Long Island Local Divingand Metro NY Scuba |
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Great shore diving sites on Long Island for Local Diving. Explore our backyard Scuba sites!
Site Name: Old Ponquogue Bridge
Hampton Bays, NY 11946
Directions: Sunrise Hwy (27) east to exit 65 South, which is route 24, South to Rt. 27A (at Hampton Diner); Make a left on 27A. East to Ponquogue Ave make right. Left at Shinnecock Rd. Right on Foster Ave. South over bridge. Make a left on south side of bridge and quick left to enter Ponquogue Marine Park. Parking Permit Required in Season
Site Briefing: This dive is tide dependent and is best done at high slack tide. Plan to start the dive 30-45 min before predicted high tide. Enter the water at the little beach on east side of the Old Bridge. There is boat traffic so a dive flag is needed. Dive takes place under the Old Ponquogue Bridge. Head north as tide is coming into bay near start of slack as current becomes manageable. Then turn dive when tide shifts and head south to exit point as slack ends and tide begins moving to the East. There are 19 sets of pilings extending to the north and they are five across from east to west. Visibility varies greatly and can be 1 ft to 20 ft.
What To See: Starfish, crabs of several varieties, mussels, variety of local fish as well as tropical fish in late summer and fall.
Facilities: Porta Potty on site
Site Name: Mount Sinai Jetty
Mt. Sinai, NY
Directions: Depart I-495 / Long Island Expy. West at exit 63. Depart ramp for Express Dr N (0.2 miles); Turn right onto N Ocean Ave / CR-83 – Pass MOBIL in 0.4 mi (8.4 miles);Bear left onto SR-25A West / Route 25A (0.2 miles); Turn right onto Mt Sinai Coram Rd (0.8 miles) ;Bear right onto N Country Rd / CR-20 (0.8 miles); Bear left onto Pipe Stave Hollow Rd (0.8 miles); Turn left onto Harbor Beach Rd (1.3 miles); Follow Harbor Beach Rd. past Cedar Town Beach, all the way to the end at the fishing pier and jetty.
Site Briefing: Enter adjacent to the parking lot right at the end of the fishing pier. There is a lot to explore under the pier. When you get to the end it is possible to swim around the jetty and follow it to the little beach. You can exit at the beach or swim back around the way you came. Stay under the pier or next to the jetty. There is a boat channel with heavy boat traffic. Plan to have a dive flag. Parking fee is charged after 8AM so plan to arrive early.
What to see: Visibility can be good. There is the pier structure with a rocky bottom. There are some fish and lots of jelly fish.
Facilities: There is a porta potty on site, and bathrooms at the beach area.
Site Name: Beach 8th Street
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
Directions: Southern State Pky west to Belt Pky. Take exit 24A/Francis Lewis Blvd. Turn right onto Laurelton Pky. Turn right onto Francis Lewis Blvd. Turn right onto Brookville Blvd. Bear left onto Rockaway Blvd. Continue on Rockaway Tpke. Bear right onto Nassau Expy. Take ramp onto Seagirt Blvd toward Rockaways. Turn left onto Beach 9th St. Turn left onto Seagirt Ave.
Turn right onto Beach 8th St. Park at the end of the street.
Site Briefing: This dive is tide dependent and is best done at high slack tide for depth and visibility. Depth goes from 0 to 40 feet. Do not go into boat channel. Dive flag is needed. To start dive, head south out along wall or small jetty. If you follow the wall out, you will find a cable that will lead to several old lobster cages that you can swim around. Depth is 20 ft at this location. Visibility is variable and goes from 0 to 30 ft.
What To See: The bottom is sand and rocks with mussels and other marine growth. There are crabs, flounder, fish, lobsters in rocks and holes, and many tropicals when the water warms. Can find sinkers and other artifacts.
Facilities: Public restroom located at Beach 9th St. park.
Site Name: Prybil Beach
50 East Beach Dr. Glen Cove, NY 11542
Directions: Rt. 106/107 N Oyster Bay, Left on Cedar Swamp Rd., Continue on Glen Cove Rd., Continue on Glen Cove Ave, Rt on Village Square, Left on Dosoris La., Rt. on Lattingtown Rd., Left on E. Beach Dr.
Site Briefing: Dive is not tide dependent but there is more depth at high tide. Located in an enclosed cove so there is no current. Enter the water from the beach. Swim to the North. There is a pier located to the East that you can swim under and around pilings. Good location to practice navigation.
What to See: The bottom is sandy. There are shells, crabs, and starfish. Not as much marine life as other locations.
Facilities: Glen Cove resident permit is needed from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There are bathroom facilities in season.
Site Name: Bayville Barge / Walls Wharf
18 Greenwich Ave. Bayville, NY 11709
Directions: Rt. 106/107 Oyster Bay, north, left on Lexington Ave. Left on W. Main St. Right on Bayville Ave. Left on Greenwich Ave. at Walls Wharf Restaurant sign. Park on street. If you park in restaurant lot go in and eat after dive.
Site Briefing: Enter water from the beach. Head North into bay. High tide is better for depth and visibility but is not required. No current present. Broken barge is at 20 ft depth in NW direction from beach. Boat traffic is possible so flag is needed. Depth can reach 25 ft. Visibility varies from 2 to 15 ft.
What to See: The bottom is sandy with crabs, horseshoe crabs, starfish, shells, flounder. Wreckage of barge interesting to explore.
Good site because: Exciting to find and explore barge. No current or tide restrictions. Good food at restaurant.
Facilities: Located at restaurant for patrons
Site Name: Oak Beach
Oak Beach, NY 11702
Directions: Meadowbrook or Wantagh Pkwy south to Ocean Pkwy east. Turn into Oak Beach parking lot. Take road heading west for ½ mile to small dirt parking lot on left.
No parking permit needed but lot closes at dusk
Site Briefing: There can be a current at times so be prepared for it. Dive is not tide dependent but there is more depth at high tide. From parking lot, walk over rocks to small beach on either side of parking lot. Dive flag is needed, there is boat traffic. Visibility is variable and can be 1 ft to 6 ft.
What to See: Bottom is sandy with grass near shore. Mussel bed can be found at 18 ft depth and runs east – west. There are lots of crabs, starfish, and various fish including large fluke. Can find bottles, sinkers, golf balls.
Facilities: None on site. Porta potty is located in Oak Beach parking lot.
Good site because: Easy to get to. No parking restrictions. Fun to explore mussel bed. Can find various items like bottles and sinkers
Click here to Download Swim and Scuba's Shore Dive's PDF
Outside the NY Area but Nearby
Dutch Springs Scuba Park
4733 Hanoverville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020 • 610-759-2270
From NYC & Long Island...
George Washington Bridge to I-95
South to I-78 West OR Verrazano Bridge
to I-278 West to I-95 North to I-78 West. I-78 West to Rte.33 (Exit71)
North to Rt. 22. West to Rt. 191 North
From Rte. 191
North on Rte. 191 approximately one mile. Turn left onto Hanoverville Road
Dutch Springs is one mile on left.
Dutch Springs is a 50-acre lake, with attractions at depths up to 100 feet. It is spring-fed from an underground aquifer that filters through limestone to provide excellent visibility.
New to Dutch Springs?
Check out their New Divers Page.