Dive sites in United States
Browse by region, city or dive type to find suitable locations for your experience level.
Regions
All dive sites
Catalina Island
Avalon · California · United States
A rugged Channel Island off the Los Angeles coast offering kelp forest cathedrals, rocky reefs teeming with garibaldi and horn sharks, and the famous Casino Point underwater park.
Catalina Two Harbors
Long Beach · California · United States
The remote western end of Catalina Island where kelp forests, rocky reefs, and blue-water walls offer Southern California's finest diving among giant black sea bass, bat rays, and the resident population of garibaldi damselfish in crystal-clear Pacific water.
Monterey Bay
Monterey · California · United States
California's premier cold-water diving destination with towering kelp forests, playful sea otters, harbour seals, and an extraordinary abundance of marine life thriving in nutrient-rich upwelling waters.
San Diego Kelp Forest
San Diego · California · United States
The kelp forests off La Jolla and Point Loma rank among California's most accessible temperate diving, where giant kelp canopies shelter leopard sharks, garibaldi, and harbour seals in rocky reef habitat.
Anacapa Island
Ventura · Channel Islands · United States
The closest of California's Channel Islands, where cold nutrient-rich upwelling creates towering kelp forests teeming with giant black sea bass, harbour seals, and vibrant invertebrate-encrusted walls.
Blue Heron Bridge
West Palm Beach · Florida · United States
Shallow shore dive under a bridge. World-class macro and critter diving. Best at slack high tide.
Blue Heron Bridge
Riviera Beach · Florida · United States
North America's premier shore-access muck dive where the warm waters beneath a Florida bridge harbor an astonishing parade of rare critters including seahorses, frogfish, octopus, and manatees in barely 8 meters of water.
USS Oriskany
Pensacola · Florida · United States
The 'Great Carrier Reef' — a 270-metre Essex-class aircraft carrier intentionally sunk as the world's largest artificial reef, now teeming with marine life in the Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola.
Molasses Reef
Key Largo · Florida Keys · United States
The most popular dive site in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, a sprawling shallow spur-and-groove reef system with outstanding coral coverage and effortless drift diving for all levels.
Spiegel Grove Wreck
Key Largo · Florida Keys · United States
A 155-metre former US Navy landing ship dock intentionally sunk in 2002 off Key Largo, now the largest purpose-sunk artificial reef in the world and home to massive goliath groupers and swirling barracuda schools.
USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg
Key West · Florida Keys · United States
A 160-metre former military transport ship intentionally sunk in 2009 off Key West, creating the second-largest artificial reef in the world and attracting goliath groupers, barracuda, and sea turtles.
Flower Garden Banks
Galveston · Gulf of Mexico · United States
The northernmost coral reef system in the continental United States, rising from the Gulf of Mexico floor 190 km offshore with massive star coral heads, annual coral spawning events, and schooling hammerhead sharks.
First Cathedrals
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
A spectacular lava tube cavern off Lanai's south shore where shafts of sunlight pierce through ceiling openings, creating an ethereal cathedral effect that makes this Hawaii's most iconic cavern dive.
Manta Ray Night Dive (Garden Eel Cove)
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
A mesmerising night dive where giant manta rays perform barrel rolls inches from divers drawn to plankton spotlights.
Molokini Crater
Maui · Hawaii · United States
Volcanic crescent crater with protected marine preserve. Crystal visibility and diverse Hawaiian marine life.
Molokini Crater
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
A submerged volcanic crescent off Maui with gin-clear 45-metre visibility, 250 fish species, and a dramatic 110-metre back wall.
USS Schurz Wreck
Morehead City · North Carolina · United States
A World War I naval vessel resting on the sandy bottom of North Carolina's Graveyard of the Atlantic, this former German Imperial Navy cruiser turned American warship offers penetration diving among historical artefacts and rich temperate marine life.
Dutch Springs Quarry
Bethlehem · Pennsylvania · United States
A former limestone quarry in eastern Pennsylvania converted into the East Coast's premier freshwater dive training facility, filled with sunken attractions including aircraft, buses, and platforms at progressive depths.
Dive centers in United States
Catalina Divers Supply
Avalon · California · United States
Catalina Island's dive shop offering shore and boat dives in the Casino Point marine preserve.
Island Divers Hawaii
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Oahu dive center offering wreck, reef, and shore dives on the leeward coast, including the Sea Tiger wreck.
Reef Pirates Diving
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Charter dive operation from Honolulu harbor with south shore lava tubes and turtles.
Blue Water Divers
Jupiter · Florida · United States
Jupiter, Florida drift dive specialists in the Gulf Stream with regular lemon shark, goliath grouper, and turtle encounters.
Big Island Divers
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Established Kona dive center with daily reef trips and manta night dives on the Big Island.
Jack's Diving Locker
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Legendary Kona dive center since 1981, famous for manta ray night dives on Hawaii's Big Island.
Kona Diving Company
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Big Island dive operator famous for manta ray night dives and crystal-clear Kona Coast waters.
Capt. Slate's Atlantis Dive Center
Key Largo · Florida · United States
Key Largo dive center known for creature encounters and intimate reef dives with one of the Keys' most colourful captains.
Horizon Divers
Key Largo · Florida · United States
PADI 5-Star IDC center in Key Largo with small-group dives on the Florida Reef Tract.
Keys Diver Snorkel & Scuba
Key Largo · Florida · United States
Affordable PADI dive center in Key Largo with trips to Christ of the Abyss and top reef sites.
Quiescence Diving Services
Key Largo · Florida · United States
Boutique Key Largo dive operation offering private and semi-private dives with a focus on marine life encounters.
Rainbow Reef Dive Center
Key Largo · Florida · United States
Premier PADI dive center in Key Largo offering daily reef and wreck dives on the Florida Keys barrier reef.
Sea Dwellers Dive Center
Key West · Florida · United States
Key West dive center since 1978 specializing in Vandenberg wreck dives and lower Florida Keys reefs.
Maui Dreams Dive Co
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
PADI 5-Star center in Kihei, Maui, offering Molokini Crater and Turtle Town dives.
Tennessee Aqua Adventures
Knoxville · Tennessee · United States
Inland dive centre in Knoxville offering freshwater quarry and lake diving in the Smoky Mountains region.
Extended Horizons
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Eco-conscious PADI center in Lahaina offering sustainable diving along Maui's west coast.
Extended Horizons Scuba
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Eco-conscious Maui dive operator with small-group shore and boat dives along West Maui's volcanic coastline.
Aquarius Dive Shop
Monterey · California · United States
Monterey's premier dive shop since 1976 with guided kelp forest dives and cold-water training.
Olympus Dive Center
Morehead City · North Carolina · United States
Legendary North Carolina dive center in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, offering wreck dives since 1976.
South Florida Diving Headquarters
Pompano Beach · Florida · United States
South Florida dive centre specialising in wreck and reef dives off Pompano Beach, one of the Shipwreck Capital areas of Florida.
Looe Key Reef Resort & Dive Center
Ramrod Key · Florida · United States
Resort and dive center on Ramrod Key with direct access to the pristine Looe Key reef — a top Florida Keys dive site.
House of Scuba
San Diego · California · United States
Full-service San Diego dive shop with courses, guided dives, and extensive equipment retail.
Ocean Enterprises
San Diego · California · United States
San Diego's premier PADI 5-Star IDC with kelp beds, wrecks, and La Jolla marine reserve.
Waterhorse Charters
San Diego · California · United States
San Diego charter operator with small-group trips to Point Loma kelp and wreck alley.
Truth Aquatics / Channel Islands Dive Adventures
Santa Barbara · California · United States
Channel Islands liveaboard-style day trips from Santa Barbara to California's most pristine marine sanctuary.
Seattle Scuba
Seattle · Washington · United States
Pacific Northwest dive centre offering cold-water diving in Puget Sound with giant Pacific octopus and wolf eels.
Florida Keys Dive Center
Tavernier · Florida · United States
PADI 5-Star IDC center in Tavernier offering the full range of diving on the Upper Florida Keys reef system.
Ocean Concepts Scuba
Wailea · Hawaii · United States
Full-service Maui dive shop in Kihei with daily boat dives to Molokini Crater and South Maui reef sites.
Narcosis Scuba
West Palm Beach · Florida · United States
West Palm Beach PADI center offering drift diving and wreck trips in the Gulf Stream corridor.
Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas
West Palm Beach · Florida · United States
West Palm Beach dive operation with Gulf Stream drift diving, reef dives, and artificial reef wrecks.
Dive Alaska
Whittier · Alaska · United States
Alaska's premier cold-water dive operation in Prince William Sound with wolf eels, giant Pacific octopus, and glacial diving.
Maui Diving - Scuba & Snorkel Center
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
In2Scuba Diving Maui Dive Co.
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Maui Diving- Scuba & Snorkel Center
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Yonegan Pro-Diver Maui
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Dive Maui / Hawaiian Rafting Adventures
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Aloha Maui Diving
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Tiny Bubbles Scuba
Makawao · Hawaii · United States
Banyan Tree Divers Maui
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Destination Diving and Snorkel Maui
Front St #126 · Hawaii · United States
Scuba Luv Maui
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Island Style Diving
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Limitless Dive Co. Maui
Wailea · Hawaii · United States
Scuba Shack
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Black Rock Scuba
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Ed Robinson's Diving Adventures
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
NeverDry Divers
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Kona Honu Divers
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Aquatic Life Divers, Kona
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
KONA SHORE DIVERS
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Freedivers
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Manta Ray Dives of Hawai‘i
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Big Island Scuba & Repair
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Diving Company Huaka'i Boat
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Honu Divers Boat Slip
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Jack's Diving Locker (Harbor Store and Boat Trips)
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Big Island Divers (Olapa,Luu, Kahanuola)
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Diving EcoAdventures
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Ocean Adventures
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Dive.Travel.World.
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Pacific Rim Divers Ltd
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kohala Divers
Waimea · Hawaii · United States
Hawaiian Scuba Shack
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Dive Oahu, Inc.
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
WAIKIKI DIVE CENTER
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Ola ParaDive Scuba Oahu
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Hawaii Dive Center
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Aloha Scuba Diving Company
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Dive Oahu - Kewalo Basin Harbor
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Dive Oahu (Inside the NEX Garden Center)
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Westside Dive, Kunia
Waipahu · Hawaii · United States
Waikiki Dive Center
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Hawaii Eco Divers
Haleiwa · Hawaii · United States
Aaron's Dive Shop
Kailua · Hawaii · United States
Hawaiian Diving Adventures
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Green Dolphin Dive Shop
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Honolulu Scuba Company
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Kaimana Divers
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Manny's Diving Adventures
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Honolulu Scuba Company West
Waianae · Hawaii · United States
Diving in United States
Dive sites in United States include reef, muck, wreck, cavern, wall, open-water locations across California, Channel Islands, Florida, Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, North Carolina, Pennsylvania. Each location includes depth, conditions and environment type to help you plan safely.
Use the region and city navigation above to narrow your search, or explore individual site pages for detailed conditions, entry type, skill requirements and nearby alternatives.
FAQ
How do I get to Catalina Island for diving?
Catalina Express ferries run daily from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point to Avalon, with the crossing taking about an hour. You can bring your own gear on the ferry, though several dive shops in Avalon offer full rental equipment. Casino Point Dive Park is a short walk from the ferry terminal. For divers wanting to explore the island's more remote sites like the backside kelp forests, local dive boats offer half-day and full-day charters. The island is also accessible by private boat or helicopter from the mainland.
What is Casino Point Dive Park and do I need a permit?
Casino Point Dive Park is a fully protected marine reserve adjacent to the historic Avalon Casino building. It was established in 1962 as California's first dedicated underwater park. No fishing or collecting is permitted, which has allowed marine life to flourish remarkably. Entry is free and no permit is required for diving. The park features easy shore access via stairs, depths ranging from 3 to 30 metres, and reliably good conditions sheltered from prevailing swells. It is one of the best shore dives in Southern California and suitable for all certification levels.
When is the best time to see giant black sea bass at Catalina?
Giant black sea bass, which can exceed 200 kilograms, are most reliably seen at Catalina from late June through September when they aggregate in the kelp forests for spawning. Casino Point Dive Park and the nearby kelp beds along the Avalon coast are reliable spots. These enormous fish were nearly driven to extinction but have been slowly recovering since California banned their harvest in 1982. Encounters with these gentle giants hovering in the kelp are among the most memorable experiences in California diving.
How do I get to Two Harbors on Catalina Island?
Two Harbors is reached by the Catalina Express ferry from San Pedro in Los Angeles, taking approximately 90 minutes. Alternatively, dive boats depart from various Los Angeles and Orange County harbours for day trips and overnight trips to Two Harbors dive sites. The west end of Catalina is more remote than Avalon, with limited accommodation at the Two Harbors campground and lodge. Most divers visit on live-aboard or day-trip dive boats that access the sites from the water without landing.
What is a giant black sea bass and can I really see one?
The giant black sea bass is the largest bony fish in the kelp forest ecosystem, growing to over two metres long and weighing up to 250 kilograms. Once critically endangered due to overfishing, the species has recovered significantly since California banned their harvest in 1982. During summer months, particularly June through September, giant black sea bass aggregate around Catalina's kelp forests for spawning. Encounters at Two Harbors are increasingly common, with divers regularly seeing one to five individuals on a single dive during peak season.