Notes about things regarding scuba diving that I have come to know.

Pete's Southern Maine Regional Dive Site Guide
Fortunes Rocks Beach, Biddeford

This is a sand beach site that can be a nice dive at any tide. To get to this site you need to get out on route 208 in Biddeford. Once you are out past the University of New England 208 will turn off to the left just before the water tower. Stay on 208 and cross a bridge as the marsh appears on both sides. This will bring you to a stop sign where you will make a right hand turn and head south along the beach. The seaside homes will give way to a wide roadway and a granite seawall. There are 2 sets of steps up over the seawall. Dive as close as possible to the second set of steps. In season porta- potties will be there as well. Parking on the marsh side has worked well for us.

Take a moment to go up the steps and survey the site. You will see that the beach ends in a field of ledges immediately to the right. For this dive you just head straight down to the water and begin to swim out while tacking to the right. Before long you will find the base of the ledge. Swim along the ledge and you will eventually round the corner and be heading to the right. From there you can head out at about 45 degrees and you will come to one ledge after another, swim around the shallower ones. Eventually there will be enough depth to enjoy getting up and around them. Keep an eye out for overhangs and other spots where critters will hide. This site is known for huge schools of striped bass, skate, flounder and the usual cast of characters. Expect a max depth of about 25 feet on a higher tide.

For the return to shore just reciprocate back until you reach the shore ledge and the depth is about right. Beware that there is a cove in the ledge before you get to the main beach. If you find yourself getting shallow and still have ledge in front of you just head back out and round the corner to the main beach. Visibility at this site tends to be nice.

Unfortunately this site is restricted to local residents with permits through the summer months (May 25th through Labor Day?) from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM There is no parking allowed from 8PM to 5AM which rules out summertime night dives. It's a nice dive on any summer evening or September day.

This Dive Site at a Glance:

  • SCUBA: Yes
  • SKIN-DIVE: Yes
  • PARKING: Restricted, see description
  • TOILETS: In Season
  • TIDE: Any
  • SEASONS: Any
  • EXPOSURE: E
  • ENTRY/EXIT: Easy
  • FOOD: None
  • GPS: 43.426648,-70.377332
  • Google Maps accepts GPS points.

Park across from the steps over the sea wall at the south end of this beach.

This page created January 2008