EASTPORT MAINE DIVING!

Christine and I have a house in Eastport on Passamaquoddy Bay and consider the diving there the best diving in the North Atlantic (yes, we're spoiled). Some of the things to be seen in Eastport are found nowhere else in the United States. Even the things which can be seen elsewhere typically grow considerably larger in Eastport due to the currents. For those of you who are joining us for a diving expedition in Eastport, here are some pictures from the dive site right in front of the house. It's an easy shore dive, with a mini-wall, a resident wolffish named Gene and all kinds of invertebrates!

 

The diving in Eastport is dictated by the tides. Because Passamaquoddy Bay is connected to the Bay of Fundy, it experiences a massive 25 foot tidal range, leading to 12+ knot currents in the bay. So all diving is done at slack tide. This means that usually we can only do 2 dives per day. This makes diving in Eastport a nice relaxed affair. Check out Greg Brunshidle's cool time-lapse of the tidal cycle at the town pier.

 

This is a typical Eastport "reef" scenic. You can see why we call it the "Coral Reef of the North". What colors!

 

<----Eastport is the Tealia Anemone capital of the Atlantic. There are probably more Tealias per square foot on the bottom of Passamaquoddy Bay than anywhere else in the Atlantic. I would estimate that on a typical dive you could count 500 of them if you wanted to.

 

Check out some pictures from 2002....

We have tealias in every color, including purple and rarely, yellow. If you want to photograph the world's most photogenic anemone, this is the place!

This is Gene, our "trained" wolffish. (I use the term "trained" loosely here. He doesn't do many tricks, although he is now fairly used to divers and will allow people to approach closely. He will usually eat from my hand. He might also come right out and steal your food! I have known Gene since 1996 when I bought the house. I met him during a dive that was part of the "home inspection." Once the dive was completed, I made an offer on the house. Gene was largely responsible for the purchase! (Who can resist a wolffish in the front yard??)

Wolffish like urchins and eat them by crushing them with the hard palate in the roof of their mouth. But they like something else even better than urchins. (It's a secret until you get to Eastport though!) Check out wolffish movies produced by Greg "Gator" Brunshidle!


2001: (4 Mb) August, 2001 - 320x240 size. In this film, you can see that back in 2001, Gene didn't like to come all the way out of his hole to eat from our hands.

2002:(4.3 Mb) June, 2002 - 320x240 size. You can see here that by 2002, Gene had overcome shyness!

You might also enjoy a film about protecting Wolffish in Canada or the Jonathan Bird's Blue World episode about Wolffish.

This is Red Soft Coral, something common in Eastport that you may not see very often elsewhere. It's a close relative of that same soft coral you see in Fiji, but it thrives in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Passamaquoddy Bay.

On the right, an ordinary Blood Star, but on the left is a Winged Sea Star, a cold-water creature never seen in most of New England. This sea star is normally seen only in the arctic, but the coooold water in Eastport allows it to survive in a more southern latitude.

Cold-water basket stars can be found at certain dive sites with ease.

The Spiny Sun Star feeds on smaller sea stars. Its brilliant red coloration makes it a great photographic subject. This is another animal which is fairly common in Eastport.

 

An Orange-footed Sea Cucumber feeding. It is licking the plankton off of one tentacle by placing it in its mouth. The sea cucumber will lick each tentacle, one by one, for as long as it feeds.


Another arctic sea star, the Horse star, can be seen in Eastport. These are very rare in New England.

Shore diving in Eastport and around Passamaquoddy Bay is easy, because the bottom drops off so fast. In this shot, the divers are standing around getting ready to go in at Deer Island. The fishing boat in the background is anchored in 100+ feet of water! Bring that dry suit because the water is never over ~52° F..

Diving at Dawson House (jokingly referred to as "Captain Jon's Habitat") you can shower off right outside the house. Mmmm, cold water! Amy shows how it's done. We have a small compressor on site.

*DIVE WEEKEND is $400.00 pp and includes:

•4 Nights accomodations (Thurs-Mon or Fri-Tues depending on schedule)
•Air Fills
•6+ dives depending on tides
•4 Breakfasts
•3 Lunches
•3 Dinners
•Photo Guide services (NOT a divemaster!)
•Fun and excitement!

All diving is shore based. Boat dives are optional and not included and may not even be available! $100 deposit required to hold spot. Divers must bring a minimum of two tanks, three is better, as well as weight.

LEGAL NOTICE: I am an underwater photographer leading photo workshops. I am not a dive instructor or divemaster. All diving is done at your own risk and under your own supervision. You are responsible for your own dive practices and safety.

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Last Update 7/17/15