Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Barnstable County

The Josephine Marie was a steel-hulled stern trawler that now lies in 100 feet of water on top of Stellwagen Bank in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The red-hulled Josephine Marie lies upside down with its bow facing roughly northwest. Divers are free to visit the site, but should be aware of hazards such as strong currents and fishing gear. Josephine Marie Shipwreck is also known as Fishing Vessel Josephine Marie.

This freshwater pond covers 20 acres, and is a popular OW training site for local dive shops. Maximum depth is 57', and usual visibility is 5'-25'. Temperatures range from about 40 degrees in the winter, to low-80's in the summer. Over the years a variety of things have been sunk in the pond, including a Saab, a cabin cruiser and a couple of tire piles and a training platform. All diving is accessible from shore, and visitors are able to park near the water. This pond has a variety of fish, including perch, trout, bass and freshwater eels. There is a $7.00 parking fee for non-residents in the summer. There are no public restrooms.

This is a VERY shallow dive – at high tide max depth is 15'. There is a good deal of marine life here, including lobsters. Parking is around $10 for the day, and there are accessible restrooms at the beach. This site does have an easy entry/exit. Try to stay straight or west off of the breakwater. There is a rumor circulating that there is a WWII aircraft in the vicinity, but you'll need a boat/kayak to find it. This site has Northern exposure.

The max depth is approx. 25', and this site has easy shore entry via the beach. This is a sheltered cove with Northern exposure, so surf and tides are milder than other dive areas. However, if there is a strong north wind, the conditions can get challenging. The bottom is covered in seaweed making it a good spot for lobster and flounder. Visibility is usually around 15'. Parking is $10, and free after 4 pm. There are bathrooms and a snack bar here. This is a very popular spot, so expect to see a lot of other divers.

This site seems to be known as Garbage Beach only to divers. It has an easy entry, and easy metered parking (so you will need quarters). Max depth at this site is 70', visibility is 5'-15'. This site has Southwesterly exposure. There have been tropical fish sightings here in the summer, and a variety of nudibranchs in the winter. This can be a hazardous dive, challenges include strong currents, fishing line (make sure you have a knife/line cutter) and considerable boat traffic. Divers have found old bottles and tea cups at this site, so keep your eyes open for artifacts! Stay away from the Vineyard Ferry dock, it is best for divers to stay near the jetty or the pier. Garbage Beach is also known as Marine Park on Water Street.

Small, secluded, spring fed, public pond. The south eastern side of the pond is a huge natural spring. This spring comes up through a cavern approximately thirty feet accross. I attempted to explore this gaping hole and as I approached the 40 foot mark I was unable to continue without a wetsuit. I could see no evidence of the cavern bottoming out at that depth and was intrigued as to just how deep it was. Other interesting sites at this location are trout, bass, turtles, including at least one Alligator Snapping turtle the size of my truck tire. This is a great spot for gaining a little experience and becoming more comfortable in the water. My last dive there was in 1996. Foot. Beach is located on the south western side.