Diving in NJ

[shakestheclown]

Anyone out there dive in NJ? How is it?

I am getting certified soon and want to know some opinions on the NJ dive sites - are they intersting enough to dive often (i know subjective) Are there any beach diving areas in NJ?

Also anyone know how the St. Lawrence dive sites are? Are they accessible by only boat?

Thanks

 

[agilis]

I've been diving in NJ for several decades, and you're correct: it's subjective. Offshore wrecks are plentiful, but this kind of diving can be demanding, with cold water even in high summer, strong currents, limited visibility etc. Still, lots of people are dedicated wreck divers. I've done many, and still do one or two a year.

Beach dives sites are plentiful. Most are really inlet and/or stone jetty dives. I do these regularly in late summer and early fall, when the water's warmer and visibility is sometimes 15 to 20 feet. There are huge numbers of tropical fishes in many areas, including Butterflyfish, Groupers, Cowfish, Spiny Boxfish, Seahorses, Short Bigeyes, Lookdowns, an the occasional Angelfish.

An excellent compendium and description of beach divie sites is a now out of print ( I think) book by D. Berg, "New Jersey Beach Diver". You should have no trouble getting a copy from Alibris or Half.com. Google serches will turn up a ton of very current (no pun intended) information as well. There are lots of clubs, dive boats, etc.

 

[shakestheclown]

thanks for the information. I am likely going to go through a few training class during the summer and hope to have some good fundamental experience by then