Cathedral Rocks has a northeasterly exposure. It is one of the most challenging shore dive entries on Cape Ann, and also one of its finest dives. It is not for novice divers, people with leg or back problems, or anyone not accustomed to climbing and carrying gear over steep and slippery terrain. Climbing out of the water and back to the parking area is also an exhausting exercise. Have good hard sole boots and drinking water available.

Despite the foregoing, this is an excellent dive! After climbing and leaping down over several hundred feet of slab rock, you will need to crawl over wet rocks, slick with algae, seaweed, and salt water foam. The area to the north side of the site is 10 to 20 feet deep, but depths up to 80 feet can be reached directly off the beach.

You can expect to see sheer bedrock walls, anemones, occasional schools of pollock or stripers, and a goodly number of lobsters. Keep any eye out for a longshore shore current. Keeping your flag clear of lobster lines can be a real pain here. There are lots of traps, and lots of boats. Don't even think of scuba diving here without a flag.

Take Route 128 North through Blackburn and then through Grant Circle. At the light, take a left turn onto Route 127 into Rockport. When you come to the 5 Corner intersection, stay on 127 by turning left. Follow this road for approximately 2 miles, and turn right onto Phillips Ave. You will come to Cathedral Avenue. Unrestricted, but limited parking. Please do stay to the public area of the street, and respect the landowners' private property signs to each side of the entry area.