Chester Poling

★★★★☆ (61)

Depth: 70–90 fsw+ Wreck surrounded by sandy bottom. The stern of the Chester Poling is the most popular deep dive in New England. This site is located minutes outside Gloucester Harbor and hosts abundant invertebrate and fish life. The wreck is an ideal deep training location.

The wreck hosts plumose anemones, lemon nudibranchs, and finger sponges. A wolfish has also made it’s home under the break.

Dive Activity

Potential Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 22

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Dive Sites Nearby

Action Sports & Travel, 01201 Pittsfield

Yokum Pond Public Boat Launch (★3.6)

This great pond is a Berkshire County treasure!! It has limited non-native invasive aquatic plant species, so care should be taken to avoid cross-contamination of organic material. Decontaminating or disinfecting all water crafts, water toys, snorkeling, and Scuba equipment should be done before your adventures.
Mares

Stockbridge Bowl (★0.0)

This lake can be accessed either from the Boat Launch at 55 Interlaken Road in Stockbridge, MA or Stockbridge Town Beach (must have town resident sticker to park at the beach in the summer season). Boat activity can be heavy during the summer so plan to dive early or late and avoid weekends if possible.
Scubapro

Classroom Rock (★4.4)

To access this dive site, from the fishing pier, dive to 10 ft/3 m. Turn to your left (south), maintaining your position at 10 ft/3 m for approx 10-20 kicks to find two logs located together. You may see 3-5 large boulders on your way. These logs (50 foot/15 m trees) will bring you to Classroom Rock.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Pontoosuc Lake (★2.8)

This lake can be best accessed via the Public Boat Launch at 10 Hancock Road in Pittsfield, MA. Recreational boating is popular during the summer so diving safely can be difficult during peak times. Plan to dive early or late in the day and avoid weekend if possible.
Scubapro

USS New Hampshire SOL Wreck (★4.0)

Just 60ft off Graves Island, the remains of the USS New Hampshire lies in 25-35 ft of water. Accessible by boat, this easy dive is an opportunity to see the last remaining timbers of the once magnificent ship of the line burried in the sandy botto.
Mares

Magnolia Rocks (★4.6)

Parking here is easy, but the entry can be challenging due to large and erratic swells and conditions that can change relatively quickly. That being said, if you are an experienced diver, getting underwater here is well worth it.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Rafes Chasm (★4.3)

A 1/4 mile walk through the oakwood reveals a series of granite ledges dropping into the sea. The entry/exit is the cut in front of the path. A giant stride can be used for entry on the west side of the cut. Exists can be challenging due to surge.
Mares

Stage Fort Park (★3.8)

A great spot for training or working on your skills (especially navigation). Stage Fort Park boasts a shallow and broad sandy area where you can regularly find divers completing checkout dives and advancing their technique.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Pebble Beach - Massachusetts (★3.9)

Off the east coast of the United States, Pebble Beach is an easy entry shore dive with two bands of boulders along a gravel bottom, each running parallel to the shore,and provide interesting marine life and a fun ~25 foot dive. Parking is not complicated.
Mares

Loblolly Cove (★4.0)

Great topography defines this site; you’ll get to see a ledge of boulders that range in size, home to all manner of marine life, with the bottom ranging from sand to gravel at various points. Unfortunately parking is a slight challenge, but the dive is well worth it.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Old Garden Beach (★4.1)

Sandy beach with a line of moderately sized boulders after a slight swim offshore. Max depth 45-50 feet. Parking is about 100 yards away from the entry.
Theodore G. (#2866039)

Back Beach (★3.8)

Back Beach, known for an abundance of lobsters and varied bottom topography, provides a straightforward and interesting shore dive great for divers of any level.
Mares

Lanes Cove (★3.9)

While parking is limited, Lanes Cove provides an interesting dive that is popular among kayakers, snorkelers, and divers alike. Remember this is an active cove, so watch out for boat traffic.
Mares

Cathedral Rocks (★4.2)

A beautiful dive with a potentially difficult exit. Diverse marine life (lots of fish) with beautiful topographical structures (it’s called Cathedral Rocks for a reason) are the hallmarks of this site.
Mares

Folly Cove (★4.1)

Incredibly diverse topography and marine life, a max depth of ~75 feet, and easy parking, makes completing this wonderful dive anything but a folly.