Who doesn't love O.G.B.? At high tide, the water comes right up to the concrete boat ramp, and at low tide its a very short walk to the water. Its an easy, sandy, gently sloping entry. It has a Northeast exposure and is often a calm site when others are a little torn up. It is a sandy beach, with kelp and boulders to either side, within a very short swim from shore. In fact, one of the neat things here is that the bottom topography in the shallows is as interesting as the deeper diving area that is found slightly farther out. If you head to the right as you snorkle out over the 6 - 10 foot shallows you will see a rocky, kelpy bottom that is not usually seen at depths under 20 feet. Old Garden Beach tends to be a shallow dive, not often exceeding 25 feet, but at high tide and with a persistent swim out, I have seen 40 plus feet here - but you just don't have to go that far to have a good time here. There are more fish - of all kinds - here, than at almost any other Cape Ann dive site. Lobstering is good. Maria Maggio has seen a whale here! Gary Doyon found an antique clay pipe. Need I say more?

There is a parking lot at the beach, but it is for Rockport residents only from Memorial Day through Labor Day. During the week you can park right on the street. On weekend, drop your gear, leave your buddy with it, and park just a couple blocks away. You can gear up on several concrete structures that are surrounded by a grassy area overlooking the beach, and then walk down the boat ramp, or a concrete wall that slopes down from closer to the parking area. It's a residential area - keep the noise down during the early morning. There's a sign that among many other needless and irksome instructions to divers, asks us to not scuba dive after sunset. According to many, prohibiting diving at night is illegal unless the beach is closed to all, which it is not. According to many, OGB is an awesome night dive.