United States Dive Sites

1,024 mapped sites

Best dive sites in United States

Showing 865–876 of 1,024

USS Oriskany

Florida · 25.6–64.6 m

The USS Oriskany (CV-34), an 888-foot Essex-class aircraft carrier that served in Korea and Vietnam, was scuttled in 2006 about 22.5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass to become the world's largest artificial reef — the 'Great Carrier Reef' and flagship of the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail. She sits upright in 212-220 feet of water; the island tower tops out near 84 feet, the flight deck lies at about 145 feet and the hangar bay at 175 feet, putting most of the ship in technical-diving territory. Squadrons of amberjack circle the superstructure, which is now heavily colonized by corals, sponges and baitfish.

ExpertBoat entry

La Jolla Cove

California · 3–18.3 m

San Diego's classic easy shore dive inside the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, where a protected entry leads to rocky reef, eelgrass, and kelp in roughly 10-45 feet of water. Sea lions, garibaldi, kelp bass, lobster, rays, and occasional giant sea bass make it one of the most reliable marine-life dives in San Diego.

Shore entry

Windy Point Park (Lake Travis)

Texas · 0–48.8 m

The best-known scuba park on Lake Travis northwest of Austin, with shore entry to a steep underwater point dropping well past 100 ft. Training platforms at several depths, sunken boats, cars and metal sculptures (diver, sea turtle, shark, manatee) line guide lines from shore. Visibility runs 15-30 ft and the deep water stays cold year-round; depths depend strongly on the lake level.

IntermediateShore entry

OAR/Wakulla DZ 1 (1)

Florida · Up to 19.8 m

Artificial reef built from 140 tons of Culverts, 3rd of three Deployments this Site

IntermediateBoat entry

M/V Zion Train

Florida · Up to 27.4 m

Artificial reef built from 164' Steel Ship, the "Zion Train" ($25,000-Local Funding)

IntermediateBoat entry

John D MacArthur Beach State Park

Florida · 0.6–3 m

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park on Singer Island protects a rare stretch of natural barrier-island habitat with a 125,000-year-old Anastasia limestone rock reef lying just off the sand. The shallow, hole-pitted reef — built up by colonies of sabellariid reef-building tube worms — is easily reached from shore and visible from the surface, making it one of Palm Beach County's best beach snorkels. Depths are only a few feet, so timing around high tide and calm surf matters, and a dive flag is mandatory because boats work close to the reef.

Shore entry

Paradise Reef

South Carolina · Up to 11 m

Artificial reef built from Approximate Center of Reef

Boat entry

Back River Reef

Virginia · Up to 9.1 m

Artificial reef built from concrete

Boat entry

Sea Emperor

Florida · Up to 19.8 m

Artificial reef built from 171' Hopper Barge, the "Sea Emperor"

IntermediateBoat entry

Stockton Lake

Missouri · 6.1–21.3 m

A 24,900-acre Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Sac River in southwest Missouri, regarded as one of the state's better freshwater dive lakes. Underwater terrain includes bluffs, points and submerged structure mirroring the surrounding Ozark hills. Visibility typically runs 8-10 ft, improving to 25 ft or more in spring. Orleans Trail Marina on the northwest shore is the hub for divers, offering boat rentals, scuba equipment and cylinder fills.

Shore + boat

WIT Shoal II Verified

U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Thomas · 6–27.4 m

Large steel WIT Shoal II / former LST-467 wreck west of St. Thomas, normally run as an advanced boat dive in about 90 ft of water. The wreck rises high off the bottom and has multiple deck levels, but penetration or overhead swim-throughs should be treated as wreck-trained dives only. Expect fish life around the structure and plan the dive around current, gas, and boat pickup.

AdvancedBoat 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