Name: Salt Island
Rating: 4.5

Massachusetts provides a variety of diving locations and exploration possibilities. Cape Ann affords numerous shore-diving locations, with countless varieties of fish (tautog, flounder, skate, striped bass, and squid, to name but a few!) In addition, lobster and crab can also be found in most rocky areas. An abundance of interesting wrecks can also be accessed from shore.

Massachusetts

Essex County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States

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.

Gloucester

Salt Island



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).

Pebble Beach

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.

The Crane

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.



Niles Beach

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. 

Brace Cove

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.

Front Beach

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.

Old Garden Beach

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.

Back Beach

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.

Stage Fort Park

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.

Chester E. Poling Wreck

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.

Cathedral Rocks

DiVE KS

Undersea Divers, Inc.

Diver's Den Dive Shop

Boston Scuba Inc

Portsmouth Scuba

Discover Diving

Creature Dive Co.

Aquatic Escapes Dive Center, LLC

Mass Diving

Diver's Market, Inc.

Parking is free, and you should be able to find a spot here.  If not, head into the Good Harbor Beach lot.

Wait until low tide so you can walk out to the island.

Salt Island

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Salt Island