How deep is Canoe Beach (Nahant)?

Canoe Beach (Nahant) has a depth range of 3–10.7 metres (10–35 feet). Check the dive site page for current conditions and any depth-specific guidance before planning your dive.

What will I see at Canoe Beach (Nahant)?

Divers at Canoe Beach (Nahant) in United States commonly report sightings of American lobster, Cunner, Rock crab, Winter flounder, and Northern sea star. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

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Shore entry

Canoe Beach (Nahant)

Q: When is the best time to dive Canoe Beach (Nahant)?

The best time to dive Canoe Beach (Nahant) is typically Low wind days with wind out of the west; summer through fall for warmest water. Visibility is highly variable - dive after several calm days.. Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.

Massachusetts, United States

Open Water suggested3–11 m depthShore entry5mm wetsuit typical

Canoe Beach (Nahant) at a glance

Canoe Beach (Nahant) is a shore dive site in Massachusetts, United States with depths of 3–10.7 m (10–35 ft). Typically most favorable Jun–Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see American lobster, Cunner, and Rock crab. Recent reports put the water around 17°C (63°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 4h ago

0.2 mwaves — under half a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 17°C · seasonal avg 19°C

Site hazards: Cold water year-round; variable (sometimes very poor) visibility; surge and swell on easterly winds; rocky points and pinnacles near the surface - the 'chimneys' break the surface at low tide; resident-only parking enforcement.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sat

Sun6:00–21:00

Mon6:00–21:00

Tue6:00–21:00

Wed6:00–17:00

Thu6:00–21:00

Fri6:00–21:00

Sat6:00–21:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 4:57 · Sunrise 5:30 · Sunset 20:09

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 5.6 km from site · graded 4h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: American lobster, Cunner, Rock crab

Best time: Low wind days with wind out of the west; summer through fall for warmest water. Visibility is highly variable - dive after several calm days.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

Jan89%5°C0.8 m
Feb92%3°C0.8 m
Mar87%5°C0.9 m
Apr94%7°C0.7 m
May97%12°C0.6 m
Jun100%17°C0.5 m
Jul100%19°C0.4 m
Aug100%19°C0.5 m
Sep97%19°C0.6 m
Oct95%15°C0.8 m
Nov94%11°C0.7 m
Dec92%6°C0.7 m

June, July, and August havetypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

American lobsterCommonly seen
CunnerCommonly seen
Rock crabCommonly seen
Winter flounderCommonly seen
Northern sea starCommonly seen
Grubby sculpinCommonly seen
KelpCommonly seen
NudibranchOccasionally seen
Longhorn sculpinOccasionally seen
Striped bassSeasonal

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Undersea Divers15.9 km
+1 978 927 9551
Report a fix
So. Shore Divers20.2 km
southshoredivers.com
Report a fix

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Site details

Canoe Beach is one of the North Shore's most popular shore dives: a pebble beach at the head of a small cove on Nahant's east side, next to Northeastern University's Marine Science Center. The bottom slopes gently to about 30-35 ft, and in the middle of the cove a series of rock pinnacles - the 'chimneys' - rises from the bottom to break the surface at low tide, with a famous swim-through that divers enter from the side and exit out the top. Visibility is variable, best after calm westerly winds. Parking is the main obstacle, as the lot is restricted to Nahant residents.

pinnaclereefshore

Cold water year-round; variable (sometimes very poor) visibility; surge and swell on easterly winds; rocky points and pinnacles near the surface - the 'chimneys' break the surface at low tide; resident-only parking enforcement.

Reviews

--(0 reviews)

·"Best dive site"

Anthony Phillips

★ 5.0

I like it

Best dive site

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