The Cape Ann area is served by many dive charter boats. The boat rides are relatively short, and the boats well equipped. Diving by boat here is relatively self-service. If you need help with anything, the crews are usually quite happy to help, but everyone sets up their own gear. Water temperatures range from the low 30s in the winter to the low 60s in late summer. If you're going to do a deep dive, remember it'll be colder down there!

Boat Dive Sites:

Bass Rocks: Accessible by boat or shore, Bass Rocks is a relatively shallow dive, with beautiful scenery.

Chester Polling: Wreck of a coastal oil tanker. This is a very popular dive site. The stern of this tanker sits in 90 feet of water. Those trained for wreck diving can enter the structure. Marine life abounds on the railings and decks.

Halfway Rock: Located half way between Boston and Gloucester, this rock is home to quite an array of wildlife, and due to mussell beds, is a great place to find big, fat sea stars. Depths to 100 feet, but a nice dive shallower too.

Loblolly Point: This point of land near Pebble Beach can be dived as a shore dive, if you can find someplace to park. The rocks here are covered with a variety of marine life. Depths are fairly shallow. This makes a good second dive after Breakwater or Folly.

Kettle Island: A diverse set of dive sites ring this island. Keep an eye out for daisy brittle star tentacles poking out among the rocks, lots of lobster, anenomes and fish.

Paddock Rock: A rock pinnacle with plenty of critters. This dive can be shallow or deep. At 80 feet or so, there's a channel in the rock. Look in this area for stalked tunicates, and lots of other interesting life.

Pickett's Ledge: This site is a rocky underwater ledge with plenty of wildlife. The rocks do not break the surface.

Sandy Bay Breakwater: A spectacular dive site within view of Rockport harbor. The breakwater is a rubble of granite blocks underwater, which is a contrast to the granite wall visible above the surface. The nooks and crannies among the rocks are home to tunicates, anenomes, urchins, fish and other critters.

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