Cedar Point County Park, New York

Cedar Point County Park in East Hampton, New York, offers three novice-friendly options: The Northwest Harbor site provides good photo opportunities, with plenty of light, little current, lots of small sea life, and depths of about 8 feet (2.4 m). At the Gardiners Bay site blue claw crabs, small lobsters, flounders, and bluefish can be observed. The Cedar Point Lighthouse area is the deepest of the three dive sites, up to 35 feet (11 m). Diving is best at slack tide as current can be strong. Four-wheel-drive vehicle access with valid Suffolk County outer beach recreational vehicle permit is needed to reach the sites. The historic lighthouse stood on an island 600 feet (182 m) from shore when it was built in 1860. Its beacon served to guide whaling ships in and out of Sag Harbor during its hey-day as a major port. A 1938 hurricane transformed the shoreline, shifting sands to create a narrow, walkable strip that now connects the lighthouse with the mainland.
Depths to: 35 feet (11 m).
Aquatic life: Blackfish, lobster, blue claw crabs, fluke,
flounder, bluefish.
Fees: A 2007 Suffolk County outer
beach recreational vehicle permit for
residents costs $25 per day or $75 for an annual pass.
On-site amenities: Facilities or services are available for fishing, hiking, picnicking, camping, playground, rowboat rentals, bicycling, saltwater fishing, hunting, and outer beach access. There's also a general store and snack bar.
More info: Call the Suffolk County Department
of Parks, Recreation and Conservation at
(631) 854-4949 or visit http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp1.cfm?dept=10&id=808.
Open: For up-to-date information, call (631) 244-PARK, or click on "Park Notices and Information"
at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/parks.
Getting there: Take Montauk Highway east to Stephen Hands Path in East Hampton. Turn north and continue to Old Northwest Road. Turn right on to Northwest Road. Bear left and continue to Alewive Brook Road. The park entrance is nearly 300 feet (91 m) down the road.