Since the beginning of mankind, we seem to have had an ongoing feud with snakes. This is evident in literature, art, mythology, and is portrayed today in movies all around the globe. Unfortunately, snakes have always had a negative connotation associated with them even though only 15% of the more than 3,000 snake species are considered harmful to humans. Contrary to their reputation, snakes are amazingly beautiful creatures that move elegantly through their environment and have some of the most spectacular coloration of any animal species. They can be found all throughout the planet except on Antarctica, New Zealand, Greenland, Iceland, and Ireland.

While most snake species live on land, a small percentage of snakes have adapted to living in an aquatic environment. There are 70 species of sea snake that live exclusively in saltwater and around 200 species of semiaquatic snakes called water snakes, living in both freshwater and on land. Water snakes are found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, most of which occur in North America. These non-venomous snakes are often confused with the venomous water moccasin (also called the cottonmouth), unfortunately causing the unnecessary death of many harmless water snakes. Want to go diving with water snakes? Explore the map below for the best dive sites where water snakes can be found.