Block Island Reef – Connecticut & Rhode Island

Site Overview

Block Island Reef in the waters surrounding Block Island off the Rhode Island coast offers some of New England's most productive cold-water diving featuring abundant tautog, American lobster, and diverse rocky reef communities in the clear Atlantic waters. The island's location at the edge of Block Island Sound creates unique current patterns that concentrate nutrients supporting dense populations of fish and invertebrates on the rocky reef slopes. American lobster populations are exceptional with divers regularly encountering large specimens in the rocky crevices and boulder fields surrounding the island. The cold north Atlantic water supports colorful anemone gardens, sponge communities, and diverse kelp forests that create beautiful underwater landscapes throughout the diving season. The island's charm above water with Victorian architecture, scenic bluffs, and excellent seafood restaurants makes Block Island a complete destination for divers seeking quality cold-water diving combined with New England coastal culture. The rocky substrate supports extensive kelp forest habitat providing three-dimensional structure that shelters diverse juvenile fish and invertebrate communities throughout the diving season. The island's maritime history is reflected in the numerous historic anchors and artifacts scattered among the boulder fields creating additional interest for divers exploring the deeper reef areas. The convergence of different water masses around the island creates unique species overlap with both northern and southern Atlantic species represented in the marine communities.