west side. Most of the time this was in the lee of Brace Rock some 100 feet away.I would anchor my inflatable in about 13 feet of water.

Parking is restricted to residents only for the summer months, although groups can check with the local police dept. for a permit. This is a sandy beach with an easy entry, and a short walk from the parking lot. This site is a small cove with rocky walls bordering both sides and a sandy center, with Southwesterly exposure. A reef can be found a few hundred yards offshore. Depth is approx. 25'. Typical marine life includes lobster, flounder, moonsnails, etc. A resident sticker is required to park here in the summer months

Many crevices and interesting formations near island. Boat access from Cape Anne Divers boat charter.