

Best for beginner divers, 3-14m, shore entry, moderate current.
Nahant Beach in Cape Ann offers a diverse underwater topography featuring reefs, canyons, caverns, and pinnacles. This shore-entry site is suitable for beginners, with depths ranging from 3 to 14 metres and an average depth of 8 metres. Divers should be prepared for cold water temperatures between 4 and 16C, alongside moderate currents and variable visibility of 6 to 9 metres. Hazards include surf, surge, rip currents, and potential entanglement. The site provides parking and toilet facilities for visitors. Typical dives here last approximately 50 minutes. Due to the presence of caverns and overhead environments, divers should maintain appropriate training and awareness of their surroundings.
42.42940, -70.93050
Request permission to park at the Nahant Police Department on your way to the site, as there is no dedicated parking at Forty Steps.
Walk down a set of wooden steps from the road to the beach. Stage gear on the seawall at the bottom of the stairs.
Recorded at this site
Depth
3-14m
Visibility
6-9m
Skill Level
Beginner
Entry
Shore
Water Temp
4-16°C
Current
Moderate
Typical Dive
50 min
Yes, the site is classified as suitable for beginner divers.
The depth ranges from 3 to 14 metres, with an average depth of 8 metres.
Nahant Beach is a shore-entry dive site.
Water temperatures range from 4C to 16C throughout the year, with summer temperatures rarely exceeding 16C.
Divers should be cautious of cold water, rip currents, strong currents, surf, surge, low visibility, and potential entanglement or overhead environments.
Diving at Nahant Beach in Nahant, MA requires the following certifications: Open Water. Always dive within your training limits.
A drysuit recommended is recommended for diving at Nahant Beach in Nahant, MA. Water temperatures range from 4°C to 16°C.