11 Best Places to Scuba Dive in the U.S.
Traveling and diving go hand in hand, taking divers into some of the most beautiful parts of the world. If you live in the U.S., there is plenty of opportunity to experience unique dives, all without bringing a passport. While Florida and California are major hotspots for divers, there are many places to enjoy driving all throughout the country.
Oahu, Hawaii
Traveling to Oahu is easy, with direct flights to Honolulu from many mainland cities. Oahu is also known as ‘The Wreck Capital of Hawaii.’ Throughout the waters of Oahu, there are around ten great wrecks that are accessible to recreational divers. Perhaps the most famous spot to explore is the Corsair Wreck, an airplane that crashed in the waters and sank in 1946. Some wrecks were sunk as artificial reefs to create new dive sites, like the YO-257 and San Pedro. These wrecks are now home to a variety of marine life like eagle rays, sea turtles, and pufferfish.
Shark fans have the opportunity to try shark cage diving off Oahu's famed North Shore. Divers and non-divers alike can enter a metal cage suspended below the surface in anticipation of seeing sharks up close. Hawaii is home to over 40 species of sharks, and many shark cage divers see tiger and hammerhead sharks on this adventure.
Need some gear or more information? SCUBAPRO dealer Dive Oahu has three locations on Oahu, offering classes, charters, equipment and gear, and dive sites. Hawaiian dive adventures don’t stop there—before you start planning, read our guide, “Scuba Diving in Hawaii: Best Dive Sites and More.”
Jupiter, Florida
There are a number of popular dive sites in Jupiter, a town located in southeastern Florida. It’s an enticing area for divers due to warm water temperatures, good visibility, a variety of marine life viewing and reef. Due to the majority of Jupiter dive sites being deep water (70+ feet), it’s recommended for experienced divers, though new divers can get certified in the area. Jupiter is most known for drift diving, and staying stationary in the water may prove to be difficult.
There are shipwrecks in Jupiter many divers seek out, and these sunken ships are a part of what’s known as the ‘Jupiter Wreck Trek.’ The Wreck Trek is a series of ships Zion Train, Miss Jenny, and the Esso Bonaire. It’s a popular aggregation site for divers to explore the various nooks and crannies. During the summer, divers may also come across Goliath Groupers—groupers that can grow to be up to 700 pounds and eight feet in length. This adventure combines two adventures—The Wreck Trek and the Goliath Groupers—in one epic dive.
Jupiter Dive Center, a SCUBAPRO Platinum dealer, charters boats so that divers can experience deep water wreckages. They have expert staff with thorough knowledge of all of their products and certified service technicians who receive extensive training. Finally, you can learn to dive and get a scuba certification through Jupiter Dive Center, as well. Make sure you stop by for a visit to get all the information and gear you need, as well as scheduling time for a scuba certification or boat charter.
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Monterey Bay, California
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is home to many of California’s most popular dive sites. Located within the sanctuary is the Point Lobos State Marine Conservation Area. Point Lobos houses one of the most populated and diverse marine life habitats in California, making it a hotspot for divers. Divers like to take advantage of these dive spots that are restricted to only 30 divers per day. Reservations are required for dive buddy teams.
Whaler’s Cove and Bluefish Cove are two areas that have pristine, clear water and sheltered coves. This helps to not disturb the local marine life, and lets divers have a more private exploration tour. While Monterey Bay has dive sites suitable to divers of all levels, water temperatures average around 55 to 60F in the summer. These cold water temps mean you’ll want a drysuit to stay warm.
Aquarius Dive Shop in Monterey, California, is a SCUBAPRO dealer and offers guided tours, dive classes, and gear rentals for divers in the area.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo Florida
Located in Key Largo, Florida lies John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. This state park is known for being the country’s first undersea park and as one of the best places to dive in the U.S.
Divers are exposed to the colorful coral reef and have the opportunity to see the marine life that has made the reefs their homes. A major attraction is the famous Christ of the Abyss structure. It’s a large, two-ton bronze statue of Jesus standing 25 feet below the surface.
Diving tours and rentals are available to the public directly through John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Divers Direct is Key Largo’s largest dive shop and an authorized SCUBAPRO dealer. Get gear, beachwear, and air tank fills at this location while talking to knowledgeable workers about planning your dive.
Puget Sound, Washington
One of the best places to dive in the U.S. is less than an hour’s drive from Seattle, Washington. Seattle may be known for its misty rain, cloudy days, and mild temperatures, but divers know that Puget Sound has over 75 shore-diving sites. The Sound’s dive area is considerable at approximately 100 miles long, 10 miles wide, and has a maximum depth of 930 feet.
The diverse area has made it a place where some commercial diving schools, like the Divers Institute of Technology (DIT), send their students for training. Temperatures in the Sound are consistently around 50 F, but that’s where the consistency ends. Underwater visibility can vary greatly due to the strong currents that affect the area. Iconic marine life includes the giant pacific octopus, wolf eels, small spiny lumpsucker fish, and a variety of nudibranchs.
The cold temps will require divers to wear drysuits, dry gloves, and hats. Underwater Sports is a local dealer to the Puget Sound area and has locations in Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Edmonds, and Federal Way. They have equipment to buy or rent and can guide you to the right kind of thermal gear you’ll need when diving in the area.
Channel Islands National Park, California
Appropriately deemed “the Galapagos of North America,” the water surrounding the five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park makes this California location one of the most unique dive spots in the world. The Islands’ marine ecosystems are supported by the giant kelp forests that house over 800 species of life.
Two currents, the colder California Current from the north and the warmer Davidson Countercurrent from the south, merge together and make a home rife with marine life. Divers may see anything from miniscule anemones to the largest animal in the world, the Blue Whale. Due to this unique biodiversity in this area, divers frequently swim with starfish, octopus, lobsters, giant sea bass, bat rays, and California’s state fish, the Garibaldi.
HMS Yukon in San Diego’s Wreck Alley - San Diego, California
The HMS Yukon was a Canadian destroyer that served in the Royal Canadian Navy. A large ship at 366 feet long and 40 feet wide, it was decommissioned in 1993 and was bought to be used as an artificial reef. It was sunk in San Diego in 2000 at 100 feet (30 meters). The HMS Yukon is part of San Diego’s “Wreck Alley,” which is a series of six artificial reefs that were sunk specifically for scuba divers.
Local San Diego dive shops Ocean Enterprises and House of Scuba are SCUBAPRO dealers. Ocean Enterprises offers everything from gear, Learn to Dive classes, advanced diving classes, and more. Planning out your dive is always easier when you have information from the locals, so stop in, ask some questions, and get prepared for your dive.
Morehead, North Carolina
Another dive spot that features shipwrecks is the town of Morehead, North Carolina. Divers looking for adventure will rank this area as having some of the best dive sites in the U.S. Divers can charter boats through local dive shops and have all-day dives, with anywhere from 2–4 dives per day.
This area is home to sand tiger sharks, and while not guaranteed, divers can usually expect to see between 5–20 sand tiger sharks in some areas. Wrecks that have fewer reefs won’t have as many sand tiger sharks, but the USS Tarpon wreck site is rife with them. This type of shark helps maintain diversity of sea life that live near the wreckage and are an important part of the ecosystem. Don’t worry—they aren’t overly aggressive or curious, so it adds just enough thrill to the dive without feeling threatening.
Olympus Diving is an excellent diving resource and shop in the area. They can give divers all the info they need from the history of the area to the kind of conditions to expect. This shop also offers dive trips, boat charters, and more. Check them out when you visit Morehead.
Bonne Terre Mine, Missouri
You won’t find shipwrecks when you dive in Bonne Terre Mine, but divers will get to experience an abandoned mine located just an hour south of St. Louis.
There are 24 dive routes accompanied by a guide that allows divers to explore the freshwater area that has sunken movie theaters, offices, picks and shovels, and a drinking fountain—all remnants from America’s mining history.
In order to dive at Bonne Terre Mine, you must have proof of dive certification, select a package offered through Bonne Terre Mine, and make your reservations.
More information about what to expect when you dive can be found here. Y-Kiki Divers in St. Louis is a SCUBAPRO dealer and can help get you prepared for your upcoming trip.
Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve - Lexington, Michigan
South of the “thumb” of Michigan’s “glove” is Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve. There are over 15 shipwrecks in the Preserve, offering great diving for intermediate and advanced divers. The Lake Huron Shipwreck Museum has information about the wrecks and history of the preserve. Contact local dive shops for more info on scheduling boat dives at the wrecks.
DeTour Passage Underwater Preserve - Drummond Island, Michigan
The DeTour Passage is a channel that is rife with shipwrecks due to tumultuous weather on the lake. Heavy seas and strong storms led to the sinking of numerous ships. There are shore-accessible dive sites, and many of the wrecks currently rest in shallow waters that are easily accessible to divers.
The Dive Shop and Motor City Scuba are dive shops to put on your list if you’re planning on diving through the shipwrecks of Lake Huron. You can take classes, get tank fills, rent or buy gear, and reserve a guided tour of the areas.
What are Your Favorite Diving Spots?
This guide is just a start to some of the best diving spots in the U.S., but these are our top 10. Now that you know ours, what are some of your favorites? Let us know on our Facebook or Instagram page about your favorite dives and your experiences and don't forget to tag #scubapro in your diving posts.