Avery Point

Avery Point is a relatively simple dive, located at the mouth of the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut. The site itself is located very close to several local landmarks, including The University of Connecticut at Avery Point, Pfizer, and Electric Boat, where nuclear submarines are manufactured. The dive site is best accessed from the far end of the parking lot at the end of Rita Santacroce Drive, in Groton. At the end of the parking lot, there are stairs that lead directly into the water, making access a simple task. There is a public building at the other end of the parking lot, which has either porta-potties or real toilets, depending on the time of day and the time of year that you choose to dive here. This site is diveable at night, and is regularly patrolled by the Groton Police Department. Once in the water, the direction you choose to dive will determine what you will see on the dive. If you head out on a Northerly heading, targeting the small island you will facing as you enter the water, you will encounter a shallow (10-12 feet) sandy bottom, with some flounder, crabs, and seaweed, as well as some juvenile fish. When you get to the island, you will encounter a rocky wall which will provide opportunity for exploration and macro viewing and photography. If you head in an easterly direction from the entry point, you will enocounter a more rocky bottom, with opportunity for lobstering. If you're going to lobster, make sure you have your lobster license with you, as the DEP has been known to check divers in this area. Because this site is at the outflow of the Thames River, conditions and visibility are widely varied. The viz on this site is particularly bad after heavy rains, with the visibility often dropping to 1-3 feet, and the water looking more like tea than water. An interesting effect you can experience at this site is a heliocline, which is the intermingling of fresh water and salt water. Much like a thermocline ion a freshwater dive, the heliocline can be very visible, and has been seen to be 3-4 feet thick at this site. When in the heliocline, you may experience mild disorientation, as everythign you see through your mask will be blurry. BE AWARE that the New London - Block Island Ferry runs through this area. If you have the pleasure of being in the water when the ferry comes by, you will hear it and feel it quite profoundly. Other than shaking you up a bit, being pretty loud, and mucking up the viz a bit for about 30 minutes after it passes, it has no ill effects. However, there is boat traffic in addition to the ferry in this area, and a dive flag is not only recommended, it is the law.