United States

The Nursery - Florida (★4.3)

The Nursery gets its name from the group of resident nurse sharks that live here. It is an easy boat dive and can turn into a drift dive at times due to the current.

Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Banana Patch Reef (★4.2)

Banana Patch is on the southern end of the Grecian Rocks area. The reef gets its name from a long sloping ledge that bends around like a banana as it heads out to sea. The top of the ledge is about 10 feet, and it runs off into about 40 feet. There are healthy hard and soft corals, and the colors are very bright.

Mares

Pompano Beach (★4.3)

Pompano Beach is extremely popular because of the close proximity of world-class wreck and reef dives. There are some shore dives but most are drift dives off a boat so all you need to do is jump in and get picked up later.

Force-E, 33404 Riviera Beach

Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park (★4.3)

One of the most popular dive sites in South Florida, Blue Heron Bridge is an easily accessible shore dive sitting just under the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach. SPECIAL NOTE: check the tide schedule as this dive can only be made during slack tide otherwise currents will be too strong through the bay.

Mares

Refugio State Beach (★3.6)

Refugio State Beach is a very popular beach destination including 100 campgrounds so plan on the beach being very crowded. Once underwater, however, the crowds all but disappear. An easy beach entrance with protected waters from waves and swell, you’ll find beautiful kelp forests just offshore.

Aqualung

Mala Wharf (★4.7)

Mala Wharf is one of Maui’s best dives and easy to get to! It’s a shore dive just off of Lahaina. Watch out for boat traffic and rough sea conditions.

The Black Anchor Scuba Diving & Snorkeling, 00603 Aguadilla

Aguadilla (★4.2)

It is located at a depth of 0 to 40 feet, it can be reached from the shore, the bottom is sandy. To enjoy what it has, it is recommended to use nitrox, so you can stay longer at depth. Perfect for night dives.

Mares

Permit Ledges (★4.2)

This is the most southern ball on Molasses Reef. This is a great start for a drift dive from the south end of the reef all the way to the north end. The average depth is about 25 feet and you can easily navigate to fire coral cave to reach a swim through.

Coral World Ocean and Reef lnitiative, Inc., 00802 ST Thomas

Coki Point Beach (★4.5)

Fifteen minutes from Charlotte Amalie lies the beautiful Coki Point beach. This site has a sandy beach entry and is great for snorkelers and diving with coral reef extending to the East with max depth of 60ft/18m and to the West with a max depth of 50ft/15m.

Aqua Marine, 00802 St Thomas

Flag Pole Little St James (★4.5)

This is a shallow dive on the northwest side of Little St James. It is perfect for beginners to explore the reef and get a glimpse of local turtles. This reef is an ideal nursery for all types of fish, so juveniles are common here.

Mares

City of Washington (Wreck) (★4.3)

The most popular wreck on Elbow Reef is the City of Washington. As this ship was being towed in 1917, the City of Washington struck Elbow Reef and sank within minutes. This wreck is greatly deteriorated, although the hull and keel shapes are still visible. Debris spans an area 325 feet in length.

Culebra Divers, 00775 Culebra

Punta Soldado (★4.2)

Gently sloping terrain make this an easy site for natural navigation. As you near the point, currents can become strong and the depth can exceed 60 ft / 18 m, hence the Beginner / Advanced Level.

OCEAN SPORTS, 00979 CAROLINA

Los Tubos (★4.3)

This is a shallow shore dive with a sandy/rocky bottom and naturally forming arches. A number of old anchors can be found in the area, and the bottom is perfect for classes and practicing buoyancy control. Marine life will be mostly small tropical fish, with the occasional turtle or ray swimming by.

Scubapro

La Jolla Cove (★3.9)

Just around the corner from one of Southern California’s most popular dive sites, La Jolla Shores, sits La Jolla Cove, the playground for a resident group of sea lions. This site is rockier and has kelp so it’s much different than its La Jolla Shores neighbor.

Mares

Nashua Navy Tug (Wreck) (★4.5)

Purposefully sunk in 2012, this old Navy tugboat sits alone in the sand around 65 feet and is a great artificial reef for many reef species. This tug has also become an active training site for the US Navy.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Bird Rock - Catalina Island (★4.3)

One of the best dive sites on Catalina Island, Bird Rock varies from shallow rocks to steep drop-offs and a beautiful arch. The shallow rocky area is great for snorkeling and the entire site is great for new to advanced divers. The water is nearly always clear, calm and generally without current.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

French Reef (★4.2)

French Reef is a Sanctuary Protected Area located about seven miles southeast of Key Largo. It ranges in depth from about fifteen feet to forty feet. It’s known for having winding channels and a plethora of fun swim throughs.

Scubapro

SS Copenhagen (Wreck) (★4.3)

This is a true wreck off the coast of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea that’s over 100 years old, sinking in 1900. It was a 325-foot steamer sitting in only 15-30 feet of waters so this is a great snorkel as well as a dive.

Milena G. (#3103062)

Neptune Memorial Reef (★4.4)

Neptune Memorial Reef is situated just offshore from Miami in about 45 feet of water and is one of the most unique dive sites on the planet. It’s an underwater cemetery with gates, pathways, plaques, and even benches.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Horseshoe Reef - Florida (★4.2)

This patchy reef site sits just north of the famous Christ of the Abyss dive site, offshore from Key Largo and is one of the most diverse dive areas in the Keys.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

San Clemente Island (★4.5)

San Clemente Island is Southern California’s best-kept secret. Most divers opt for the more popular Catalina Island or go south to the Coronados, but San Clemente is a great place to go on a short liveaboard trip from San Diego.

Aquatica Dive & Surf, 00604 Aguadilla

Ancones (★4.2)

DPV dive...60 ft/18m...1/2 mile from shore, possible find of artifacts. Many different small cargo wrecks from the early 1900’s and ancient spanish defense battery and many invasions from brits, dutchs and french were defended by spanish army in 1600’s...

Travis W. (#104545)

Snapper Ledge Reef (★4.3)

This sight has two high profile ledges, one sitting at about 25 feet and the other at about 35 feet. This used as a coral out planting site for staghorn and elkhorn. You can also find a small swim through!

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Sombrero Reef (★4.1)

Sombrero Reef is a designated SPA area and is one of the more popular scuba diving and Florida Keys snorkeling destinations in Marathon. The area’s name is derived from the 142’ lighthouse which is located in the northern section of the SPA region.

Ranata W. (#4302472)

Makena Landing (★4.2)

Makena Landing offers divers access to one of the best and most unique dive sites on the island of Maui. This area is home to numerous ledges and grottos, and actually encompasses a few different individual dive sites known as 5 caves/5 graves, turtle town, and turtle arch.

Aqualung

Grecian Rocks (★4.2)

Grecian Rocks is a beautiful Sanctuary Protected Area. At low tide the top of the reef is actually above the water’s surface which is how it got its name. The max depth is 30 feet on the diving side of the reef. The inside is ideal for snorkelers as the reef protects them from wave action and it’s only 15ft.

Stacy M. (#3997477)

Koloa Landing (★4.3)

Koloa Landing is located in Hanaka’ape Bay, Kauai and is a very popular dive site, especially for scuba instruction. The entry is easy, and there is plenty to see to the left and right of the landing.

Aqualung

Datura (★4.4)

This site is located at El Prado Park in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. This dive site is excellent for divers and snorkelers alike. The beach access has fresh water showers, a garden hose, and a bench with cutouts for tanks. This site starts when you reach the swim buoy and continues East for about 100 yards.

Mares

North North Dry Rocks (★4.2)

This reef has two mooring balls and is laid out like fingers where you can go up and down different channels. There is a natural swim through as well. This reef is close to horseshoe and has an abundance of wildlife.

Aqua Marine, 00802 St Thomas

Packet Rock (Wreck) (★4.3)

A very unusual shipwreck lies at this mini pinnacle. More accurately, the cargo of a ship. Divers come here to dig for buried treasure and are guaranteed to find broken pottery, pottery shards, and all sorts of other treasures!

Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Shaws Cove (★3.9)

Shaws Cove is one of the most popular dive sites in Orange County, California. It’s an excellent shore diving site, easily accessible from Fairview Street and Cliff Drive. The stairway off of Cliff Drive is the easiest way to access the beach but use the handrails, the sand on the stairs can get very slippery.

A-1 Scuba and Travel Aquatics Center, 80120 Littleton

Denver Aquarium (★4.7)

With four different diving exhibits there is lots to see in this indoor underwater playground. Come get some certification dives done, dive with the family or have a chance to get up-close and personal with some endangered and protected species you may never get to see in the wild.

Mares

Joe Patti Memorial Reef (Wreck) (★4.0)

This 175′ x 40′ x 10′ barge with numerous steel structures welded to its deck was sunk in July 2013 and is now known as the Joe Patti Memorial Reef. It instantly became one of the areas most popular inshore dive sites.

OCEAN SPORTS, 00979 CAROLINA

Muelle de Azúcar (★3.9)

This is a shallow shore or boat dive on the remnants of an old sugar plant pier. The bottom is sandy and full of pier wreckage with a max depth of 40 feet. Visibility is usually very good, and there normally isn’t a strong current in the area.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Corona Del Mar State Beach (★3.7)

Corona del Mar State Beach is a great local beginner dive. Enter and exit at lifeguard tower 5 only. This is a City of Newport Beach requirement. Kick out to the first buoy in front of tower 5. This will be about 100m out. Descend and follow the reef towards the east.

Aqualung

Bridge Span 14 (★4.2)

The Hathaway Bridge was originally built in 1929. The spans were from the old bridge that connected Panama City to Panama City Beach. There are 14 Hathaway bridge spans. The spans were sunk in 1988. The 14th Bridge Span is the most dived in the area.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Lulu Reef (★4.3)

Not to be confused with its close, more popular neighbor Eagle Reef, Lulu Reef is a series of three rock pinnacles inside Eagle Reef on the mainland of Catalina Island’s west end. Since it is a bit off shore it’s best reached by boat.

Josh H. (#3966513)

The Corridor (Wreck) (★4.4)

The Corridor Wreck Trek is a drift divers paradise This area is full of amazing animal encounters including Goliath Groupers, sea turtles, stingrays, and in the distance a lurking reef shark. Some of the wrecks in this line up were sunk some time ago so they are covered in corals and sponges.

Mares

Coral Restoration Foundation Nursery (★4.6)

The Coral Restoration Foundation Nursery can only be visited with special permissions. Divers can take classes with the Coral Restoration Foundation and volunteer to help at the coral nursery.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Captain Arnos Reef (★4.2)

Huge schools of rainbow, midnight, and blue parrotfish off the west side. You will typically find green eels and nurse sharks under the ledges of this patch reef.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Eagle Ray Alley (★4.3)

Eagle Ray Alley is located between North Star and The Winch Hole dive sites. This shallow site consists of a large of sand channel that runs seaward from Molasses Shallow to Logan’s Run. The high relief coral ledges on either side of the channel have deep undercuts offering protection for a variety of marine life.

Nep2une Scuba Diving, 00840 Frederiksted

Armageddon (★4.6)

Apocalyptic mayhem at 80ft/24m, remnants of the old Frederiksted pier that was destroyed in Hurricane Hugo were dumped on this site. Lots of beams, tires and twisted steel to explore. Some reef sharks get a little close on this dive. Sea floor is at 101ft/30m.

Nep2une Scuba Diving, 00840 Frederiksted

Cables (★4.2)

Spectacular patch reef with cables crisscrossing through coral and sponge growth. The surrounding area is mostly sandy bottom, so all of the wildlife congregates on the patch reef.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Aquarium (★4.4)

Aquarium is a gorgeous dive site located on Molasses Reef. It always has a plethora of fish life around the high-profile coral formations. While current can sometimes be a factor to consider here, the coral is high enough to hide behind for the majority of the dive.

Nep2une Scuba Diving, 00840 Frederiksted

Tres Amigos (★4.3)

Tres Amigos is the very end of the Frederiksted Pier where you can explore the growth and fish that call the 3 large concrete columns home. The depth is 90ft/27m and its approximately 1550ft/470m from the shoreline. Its a long kick out, so best to explore from a boat.

Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Hole in the Wall (★4.3)

Located near the winch hole on Molasses Reef on mooring ball 8 on the North end of the reef. Small, natural swim through in the reef structure that has an average depth of about 20 feet.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Fingers Reef (★4.2)

Classic Florida Keys spur and groove reef formation with large sand channels alternating with high profile coral fingers. An ideal site for seeing spotted eagle rays.

Aqualung

Anglin Pier Ledge (★4.0)

The reef here runs parallel to the shoreline (north and south) and is a great shallow second dive when heading back from the deeper wreck dives of South Florida. The north end of the reef has some great habitat off to the west of the main ledge as well.

Culebra Divers, 00775 Culebra

The Ledges (★3.9)

The Ledges is typically sheltered from the prevailing wind and waves which makes it a perfect snorkel site and shallow dive site. Currents are generally mild to moderate, shifting from one direction to the other with the tides.

Culebra Divers, 00775 Culebra

Tamarindo Chico (★4.0)

This is Tamarindo Chico, one of our favorite spots! We are in the process of upgrading the description as we register our more than 50 dive sites with SSI. This is a boat dive with mild to strong currents, hence the Beginner / Advanced Level.

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