Name: Hoop Pole Cove
Rating: 4.2

Massachusetts

USA_East

Hoop Pole Cove is known for its great lobstering.  With depths no more than 40 feet, you'll find lots of nooks and crannies in the rocky bottom, a favorite habitat of our favorite crustation.

At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), continue North for 1.4 miles, turn right onto Phillips Ave, and continue further for another .43 miles.

Hoop Pole Cove

Halibut Cove is a fairly easy dive (if the conditions are right), but can be physical demanding to get the entry.  You'll have almost a mile hike from the parking area, so you will definitely need a three or four wheeled equipment cart.  Only do this dive if you are good shape.  Remember that the effects of nitrogen are magnified by physical exertion.

At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), continue North for 1.8 miles, turn right onto Gott Ave.  Parking will be on your right in about 200 yards.

Halibut Point

Loblolly Cove is an area popular with dive classes due to its shallow depths and abundance of shallow water creatures.

At the end of SR 128 in Cape Ann, turn Left on SR 127A (Cross Street).   In one half mile, turn left (following SR 127A) onto Thatcher Road.  After 2.8 miles, turn right onto South Street, and travel almost to the end (.4 miles), turning left on Penzance for another .8 miles at which point you will dead end.

Loblolly Cove

One of the more popular dives in Cape Ann, Cathedral Rocks is known for its abundance of lobsters and for its deep dives.  If you consider yourself an advanced diver, you'll feel at home here.

At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), continue North for 1.2 miles, turn right onto Cathedral Ave, and continue further for another .1 mile.

Cathedral Rocks

Stage Fort Park offers an easy entry and a shallow dive.  Mostly sandy throughout the center of the cove, the edges offer more exciting exploration.  Diving is only permitted here during the off-season, so call ahead to get the exact dates.

At the end of SR 128 in Cape Ann, turn right on SR 127A (Cross Street), and then bear left onto SR 127 South.   In 1.3 miles, you will cross a bridge.  The park will be your first left after the bridge (.22 miles).  The dive site is .36 miles further.

Stage Fort Park

Old Garden Beach is in a small and very scenic residential area of Rockport.  It used by divers of all skill levels due to its ease of entry. This is a small, secluded beach with a sandy shore near Rockport Harbor. By swimming 100 yards or so straight out from the beach you can reach depths of 50', and the bottom topography includes huge boulders. Following the shoreline to the right, depths are considerably shallower – around 15-25 feet max – and the bottom is rocky. Both areas are home to many lobsters. This site has a very easy entry – there is a ramp from the street to the beach. There is a lot that is residents only during the summer, but parking is available on Old Garden Street during weekdays. On weekends, you can drop your gear off at the top of the ramp, and then park the car on adjacent streets (Atlantic Ave. is unrestricted). They will tow cars that are parked illegally. There is a "No Night Diving" sign posted – this contradicts MA state law and is unenforceable. At high tide the water level is right at the base of the ramp, and low tide reveals a stretch of sand. There are no restrooms or other amenities here. This site generally has very good visibility. Exposure is Northeast.

At the end of SR 128 in Cape Ann, turn Left on SR 127A (Cross Street).   In one half mile, turn left (following SR 127A) onto Thatcher Road.  After 4.3 miles, turn right onto Calebs Lane, and travel almost to the end (.25 miles), turning left on Old Garden Rd.  The Beach will be on your right.

Old Garden Beach

Cape Hedge is an easy, shallow dive with depths of no more than 35 feet.

At the end of SR 128 in Cape Ann, turn Left on SR 127A (Cross Street).   In one half mile, turn left (following SR 127A) onto Thatcher Road.  After 2.8 miles, turn right onto South Street, and travel almost to the end (.4 miles), bearing to the right when you get to the ocean.

Cape Hedge

Folly Cove is one of the finer dives on this part of the peninsula due to the accessibility of a spectacular wall just outside the cove.  Any life indigenous to the New England area can be found here.

At the intersection of SR 127 and SR127A in Rockport (NE Cape Ann), continue North for 2.3 miles, turn right onto Gott Ave.  Parking will be on your right in about 200 yards.

Folly Cove

Yikes!!!  When we came across this site, it looked like it would be suicide to enter the water!  But this was just after a storm, and it was actually a lot fun watching the huge waves crashing upon the shore.  Great place for storm watching!  On a calm day, we are told the entry is very easy off a small sandy beach.  With depths of 30 feet, you'll find a good variety of sea life within the kelp beds and rocks.

Coming from Boston, take 1A North, and turn right on 129 in Swampscott.  In 4 miles, turn right onto Beach Street, which then becomes Ocean Ave.  If coming from Salem, take 114 South for 3.4 miles.  Turn right on Ocean Ave.  Head across the Marblehead Neck.  At the fork with Harbor Ave., stay on Ocean Ave. The site is 1.25 miles from that fork.

Castle Rock

Salt Island is an easy dive, however, the hike out is not!  For the best diving you'll need to walk out to the far side of Salt Island during low tide, so make sure you are in shape!

At the end of SR 128 in Cape Ann, turn Left on SR 127A (Cross Street).   In one half mile, continue straight onto Nautilus Road for another quarter mile.  Alternatively, in one half mile, turn left on Thatcher Road and turn right in .7 miles into the Good Harbor Beach Lot.  The latter is closer to Salt Island.

Salt Island

Canoe Beach, Nahant is a 5.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Massachusetts, USA East which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.

Canoe Beach, Nahant

Good dive site... challenging entry/exit.  Go at high tide.

Hoop Pole Cove

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Hoop Pole Cove