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Shore entry

Old Garden Beach

Massachusetts, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested3–15 m (10–50 ft) depthShore entry7mm or semi-dry + hood typical

Old Garden Beach at a glance

Old Garden Beach is a shore dive site in Massachusetts, United States with depths of 3–15.2 m (10–50 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Frilled anemone (Metridium), Nudibranch, and American lobster. Recent reports put the water around 14°C (57°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 18:00 · sunset 17:44

Forecast for this hour · 15:00 · run 14 h ago
0.7 m (2.2 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about two feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 14°C · seasonal avg 15°C ( · Forecast 57°F · seasonal avg 59°F)

Site hazards: Cold water (40-65F); occasional surge with easterly swell; boat traffic and lobster pot lines beyond the cove; entanglement risk in kelp and fishing line; site gets crowded with open-water classes on summer weekends.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Smallest waves: Fri
Sun8:00–18:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 5 kn wind (2.3 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Mon8:00–18:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 8 kn wind (1.6 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Tue8:00–14:00 moderate, 14:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 9 kn wind (3.1 ft waves · 9 kn wind)

Wed8:00–18:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 4 kn wind (2.0 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Thu8:00–18:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 12 kn wind (2.0 ft waves · 12 kn wind)

Fri8:00–18:00 favorable

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

Sat8:00–18:00 favorable

0.4 m waves · 7 kn wind (1.3 ft waves · 7 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 6:39 · Sunrise 7:07 · Sunset 17:44 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 8.2 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 01:19 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Old Garden 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: Frilled anemone (Metridium), American lobster, Cunner
Best time: May-October; calmest on west or southwest winds and around incoming/high tide. Very popular class site, so weekday mornings are least crowded.

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, 34% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 6°C (43°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 23 knots
  2. February, 36% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 5°C (40°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots
  3. March, 35% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 5°C (40°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots
  4. April, 59% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 7°C (44°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  5. May, 70% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 11°C (52°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.6 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  6. June, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (61°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.6 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  7. July, 90% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (66°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.4 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 85% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (67°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.7 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  9. September, 77% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (66°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.6 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  10. October, 58% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  11. November, 43% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 12°C (53°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (4.0 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  12. December, 38% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 8°C (47°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.5 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 recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, 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.

  • Cancer irroratus recorded here Jun–Jul (6 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Amblyraja radiata recorded here Jun (4 records)

    most recent 2012

  • Downy hermit crab recorded here Jun (4 records)

    Pagurus pubescensmost recent 2012

  • Homarus americanus recorded here Jun (4 records)

    most recent 2012

  • Morone americana recorded here Jun (4 records)

    most recent 2012

  • Isocheles pilosus recorded here Jun (3 records)

    most recent 2012

Newest record here: 2013. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

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

Data updated July 2026

Site details

Old Garden Beach is one of Cape Ann's classic, most-dived shore sites, a small Rockport neighborhood beach with a ramp down to the water and an easy sand entry. A 100+ yard swim out leads to kelp-covered boulder fields in 20-40 ft, with several distinct dives possible depending on heading and a max depth around 40-50 ft. It is a prime open-water training site and can be very crowded on summer weekends.

reefshore

Cold water (40-65F); occasional surge with easterly swell; boat traffic and lobster pot lines beyond the cove; entanglement risk in kelp and fishing line; site gets crowded with open-water classes on summer weekends.

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