New Jersey Scuba Diving

Masts

lightship mast
lightship mast

Possibly the most preposterous artifact that has ever been recovered is one of the masts from the Lightship Relief. Over 50 ft long and weighing some 6000 pounds, the mast was recovered by divers in 1976 and set up in front of a dive shop in Laurence Harbor. ( It was called "Diver's Cove". )

The dive shop has long since closed, and the huge mast now lies off to the side, a rusting eyesore. The present owner of the property claims it is a registered historic landmark. Apparently not so - as of March 2008 it was hauled away as garbage. Better that it had just been left in the sea, but this is the fate of many divers' "artifacts."

lightship mast
lightship mast
lightship mast
shipwreck Malta mast
The mast of another shipwreck - the Malta. Disguised as a flagpole, 8th Avenue, Belmar.

Wooden masts and spars are seldom found on shipwrecks. Wood floats, after all, and freed of gravity underwater, a wooden mast soon works its way free and pops to the surface, where it becomes a hazard to shipping. For this reason, many sailing shipwrecks were deliberately destroyed - masts broken off by wire-drag and then the pieces collected and carted away.

Barge photo courtesy of Capt. Dan Berg

Collecting Scallops

Scallops

Scallops are not nearly so easy to get as Mussels but are well worth it. I have never seen a scallop in less than 90 ft of water, most often in 110 ft and below. Sadly, the commercial scallop boats have quite efficiently decimated the scallop population, and they are fairly rare, especially in any kind of useful quantity.

When you do get into a field of scallops though, life is good. Scallops live on the surface of the sand ( rarely on the deck of a wreck ) where each one will excavate a shallow pit. The pits are usually 2-3 ft apart, and a good field of scallops will stretch as far as you can see. Fortunately, good fields like this are usually in the vicinity of wrecks or snags, where the scallop boats will not go with their expensive bottom gear.

More: Collecting Scallops ...

Disclaimer:

I make no claim as to the accuracy, validity, or appropriateness of any information found in this website. I will not be responsible for the consequences of any action that is based upon information found here. Scuba diving is an adventure sport, and as always, you alone are responsible for your own safety and well being.

Copyright © 1996-2026 Rich Galiano
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