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Townsend Inlet
 Ocean Ave., Sea Isle/Avalon, NJ
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Max Depth: 21-25ft/6-8m
Average Viz: 5-10ft/2-3m
Entry Type: Shore
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
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Summer: 71-75°F/22-24°C
Winter: Under 50°F/10°C
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Townsend Inlet is a shore accessible salt water dive site, located at Ocean Ave., Sea Isle/Avalon, NJ. The maximum depth is 21-25ft/6-8m. The average visibility is 5-10ft/2-3m.
Like any inlet dive it must be done at slack high tide and you must stay near your flag because of boat traffic.
Exit 13 from the GSP, take 601, Avalon Blvd to Ocean Ave. and turn left. At bridge park on Avalon side. Enter water from west side (Bay side) of bridge.
Pictures on NJscuba.net:
http://njscuba.net/sites/chart_nj-0_coast.html#TownsendsTides for Ocean Bridge
http://saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/newjerseysites.html#dateTownsend and Corson Inlets would be a lot of work and look like boring dives. The Sea Isle side of Townsend might be good for freediving spearfishing since fishermen can’t get to the rock pile and it’s too much work for scuba.
The south side, Avalon side of the inlet has parking and a rock jetty with a lot of fishermen on it. Someone younger may consider rock climbing but not me. None of the fishermen on either side seemed to be catching any keepers so the inlet proper probably isn’t good for spearos either.
There is a $1.50 cash only, no EZPass toll on the bridge so if you are heading south on the GSP and you want to go to the Sea Isle side get off at the Sea Isle exit (17?) Head east into Sea Isle, there is a sign on the right pointing to beach badge sales but I never saw a badge checker. At the last light turn right and head south to the bridge.
The north side, Sea Isle side has a park on the west side of the road just at the bridge. There is shaded parking, rest room and water fountain. To do this side you need a Sherpa and support crew to watch your dive cart. There is a handicap mat to make pulling the cart over the dunes easier but for some inexplicable reason there is a step up onto the mat. This is where the Sherpa comes in :)
Once over the dunes the mat runs out, the beach runs out to the bridge. There is a sign that beach badges must be worn however I did not see anyone checking them. This is a typical Jersey beach and probably a sand dessert on the bottom. You could enter the water here and swim out against the current but if you look at the pictures you’ll see it’s a long way.
The shortest way to the rock pile would be a straight line but that’s a nesting area and off limits. The rock pile would be the most interesting thing here to dive and it’s out of reach for fishermen but it’s in the surf zone of the Sea Isle beach so it’s going to be limited viz.
This is listed as a beach dive but a boat would be better. RayC