United States Dive Sites

1,024 mapped sites

Best dive sites in United States

Showing 97–108 of 1,024

Matagorda

Texas · Up to 18.3 m

The Matagorda Nearshore Reef (TPWD site BA-439) is a 160-acre artificial reef in Texas state waters of the Gulf of Mexico, roughly 10 miles off the Matagorda County coast. Built under the Texas Parks and Wildlife Artificial Reef Program with Deepwater Horizon restoration funds, it consists of three-sided concrete pyramids (8 ft tall, 10 ft bases) placed on sandy bottom in about 60 feet of water. The structures were deployed to create hard-bottom habitat for Gulf marine life and to give anglers and divers an accessible nearshore destination, part of the largest nearshore reefing effort in the program's history.

IntermediateBoat entry

Nordmeer Wreck (Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary)

Michigan · Up to 12.2 m

The Nordmeer was a 471-ft German steel freighter that ran onto Thunder Bay Shoal in November 1966 after turning the wrong side of the marker buoy. Once partially above water, the wreck has collapsed and now lies fully submerged in about 40 ft of Lake Huron roughly seven miles north of Thunder Bay Island, with the large diesel engine and big steel hull sections to explore. It is one of the most visited dive sites in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and suits newer wreck divers in calm conditions.

IntermediateBoat entry

Anglers Reef

Virginia · 9.4–10.7 m

Artificial reef built from concrete

Boat entry

Great Isaac Verified

New Jersey · 23–27.4 m

Great Isaac is a large V4-M-A1 ocean tug wreck off southern New Jersey. NJScuba describes the wreck in about 90 ft / 27 m, lying on its port side and partly buried, with exposed ribs and structure. This is an offshore wreck dive for experienced divers, not a beginner reef stop.

AdvancedBoat entry

Sea Girt - Swenson Barge II

New Jersey · 17.4–21 m

Artificial reef built from 130' Deck Barge - "Swenson Barge II" NJDEP deployment record: Ship, material: 130' Deck Barge - "Swenson Barge II", deployed 1987.

IntermediateBoat entry

Alcova Reservoir

Wyoming · 3–30.5 m

A roughly 2,470-acre reservoir about 30 minutes southwest of Casper on Highway 220, around 100 feet deep, and the most accessible regularly dived site in central Wyoming. The dam area and Sandy Beach generally have the best visibility from June through August. The rocky bottom is stocked with trout, walleye and perch, and freshwater crawfish are common. Best accessed by boat, though some shore entries require only a short walk with gear.

IntermediateShore + boat

Ocean City - Military Vehicle

New Jersey · 17.1–18.9 m

Artificial reef built from M-551 Sheridan Light Tank NJDEP deployment record: Military vehicle, material: M-551 Sheridan Light Tank , deployed 1997.

IntermediateBoat entry

PG Site - Barge 85

Florida · Up to 22.3 m

Artificial reef built from 90' X 26' Steel Barge

IntermediateBoat entry

Y-73 Reef

South Carolina · Up to 29 m

Artificial reef built from Cooper River Bridge rubble

IntermediateBoat entry

Atlantic City - Recreational Fishing Alliance Redbird Reef

New Jersey · 15.5–21.9 m

Artificial reef built from Subway Car (Redbird XI) NJDEP deployment record: Subway car, material: Subway Car (Redbird XI), deployed 2003.

IntermediateBoat entry

Canyon Lake - Comal Park / North Park

Texas · 0–33.5 m

Canyon Lake, a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Guadalupe River between Austin and San Antonio, is the standard open-water site for Hill Country dive shops. Comal Park on the south shore and North Park near the dam offer shore entries onto bluff walls, submerged cars, boats and standing timber, with depths over 100 ft available off Comal Park. Visibility is typical Texas-lake (5-12 ft above the thermocline).

IntermediateShore entry

Sport Wreck (Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve)

Michigan · 7.6–13.7 m

The Sport, launched in 1873, was the first steel-hulled tug on the Great Lakes and sank in a December 1920 gale off Lexington; the crew washed ashore alive. Rediscovered in 1987, she rests upright with a slight starboard list in about 45 ft of water roughly three miles off Lexington in the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve, rising about 20 ft off the bottom with tools and relics scattered around the site. In 1992 she became the first Michigan shipwreck to receive its own Michigan Historical Marker, and her shallow depth makes her a favorite first Great Lakes wreck dive.

Boat entry