United States Dive Sites — Page 39

Showing 913–936 of 1,024

Continued from the United States dive sites guide, which covers regions, seasonality, and planning details.

The Black Bart

Florida · Up to 24.1 m

Artificial reef built from 180' Oil Rig Supply Ship, the "Black Bart"

IntermediateBoat entry

Two spring-fed limestone quarries abandoned in the early 1900s and now run as a dedicated scuba training facility about 70 miles north of Houston near Huntsville. The limestone gives the water a blue tint and visibility (often 25 ft or better) that is well above the Texas lake average. Only certified divers and enrolled students may enter; it is one of the busiest open-water checkout sites in southeast Texas.

Shore entry

The Cell Reef

Virginia · Up to 11.9 m

Artificial reef built from concrete

Boat entry

The Fairfield New Venture

Alabama · Up to 38 m

The Fairfield New Venture is a 250-foot former oceanographic research vessel (built 1986) intentionally sunk in 2018 roughly 20 miles south of Orange Beach, near the LuLu so both can be dived on one trip. The wheelhouse sits near 60 ft and the sand bottom reaches about 120-125 ft. Large openings cut in the hull give divers pass-throughs and access to most of the structure, making it suitable for open-water through technical divers.

IntermediateBoat entry

The LuLu

Alabama · Up to 35 m

The LuLu is a 271-foot steel-hulled coastal freighter (ex-MV Yokamu) purpose-sunk on May 26, 2013 as Alabama's first ship deliberately sunk for recreational diving, sitting upright in the Don Kelley North reef zone about 17 nautical miles south of Perdido Pass. The wheelhouse tops out near 60 ft, the main deck around 95 ft, and the sand bottom is roughly 110-115 ft. Large removed hatches and doors allow penetration into the long central cargo hold, though hurricanes have since twisted the hull.

IntermediateBoat entry

The Rookery (Santa Barbara Island)

California · 3–12.2 m

Shallow boulder and rockpile site off the southeast side of remote Santa Barbara Island, the smallest of the Channel Islands and reachable only by long-range dive boat. The terrain itself is modest (10-40 ft, often surgy), but the site fronts one of California's largest California sea lion colonies, making it one of the best places anywhere to dive with swarms of playful sea lions. Portions of the island's waters fall within state marine reserves; check current MPA boundaries before taking game.

IntermediateBoat entry

The Scuba Ranch (Clear Springs Scuba Park)

Texas · 0–19.2 m

A 22-acre spring-fed quarry lake northeast of Terrell, about an hour east of Dallas, opened as a dive park in 2000 and rebranded as The Scuba Ranch. Underwater attractions include 'Sisco' the 50-foot shark sculpture, the S.S. Minnow cabin cruiser, a sailboat, a Cessna and six training platforms served by nine entry docks. A sharp thermocline near 20 ft drops temperatures into the 50s F below.

Shore entry

The Sunken Fleet of 1758

New York · 7.6–15.2 m

A NYS DEC Submerged Heritage Preserve in the south basin of Lake George, about one mile north of Lake George Beach. The site holds the remains of seven flat-bottomed bateaux (warships of the French and Indian War) plus a replica bateau built by local schoolchildren in 1997. Some 260 bateaux were deliberately scuttled here in autumn 1758 to protect them under winter ice; this cluster is also known as the Wiawaka bateaux.

IntermediateBoat entry

Thomas Wilson Wreck

Minnesota · Up to 21 m

whaleback freighter

IntermediateBoat entry

Three Barges

Florida · Up to 16.5 m

Artificial reef built from 3 Coal Barges and Concrete Rubble

Boat entry

Three Coal Barges

Florida · Up to 16.5 m

Three runaway coal barges were scuttled during an emergency in 1974 about a mile off Pensacola Beach and now form site #1 of the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail. The barges sit in roughly 50-54 feet of water and, after five decades of storms, are slowly collapsing into low-relief steel reef. Their shallow depth, easy layout and abundant fish make them a favorite for newly certified divers and skills training.

Boat 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

Thunderbolt

Florida · Up to 36 m

Artificial reef built from 188' Navy Cable Vessel, the "USS Thunderbolt"

AdvancedBoat entry

Tilghman Island

Maryland · Up to 6.1 m

Artificial reef built from Bridge rubble, tire units,bridge decking, granite

Boat entry

Timmons River

Georgia · Up to 2.1 m

A dive site in United States. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 2 m. The site is reached by boat.

Boat entry

Timothy Allen Reed Reef

Florida · Up to 19.8 m

Artificial reef built from 80' Barge Sunk by DERM

IntermediateBoat entry

Titlow Beach

Washington · 4.6–12.2 m

A marine preserve at Titlow Park on the Tacoma Narrows, where the pilings of an old ferry dock are carpeted in white plumose anemones. Most of the dive sits in 25-40 ft over the piling field, a decayed barge and a bottle field, with small rock ledges to the south that hold wolf eels. Because the site sits in the Narrows it must be dived at slack using Tacoma Narrows current (not tide) tables, but at slack it is an easy, life-rich beginner dive.

Shore entry