How deep is Fire Island Reef?

Fire Island Reef ranges from 18.9 to 22.3 metres deep (62–73 feet). It is a saltwater site rated as intermediate difficulty. Depths vary across the site, so plan your profile to your training and verify conditions locally.

Is Fire Island Reef a shore dive or a boat dive?

Fire Island Reef is a boat dive — access is by boat rather than from shore. The entry area is recorded as exposed to surge. No facilities are recorded at the site, and cell service is recorded as good. Entry details and parking notes, where known, are listed in the access section of this page.

Can beginners dive Fire Island Reef?

Fire Island Reef is rated as intermediate difficulty, which may not suit new divers. Listed depths run from 18.9 to 22.3 metres (62–73 feet). Access is by boat. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.

When is the best time to dive Fire Island Reef?

July-October; calm slack-water days for best visibility. Weather-limited in winter. Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.

What will I see at Fire Island Reef?

Divers at Fire Island Reef in United States commonly report sightings of American lobster, Scup (porgy), Tautog (blackfish), Summer flounder (fluke), and Black sea bass. Scup (porgy), Tautog (blackfish), and Black sea bass are recorded as common sightings, while American lobster and Summer flounder (fluke) are reported only occasionally. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

What hazards are recorded at Fire Island Reef?

Open Atlantic current and swell; heavy fishing pressure with monofilament/tackle on wrecks; boat traffic; limited visibility. Hazards and conditions change, so verify current local information before diving.

Add the first photo

IntermediateBoat entry

Fire Island Reef

New York, United States

Open Water suggested19–22 m (62–73 ft) depthBoat entry7mm or semi-dry + hood typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Fire Island Reef at a glance

Fire Island Reef is an intermediate boat dive site in New York, United States with depths of 18.9–22.3 m (62–73 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see American lobster, Scup (porgy), and Tautog (blackfish). Recent reports put the water around 16°C (61°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 8:00–18:00 · favorable · sunset 17:57

Forecast for this hour · 0:00 · run 23 h ago

0.6 m (2.1 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about two feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 16°C · seasonal avg 18°C ( · Forecast 61°F · seasonal avg 65°F)

Site hazards: Open Atlantic current and swell; heavy fishing pressure with monofilament/tackle on wrecks; boat traffic; limited visibility.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon

0.7 m waves · 13 kn wind (2.3 ft waves · 13 kn wind)

Tue

0.8 m waves · 7 kn wind (2.6 ft waves · 7 kn wind)

Wed

0.7 m waves · 6 kn wind (2.2 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Thu

0.6 m waves · 7 kn wind (2.0 ft waves · 7 kn wind)

Fri

0.5 m waves · 7 kn wind (1.7 ft waves · 7 kn wind)

Sat

0.5 m waves · 8 kn wind (1.5 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Sun

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:48 · Sunrise 7:16 · Sunset 17:57 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.1 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 01:23 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Fire Island Reef

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.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Scup (porgy), Tautog (blackfish), Black sea bass

Best time: July-October; calm slack-water days for best visibility.

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.

January, 30% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 6°C (44°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.5 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots
February, 34% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 5°C (41°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
March, 26% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 6°C (42°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.8 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
April, 40% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 8°C (47°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
May, 62% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 13°C (55°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
June, 76% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (64°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
July, 77% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots, historically most favorable
August, 67% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
September, 51% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (70°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (5.0 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
October, 49% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (65°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
November, 40% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (57°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
December, 31% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 9°C (49°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.6 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots

July has typically 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

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

Fire Island Reef is an 850-acre NYSDEC artificial reef about 2 nautical miles south of the Fire Island Lighthouse in 62-73 ft of water. It holds dozens of scuttled vessels, barges, pontoons, drydocks, Tappan Zee Bridge materials, railcars and concrete forms, with ongoing deployments (concrete forms added 2025). Black sea bass, tautog and scup are abundant; visibility runs 10-20 ft, an intermediate Atlantic boat dive.

boatreefwreck

Open Atlantic current and swell; heavy fishing pressure with monofilament/tackle on wrecks; boat traffic; limited visibility.

Reviews

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