Spanish Reef
Florida · Up to 17.1 m
Artificial reef built from 3rd of 11 drops this date, "Spanish", 10 Reef Balls
BeginnerBoat entry
United States Dive Sites
1,024 mapped sites
Explore on mapDestination guide
Scuba diving in United States
United States has 1,024 public dive sites on PickADive, with strong starting points in New Jersey, Florida, California, South Carolina, and Hawaii. Use this hub to move from broad destination research to specific dive-site pages.
- Public sites
- 1,024
- Indexed destination pages
- Regions
- 65
- Browsable areas
- Rating
- Building
- Reviews are still growing
- Common access
- Boat
- 745 dive sites
Seasonal patterns
Best months, historically in United States
Typical conditions by month across dive sites in United States— historical patterns, not a forecast.
- Jan67%13°C
- Feb67%13°C
- Mar65%14°C
- Apr71%17°C
- May86%20°C
- Jun87%23°C
- Jul96%26°C
- Aug91%26°C
- Sep87%25°C
- Oct70%22°C
- Nov69%19°C
- Dec65%15°C
From 991 sites’ typical conditions · historical typicals, not a forecast
Featured dive guides
In-depth guides for famous sites in United States
Start with these richer site pages when you want article-style planning notes, FAQs, condition context, and local logistics.
Featured guideFlorida
Molasses Reef dive guide
Read the enriched Molasses Reef guide for access, depth, difficulty, conditions, marine-life notes, and FAQs before comparing reviews.
IntermediateBoat
Open guideFeatured guideFlorida
Spiegel Grove dive guide
Read the enriched Spiegel Grove guide for access, depth, difficulty, conditions, marine-life notes, and FAQs before comparing reviews.
AdvancedBoat
Open guideFeatured guideNorth Carolina
U-352 (Wrack) dive guide
Read the enriched U-352 (Wrack) guide for access, depth, difficulty, conditions, marine-life notes, and FAQs before comparing reviews.
AdvancedBoat
Open guideBest dive sites in United States
Showing 1–12 of 1,024
Whiskey Wreck
Alabama · Up to 7 m
The Whiskey Wreck is a roughly 200-foot wooden rum-runner lying in about 15-25 ft of water just past the offshore sandbar, around 150 yards due south of Bahama Bob's Beach Side Cafe at 601 West Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores. Little remains beyond a low (2-3 ft) section of hull wall covering about 300 square yards, and it is one of the few true shore/snorkel-accessible wreck dives on the Alabama coast. Visibility is typically 5-15 ft and depends heavily on wave action.
BeginnerShore entry
Atria (Jim) Atria Reef
Florida · 29–34.1 m
Artificial reef built from 240' Dutch Freighter, the "Poinciana"
AdvancedBoat entry
Buddy Ward Reef E
Florida · 10.7–13.1 m
Artificial reef built from 7 concrete modules (8' tetrahedrons)
Boat entry
Pegasus Tugboat
Florida · Up to 25.9 m
Artificial reef built from 110' X 28' X 36' Steel Tugboat, the "Pegasus"
IntermediateBoat entry
Little Egg - Military Vehicle
New Jersey · 14.6–17.1 m
Artificial reef built from M-578 Light Recovery Vehicle NJDEP deployment record: Military vehicle, material: M-578 Light Recovery Vehicle , deployed 1997.
IntermediateBoat entry
Hempstead Reef
New York · 15.2–21.9 m
Artificial reef built from 14 vessels, 2 barges, 3 steel power plant turbines, 16 steel center beam railcars, surplus armored vehicles, 1 drydock, Tappan Zee bridge materials, City Island bridge materials, steel bridge trusses, and concrete rubble
IntermediateBoat entry
Atlantic City - Richard Reina Reef
New Jersey · 12–28 m
Artificial reef built from 125' Wood Schooner - "the American" (with 40 cu.yds. of concrete ballast) NJDEP deployment record: Ship, material: 90' Tugboat - "Tobacco Pointe", deployed 2016.
IntermediateBoat entry
Port Orford - Nellies Cove / Redfish Rocks
Oregon · 6–26 m
Port Orford is a premier south-coast saltwater dive destination, with boats lowered into the harbor by crane (Oregon's only dolly-launch port). Nellies Cove is a sheltered, beginner-friendly kayak/boat dive just outside the harbor with a sloping wall, while nearby Tichenor Rock offers deeper, fishier water with small red gorgonians around 85 feet. The adjacent Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve is among Oregon's most diverse dive areas, with five islets, sheer walls, surge channels, boulder fields and kelp forest over high-relief habitat. Boat or kayak access is recommended since shore entry over the rocks is hazardous.
IntermediateBoat entry
Axel Carlson - McGurr's Tug
New Jersey · Up to 22.9 m
Artificial reef built from 85' Tugboat - "McGurr's Tug" (Patrick McHugh) NJDEP deployment record: Ship, material: 85' Tugboat - "McGurr's Tug" (Patrick McHugh), deployed 2000.
IntermediateBoat entry
Three Tree Point
Washington · 6.1–27.4 m
A residential beach-access dive in Burien at the prominent point (Point Pully) between Seattle and Des Moines, dived from the small public access on the north side. Cobble and boulder reef begins around 30 ft and gives way to sand at 80-90 ft, with octopus dens, ledges and scattered debris; an old telegraph cable and bottle areas add interest. Access is a gated dirt path to a concrete bulkhead with almost no amenities, and the beach either side of the access is private property.
IntermediateShore entry
Plan a dive in United States
Choose the right area
Popular starting points in United States include New Jersey, Florida, California, South Carolina, and Hawaii. The region list helps you narrow the country before comparing individual site pages.
Explore sites on the mapMatch depth and difficulty
Current public data shows 398 intermediate and 184 advanced dive sites. Listed depths range from about 0m to 220m where available. Boat is the most common listed access type. Use those signals as a starting point, then confirm the plan against training, equipment, and current local guidance.
Check conditions close to the dive
PickADive can help with research and comparison, but it does not certify that a dive is safe today. Weather, current, visibility, entry, boat traffic, and local rules can change quickly.
How condition context worksCommon questions about diving in United States
Where are the best places to scuba dive in United States?
Start with New Jersey, Florida, and California. PickADive lists 1,024 public dive sites in United States, and the region links on this page help narrow the choice before you compare individual site pages.
Is United States good for beginner divers?
PickADive currently marks 2 dive sites in United States as beginner level. Use the difficulty badges, access notes, depth range, reviews, and local operator advice to decide whether a site fits your training and comfort.
Are there advanced dive sites in United States?
Yes. PickADive currently marks 216 dive sites in United States as advanced or expert level. Review depth, access, conditions, hazards, and recent diver notes before planning those dives.
What depths can I expect when diving in United States?
The public PickADive catalog for United States currently shows listed depths from about 0m to 220m. Always check the individual site page and current local guidance before choosing a dive.
Can PickADive tell me if conditions are safe today in United States?
No. PickADive helps with destination research and site comparison in United States, but it does not certify that a dive is safe today. Check current conditions, training limits, equipment, local rules, and operator guidance before diving.