Dive Sites in Massachusetts, United States

Rockport favorite with easy entry, a rocky right-hand wall and eelgrass flats. Reliable lobster, cunner and nudibranchs; usually divable when other Cape Ann sites are blown out from the northeast.

Dramatic granite ledges off Rockport’s back shore with canyons, overhangs and thick anemone cover. Exposed to swell — pick a flat day; rewards with the best topography on Cape Ann.

Cobble entry onto a boulder reef with kelp; quieter alternative to Back Beach with similar life plus frequent sea raven and longhorn sculpin sightings.

Sheltered Gloucester beach ideal for new cold-water divers. Sandy entry, right-hand rock wall with lobster and crabs, max around 9 m. Often calm when exposed sites are not.

Rockport’s classic training and night-dive site. Easy sandy entry into a protected cove with rocky reef on both sides; lobster, flounder and the occasional torpedo ray. The go-to first cold-water dive on Cape Ann.

Boston’s closest real shore dive, beside Northeastern’s Marine Science Center. Protected cove, rocky reef both sides, and reliable critter diving — nudibranchs, lobster, flounder.

Cape Cod’s freshwater training pond — clear kettle pond used year-round for certification dives, with platforms and gentle slopes. Freshwater sites are legitimate dives in our book.

Gentle Eastern Point site inside Gloucester Harbor; eelgrass and scattered rock with seasonal squid, sea ravens, and excellent night diving. Minimal current, shallow profile.

Cape Ann’s signature dive: a deep glacial cove with granite walls on both sides dropping past 15 m. Anemone-covered boulders, schooling pollock, and seasonal lumpfish. Long surface swim or follow either wall out.

Boulder field and kelp off Magnolia’s rocky shore with surge channels and dense invertebrate life. Better-than-average visibility for the North Shore on the right tide.

Two coves (Half Moon and Cressy’s) inside Gloucester Harbor with easy entries and shallow rocky reef. Popular for classes; flounder, sculpin and lobster on a forgiving profile.