Ft. Wetherill

Jamestown, RI
Directions: I-95S -> rt. 4S -> rt. 1S -> rt. 138 W -> go over the Jamestown bridge and take the second exit after the bridge (before the toll plaza for the Newport bridge) -> follow the exit past the police station on the left -> through town with the harbor on your left -> keep going until you see a big sign when the road forks that says "Ft. Wetherill State Park" and follow the sign left -> the parking lot is on your right
Distance from Providence: It usually takes us about thirty to forty minutes going at a reasonable speed.
Parking: Lots.
Facilities: No running water but two port-a-potties by the lower parking lot.
Conditions: With anything except a south wind, the water is generally flat. It's a sand beach entry on the boat ramp cove and a pebble beach entry on the other. This pebble beach leads to a shallow cove (2'-5') that drops to 12'. The boat ramp cove is a gradual descent.
Dangers: If you dive outside the cove, be aware of the currents and the movement of the tide. Although the coves are protected, much of Narragansett Bay empties and fills by flowing past Ft. Wetherill. And look out for state officials.

from the west wall looking north at the boat ramp
One of the most diverse dive sites around and maybe the most popular shore dive. Lots of wonderful vegetation growing along the walls of both coves but I would say most prominent on the west wall of the boat ramp cove. This cove has a sand bottom with not much to look at. Most diving can be done at 20'. If you follow the west wall down to deeper depths (about 40'), the scenery changes dramatically. Some like to park in the upper parking lot, walk down a trail to the water and dive around that corner.

The "gap", between the island and the peninsula that divides the area in two, is a popular dive that usually involves entering from one cove and exiting from another. I usually enter the non-boat ramp cove, follow the sand-rock interface and turn right up the sandy slope after the second big wall. I use about 700 psi to get there and 700 to get back on the other side. The "gap" has some interesting rock formations and, because it is a little shallower (10'-15'), a lot of life. Some also like to dive the south side of the island (I've never done it) which drops off to greater depths (100'). I hear that the variety on that side is amazing.

Ft. Wetherill is also a popular night dive because a lot of lobster come out at night (most are small). Because it is a State Park, you can often find officials in the summer checking your lobster license, etc.

It also tends to attract a lot of classes so it can get a little crowded and murky at times. But if you get far enough from the lower parking lot, they shouldn't bother you.

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