King's Beach
Newport, RI
This map is a drawn from memory and represents my image of the location. Please do not assume it is accurate. We hope to obtain a better map soon.King's BeachNewport, RI |
This map is a drawn from memory and represents my image of the location. Please do not assume it is accurate. We hope to obtain a better map soon. |
| Directions: | I-95S -> rt. 4S -> rt. 1S -> rt. 138 W -> to Newport, over both bridges (pay toll, $1?)->head south after the Newport Bridge-> I'm not sure, exactly how to get to Ocean Drive but King's Beach is about 200 yards east of Breton Point. ---OR--- I-195E -> rt. 24S (near Fall River)-> Rte. 114S into the other side of Newport without paying the toll. |
| Distance from Providence: | ~50 minutes |
| Parking: | 10-15 cars |
| Facilities: | The parking lot isn't paved but there's a nice little path that leads behind a bush which we usually use as a bathroom. |
| Conditions: | This site is right out on the ocean so it's not as protected as Ft. Weatherill. If the wind kicks up some waves, it could get rough. Otherwise, things should be fine. The interior wall in the southeast could probably be done even with a south wind. A pebble path leads down to the entry point about 15' below the parking lot. entry is sometimes tricky because the old boat ramp has some sharp steel spikes sticking out of it so be careful. |
| Dangers: | Just be sure when you head out to the rocky wall to the southeast that you don't miss it because it's all ocean out there. In rougher waters the rocks on the western side could be a little tough to handle. |
I've only done this dive a few times, once with 20' visibility. The area right off the boat ramp is covered with colorful vegetation in 5-7' of water. Out by the tip of the two big rocks immediatelty on the left as you enter, the terrain changes from seaweed covered rocks to eelgrass and a sandy bottom and drops from 7' to 10' or so. Around the tip of the rocks on the right are some gorgeous rock formations covered in sealife in about 20' of water.
The big rock to the south east forms a rocky wall on the northern side as well as the southern side and is home to a lot of small fish and such. The inside of the wall goes down to about 30' and the outside goes to about 50', I think.
Because of it's location along Ocean Drive near Breton Point, a lot of tourists tend to take up the parking area to watch the surf. It's a great spot and the rocks on the west make for a wonderful picnic area.
I'm sorry I can't tell you much more than that because I haven't done too many dives here yet.