DUCK POND POINT

The sand and gravel bottom plus offshore rock beds make Duck Pond Point a fantastic dive site. Photo by Daniel Berg

DIRECTIONS:                                  (Southold, Suffolk County)

Take the Long Island Expressway to Exit 73 East. This will be Old Country Road and will change into Route 25, Main Road. Continue east on 25 until you reach the town of Mattituck. Turn left on Wickhan Avenue; this will change into Middle Road. Make a left onto Depot Lane, which will lead into Duck Pond Road. Be sure to stay on Duck Pond Road (it curves right towards the end). Parking here is not the best, but space is usually available for one or two cars.

CONDITIONS:

Duck Pond Point is a fantastic dive site. The sand and gravel bottom, plus offshore rock beds make a great home to some decent size black fish, and a good amount of lobsters. Depth of water is about 15 feet, which, although shallow, is common for north shore sites. Divers who swim more than a couple of hundred yards offshore will find little more than a mud bottom. I would stay around the rocks and look for lobsters.

Divers can enter directly off the beach or take a short walk west to some large rocks, which is a good area for spear fishing. You can then casually swim back while searching for lobsters along the offshore rocks that run parallel to shore.

This site also should be tried as a night dive. The potential of finding lobsters, which are nocturnal feeders, or seeing an occasional squid will be the reward enjoyed by those who dive at night.