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United States

© iStock/TomasSereda

Explore The United States

Diving in the United States offers a rich tapestry of underwater experiences that cater to divers of all skill levels. From the vibrant coral reefs of the Florida Keys to the awe-inspiring shipwrecks off the North Carolina coast, the U.S. is a treasure trove of diverse marine environments. In Hawaii, divers can marvel at lava tubes and unique marine life, including manta rays and Hawaiian green sea turtles, while the Pacific Northwest provides a stunning contrast with its kelp forests and encounters with giant Pacific octopuses.

The country's extensive coastline and island territories mean divers can explore a variety of sites, whether preferring the ease of shore diving in California or the adventure of boat and liveaboard options in the Gulf of Mexico. Seasonal changes bring unique opportunities, such as swimming with whale sharks off the Gulf coast in summer or exploring the kelp beds during the cooler months in California. Each region offers its own slice of underwater wonder, making the U.S. a special dive destination full of surprises and unforgettable experiences.

Power Plug Type
A, B
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DIS, DC, Cir, Plus, Chase, Barc
Tipping
15–20% / Service Staff / Tipping is expected in restaurants, bars, taxis, and for delivery and personal services.
Currency
USD
Dial Code
+1
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Time
UTC−10 to UTC−5

Top Regions to Explore

Upcoming Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in the United States

The United States offers a diverse array of marine life for divers to explore, especially around coastal regions like Florida, California, and Hawaii. In reef environments, divers can typically spot colorful reef fish such as parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish. These species are common in warmer waters and provide a vibrant underwater experience year-round. Seasonally, divers may encounter larger marine species, such as sharks and rays. For example, nurse sharks and lemon sharks are frequently seen in Florida, particularly during the summer months. Similarly, manta rays are a highlight in Hawaii, often sighted between April and October. Sea turtles, like the green and loggerhead species, are also regularly encountered in these regions, with peak sightings occurring during nesting seasons in the spring and summer. Divers are most likely to encounter these species by visiting well-known dive spots at optimal times of the year.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

26k Sightings
J
2k
F
1.8k
M
2.1k
A
1.9k
M
2.2k
J
2.8k
J
3.3k
A
2.2k
S
1.8k
O
1.8k
N
1.9k
D
1.9k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

25k Sightings
J
1.8k
F
1.5k
M
2k
A
1.8k
M
2.3k
J
2.8k
J
3.3k
A
2.3k
S
1.7k
O
1.8k
N
1.8k
D
1.9k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

19k Sightings
J
1.2k
F
944
M
1.5k
A
1.5k
M
1.8k
J
2.6k
J
3.1k
A
2k
S
1.4k
O
1.2k
N
1k
D
1.2k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

6.9k Sightings
J
542
F
374
M
565
A
477
M
571
J
637
J
805
A
661
S
631
O
584
N
589
D
463

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

6.1k Sightings
J
369
F
286
M
441
A
398
M
652
J
821
J
1.1k
A
616
S
466
O
343
N
337
D
312

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

4.9k Sightings
J
374
F
351
M
333
A
295
M
392
J
502
J
751
A
505
S
413
O
373
N
302
D
340
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

4.2k Sightings
J
173
F
171
M
239
A
243
M
596
J
913
J
976
A
284
S
173
O
117
N
157
D
139
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

3.6k Sightings
J
231
F
200
M
334
A
309
M
332
J
341
J
369
A
323
S
331
O
297
N
253
D
265

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

Sea Lion

Sea Lion

3.2k Sightings
J
121
F
163
M
236
A
252
M
304
J
325
J
368
A
376
S
350
O
308
N
232
D
166
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

3k Sightings
J
208
F
146
M
222
A
175
M
301
J
397
J
476
A
285
S
173
O
190
N
165
D
214

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 19

Bass

Bass

88k Sightings
J
1.9k
F
2.2k
M
3.4k
A
4.1k
M
8.6k
J
13k
J
17k
A
16k
S
11k
O
7.1k
N
2.8k
D
1.5k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Catfish

Catfish

38k Sightings
J
1.3k
F
1.4k
M
1.7k
A
1.9k
M
3.2k
J
4.9k
J
6.5k
A
5.9k
S
4.7k
O
3.3k
N
1.6k
D
1.1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Perch

Perch

36k Sightings
J
664
F
737
M
1.2k
A
1.4k
M
3.7k
J
6k
J
7.1k
A
6.4k
S
4.3k
O
2.7k
N
1.2k
D
612

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

28k Sightings
J
1.7k
F
1.4k
M
1.9k
A
2k
M
2.7k
J
3.6k
J
4.5k
A
3k
S
2.3k
O
1.7k
N
1.6k
D
1.7k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

23k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
1.1k
M
1.7k
A
1.6k
M
2.2k
J
3k
J
3.9k
A
2.3k
S
1.7k
O
1.3k
N
1.2k
D
1.4k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

19k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
1.1k
M
1.3k
A
1.3k
M
1.9k
J
2.6k
J
3.1k
A
1.8k
S
1.5k
O
1.2k
N
1.1k
D
1.2k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

16k Sightings
J
794
F
695
M
1k
A
1.3k
M
1.6k
J
2.2k
J
2.6k
A
1.8k
S
1.3k
O
842
N
783
D
746

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

15k Sightings
J
975
F
861
M
1.1k
A
1.1k
M
1.3k
J
1.9k
J
2.3k
A
1.5k
S
942
O
869
N
846
D
1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

12k Sightings
J
865
F
645
M
1k
A
827
M
1.1k
J
1.5k
J
1.8k
A
1.2k
S
922
O
722
N
680
D
863

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

12k Sightings
J
608
F
687
M
907
A
879
M
1.1k
J
1.5k
J
2.2k
A
1.2k
S
729
O
604
N
682
D
694

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Carp

Carp

11k Sightings
J
300
F
351
M
489
A
504
M
886
J
1.9k
J
2.2k
A
1.9k
S
1.3k
O
927
N
401
D
246

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

11k Sightings
J
464
F
509
M
707
A
837
M
1.2k
J
1.4k
J
1.8k
A
1.3k
S
974
O
857
N
671
D
525

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

9.9k Sightings
J
591
F
548
M
714
A
612
M
1k
J
1.3k
J
1.5k
A
925
S
806
O
642
N
673
D
632

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

9.7k Sightings
J
621
F
448
M
686
A
641
M
871
J
1.4k
J
1.6k
A
917
S
694
O
597
N
630
D
640

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

9.7k Sightings
J
566
F
453
M
695
A
755
M
941
J
1.3k
J
1.6k
A
1.1k
S
692
O
587
N
547
D
485

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

8.5k Sightings
J
600
F
407
M
559
A
674
M
802
J
910
J
1.3k
A
799
S
568
O
591
N
627
D
658

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

8.3k Sightings
J
463
F
423
M
609
A
602
M
813
J
1.2k
J
1.3k
A
940
S
630
O
479
N
419
D
469
Common Bream

Common Bream

8.1k Sightings
J
233
F
404
M
439
A
364
M
727
J
1k
J
1.5k
A
1.3k
S
840
O
628
N
397
D
218

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

7.9k Sightings
J
496
F
384
M
549
A
590
M
707
J
1.1k
J
1.3k
A
854
S
623
O
405
N
394
D
414

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

7.3k Sightings
J
414
F
329
M
591
A
427
M
602
J
935
J
1.1k
A
872
S
569
O
622
N
434
D
370

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

7.2k Sightings
J
415
F
316
M
504
A
477
M
735
J
1.1k
J
1.3k
A
736
S
503
O
378
N
378
D
370

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

6.8k Sightings
J
338
F
286
M
475
A
371
M
496
J
602
J
1.4k
A
938
S
573
O
621
N
388
D
358

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

5.9k Sightings
J
372
F
296
M
428
A
392
M
581
J
923
J
1.1k
A
481
S
448
O
326
N
320
D
292

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

5.6k Sightings
J
358
F
249
M
404
A
428
M
565
J
706
J
974
A
603
S
488
O
275
N
329
D
269

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

5.2k Sightings
J
351
F
319
M
392
A
322
M
546
J
703
J
791
A
423
S
440
O
283
N
280
D
389

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 35

Trout

Trout

5.2k Sightings
J
58
F
69
M
80
A
71
M
348
J
847
J
1.2k
A
1.2k
S
731
O
419
N
116
D
74
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

4.7k Sightings
J
365
F
328
M
427
A
342
M
377
J
496
J
600
A
417
S
367
O
357
N
373
D
298
Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish

4.7k Sightings
J
159
F
187
M
228
A
265
M
358
J
572
J
717
A
793
S
540
O
455
N
310
D
143

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

Gar

Gar

4.4k Sightings
J
323
F
498
M
586
A
357
M
379
J
413
J
459
A
309
S
214
O
316
N
301
D
209

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

4.3k Sightings
J
251
F
240
M
333
A
354
M
428
J
577
J
761
A
396
S
281
O
230
N
254
D
227

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

4.3k Sightings
J
204
F
193
M
252
A
209
M
403
J
596
J
754
A
576
S
381
O
281
N
243
D
208

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

3.8k Sightings
J
248
F
197
M
240
A
200
M
396
J
458
J
596
A
381
S
321
O
294
N
234
D
228

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

3.5k Sightings
J
292
F
162
M
252
A
238
M
301
J
446
J
652
A
321
S
234
O
179
N
222
D
230
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

3.3k Sightings
J
206
F
219
M
234
A
271
M
326
J
461
J
431
A
281
S
198
O
221
N
206
D
202
Blue Tilapia

Blue Tilapia

3k Sightings
J
180
F
207
M
219
A
185
M
310
J
227
J
380
A
397
S
269
O
266
N
183
D
136

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

2.7k Sightings
J
161
F
146
M
217
A
178
M
296
J
310
J
466
A
252
S
217
O
187
N
175
D
115

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

2.6k Sightings
J
136
F
186
M
214
A
226
M
280
J
240
J
288
A
248
S
227
O
221
N
212
D
120
Moon Jellyfish

Moon Jellyfish

2.5k Sightings
J
70
F
57
M
66
A
49
M
84
J
93
J
235
A
467
S
641
O
430
N
237
D
114

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

2.4k Sightings
J
147
F
114
M
186
A
179
M
194
J
313
J
309
A
273
S
227
O
178
N
143
D
162

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Tarpon

Tarpon

2.3k Sightings
J
145
F
103
M
139
A
182
M
262
J
382
J
411
A
256
S
91
O
103
N
105
D
108

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