Maine offers a wide range of scuba activities, including oyster diving. Although most pearls now come from pearl farms, any nacre-producing molluck can contain various types of pearls. As a result, an amateur diver can find individual natural pearls in oyster shells. And even if you don't, pearl diving can be a great way to meet people, get fit and learn about ocean life.
Oyster diving in Augusta
The Maine Divers Scuba Center in Augusta offers a wide range of scuba classes and a variety of dives. Augusta is also just a short drive from the beach, and there are many great dive sites. For example, Hendrick's Head Beach, located south of Augusta, has an abundance of sea life, including oysters. Although it is illegal to dive for lobsters and endangered fish in Maine, you can collect oysters for personal use.
Diving near Bangor
Bangor is about a 30-minute drive from the coastline, and there are some good diving spots nearby, including in the Acadia National Forest on the island of Bar Harbor. The best of those spots is Little Hunter's Beach, located on the far eastern shore of the island. Known for its scenic beauty, the entrance point contains sea life in abundance, including oysters.
Beauchamp Point
Beauchamp Point, located an hour or so west of Augusta, is a great place to find sea urchins, crabs, starfish and oysters during a dive. People posting on Maine-iac divers website report finding plenty of raw oysters that they ate aboard their dive vessel. Beauchamp Point is near Camden State Park, and there are several other great diving spots nearby, including Rockland Breakwater and Owl's Head Dodge Point.
Spots and Centers in Portland
Portland is a great location--it's practically on the beach--and it has two dive shops and a diving school in town, including a Maine Divers Scuba Center. There are two diving coves next to the Portland Head Lighthouse, and you can see an abundance of marine life, including oysters.
Oyster Farms in Maine
Although Maine is famous for lobsters, there are also a lot of oyster farms in the area, which raise oysters for eating rather than pearls. Five of the more famous oyster farms can be found along the Damariscotta River, and they produce luxury oysters such as pemaquid, belon, Cape Blue and Glidden Point. Oysters are rich in iron, zinc, selenium and B12.
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