Four ocean dives are required for PADI Open Water Certification.  Students must register in advance for these dates, class size is limited to eight students per instructor.  If you need to rent equipment for these dives, you will need to come into the store and be fitted.  Please do this in advance so we can guarantee that we will have equipment for your ocean dive weekend.

Fees
Instruction:  $150.00 (Includes instruction for the entire weekend and certification card fees)

Student Rental Rate: (Includes two tanks, regulator, BC, wetsuit, hood, and weight belt.)  Students must supply mask, snorkel, fins, boots, and mitts/gloves. Rental will be less if students have some of their own equipment. Student discount is 15% off our regular rental rate. 

The instructional and charter boat fee are due upon registration for the ocean dives.  The rental fee will be collected at time of rental pickup.  Students may pickup their equipment either Thursday or Friday and return it after the dives on Sunday.  Students can wash their equipment at the store.  MASS Diving will take a digital picture of you for your certification card.

The Dives
All four ocean training dives will be conducted in the Gloucester and Rockport area. 

Meeting Places and times
Saturday and Sunday Shore Dives: Meeting time is at 6:00am at the Burger King on Route 128 North in Beverly just past exit 19.  Our first choice of destinations is Back Beach in Rockport. See directions below. Students should arrive back at the store between 3:00pm and 4:00pm.  You will need both tanks each day.  Tanks can be refilled at the store at no charge on your Saturday return.

Note:  There is limited metered parking at Back Beach.  Please carpool as much as possible.  Bring lots of quarters to feed the meters.

Alternate: If conditions at Back Beach are unfavorable, we will use Stage Fort Park in Gloucester.  There is plenty of parking.  Fee is $10.00 per carload. See directions below.

Boat Dives (Optional if available):  Students need to be at Cape Ann Marina for the Sunday boat charter at 7:15am for the morning dives or 12:15pm for the afternoon dives.  Boat leaves the dock at 8am and 1pm sharp. Cost $75.00.

Things to bring
All SCUBA GEAR; 2 tanks per day, WEIGHTS, regulator, B.C., wetsuit, hood, boots, mitts, mask, snorkel, fins, and Compass.
* Please make sure your weight belt is properly adjusted before Saturday Morning.
* Log book and Pen
* Food and Drinks (lots of liquid to prevent DRY MOUTH & dehydration)
* Tarp or beach blanket to lay gear on, and a towel for yourself
* Extra warm dry clothes, it's always cooler on the coast. Better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them. Also, foul weather gear if it looks like rain.
* Plan proper sun protection
* Dive Tables
* Wear bathing suit under clothes, there maybe no changing rooms.
* Bring a roll of quarters for the parking meters at Back Beach, or $10 for Stage Fort Park our  alternative shore site.
* A thermos or two of hot (but not boiling) water to pour in your suit before dive two.
* A smile and lots of enthusiasm !!!

Shore Dive Directions - Dive sites may change due to weather.

BACK BEACH, ROCKPORT, MA

DIRECTIONS: Take 128 North into Gloucester. Follow all the way to the end. You'll go through two rotaries. Go halfway around each so you stay on 128 north. At the end you come to a set of lights. Take a left at the lights. This is 127 (Eastern Ave). Follow several miles. You'll come to a three way fork. Take a left staying on 127. Go about 1/4 to 1/2 mile, watch for Beach St. on your right, it's a hard right,  almost backwards. Go right onto Beach St. and the beach is on your left.

Boat Dive Directions

CAPE ANN MARINA

DESTINATION:  Cape Ann Marina for Boat Dives on the Cape Ann Diver II (CAD II)
DIRECTIONS: Take route 128 North to Exit 14, Route 133.  Go right off the exit.  The marina is approximately 2.4 miles on your left.  At the Marina are the Yankee Fleet Ships, Whale Watching, and the Gull Restaurant for landmarks. Drive into big parking lot and go straight towards the restaurant.  Boat is docked behind the restaurant.  Pull forward to drop your equipment off, and then find any available parking spot.

Alternative Shore Dive Locations

STAGE FORT PARK, GLOUCESTER

DIRECTIONS: Take route 128 North to Exit 14, Route 133.  Go right off the exit.  When you come to Route 127, take a right.  Take your next left onto Hough Avenue.  Stage Fort Park parking lot will be on your right.  Turn into parking lot and take a left.  Head down towards the end and try to park on the left facing the street.  Beach is across the street.  Memorial Day to Labor Day there is a $10.00 per carload fee.

FOLLY COVE, GLOUCESTER

DIRECTIONS:  Take 128 North to the first rotary.  Go 3/4 around the rotary (9 o'clock position) to 127 North.  Follow this winding road for several miles and you'll go by a small beach on the left with a dirt parking lot on the right side of the street.  This is Plum Cove.  After you go by Plum start watching on your left.  You'll pass Seaside Cemetery on your left at a curve in the road. Folly Cove is just past this about 200'.  If you enter Rockport you just went by Folly cove.

 OLD GARDEN BEACH, ROCKPORT

DIRECTIONS:  Take 128 North thru the second rotary.  At traffic lights take a left onto Route 127 to Rockport Center.  You will come to an intersection with multiple streets.  Turn Right onto Route 127A.  About half a mile down Route 127A, take a left onto Norwood Avenue.  Follow Norwood Avenue for several blocks to where the road will turn right for one block.  The Dive Site will be on your left.  You will see a resident only parking lot.  You will have to find parking on side streets. 

PEBBLE BEACH, ROCKPORT

DIRECTIONS: Take 128 North thru the second rotary.  At traffic lights take a left onto Route 127.  Just pass the Shopping Plaza on your right, take a right onto Marina Drive to Route 127A. Take a left on 127A and follow it for several miles to South Street (Land Mark Turk’s Head Motor Inn.)  Take a Right onto South Street.  Take a Left onto Penzance Road.  Pebble beach will be on your right.  Parking on right side only. 

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This site was created by Mark Potter & Matthew Herson of MASS Diving.
Please direct any questions and comments about this site to: mark@massdiving.com