The top 14 dive and snorkel sites in Gloucester, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. Read the Gloucester guide
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lots of crevices and large rocks. Following crevices makes for easy navigation. 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.
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.
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.
On the northern edge of NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, rocky ridges on the southern edge of Jeffreys Ledge rise to within 115 feet of the surface. The shallowest portion of the ledge is comprised of piled cobble and boulders. Anemones, stalked tunicates, and coralline algae reside on the rocks making for a colorful landscape when illuminated with a dive light. The ledge's piled boulders create a complex structure with many crevices for marine fishes like cusk and wolffish. For more information visit: http://stellwagen.noaa.gov/visit/diving/diving.html Jeffreys Ledge is a large glacially-created feature, stretching 33 miles from offshore of Rockport, MA to Cape Elizabeth, ME. Dive charters departing from Gloucester run special trips upon request.
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.
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.
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.
Based on Zentacle reviews, the top-rated sites in Gloucester are Plum Cove (4.8 from 6 reviews), Salt Island (4.5 from 2 reviews) and Magnolia Rocks (4.1 from 7 reviews).
The top-rated beginner sites are Plum Cove (4.8 from 6 reviews), Salt Island (4.5 from 2 reviews) and Magnolia Rocks (4.1 from 7 reviews).
Plum Cove, Salt Island, Magnolia Rocks and Stage Fort Park are the top-rated sites you can enter from shore.
