All along the rocky, rugged coast of Maine, you'll find a wealth of lighthouses. Many are closed to the public but offer opportunities for photos, while some offer tours so you can explore both the areas around the lights, and take a climb up to get a bird's eye view of the surrounding topography as well. Here, we'll take a closer look at three great lighthouse dives.
Portland Head Light
By 1784, Portland had become one of America's busiest ports, and pursuant to a petition by local mariners, the Portland Head Light was constructed to mark the entrance to Portland Harbor. More than 200 years old, this lighthouse is still in operation, and it is open for public tours. Underwater, you may be lucky enough to spot the remnants of the Annie C. Maguire, a British ship that struck a nearby rock and which has been reduced to rubble; in addition, you'll find a lovely cove where both seaweed and colorful anemones create a fantastic backdrop for a wealth of fish. Look for sea stars and skates, torpedo rays, and lots of crustaceans as you explore.
Cape Elizabeth Light
Built in 1827, Cape Elizabeth Light is today the most powerful lighthouse on the New England Coast, sending out a stunning four million candlepower beam warning nearby ships and boats of the treacherousness of the rocky yet beautiful coast. Once one of a pair of lighthouses, and named in honor of Princess Elizabeth, the daughter of Queen Anne of Denmark and King James I. The Cape Elizabeth Light features a sheltered cove right in front, with a sandy entry point and plenty of marine life. Not only will you find an abundance of crabs and lobsters, plenty of fish, and lots of macro life, you'll also find the remains of an old shipwreck. Nearby restaurants offer local cuisine at its finest, so consider the cold temperatures an opportunity to work up an appetite.
Cape Neddick Light
An excellent place for all divers, and a good site for newer divers to explore, Cape Neddick Light offers calm conditions in a sheltered area where marine life is abundant. First illuminated in 1879, Cape Neddick Light marks a lovely cove with rocky walls that form a natural amphitheater where you can spot anemones and starfish, the occasional skate or ray, and plenty of fish, along with crustaceans, including some very large lobsters. This site can be very busy, particularly on Saturdays (Sunday diving is not allowed) so come on a weekday if possible, and check tide tables for high slack tide as diving at this time will enable you to swim, rather than climb, over some very slippery rocks at the entry point.
Each of these lighthouse dive sites offers depths no greater than fifty feet, and visibility that averages between ten and thirty feet, though during cool weather, before the algae has a chance to bloom, you'll be able to see further. Watch for seals at all of these sites, and if you have non-divers in your circle of friends, bring them along since there is plenty to see and do topside.