Were Are the Best Places to SCUBA Dive in North America?

North America is blessed with some great dive sites, from the warm and clear waters of Florida to the chillier but no less thrilling marine environment of the Pacific Northwest. With so many dive sites to choose from, it's a wonder American and Canadian scuba divers ever go anywhere else.

  1. Molokini Crater (Maui, Hawaii)

    • Molokini is a crescent-shaped island that is all that remains of the rim of an ancient volcanic crater. The crater is good for recreational or technical dives, and manta rays are regular visitors.

    USS Oriskany (Pensacola, Florida)

    • The Oriskany is an old aircraft carrier that was deliberately sunk to serve as an artificial reef and dive-friendly wreck. The flight deck sits at 135 feet, the limit for experienced recreational divers.

    U-352 (Crystal Coast, North Carolina)

    • This German U boat was damaged in battle with a Coast Guard cutter in 1942. Instead of risking her capture, her crew scuttled and sank her, leaving a relatively intact submarine wreck in roughly 110 feet of water.

    Cage Diving (San Francisco)

    • A different kind of scuba diving is getting into an anti-shark cage and getting up close and personal with a great white shark. It's called "cage diving," and San Francisco is one of the best places in the world for it.

    Blue Grotto (Williston, Florida)

    • The Blue Grotto is the biggest clear-water cave in Florida, with depths of up to 100 feet. It is a great cave and big enough to be safe for nonspecialists.

    Whytecliffe Marine Park (Vancouver, British Columbia)

    • Vancouver's best dive site is rich with a variety of marine life, including the giant Pacific octopus.