From a selfish standpoint I would love to have steps right into the water like in the quarries, but it would destroy the scenic appeal of those rocks and ledges. Except for a few painted "private property" signs on rocks near the residential areas, the rocks are untouched by human construction and there are no fences or barriers preventing stupid people from falling into the ocean. This adds to the wildness and thrill for the tourists that have never been there before or whom have never seen the rocky Maine coastline up close and personal.
Another factor preventing any construction on the rocks is ocean storms. The Patriots Day Storm of 2007 did much damage to the area around the lighthouse and Sohier Park. The water was up so high, and had such destructive force, that the parking lot pavement was eroded and the ocean waves crossed right over the island to the other side. Parts of the island and Sohier Park were carried off into the ocean. The base of the lighthouse itself was at times under water. Much work has been done by the town since then to give us the nice scenic areas we have today.
Three or four years ago a 3" plastic flexible water line was run across underwater to the island. It was bolted down to the rocks with heavy clamps and bolts drilled into the rocks. That line didn't last one winter. In the Spring when I started diving there the next year it had been all torn apart by the surge action against the shore. And this was very thick plastic, not pvc. I have been told that the boulders that you find along the shore there move around in the big storms. I am talking boulders the size of small cars. This was probably how the waterline got torn up.
The moral of my story is anything built on the rocks there will not last long. The area sits on the end of a peninsula that juts out---what maybe 3/4 mile---into the ocean. The cove is wide open to the destructive force of big storms out of the North and Northeast which are relatively common.
Stairs might be nice for we divers but it would be a waste of money. it wouldn't last long. Do like the locals do...if the water is rough, tie off a 30' rope with a 10 pound weight on the end to the little mooring ring for the lighthouse row boat. Toss the weighted rope down to the large table rock at the low water line. Go in and out using this rope to give you balance and stronger footing against the surge and/or slippery algae.
