Scuba Diving in Massachusetts

Scuba Diving in Massachusetts resources

This page provides helpful resources for Massachusetts regulations on scuba diving and lobstering, along with safety information for responsible time on the water. As a member of the Hamilton Wenham Rod & Gun Club, you also gain access to an exclusive partnership with DiVE KS, offering special member-only discounts on scuba diving training throughout New England.

Scuba Diving

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Scuba diving in Massachusetts offers a unique and diverse underwater experience unlike tropical destinations. Divers explore a variety of environments, from coastal bays and harbors to deeper offshore wrecks.

One of the best things about diving in Massachusetts is that you don’t need a boat. Many local divers enjoy shore diving (or beach entry), making it the most accessible way to experience the underwater world. This allows divers of all levels to explore safely and conveniently without the need for a vessel.

Because Massachusetts waters are cooler than tropical locations, divers will wear thicker wetsuits or drysuits, making proper thermal protection essential. Visibility can vary depending on the season, tides, and weather, but local dive spots are renowned for their historical shipwrecks, lobsters, scallops, squid, moon snails and a variety of fish, offering exciting opportunities for both recreation and underwater exploration.

Many divers in the state combine their adventures with lobster and scallop hunting, making scuba a multi-faceted recreational activity that blends sport, exploration, and local tradition. Year-round diving is possible with the right equipment and training, and there’s a tight-knit community of Massachusetts divers who share knowledge, organize dive trips, and support safe and responsible diving practices.

To learn more about diving in Massachusetts you can visit DiVE KS Scuba Diving in Massachusetts

Where can I get Scuba Certified in Massachusetts?

DiVE KS is a Massachusetts-based scuba training center providing high-quality instruction for new and experienced divers. As a member of HWRGC, you receive exclusive discounts on scuba courses, and dive experiences through our collaboration with DiVE KS.

For more information or to sign up for a scuba certification course, call (978-916-0041) or email info.diveks@gmail.com.

You can also visit DiVE KS for full details on available classes and training options.

Email DiVE KS

DiVE KS

Regulations for Diving / Lobstering in Massachusetts

Display of Scuba Diving Flag:

Section 13A.

Every scuba diver or group of scuba divers while swimming on or under the surface of the waters of the commonwealth shall display for each diver or group of divers as a warning device to boat operators, a diver's flag, so called, constructed of rigidly supported material at least twelve inches by fifteen inches in area of red background with a white diagonal stripe.

Such diver's flag shall be displayed on a boat or surface float and shall extend a minimum distance of three feet from the surface of the water. Divers shall remain in an area within one hundred feet of such displayed diver's flag while at or near the surface of the water. A boat operator within sight of a diver's flag shall proceed with caution and within a radius of one hundred feet of such flag shall proceed at a speed not to exceed three miles per hour.

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90B/Section13A

Recreational lobster-diving regulations

To harvest lobsters, you must hold a permit.

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries oversees Lobster Permits.

Permit fees are $55 for residents and $75 for non residents.

Permits are available through massfishhunt.mass.gov

The following Regulations are outlined from mass.gov:

Other General Regulations:

V-Notched Female Lobsters: Illegal to retain, possess, or land any female lobster that bears a v-notch or indentation located at the base of the tail flipper immediately to the right of the center tail flipper as viewed from the rear of the lobster with the undersized facing down that is at least as deep as 1/8" with or without setal hairs.

Egg Bearing Female Lobsters: Illegal to retain, possess, or land any lobster that is egg bearing, from which eggs have been forcibly removed, or that has come into contact with any substance capable of removing eggs.

Bag Limit: 15 lobsters per day. Lobsters may be stored and retrieved in excess of this limit/
Night Closure: Hauling trap gear or taking lobsters is prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
Closed Season: All buoyed trap gear must be removed from the water by November 1 and may not be reset until May 16. Closure may be lifted after April 30 or extended past May 15 based on the observed presence or absence of right whales.

Review up-to-date recreational limits through: www.mass.gov/service-details/recreational-saltwater-fishing-regulations

Scuba Diving in Massachusetts