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Manasquan Inlet
 Manasquan, NJ
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Max Depth: 21-25ft/6-8m
Average Viz: 41-50ft/12-15m
Entry Type: Shore
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
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Rating: 3.00 by 1 divers
Spring: 61-65°F/16-18°C
Summer: 71-75°F/22-24°C
Fall: 61-65°F/16-18°C
Winter: Under 50°F/10°C
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Manasquan Inlet is a shore accessible salt water dive site, located in Manasquan, NJ. This dive site has an average rating of 3.00 out of 5 from 1 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 21-25ft/6-8m. The average visibility is 41-50ft/12-15m.
The "Squan" Inlet seperates Manasquan and Point Pleasant New Jersey. A busy inlet during the boating season, so a dive flag is a mandatory piece of equipment. In the middle of the inlet there is the remains of an old barge. It is unnamed so no one took credit for it. Its funny that no one ever posted this location, many divers for years have been there. In some ways similar to the Shark River Inlet.
The Manasquan River is overall not as nice a place to dive as the Shark River. The currents are stronger, the water never seems as clean, and the bottom is silty wherever it is not covered with mussels. The inlet jetties can be downright dangerous, and the boat traffic in the channel there is often very heavy. Off the north jetty is the so-called "Manasquan Wreck", but this is a long swim from shore and probably best approached with a boat. There may actually be two wrecks north of the north jetty, some divers looking for the Manasquan wreck found a smaller, newer wreck in the sand.
The best place to dive in the Manasquan River is the Railroad Bridge at Gull Island Park, which is set up specifically for divers. This location is used heavily for training dives, but if you can avoid the crowds it can be a very interesting spot, with a wide variety of marine life. Powerful tidal currents will limit your dive time, but otherwise there are no time restrictions, unlike the inlet.
More info and map at Aqua Explorers:
aquaexplorers.com/beachdivingNJmanasquanjetties.htmThe name Manasquan is derived from the Indian words Man -A-Squaw -Han, or "Stream of the Island of the Squaws". In old records, and even up to World War Two, the area was known simply as Squam or Squan.
More info, pictures on NJscuba.net
njscuba.net/sites/site_manasquan_river.html§ 13:82-3.17 Diving and swimming
(a) General provisions with respect to diving and swimming are as follows:
1. Underwater diving with or without an underwater apparatus is permitted in all navigable waters in New Jersey unless otherwise prohibited in this section.
2. Any person while diving shall mark his or her position with a buoyed flag:
i. Such flag shall be displayed so that it is visible all around the horizon from a buoy, float, boat or other floating object;
ii. Such flag shall be a minimum of 14 inches by 16 inches, shall be rigid to enhance visibility and shall be a red background with a white diagonal stripe running from one corner to the other.
3. No person shall operate a vessel within 50 feet of the buoyed flag.
4. No person shall display a flag at times other than when diving is in progress.
5. No person shall swim or dive in a narrow, confined or improved channel or in a marked fairway, under a bridge, or impede, obstruct or interfere with passage of watercraft therein.
6. No diver shall surface more than 25 feet from the buoyed flag except in an emergency