Northeast Charter Boat Company

Maine Charters, Northeast Charter Boats, Coastal Maine Ocean Tours

Our Services :

VISA, MasterCard, and Discover accepted.

Gift certificates available!
Call 603-235-5526.

Scuba Diving

Explore our favorite local spots along the Piscataqua River, Isles of Shoals, Boon Island, Nubble Light, and the coastal waters off New England. Divers themselves, our captains can take you to their favorite locations or the destination of your choice.

Bring your own gear, or let us connect you with the local dive shop for equipment rentals. All divers must present a certification card or be part of a sanctioned training group with an instructor.

Night dives, scallop dives, and urchin dives are available. Restrictions apply in accordance with state and federal regulations.

Dive Destinations

Isles of Shoals
Boon Island
Boon Island Ledge
Nubble Light

Isles of Shoals
The islands and ledges at the Isles of Shoals offer an abundance of exciting sights both above and below sea level.

The Wall and Lovers Leap

Location: Southeast side of Star Island.
Special features: Rock wall with a number of interesting formations, overhangs, crevices and large boulders.
Hazards: Lobster boats and fishing boats trolling lines to the bottom.
Depth: 20' to 100'.

Memorial Cove (Powerhouse Cove)

Location: Off Star Island.
Special features: Varied bottom from sandy to large rocks. Underwater memorial to diver Jay Lewis, who lost his life to a boating accident.
Hazards: Lobster and fishing boats.
Depth: 20' - 60'.

Seal Cove and Mingo Rock

Location: Southeast side of Duck Island.
Special Features: In the spring and early summer, seals visit the area. They sunbathe on the rocks and occasionally swim with divers. (The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits anyone from approaching seals.)
Hazards: Lobster boats. Do not leave boat unattended. The area was once a military target range, and divers have found unexploded shells in the area. This dive is recommended for experienced divers.
Depth: To 40' in Seal Cove, to 90' around Mingo Rock.

Jimmies Ledge

Location: Northeast side of Duck Island.
Special Features: The area is all ledges, and the bottom is very clear. There is occasional seal activity.
Hazards: Lobster boats.
Depth: To 50'.

Devils Gorge

Location: Southeast side of Appledore Island.
Special Features: The gorge contains plenty of sea life and vegetation and is ideal for photography.
Hazards: Heavy boat traffic.
Depth: To 35'.

Appledore Cove (Broad Cove)

Location: Northeast side of Appledore Island.
Special Features: This area is well protected and contains a variety of sea life as well as ledges and a sandy bottom.
Hazards: Lobster boats.
Depth: To 70'.

Babbs Rock

Location: In a small bay on the west side of Appledore Island, near the Shoals Marine Laboratory.
Special Features: The shore line is made up of ledge, which descends to a sand and gravel bottom with occasional protruding ledges. On the north side of the area, the remains of a World War II pier provide a spectacular view of flora and fauna.
Hazards: Westerly winds can cause serious sea conditions. The area is frequented by lobster, recreational, and research boats.
Depth: Generally less than 50', but can go to 90 feet further off shore.
Restrictions: Vessels must anchor. Moorings here are the property of the Shoals Marine Laboratory and they are heavily used. The small cove between Appledore and Babbs Rock is off limits to divers and snorkelers. It is possible, with permission, to visit the laboratory during the summer, when personnel are on the island. No trespassing is allowed at other times of the year.

Cedar Island

Location: Southeast side of Cedar Island.
Special Features: Beautiful plant life that is ideal for photography. Bottom is a mixture of rocks and sand.
Hazards: Lobster boats and, during the summer months, fishermen trolling with plugs.
Depth: To 60'.

Pyramid Valley

Location: Southeast side of Cedar and Smuttynose islands.
Special Features: The cove contains rocks, crevices and small rock formations that resemble pyramids, as well as a great deal of sea life.
Hazards: Lobster boats.
Depth: To 25' in the cove, to 60' at the mouth of the cove.

Cedar Island Ledge

Location: Approximately 700 yards southeast of Cedar Island.
Special Features: The depth drops dramatically to well over 100'. The bottom consists of an interesting grouping of ledge, boulders and large granite slabs, which form caves. Flora and fauna abound.
Hazards: This site is exposed to weather from the north, east and south. The ledge rises to the surface, so the site must be approached with caution. Lobster and recreational boats frequent the area. Boats should not be left unattended. A heavy anchor is needed.
Depth: To 140'.

Gosport Harbor

Location: Northeast side of Star Island.
Special Features: The bottom is mud and gravel, but the area is noted for clay pipes, bottles and other artifacts.
Hazards: Lobster buoys and extremely heavy boat traffic.
Depth: To 60'.
Warning: Do not dive in main part of channel.

Boon Island

Location: Three miles off York, Maine.
Special Features: In the spring and early summer, seals visit the area. They sunbathe on the rocks and occasionally swim with divers. (The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits anyone from approaching seals.)
Hazards: Lobster and fishing boats. Keep a constant eye on changing weather conditions.
Depth: 20' - 120'.

Boon Island Ledge (Empire Knight)

Special features: A wreckage field of the vessel 'Empire Knight'. Lots of marine growth and fish life. Visibility can vary and is best in the spring before too much algae gets in the water.
Hazards: A small swell can make up on the ledge into huge breakers. ONLY dive this spot when conditions are ideal and if you are a strong swimmer. Large steel plates can foul your air hoses. Live ordinance on bottom with dangerous detonators - LEAVE ALONE. Also found are beer bottles, grinding wheels, locomotive parts, truck parts. Use extreme care in approach to ledge as you can go aground very easily and fishing boats troll this area.
Depth: Up to 120'.
Warning: Sea surge can be treacherous.
Restrictions: Only strong swimmers and experienced divers should dive this site.

Nubble Light

Location: Off Cape Neddick
Special Features: A small cove on the Northeast side is suitable for novice divers and accessible from shore. The bottom is a mixture of rock, sand and cobble. Sea life is abundant and varies with the season.
Hazards: Lobster boats working in the cove can be dangerous to divers on or near the surface.
Depth: To 40' near the shore; to 80' seaward of the island.
Restrictions: The town of York prohibits diving from shore on Sundays and holidays.

Home | About Us | Rates &Policies | Departure Day | Photo Album

Sightseeing | Offshore Fishing | Scuba Diving | Special Events | Directions

Links | Site Map | Contact Us