Clark's or Secret Beach (Greenport, NY)
Limited Diving Access and History
After several months of discussions and cooperation with the Village of Greenport, Secret Beach is once again available on a limited basis for scuba and skin diving through the efforts of the Long Island Divers Association (LIDA).
For more than 40 years, Secret Beach has been regarded as one of the premier shore-diving locations on Long Island. Over the years, countless individuals have earned their diving certifications there, while experienced divers have had the unique opportunity and privilege to explore the waters of Long Island’s North Shore from this exceptional location.
LIDA’s Efforts to Restore Access
Unfortunately, as a result of actions and incidents involving individuals who were not members of the diving community, access to Secret Beach was ultimately closed by both the Village of Greenport and Suffolk County in 2002. The closure remained in effect for more than eight years.
In 2010, The Long Island Diving Association (LIDA) initiated an extensive effort to restore diving access to Secret Beach. For the next five years, LIDA worked closely with both the Village of Greenport and Suffolk County in an effort to establish a responsible and sustainable means of allowing qualified and responsible divers to once again access the site.
During this period, numerous in-person meetings were held with Village officials. These efforts were supplemented by extensive telephone conversations and correspondence between LIDA representatives and the appropriate governmental agencies. LIDA’s officers and Board members were actively involved throughout this process and remained committed to demonstrating that divers could responsibly utilize the area while respecting the concerns of the Village and the surrounding community.
In 2015, after five years of continuous effort by LIDA, the Village of Greenport granted limited access to Secret Beach for LIDA members, subject to specific restrictions and conditions.
Renewal of LIDA’s Access
Over the past year, many of the Village of Greenport Board members with whom LIDA had worked with during the original process were replaced by new members. As a result, the new Board was understandably not familiar with the history of LIDA’s involvement or the arrangements that had previously permitted LIDA members to access Secret Beach.
Earlier this year, access through the Village’s locked gate was therefore placed on hold.
Recognizing the importance of preserving this unique diving opportunity, LIDA once again undertook a substantial effort to work with the Village of Greenport to restore access to Secret Beach. After several months of correspondence, discussions, and cooperation with Village officials, limited access has once again been granted to LIDA.
As part of this renewed arrangement, the Village of Greenport now requires all divers utilizing Secret Beach to sign a Waiver, which they have provided to LIDA. Working with the Village of Greenport, LIDA has developed a corresponding set of rules and conditions governing the use of Secret Beach. Both the Village waiver and LIDA’s rules must be reviewed and signed by every individual who is granted the privilege of entering Secret Beach through the Village’s locked gate.
This renewed access represents another important achievement for LIDA and is the result of many years of work, cooperation, and commitment by LIDA’s officers.
Access to Secret Beach is a privilege, not a right. It is essential that every diver who is granted access understands the responsibility that accompanies this privilege. The future of diving at Secret Beach depends upon every participant following the established requirements, respecting the property and surrounding environment, and representing the diving community in a responsible and professional manner.
Requirements for Use of Secret Beach
Each year, LIDA will announce the dates that Secret Beach will be available for diving. Once these dates are announced and published on the LIDA website, divers are free to choose the dates they wish to dive. Diving at Secret Beach will not be permitted on dates other than those released and published by LIDA.
For the calendar year 2026, Secret beach will be re-opened and diving
will be permitted on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Access Requirements
Anyone wishing to utilize Secret Beach through the Village’s locked gate must comply fully with all of the following rules and requirements:
Each diver will go to the LIDA website to download and sign the waiver.
Dive Groups: The dive group must elect a dive coordinator for the group who will be responsible for emailing all the signed waivers as one package to LIDA at: contact@lidaonline.com. This must take place at least one week ahead of the dive date. The dive coordinator must also choose the day they plan to dive and include that in their email.
Single Diver: The diver will email their signed waiver to LIDA at: contact@lidaonline.com. This must take place at least one week ahead of the dive date. The diver must also choose the day they plan to dive and include that in their email.
LIDA will review the waiver(s) and retain copies for their records. LIDA will then email the waivers to the Village of Greenport.
LIDA will reach out to the dive coordinator or single diver with the lock combination.
Please do not give out the access code to others!
Please email Barry Lipsky at contact@lidaonline.com or call him at 631-495-4471 if you have an issue accessing the gate. If Barry is unavailable, please contact Bob Auteri at 516-768-7990.
The dive coordinator or single diver must open and lock the gate as described on this web page - See How to Access and Lock the Gate!
The gate SHOULD NEVER be left open and unlocked at any time.
Please be advised that the Village of Greenport requires that a Dive Master or Dive Instructor be on-site at all times while diving is taking place.
Dive flags must be used when diving or snorkeling.
How to Access and Lock the Gate!
All authorized divers who access this dive location must LOCK the gate after ENTERING and LEAVING the site as well as LOCK the gate as shown in the image below!
The gate SHOULD NEVER be left open and unlocked at any time. If so, LIDA’s access to this dive location could be REVOKED.
Proper Locking Technique
Dive Site Guidelines
As with any shared facility, there are some guidelines we would like to remind everyone of:
There are no bathroom facilities, port-a-potties or other waste disposal capabilities at Secret Beach, so please plan accordingly.
Parking is limited to the field area above the main dive site. Please do not park close to the water in order to respect the access rights of all those using the site. Also, do not park alongside the road outside of the gate for safety and traffic control reasons.
Please take out everything you take in and do not leave litter or other waste behind. This site is for all of us to use and we should all play a part in keeping it clean.
Directions to Dive Site
Take the Long Island Expressway to exit 73 (sign will say "Greenport, Orient Point"). This is Suffolk County Road #58. Go east on Suffolk County #58 to Northville Turnpike, (this is Suffolk County Road #43.) Make a left and go North on #43 to Sound Avenue. Make a right on Sound Ave (you are now again heading East).
Take Sound Ave for about 20 miles. Sound Ave will become called Middle Road (around the town of Mattituck). Middle Road becomes North Road (around the town of Southhold). You will be on a stretch of road that is right next to the water (Long Island Sound). You will see a "Greenport" sign on the right side of the road, this is 1.5 miles from the turn off on dirt road to Secret Beach. About a half mile before the turn off you will see the Sunset Motel on the left hand side of the road.
When you come to a dirt road on the left (north) side of the road, make a left on the dirt road, follow it to registration. If you miss the dirt road (there is no sign), you will see Eastern Long Island Kampgrounds on the right. Just make a "U" turn and go back to the dirt road.
Satellite View (gate at arrow location)
Google Map (showing location)