Good Snorkeling Locations for L'il Buddy

Dave R · 07-19-2016, 10:33 AM

I agree with upthesaukee, pretty hard to beat the Belknap. I've seen it dozens of times and I still like to snorkel there. Was there on Saturday, actually. It is quite close to shore, between the shed and the last stand of trees on the Steamboat Island end of causeway. I don't know why it does not show up on google earth, it is certainly big enough. It might be the shadow here: 43.633341, -71.369872.

thinkxingu · 07-19-2016, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

I agree with upthesaukee, pretty hard to beat the Belknap. I've seen it dozens of times and I still like to snorkel there. Was there on Saturday, actually. It is quite close to shore, between the shed and the last stand of trees on the Steamboat Island end of causeway. I don't know why it does not show up on google earth, it is certainly big enough. It might be the shadow here: 43.633341, -71.369872.

Sounds great, thanks!

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

noreast · 07-19-2016, 04:22 PM

Great Idea, If I can get the family to go diving, It'll be one more arrow in the quiver for buying a bigger boat. Thank you!

Dave R · 07-19-2016, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noreast

Great Idea, If I can get the family to go diving, It'll be one more arrow in the quiver for buying a bigger boat. Thank you!

If you don't have gear yet, check out Cressi stuff. Nice gear for the money. They sell it at Dick's Sporting Goods.

skprbob · 07-21-2016, 12:41 PM

Way back in camp counsellor days snorkel trips to the Belknap, the Witches, the Graveyard, and the Varney Islands were popular. Once found half of a Mercruiser outdrive in the Graveyard, complete with gear, shaft, propellor, and still oily. Kids had a blast! Also lots of fishing lures around.

znh · 08-24-2016, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

I agree with upthesaukee, pretty hard to beat the Belknap. I've seen it dozens of times and I still like to snorkel there. Was there on Saturday, actually. It is quite close to shore, between the shed and the last stand of trees on the Steamboat Island end of causeway. I don't know why it does not show up on google earth, it is certainly big enough. It might be the shadow here: 43.633341, -71.369872.

Where do you approach / anchor when going here to check this out?

Dave R · 08-26-2016, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by znh

Where do you approach / anchor when going here to check this out?

The north side of the bridge is perfect for anchoring. Anchor there, swim under the bridge (make sure there are no PWCs coming through...) and go right. The south side (where the ship is) is also ok for anchoring, but watch for the rocks and the power cable.

Just want to correct myself here. The wreck is on the east side of the bridge, the best anchoring is on the west side of the bridge.

Dave R · 08-26-2016, 01:47 PM

Wanted to add that there's usually a massive school of fish (like thousands of them) in the weed bed near 43.680979, -71.384980. They are mostly yellow perch and blue gills, however, they attract larger predatory fish, so you may seen some decent size bass and pickeral as well. Swimming over and among them is better than being in any aquarium I have ever been to. The best viewing is in the deeper water and weeds that don't make it all the way to the surface. The downside of this is that it's in Braun Bay and the crowds can cloud the water up on weekends.

upthesaukee · 08-26-2016, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

The north side of the bridge is perfect for anchoring. Anchor there, swim under the bridge (make sure there are no PWCs coming through...) and go right. The south side (where the ship is) is also ok for anchoring, but watch for the rocks and the power cable.

Dave R, isn't it the reverse. Anchor on the south side of the bridge (Gilford side) and swim to the north side (Ossipee Mts side)? I don't have my Bizer chart handy, but that was my recollection.

I live here... I am always Upthesaukee.

Barney Bear · 08-26-2016, 09:31 PM

The Belknap is on the east side of the small bridge between Birch Island and Steamboat Island. There are numerous large rocks in the vicinity of the sunken vessel.

Dave R · 08-26-2016, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Dave R, isn't it the reverse. Anchor on the south side of the bridge (Gilford side) and swim to the north side (Ossipee Mts side)? I don't have my Bizer chart handy, but that was my recollection.

I live here... I am always Upthesaukee.

Yup, I had it backwards. Sorry...

edited to add: After I answered you, I looked at a map and realized the wreck is east of the bridge.

07-21-2016, 12:41 PM	#5
skprbob Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 19 Mile Bay Posts: 147 Thanks: 0 Thanked 90 Times in 29 Posts	snorkelling spot Way back in camp counsellor days snorkel trips to the Belknap, the Witches, the Graveyard, and the Varney Islands were popular. Once found half of a Mercruiser outdrive in the Graveyard, complete with gear, shaft, propellor, and still oily. Kids had a blast! Also lots of fishing lures around.

08-26-2016, 09:31 PM	#10
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 961 Thanks: 488 Thanked 274 Times in 175 Posts	Caution Captain The Belknap is on the east side of the small bridge between Birch Island and Steamboat Island. There are numerous large rocks in the vicinity of the sunken vessel.

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07-19-2016, 10:33 AM	#1
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	I agree with upthesaukee, pretty hard to beat the Belknap. I've seen it dozens of times and I still like to snorkel there. Was there on Saturday, actually. It is quite close to shore, between the shed and the last stand of trees on the Steamboat Island end of causeway. I don't know why it does not show up on google earth, it is certainly big enough. It might be the shadow here: 43.633341, -71.369872.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dave R For This Useful Post:
thinkxingu (07-19-2016), upthesaukee (07-20-2016)

07-19-2016, 04:22 PM	#3
noreast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 648 Thanks: 316 Thanked 120 Times in 93 Posts	Great Idea, If I can get the family to go diving, It'll be one more arrow in the quiver for buying a bigger boat. Thank you!

08-26-2016, 01:47 PM	#8
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	Wanted to add that there's usually a massive school of fish (like thousands of them) in the weed bed near 43.680979, -71.384980. They are mostly yellow perch and blue gills, however, they attract larger predatory fish, so you may seen some decent size bass and pickeral as well. Swimming over and among them is better than being in any aquarium I have ever been to. The best viewing is in the deeper water and weeds that don't make it all the way to the surface. The downside of this is that it's in Braun Bay and the crowds can cloud the water up on weekends.

The Following User Says Thank You to Barney Bear For This Useful Post:
Dave R (08-26-2016)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dave R For This Useful Post:
Barney Bear (08-27-2016), upthesaukee (08-26-2016)