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Map of Rockaway Reef
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IntermediateBoat entry

Rockaway Reef

New York, United States
Open Water suggested10–12 m (32–40 ft) depthBoat entry7mm or semi-dry + hood typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Rockaway Reef at a glance

Rockaway Reef is an intermediate boat dive site in New York, United States with depths of 9.8–12.2 m (32–40 ft). Typically most favorable Jul–Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Scup (porgy), Summer flounder (fluke), 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 17:59

Forecast for this hour · 5:00 · run 15 h ago
0.6 m (1.9 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 64°F)

Site hazards: Open Atlantic swell and current near a busy inlet; heavy fishing pressure and tackle; boat traffic; limited visibility; scattered rock rubble.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Smallest waves: Sat
Mon8:00–18:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 12 kn wind (1.9 ft waves · 12 kn wind)

Tue8:00–18:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 7 kn wind (2.2 ft waves · 7 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

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

Fri8:00–18:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 11 kn wind (1.5 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Sat8:00–18:00 favorable

0.4 m waves · 5 kn wind (1.2 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

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 6:50 · Sunrise 7:18 · Sunset 17:59 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 4.3 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 13:25 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Rockaway Reef

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: Scup (porgy), Tautog (blackfish), Black sea bass
Best time: Summer through fall on calm slack-water 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.

  1. January, 89% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 4°C (38°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.6 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  2. February, 92% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 4°C (39°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.6 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  3. March, 87% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 7°C (44°F), waves have typically been 0.6 m (1.9 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  4. April, 91% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 11°C (52°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.8 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  5. May, 97% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (62°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.5 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  6. June, 97% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (71°F), waves have typically been 0.4 m (1.3 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  7. July, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 0.3 m (1.1 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 0.4 m (1.4 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (74°F), waves have typically been 0.6 m (1.8 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  10. October, 95% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (64°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.7 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  11. November, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 12°C (53°F), waves have typically been 0.4 m (1.4 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  12. December, 91% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 5°C (42°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.6 ft), wind has typically been 12 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

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

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

Data updated June 2026

Site details

Rockaway Reef is a 635-acre NYSDEC artificial reef in the Atlantic Ocean about 1.6 nautical miles south of Rockaway Beach, in 32-40 ft of water. Built from a barge, 60 steel buoys, Tappan Zee Bridge materials, rock and assorted concrete, with rock rubble scattered throughout, it is a relatively shallow but exposed reef. Black sea bass, tautog and scup are common; visibility runs 10-20 ft—an intermediate boat dive close to NYC.

boatreefwreck

Open Atlantic swell and current near a busy inlet; heavy fishing pressure and tackle; boat traffic; limited visibility; scattered rock rubble.

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