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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 depthBoat entry5mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Rockaway Reef at a glance

Rockaway Reef is a 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 Black sea bass, Tautog (blackfish), and Scup (porgy). Recent reports put the water around 21°C (70°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 4h ago
0.9 mwaves — under a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 21°C · seasonal avg 27°C

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

Best: Sat
Sun6:00–21:00
Mon6:00–21:00
Tue6:00–21:00
Wed6:00–21:00
Thu6:00–21:00
Fri6:00–21:00
Sat6:00–21:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:16 · Sunrise 5:47 · Sunset 20:16

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 4.3 km from site · graded 4h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

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.

What Divers Say

Known for: Black sea bass, Tautog (blackfish), Scup (porgy)
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. Jan89%4°C0.5 m
  2. Feb92%4°C0.5 m
  3. Mar87%7°C0.6 m
  4. Apr91%11°C0.5 m
  5. May97%17°C0.5 m
  6. Jun97%22°C0.4 m
  7. Jul99%27°C0.3 m
  8. Aug99%26°C0.4 m
  9. Sep98%23°C0.6 m
  10. Oct95%18°C0.5 m
  11. Nov98%12°C0.4 m
  12. Dec91%5°C0.5 m

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

  • Black sea bassCommonly seen
  • Tautog (blackfish)Commonly seen
  • Scup (porgy)Commonly seen
  • Summer flounder (fluke)Occasionally seen
  • American lobsterOccasionally seen

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.

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.

Reviews

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