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IntermediateShore entry

Garbage Beach

Massachusetts, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested2–21 m (5–70 ft) depthShore entry7mm or semi-dry + hood typical

Garbage Beach at a glance

Garbage Beach is an intermediate shore dive site in Massachusetts, United States with depths of 1.5–21.3 m (5–70 ft). Typically most favorable Jul–Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see American lobster, Northern sea star, and Scup. Recent reports put the water around 15°C (59°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 18:00 · sunset 17:48

Forecast for this hour · 12:00 · run 11 h ago
0.2 m (0.7 ft)waves — under half a meter expected (waves — under a foot expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 15°C · seasonal avg 17°C ( · Forecast 59°F · seasonal avg 62°F)

Site hazards: Strong tidal current - Woods Hole passage has some of the strongest tidal flows in New England; abort or stay close to shore if you feel current building; heavy seasonal boat and ferry traffic in the harbor; typically poor visibility; avoid southerly winds.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Smallest waves: Sun
Sat8:00–18:00 favorable

0.2 m waves · 3 kn wind (0.7 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Sun8:00–18:00 favorable

0.1 m waves · 4 kn wind (0.5 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Mon8:00–18:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 7 kn wind (1.5 ft waves · 7 kn wind)

Tue8:00–18:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 12 kn wind (1.6 ft waves · 12 kn wind)

Wed8:00–18:00 favorable

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

Thu8:00–18:00 favorable

0.3 m waves · 3 kn wind (1.1 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Fri8:00–18:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 5 kn wind (1.6 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

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 6:36 · Sunrise 7:05 · Sunset 17:48 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.5 km from site · updated 24 Oct, 01:17 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Garbage Beach

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

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: American lobster, Northern sea star, Scup
Best time: About 1 hour before high tide (slack water); early morning or late day in summer to find parking; north winds give the best conditions, avoid south winds.

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.

  1. January, 80% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 4°C (39°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  2. February, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 3°C (38°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  3. March, 80% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 5°C (41°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  4. April, 87% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 9°C (48°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.6 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  5. May, 94% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (57°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.2 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  6. June, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (65°F), waves have typically been 0.6 m (1.9 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.8 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 0.6 m (1.8 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 94% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (69°F), waves have typically been 0.6 m (2.0 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  10. October, 92% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (62°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.3 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  11. November, 80% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 12°C (53°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.8 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  12. December, 78% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 7°C (44°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots

July and August have 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

Garbage Beach - officially Woods Hole Waterfront Park - is a well-known local dive in Woods Hole Harbor, Falmouth: a small lawn and pocket beach next to the Marine Biological Laboratory piers. Divers enter from the beach stairs or giant-stride off the second MBL pier into an eelgrass meadow with depths from about 5 ft near shore to as much as 70 ft at high tide farther out. The site must be dived around high slack water because Woods Hole's tidal currents are powerful, and harbor boat traffic is heavy in season. Visibility is typically modest, but the eelgrass and pilings hold abundant invertebrate and fish life.

muckshore

Strong tidal current - Woods Hole passage has some of the strongest tidal flows in New England; abort or stay close to shore if you feel current building; heavy seasonal boat and ferry traffic in the harbor; typically poor visibility; avoid southerly winds.

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