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Map of Ship Cove (Fort Williams Park / Portland Head Light)
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IntermediateShore entry

Ship Cove (Fort Williams Park / Portland Head Light)

Maine, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested2–15 m (5–50 ft) depthShore entry7mm or semi-dry + hood typical

Ship Cove (Fort Williams Park / Portland Head Light) at a glance

Ship Cove (Fort Williams Park / Portland Head Light) is an intermediate shore dive site in Maine, United States with depths of 1.5–15.2 m (5–50 ft). Typically most favorable Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Moon snail, American lobster, and Winter flounder. Recent reports put the water around 14°C (57°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 17:40

Forecast for this hour · 9:00 · run 7 h ago
0.4 m (1.2 ft)waves — under half a meter expected (waves — about a foot expected)

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

Site hazards: Loose cobblestones at entry, pronounced tidal current near the shipping channel, large vessel noise/traffic beyond the cove mouth, lobster gear

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Smallest waves: Sat
Mon2:00–19:00 favorable

0.4 m waves · 3 kn wind (1.2 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Tue8:00–18:00 favorable

0.3 m waves · 7 kn wind (1.1 ft waves · 7 kn wind)

WedNo window

0.3 m waves · 5 kn wind (1.0 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

ThuNo window

0.5 m waves · 6 kn wind (1.7 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Fri8:00–10:00 moderate, 10:00–16:00 favorable, 16:00–18:00 moderate, 22:00–4:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 9 kn wind (1.5 ft waves · 9 kn wind)

Sat4:00–6:00 moderate, 8:00–18:00 favorable

0.2 m waves · 5 kn wind (0.6 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

SunNo window

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 6:39 · Sunrise 7:09 · Sunset 17:40 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 0.4 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 01:24 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Ship Cove (Fort Williams Park / Portland Head Light)

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: Moon snail, American lobster, Winter flounder
Best time: High tide, any season, calm or offshore 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, 37% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 6°C (43°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (5.0 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots
  2. February, 29% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 5°C (40°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  3. March, 38% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 5°C (40°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.3 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  4. April, 53% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 6°C (43°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.4 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  5. May, 74% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 10°C (50°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  6. June, 81% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (58°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  7. July, 80% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (62°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  8. August, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (65°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 73% 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 15 knots
  10. October, 56% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (57°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.4 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  11. November, 40% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 11°C (51°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots
  12. December, 38% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 8°C (46°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots

August 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

The dive cove at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, beneath Portland Head Light. The left side offers deep, rugged fluted ledges down to about 50 feet at high tide, including a narrow diver-wide ravine cut; the right side is flatter rock with small 'caves' full of anemones, and military shell casings still turn up. A cobblestone slope guards the central sandy entry, and the park strictly closes at sunset (no night dives).

shorewall

Loose cobblestones at entry, pronounced tidal current near the shipping channel, large vessel noise/traffic beyond the cove mouth, lobster gear

Reviews

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