No matter what part of the United States you plan to visit, you’ll find an amazing variety of great dives that will keep you coming back for more. From shark-filled North Carolina wrecks to California’s kelp beds, the sheer number and variety of dive sites in the United States is staggering. And don’t be fooled into thinking that the vast interior is dive deprived; there are some unexpected and memorable inland dive sites in places you would scarcely expect. Here’s just a quick sample of what’s on offer for divers across the United States.
Marine life varies wildly depending on where you are within the United States. You can swim with manta rays and hammerheads in Hawaii, with dolphins and sea lions in California, and with tremendous sharks in the Florida Keys. In freshwater locales you can expect largemouth bass, domineering wall-eye, and even catfish that are larger than you are!
International and regional flights zoom across the United States constantly. To get around the country it is best to fly or rent a car. Public transportation is only readily available in larger cities or cross country.
There is a whirlwind of scuba diving options to explore while visiting Hawaii. From cage diving with great white sharks to accomplishing underwater spelunking in sparkling grottos, Hawaii has it all. The marine life is well protected here, so you can always expect an abundance of wildlife. There are literally hundreds of dive operators scattered across the...
Mermet Springs and Haigh Quarry are two of the most popular dives in Illinois. Both are flooded quarries, now utilized for water recreation and diving, their long removed pasts only revealed by the relics beneath. In Mermet Springs you have the opportunity to dive in a Boeing 727, going the wreckage, which was used for the filming of the movie U.S. Marshals.At Haigh...
It is estimated that there are over 5,000 shipwrecks of New Jersey’s coast, from vessels that are hundreds of years old to more modern wrecks.Wreck Valley, which runs between New York’s Long Island and New Jersey holds hundreds of shipwrecks in a 60 mile (96 kilometer) swathe. The USN Algol fought in WWII and the Korean War, and was sunk intentionally for divers. It...
A two hour drive north of Tampa, and can you dive in Crystal River’s King Spring. Caverns start at 30 feet (9 meters) and drop down to 50 feet (15 meters). Expect to see sheephead with their distinct vertical stripes and human like teeth as you descend for the main attraction – the manatee. Often referred to as a sea-cow, this relative of the elephant has a...
Landlocked New Mexico seems an unlikely place for stellar scuba diving, but you’d be surprised. The Santa Rosa Blue Hole is by far New Mexico’s claim to scuba diving fame. Acclaimed as the “Scuba Capital of the Southwest,” the 80 foot (24 meter) deep Blue Hole is a former fish hatchery, transformed into a diving destination. Primarily, it is used in training...
You won’t be hard pressed to find a dive shop in New York, especially in the city and on Long Island. Upstate, too, has its fair share of places that can get you beneath the surface.Wreck Valley, running between New York and New Jersey, is tremendous. Of the hundreds of shipwrecks to explore, the USN Algol and the Lizzie D are brimming with history and well worth the...
The diving in California is varied and spectacular, but if there’s one thing that defines this state’s dive experience it’s the massive, looming kelp forests that rival the state’s redwoods. Under ideal conditions, this marine algae can live for 20 years, reach lengths of 45 metres/150 feet and grow 60 centimetres/two feet a day. (That’s not a misprint.) There is...