Back Beach and Front Beach
by Daniel Senie
photo by Ruby Senie

Back beach is probably the site we've dived the most on Cape Ann. It's a good site, parking isn't a big problem, there are loads of critters, and it's an easy entry/exit. Front beach is adjacent, on the other side of the knoll. It's possible to do a navigation dive entering at one beach and exiting at the other.

Dive Info: Depth ranges up to 35 feet or so, depending on the tides. If you enter at the north end of the beach, there's a nice ramp down to the sand (though the ramps seem to disappear for the winter). From this entry, if you stay to the left, there are loads of boulders with lobsters, anenomes, sculpin, tunicates, sea ravens and crabs aplenty. If you instead angle toward Rockport center (visible across the water), you'll cross some boulders and some sandy areas. Taking a bearing on the clock tower results in a nice dive over varied terrain. We've taken a great many underwater photos at Back Beach, and always find interesting subjects. There is a gentle current which can carry you around the stone jetty and into the marina just north of the beach. It's not strong, but you may be surprised when you surface if you weren't paying attention.

Weather: this site is fairly well protected by the breakwater and the shoreline. It's definitely one of the places to check out on a day when things are a bit rough at other sites.

Night diving: at this site its easy and quite good. On one night dive we saw skates feeding on sand shrimp, crabs doing their best to look large by rearing up in our lights, a sleepy sculpin, and sea ravens.

Bathrooms: are located at both beaches. They're open in season. During the off-season, head for the Star Market, Cape Ann Divers or Dunkin Doughnuts in Gloucester.

Parking: All spaces at Back Beach are metered. The meters will take enough quarters for at least a few hours, so you can get in a leisurely dive and have plenty of time to make it back to add more coins. On nice beach days, parking can be a bit tough, but if you drive around for a few minutes, spaces often do open up. Front Beach is another matter. There are only a few spaces, and they're often taken.

Directions: Back Beach and Front Beach are on (surprise) Beach Street. The easiest way to get there is to take Route 127 from Gloucester. After you enter Rockport, you'll come to an intersection where 127 takes a left, continue along. You'll pass the commuter rail station and eventually Beach Street will be on your right, angling back toward Rockport center (more than 90 degree turn). The first parking spots you'll see are resident parking only. Continue along to find the meters.

Accomodations: if you're going to stay over in Rockport, the Beach Knoll Inn is on the knoll between Back Beach and Front Beach. It's a nice little Inn, and the folks are friendly to divers (clothes lines, and hose are available for cleanup). By Front Beach is the Peg Leg Inn. Either of these simplifies any parking issues, since you can park at the Inn, gear up there, and walk across the street and into the water.

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